Reuters Cameraman in Haditha-No Mention of Massacre

ABC News Online Australia ^ | November 20, 2005 | Reuters

[SBD1]

US details Haditha shoot-out

A roadside bomb that killed a US Marine in the restive town of Haditha on Saturday also killed 15 Iraqi civilians and led to intense clashes with insurgents.

The powerful bomb detonated as a US military convoy was passing through the town, which is 220 kilometres north-west of Baghdad.

The US military says immediately after the blast, gunmen opened fire on the convoy.

US and Iraqi soldiers returned fire, killing eight insurgents and wounding another in a firefight.

A cameraman working for Reuters in Haditha says bodies had been left lying in the street for hours after the attack.

He says the town has been virtually shut down for the past two days as US and Iraqi forces try to impose order.

US troops have been trying for months to quell the insurgency in Haditha and other Sunni Arab towns on the Euphrates.

It was suspected several months ago that Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was hiding out in the area.

The casualties from Saturday's blast raised the death toll from attacks across Iraq over the past three days to at least 166.

Sunni-led insurgents are stepping up their battle against US and Iraqi forces ahead of parliamentary elections in December.

- Reuters

[pinz-n-needlez]

Thanks, ScaniaBoy.

Is there really a difference among our various conspriacies? Are they just different snakes on the head of an Anti-American Medusa?

Pinz

[ScaniaBoy]

Are they just different snakes on the head of an Anti-American [anti-Western civilisation] Medusa?

Feels like it, doesn't it.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Excellent find. Also bear in mind that this was an area where Zarqawi (now assuming Room Temperature) was actively fomenting civil war between the Sunni and Shiites. He could be part of the "set up" of our Marines. He'd have had no qualms about providing dead bodies for camera crews/reporters to find and funneling info to them that it was the Marines that killed all of these "innocents."

[Royal Wulff]

Now covered at Sweetness&Light after I sent her the link.

SBD: I apologize for not crediting you when I sent it. I sent the same information to many sources, but did not include the Free Republic link lest the recipient think it was just wingnut propoganda. I emailed S&L to point her at this thread.

[SBD1]

The Iraqi soldiers that are doing the killing as is clearly indicated below. Ventura County Star (California) November 18, 2005 Friday SECTION: MAIN NEWS; Pg. 14 LENGTH: 568 words HEADLINE: U.S. tells Iraq not to use Shiite militias for security BYLINE: Robert H. Reid BODY:

The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq ---- The United States on Thursday warned Iraqi officials against allowing Shiite militias a role in the security services after allegations of torture of Sunni Arabs by the Shiite--led Interior Ministry. The official in charge of the ministry said torture claims were exaggerated. Sectarian rhetoric sharpened four days after U.S. troops found up to 173 malnourished detainees ---- some showing signs of torture ---- in an Interior Ministry building in the capital's Jadriyah district. Most were believed to be Sunni Arabs, the main group in the insurgency.

A leader of a major Sunni party, Tariq al--Hashimi, told Iraq's Sharqiyah television that his group had submitted 50 complaints of prisoner abuse to the government, "but we did not receive a timely response." Interior Minister Bayn Jabr, a Shiite, brushed aside the complaints, denied sectarian bias and said that "every time" al--Hashimi has differences with him "he exerts pressure on me through the U.S. Embassy." "I reject torture and I will punish those who perform torture," Jabr said. "No one was beheaded, no one was killed" ---- a clear reference to the beheadings of foreign and Iraqi hostages by insurgents, including al--Qaida's Iraq wing. He also said "those who are supporting terrorism are making the exaggerations" about torture and that only seven detainees showed signs of abuse. "They have described the Interior Minister's office as a place of execution," Jabr said. "Let him come to show me if there is an execution place in this shelter."

In a statement Thursday, the U.S. Embassy said Iraqi authorities had given assurances that they will investigate the conditions of the detainees found Sunday night and that the abuse of prisoners "will not be tolerated by either the Iraqi government" or U.S.--led forces. "We have made clear to the Iraqi government that there must not be militia or sectarian control or direction of Iraqi security forces, facilities or ministries," the U.S. statement added. Prominent Sunni Arabs have complained for months about abuse by Interior Ministry forces, whom they say have been infiltrated by Shiite militias. The Sunnis called for an international inquiry after the detainees were found at the lockup in Jadriyah. The government denies the militia allegations.

Last May, however, officials confirmed a Shiite militia affiliated with Jabr's party helped capture five men wanted in a deadly car bombing in Baghdad. Another Shiite militia took part in a joint raid with police last month southeast of the capital in which about 20 people were killed.

The U.S. statement seemed designed to reassure the Sunni Arab minority that the Americans are keen to defend their interests at a time when Washington is encouraging a big Sunni Arab turnout in the Dec. 15 election ---- hoping that will help take the steam out of the insurgency. America's death toll rose Thursday as the U.S. military reported a U.S. Marine killed the day before in Haditha, 140 miles northwest of Baghdad. An Army soldier died Thursday in a traffic accident near Beiji, 155 miles north of Baghdad, the command said. The deaths raised to at least 2,082 the number of U.S. service members who have died since the war began in 2003, according to an Associated Press count. U.S. officials have refused to say how many detainees showed signs of torture and whether most were Sunnis, pending completion of an Iraqi investigation. LOAD--DATE: November 29, 2005

SBD

[Coop]

Ping to SBD1's posts #1 and #15 - showing more problems with Rep. Jack Murtha's claims of cold-blooded murder and cover-up.

[Txsleuth]

Shoot...Reuters would have LOVED to show footage of, and told the story of a massacre carried out by AMERICAN Marines...

Looks like a "gotcha" bit of history to me.

[Txsleuth]

Thanks for the website Peach...

[jazusamo]

This is no longer smelling of cover up, it's reeking of one.

[bandleader]

No,THEY HAVE NO SHAME!And Guess What Else?ZarWacky Has NO VIRGINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bandleader]

But they all are in mourning over ZarWacky!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jazusamo]

Bad wording

Cover up = set up

[Velveeta]

Reuters Reported 'Bodies In The Street' At Haditha
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1645548/posts

This is a hugely important point!

[pissant]

One more nail in the coffin of this phony "massacre".

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

"It was suspected several months ago that Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was hiding out in the area."

So, the truth comes out since boo-boo is dead...

[hawkaw]

I do understand that there are a few Marines and one sailer in jail over this issue right now. I think I heard it on the news yesterday.

Am I wrong?

I would assume they must have done something serious to land them in jail waiting for the trial/court marshall.

[b4its2late]

Good find.

[Peach]

Excellent and important post. Thanks for posting it.

[cll]

Oh, brother...

[girlangler]

Good Catch.

BTTT