Posted on 06/02/2006 12:43:57 PM PDT by demlosers
Officials Conclude Troops Followed Rules of Engagement
Horrific images of Iraqi adults and children have fueled new allegations that U.S. troops killed civilians in the Iraqi town of Ishaqi. But ABC News has learned that military officials have completed their investigation and concluded that U.S. forces followed the rules of engagement.
A senior Pentagon official told ABC News the investigation concluded that the allegations of intentional killings of civilians by American forces are unfounded.
Military commanders in Iraq launched an investigation soon after the mid-March raid in the village of Ishaqi, about 50 miles north of Baghdad.
Maj. Gen. William Caldwell will make a statement about the Ishaqi allegations today in Baghdad, ABC News has learned.
In Ishaqi, American forces were going after a high-value terrorist target they succeeded in apprehending. The U.S. military reported in March that four people died when the troops destroyed a house from the air and ground.
But previously unaired video shot by an AP Television News cameraman at the time shows at least five children dead, several with obvious bullet wounds to the head. One adult male is also seen dead.
"Children were stuck in the room, alone and surrounded," an unidentified man said on the video.
A total of 11 people died, according to Iraqis on the scene. The Iraqis said the people were killed by U.S. troops before the house was destroyed.
Other Incidents in Question
The allegations in Ishaqi surfaced amid several other alleged incidents that have raised questions about the behavior of U.S. troops in Iraq.
Military sources told ABC News that charges will likely be filed against officers up the chain of command in connection with the killing of 24 civilians by U.S. Marines in Haditha, Iraq, in November 2005.
Among those who may be charged are senior officers whom officials believe were not on the scene at the time of the killings but should have been aware that something had happened and done something about it.
On Thursday, the White House confirmed that an investigation began nearly three months after the Haditha killings, after Time Magazine showed a video to a military spokesman.
(Page 2 of 3)
Until then, the military insisted the civilians in Haditha had been killed by a roadside bomb.
Two Women Killed
On Wednesday in Samarra, a pregnant woman named Nahiba Jassim and her cousin, Saliha Hassan, were killed by gunfire when their car entered what the U.S. military called a clearly marked, prohibited area near a checkpoint and observation post manned by coalition forces.
According to the military, the driver of the car ignored signals and commands to stop, so troops fired shots to disable the vehicle.
Facing a constant threat of deadly attacks by insurgents, American forces in Iraq are allowed to fire in self-defense if they believe they are in danger. One of the survivors of the incident told ABC News they were rushing the pregnant woman to the hospital because she was about to give birth and they didn't know the road was blocked.
Jassim's brother was driving, and he said the soldiers shot straight into their vehicle.
"I didn't see any warning," he says. "I was driving at speed, and they started shooting at us."
Doctors at the hospital tried to save Jassim's baby but failed.
The U.S. military generally compensates the family of any civilian who is killed inadvertently by American forces. It's not known if this will apply in this case.
Iraqi Leaders, President Bush React
The allegations of unwarranted violence have outraged Iraqi officials.
Reacting to video of the Ishaqi incident, Muayed al-Anbaki, chairman of the Iraqi Human Rights Association, said Friday, "It looks like the killing of Iraqi civilians is becoming a daily phenomenon."
On Thursday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called the Haditha allegations "a horrible crime" — his strongest comment on the incident to date.
"This is a phenomenon that has become common among many of the multinational forces," the prime minister said. "No respect for citizens, smashing civilian cars, and killing on a suspicion or a hunch. It's unacceptable."
At the same time, in light of the Haditha investigation, U.S. military commanders have ordered new ethics training for all troops in Iraq.
(Page 3 of 3)
"This is just a reminder for troops either in Iraq or throughout our military that there are high standards expected of them and there are strong rules of engagement," President Bush said. "The Haditha incident is under investigation. Obviously, the allegations are very troubling for me and equally troubling for our military."
Today, Army Brig. Gen. Donald Campbell explained to reporters what he thinks could be behind these incidents.
"Well, I'd say it's difficult to pin down specifically, but obviously, when you're in a combat theater dealing with enemy combatants who don't abide by the law of war, who do acts of indecency, soldiers become stressed, they become fearful," he said. "It's very difficult to determine in some cases on this battlefield who is a combatant and who is a civilian."
Campbell said the military will investigate the allegations.
"It doesn't excuse the acts that have occurred, and we're going to look into them," he said. "But I would say it's stress, fear, isolation and, in some cases, they're just upset. They see their buddies getting blown up on occasion, and they could snap."
Last week, Bush expressed regret for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal — the first incident to raise questions about the military's handling of the war. He called it "the biggest mistake that's happened so far, at least from our country's involvement in Iraq."
ABC News' Hilary Brown and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
What's coming out of the UK is troops standing side by side with the American troops getting killed the same as American troops.
OK...what about that latest BBC report accusing US troops of killing innocent civilians?
