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Marines in Haditha: Locals not focused on alleged ’05 massacre
Stars and Stripes ^ | March 4, 2007 | Steve Mraz

Posted on 03/03/2007 2:06:07 PM PST by RedRover

HADITHA, Iraq — When average Americans hear the word “Haditha,” they are likely to think of the much-publicized 2005 incident involving Marines allegedly murdering 24 Iraqi civilians.

For locals in Haditha, the incident is memorable but not the hot-button issue it is in America, Marines deployed here said. “We’ve asked some of the local nationals who come in here on a daily basis about it,” said Staff Sgt. Andres Quiniones, who works at the Haditha Civil Military Operations Center. “Everyone still remembers it, but we’ve never had anybody come in and start complaining about it. I guarantee it’s talked about more in the States than it is here.”

The Haditha incident took place Nov. 19, 2005. One Marine was killed, one was severely injured and another suffered minor wounds when a roadside bomb was detonated under their Humvee. Then, two dozen Iraqi civilians died in what prosecutors allege were revenge killings by Marines.

Four Marines with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., have been charged with unpremeditated murder for allegedly killing the Iraqi civilians in retaliation. Courts-martial should begin in a few months. The incident is almost a nonissue for the average Hadithan, but they do respect that the Marines are taking the matter to trial, said Lt. Col. Jim Donnellan, commander of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

As for the Marines on Haditha’s streets, some have taken the extreme measure of wearing helmet video cameras in case they need indisputable proof if their actions are questioned. “I’ve seen squad leaders and Marines with that,” Donnellan said. “It’s disheartening because you feel like they’ve lost their confidence that we’re going to take care of them. When the whole story comes out, they will realize that what’s happening to them and the firefights they’re engaged in are nowhere near any of these kind of accusations.”

When Iraqis in Haditha think of a horrible massacre in their city, they think not of the 2005 episode but rather of 2004 public executions of Iraqi policemen by insurgents, Marines said. In April and November 2004, Marines in Haditha were sent to Fallujah to participate in the now well-known battle. Haditha insurgents waged a killing spree in the Marines’ absence. Insurgents in Haditha murdered local officials and publicly executed several policemen at a soccer field.

“When the [Marines] left, you had a total implosion of the local government,” said Capt. Matt Tracy, commander of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

“You had 21 officers killed, the municipal buildings destroyed and a group of 19 Shia that were killed in the soccer stadium. That weighs more on everyone’s psyche than the massacre. The massacre is seen as an unfortunate event that occurs during war.”

Tracy, who commands the Marine company operating in Haditha, does not hear very much talk about the November 2005 incident. The question he does get from the locals is: What will happen when the Marines leave?

“Which is, I think, 180 degrees out from the perception that Americans have of this place,” he said. “The fear here is that the Americans will leave.”


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: defendourmarines; haditha; iraq; wot
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"The massacre is seen as an unfortunate event that occurs during war."

The Iraqis got it right.

1 posted on 03/03/2007 2:06:10 PM PST by RedRover
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To: RedRover

Too bad the lawyers in the Pentagon can't figure that out.


2 posted on 03/03/2007 2:07:20 PM PST by pissant (http://www.gohunter08.com/)
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To: 4woodenboats; aculeus; American Cabalist; AmericanYankee; AndrewWalden; Antoninus; AliVeritas; ...
Ping!

If you weren't pinged, let delacoert, jazusamo or me know if you want on the Haditha Marine Ping List.

3 posted on 03/03/2007 2:08:41 PM PST by RedRover (Defend Our Marines)
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To: RedRover

"he said. “The fear here is that the Americans will leave.”"

Something the MSM will NEVER tell you..


4 posted on 03/03/2007 2:12:27 PM PST by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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To: RedRover
"The fear here is that the Americans will leave."

BINGO. For those of us that have been there that's preaching to the choir

But try explaining that to the brainwashed hard-of-thiniking liberal POS's in this country. You would have an easier time trying to explain it to your dog tags.
5 posted on 03/03/2007 2:13:07 PM PST by stm (Believe 1% of what you hear in the drive-by media and take half of that with a grain of salt)
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To: RedRover
The question he does get from the locals is: What will happen when the Marines leave?

The answer is clear from recent history. When the Marines leave, order and rule of law will quickly disappear. It happened in Somalia and when the Marines left Haditha for Falluja. When the Marines leave Iraq, every two-bit terrorist will come out of the woodwork.

