Marine Brass Seem Exonerated (And I predict, so will the Enlisted!)

The Washington Times ^ | June 2, 2006 | Rowan Scarborough

[kellynla]

U.S. Marine Corps headquarters in Washington did not learn of the killing of Iraqi civilians by Marines in Haditha until early March, a timeline that appears to exonerate the highest ranks of the Marine Corps from any cover-up or failure to act.

The U.S. military command in Baghdad learned of the civilian killings in February and began two investigations: one criminal and one administrative.

The administrative probe by Army Brig. Gen. Eldon Bargewell is focusing on whether any information was covered up along the Marine Corps chain of command. This is because the 2nd Marine Division issued a press release Nov. 20 saying Iraqi civilians had been killed in Haditha the previous day by an improvised explosive device (IED) and in a firefight with insurgents.

Officials now acknowledge that the statement was inaccurate. Evidence shows the civilians were killed deliberately by Marines' gunfire during sweeps after an IED killed one of their battlemates.

One key question is: Did senior Marine Corps officers hear of the accusations and fail to act between the time of the Nov. 19 incident and February, when a Time magazine reporter brought the charges to the attention of the Baghdad command?

A timeline that the Marines provided yesterday to The Washington Times would appear to exonerate Gen. Michael W. Hagee, the Marine Corps commandant, and his staff.

Col. David Lapan, a Marine Corps headquarters spokesman, said the commandant and his staff were apprised in early March by Marine commanders in Iraq. He said Gen. Hagee subsequently received briefings on the criminal probe and then dedicated a tour of Iraq to telling Marines the importance of ethical conduct and the rules of war.

[Dialup Llama]

It's even worse than that, apparently -- not only are we not being "allowed" to exhume the bodies for evidence

This morning I heard the bodies will be dug up.

[veronica]

Walking the cat back, just like with the Jenin "massacre."

[tumblindice]

(Disclaimer on the, uh, box the IUD, hmmm, comes in:
Severe Risk of Uterine Damage: Probe Cautiously)
:-O

[Txsleuth]

Peach, there is just SO much about this incident that doesn't make sense..

But of course the MSM, the politicians...and even SOME talk show hosts have seemed to buy into the idea that the FACTS show the Marines did this..

Even though the investigation isn't even done...and no charges have been filed on any of these Marines.

Freeper delacoert is keeping all of the threads about this on his profile page..

I have been hoping the moderator would add this topic to the top of the page with the other frequently sought ones..but so far it hasn't been added.

But, there are dozens of threads by now, I would guess.

[kellynla]

Reminder:

A Marine Exonerated(Lt. Ilario Pantano 5/27/2005)
http://www.washtimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20050526-085734-1048r

[armydawg1]

You are the Marine. I am the person saying wait until an official investigation is completed. You seem to want to jump on them because some media outlet says they are guilty. I would never take the word of any media organization over any military person. The President was out of line talking about something that is just beginning to be investigated. But he is a liberal at heart, ie immigration, spending, etc, so it doesnt suprise me when he craps on the military too.
I give our guys in uniform the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise......I wish everyone would.

[Coop]

Keep spewing, Soldier. No need for me to saying anything.

[No.6]

"When these Marines & the Marine Corps are exonerated, I expect the MSM to publish the findings on their front pages...but I won't be holding my breath."

Nor should you, *when* they're exonerated.

Further, don't expect the damage overseas to be undone. After several months of Haditha chanting from the media, even a front-page retraction and apology would just be "zionist collaboration" to the wackos that continue to plague our guys and the Iraqis alike.

[kellynla]

well I reeeeely could care less about the camel jockeys and the Lefties but I do care about the families of Marines; especially those families of Marines who have paid the ultimate price...
something that the MSM and the Left seem to have verrrry short memories of.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[verity]

I justifiably called the Dawg an Insignificant little turd on another thread yesterday, but the mod used his/her eraser.

Perhaps he'll turn his guns on me. lol

[No.6]

"well I reeeeely could care less about ..."

Right; but every bit of propaganda ammo the MSM gives the Islamists is one more guy staging attacks or planting IEDs, so it translates directly into our guys' blood.

[A.A. Cunningham]

[kellynla]

cute, but I'm sure you and everyone else gets my drift...


T.G.I.F.


Have a good one all...

[philman_36]

Some history...ENTER OPERATION RIVER GATE (3/4 down)
The Anbar Campaign intensifies and Zarqawi's "Islamic Republic of Haditha" is in jeopardy. The Coalition – including Iraqi Army units – have launched Operation Bawwabatu Annaher (River Gate) and are taking the fight to Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana. This operation is being conducted in conjunction with Operation Iron Fist in the Qaim region, and Operation Hiba (Mountaineers) in Ramadi (which we discussed last night).
Snip...The operation’s goal is to deny Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) the ability to operate in the three Euphrates River Valley cities and to free the local citizens from the insurgents’ campaign of murder and intimidation of innocent women, children and men. Haditha is an important crossroads for AQI’s smuggling activities from the Syrian border. Once in Haditha, smugglers can go north to Mosul or continue on to Ar Ramadi, Fallujah or Baghdad. The city is home to approximately 75,000 Iraqis, a vital hydro-electric power plant, and 28 schools. Coalition and Iraqi Forces located in western Al Anbar province have seen a recent increase of AQI violence in Haditha. Last Spring, insurgents attacked Haditha General Hospital, the largest in western Al Anbar, with a suicide car bomb, destroying more than half of the building with the explosion and ensuing fire. Insurgents also established fortified firing positions inside the hospital and used patients and staff as human shields as they attacked Marines from the hospital and later retreated from the Marine counterattack.

The fighting will likely be tough. Two Marines and one soldier have been killed in combat outside Haqlaniyah.

Operation River Gate launched October 4, 2005
Five U.S. GIs Dead in Operation River Gate October 05, 2005
HADITHA, Iraq — U.S. troops pushed through streets sown with bombs Tuesday in their biggest operation this year in western Iraq, seeking to retake three Euphrates River (search) towns from Al Qaeda insurgents. At least five U.S. service members have been killed in the fighting.

[philman_36]

A site you may appreciate...Marine Corps OIF Press Releases

[armydawg1]

Do you do that with everyone you disagree with?

[kellynla]

Thank you for the links.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[gunner03]

Already done. Semper Fi

[Coop]

Outstanding, Devil Dog! Best wishes.

[HardStarboard]

>>> Remember the raid on the mosque that was used as a military base by terrorists? The terrorists later staged the scene and claimed massacre. <<<<

Add to that the Apache raid on insurgents that were crossing the Syrian border - that was claimed to be a "wedding party". Massive civilian deaths faked.

This technique has gone on in Afghanistan also. These Islamists have no qualms in killing their own to make it look like the American Infidel is killing women and children.

Until I see some hard ground truth to the Marines massacare claim....I will believe that Haditha is a set-up!! And if it is, we need to make Murtha, Kerry and Co. swallow their words and swim in their own slime!!