Give me a break!
What about all the crap from the WAPO, the NYTimes, the LATimes etc., etc., etc., Those and the BBC are from the same schools of propaganda. Come to think of it so's The Scotsman.
But the beginning comment was about what if there was no America...what would happen to the rest of the world. My comment was it would become uncivilized. If my history is correct it was the GREAT BRITISH EMPIRE...that civilized the world. But what about today?
Don't take me wrong my family is from England and Scotland, in fact, one of my great grandmothers was cousin to Queen Victoria...so I love the UK...it's just today's environment that sucks...worldwide...
This disrespect for this fine man and CIC is not needed nor appropriate - With that said, while it is not his place to declare any specific Marine innocent at this time....he very well should be out there touting the bravery and dedication of our warriors in the field.
He should be boasting of the incredible sacrifices and risks our warriors are taking each and every day. He should be touting to the world and our warriors what they mean to this Country and how he stands behind them 100%.
Without question he should be doing the above (and the notion that ethic type courses need to be taught to our warriors is a slap in the face to each and every one of them...and is flat out wrong!) - The notion that as CIC he agreed on to this foolish motion pisses me off.
"Until then, the military insisted the civilians in Haditha had been killed by a roadside bomb."
Now they've come right out and declared their IQ for the whole world to see.
I can't believe the White House is so media-driven. Every time this BS comes out, they commission a blue-ribbon presidential commission, essentially convict them then and there, and promise that heads will roll. So much for handling matters in-house and at the lowest appropriate level.
Thanks for the ping!
Please call the traitors at AP and show them who they really are: Liars and Traitors.
Just got back; will do it tomorrow. :-)
Now how many innocent civilians, women, children, puppy dogs are the terrorists killing in IRAQ per day?
Oh wait... Those civilians don't count.
More proof tonight on Hannity & Stupid (Colmes). Colmes was in New Orleans with Howard Dean. Howie was shown pushing a wheelbarrow, dressed in the white outfit of the real workers. When he and Colmes talked, Howie was complaining that the damage from Katrina isn't cleaned up yet. Then the great Howie said that if Clinton was president it would all be cleaned up by now but because of Bush and awful FEMA (which he said was run spectacularly under Clinton, my translation of his words)it's not done yet. HE MAKES ME ILL, and Alan Colmes was a joke as usual, even in denim jeans, he looked like a total idiot. Cracks me up when Alan tries to do a story on location like Hannity does and he always looks like the idiot he is, and I am being kind with my choice of words here!
Would Muslims lie in order to obtain blood money payments? Some insight comes (from) a Baghdad-based US contractor.
"I’ve been in Iraq for about 18 months now performing construction management. It is simply not possible for me to exaggerate the massive amounts of lies we wade through every single day. There is no way - absolutely none - to determine facts from bulls*** from these people.
"To be fair to individual Iraqis, lying and deception is an integral part of their culture. It is not even considered lying to them; it is more akin to being clever - like keeping your cards close to your chest. And they don’t just lie to westerners. They believe that appearances--saving face--are of paramount importance. They lie to each other all the time about anything in order to leverage others on a deal or manipulate an outcome of some sort or cover up some major or minor embarrassment. It’s just how they do things, period.
"I’m not trying to disparage them here. I get along great with a lot of them. But even among those that I like, if something happens I’ll get 50 wildly different stories, every time. There’s no comparison to it in any other part of the world where I’ve worked. The lying is ubiquitous and constant.
Obviously in the case of these soldiers (the British "massacre" trial that collapsed), the “witnesses” were lying with malice for profit - saving face had nothing to do with it.
But every Westerner here has been taken totally by surprise by the lies upon lies upon BS and lies. It makes it impossible to form any agreements, impossible to plan anything, and impossible to investigate anything.
BTTT
Better yet, just have about fifty UAVs on patrol in the sky loaded with flourescent paintballs tagging the terrorists at 1,000 feet for pick up by the iraqi police.
Better yet, just have about fifty UAVs on patrol in the sky loaded with .50cals tagging the terrorists at 1,000 feet for pick up by the iraqi coroner.
That's better.
Judge,Juror,Executioner Murtha is deeply disturbed
Do U.S. troops need more training in ethics and values?
This is always a good idea.
Yes, because it's clear there have been problems.
No, this is already part of their training.
No, they should just focus on accomplishing their
missions."
Looks like the poll is split as evenly as the vote for president
My guess is liberals vote "always a good idea"
I voted "no, kill the enemy"
"Better yet, just have about fifty UAVs on patrol in the sky loaded with .50cals tagging the terrorists at 1,000 feet for pick up by the iraqi coroner.
That's better."
Better yet, just have one UAV on patrol in the sky loaded with on plutonium strategic weapon and tag the "triangle" at 100,000 feet for pick up by the...by the...well, we may have to wait a few centuries for anything to get picked up.
That's best.
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