6 posted on 03/03/2007 2:15:01 PM PST by MovementConservative (The US will win in Iraq. Thank you all US troops.)
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To: RedRover
When Iraqis in Haditha think of a horrible massacre in their city, they think not of the 2005 episode but rather of 2004 public executions of Iraqi policemen by insurgents

Excellent piece. It reflects that residents of Haditha know the the incident in 2005 was a result of war and the executions of 2004 were the result of murderous insurgents terrorists.

7 posted on 03/03/2007 2:25:21 PM PST by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: RedRover
Courts-martial should begin in a few months. The incident is almost a nonissue for the average Hadithan, but they do respect that the Marines are taking the matter to trial, said Lt. Col. Jim Donnellan,

Is he jumping ahead?

8 posted on 03/03/2007 2:27:23 PM PST by lilycicero (SSgt Wuterich and his squad did their job well. (FrankWuterich.com) Haditha)
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To: RedRover

It is such a shame that our soldiers are wearing video cameras on their helmets to protect themselves from false claims by pigs such as Murtha. That by itself says a lot about the crap our soldiers have been put through.
Thanks for the ping.


9 posted on 03/03/2007 2:38:24 PM PST by Chickenhawk Warmonger (Winter Soldier II courtesy of Appeal for Redress)
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To: MovementConservative
There's an especially cruel twist of fate here.

At least three of the accused Marines were sent to fight in Fallujah and then back to Haditha. If the terrorists hadn't taken over, the Marines might never have been ambushed.

10 posted on 03/03/2007 2:38:52 PM PST by RedRover (Defend Our Marines)
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To: RedRover

Thanks for the ping.


11 posted on 03/03/2007 2:40:45 PM PST by delacoert
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To: Chickenhawk Warmonger
"It’s disheartening because you feel like they’ve lost their confidence that we’re going to take care of them."

Now where on earth would Marines get THAT idea, Lt. Col. Donnellan?

12 posted on 03/03/2007 2:45:19 PM PST by RedRover (Defend Our Marines)
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To: lilycicero

Just a hair. Unless you count an Article 32 as a trial.


13 posted on 03/03/2007 2:48:15 PM PST by RedRover (Defend Our Marines)
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To: pissant

The Marines don't trust the stateside lawyers.

..."As for the Marines on Haditha’s streets, some have taken the extreme measure of wearing helmet video cameras in case they need indisputable proof if their actions are questioned. “I’ve seen squad leaders and Marines with that,” Donnellan said. “It’s disheartening because you feel like they’ve lost their confidence that we’re going to take care of them."....

That's saying the Marines HAVE lost confidence that they'll be taken care of. Wow, that's pathetic.


14 posted on 03/03/2007 2:48:39 PM PST by Girlene
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To: RedRover

Hey, Red. This might be a good article for a webmaster to include on Frank Wuterich's site.


15 posted on 03/03/2007 3:02:23 PM PST by Girlene
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To: Girlene; God Bless Freedom
Maybe he will!
16 posted on 03/03/2007 3:09:02 PM PST by RedRover (Defend Our Marines)
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To: P-Marlowe; blue-duncan; rdb3; Jim Robinson; VaBthang4; Thunder 6; Corin Stormhands; ...
.."As for the Marines on Haditha’s streets, some have taken the extreme measure of wearing helmet video cameras in case they need indisputable proof if their actions are questioned. “I’ve seen squad leaders and Marines with that,” Donnellan said. “It’s disheartening because you feel like they’ve lost their confidence that we’re going to take care of them."....

This is extremely sad, and it is irrefutable proof that Marine morale has been injured by the manner in which this has been handled by Murtha and the media.

17 posted on 03/03/2007 3:14:09 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
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To: RedRover

"you feel like they’ve lost their confidence that we’re going to take care of them."
The Marines can see pee-losi,mutha murtha , etc. on the news every night. They are right to worry.


18 posted on 03/03/2007 3:17:27 PM PST by dynachrome ("Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?")
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To: RedRover
It must be really hard to do your job wearing one of these

19 posted on 03/03/2007 3:23:38 PM PST by Girlene
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To: Girlene

Great!


20 posted on 03/03/2007 3:27:17 PM PST by lilycicero (SSgt Wuterich and his squad did their job well. (FrankWuterich.com) Haditha)
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