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Haditha probe supports accusations against Pendleton Marines (so say 2 anonymous Pentagon officials)
ap on Daily Comet ^
| 8/2/06
| Robert Burns - ap
Posted on 08/02/2006 7:34:28 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Evidence collected on the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha supports accusations that Marines from Camp Pendleton, Calif., deliberately shot the civilians, including unarmed women and children, a Pentagon official said Wednesday.
Agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service have completed their initial work on the incident last November, but may be asked to probe further as Marine Corps and Navy prosecutors review the evidence and determine whether to recommend criminal charges, according to two Pentagon officials who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity.
The decision on whether to press criminal charges ultimately will be made by the commander of the accused Marines' parent unit, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton. That currently is Lt. Gen. John Sattler, but he is scheduled to move to a Pentagon assignment soon; his successor will be Lt. Gen. James Mattis.
The Marines initially reported after the Nov. 19, 2005, killings that 15 Iraqi civilians at Haditha had been killed by a makeshift roadside bomb and in crossfire between Marines and insurgent attackers. Based on accounts from survivors and human rights groups, Time magazine first reported in March that the killings were deliberate acts by the Marines.
A criminal investigation was then ordered by the top Marine commander in Iraq, Maj. Gen. Richard Zilmer.
A parallel investigation is examining whether officers in the Marines' chain of command tried to cover up the events.
Public attention on the case grew after Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a former Marine, asserted publicly on May 17 that he had learned from Marine Corps officials that innocent Iraqis had been killed "in cold blood."
Lawyers for Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, one of the accused Marines, argue in a lawsuit to be filed Wednesday in federal court that Murtha falsely accused Wuterich of murder and war crimes. The suit maintains that Pentagon officials "who have briefed or leaked information to Mr. Murtha deliberately provided him with inaccurate and false information" and that the congressman subsequently "has made repeated statements .... that are defamatory" to Wuterich and his fellow Marines.
TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: haditha; hamdania; iraq; marines; pendleton8
To: NormsRevenge
This is not a good turn of events...
2
posted on
08/02/2006 7:35:59 AM PDT
by
misterrob
To: NormsRevenge
3
posted on
08/02/2006 7:36:02 AM PDT
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi ......Help the "Pendleton 8' and families -- http://www.freerepublic.com/~normsrevenge/)
To: NormsRevenge
Think the ACLU will get involved?
4
posted on
08/02/2006 7:46:37 AM PDT
by
Tzimisce
(How Would Mohammed Vote? Hillary for President! www.dndorks.com)
To: Tzimisce
I can't believe someone in the military would have to be anonymous....what a chicken...
To: NormsRevenge
There is a whole lot of stuff that needs to come out about that area. It's a stronghold for insurgents. I'm not saying those guilty by association need to be shot, but from what I've read there were some extenuating circumstances that may need to come out. Did anyone else hear about DVDs of an American marine being disemboweled? That would set me off.
6
posted on
08/02/2006 8:03:52 AM PDT
by
adgirl
To: NormsRevenge
Thank you for those links. I am appalled (but sadly not surprised) that an unnamed Pentagon offical is leaking this information. If these men were to be tried in a civil court, this would be an argument for tossing the case.
Innocent until proven guilty. One of the precepts these men are fighting for.
7
posted on
08/02/2006 8:06:11 AM PDT
by
SueRae
To: SueRae
I am appalled (but sadly not surprised) that an unnamed Pentagon offical is leaking this information. If these men were to be tried in a civil court, this would be an argument for tossing the case. All these "on background" statements prove is that there may be enough evidence to bring charges.
8
posted on
08/02/2006 8:09:20 AM PDT
by
sinkspur
(Today, we settled all family business.)
To: NormsRevenge
Un-named Pentagon Officials, Time Magazine assertions, Fat-mouthed jacka** posing as a U.S. Congressman. Whats wrong with this picture? THEY WERE'NT THERE! Seems to me that if a car bomb exploded, killed 15 bystanders, and a firefight ensued thereafter, that there was alot of sh*t flying around and a strong possibility that people, both alive and already dead, would have the potential to be repeatedly ventilated. Whats the distinguishing difference between a killing wound in a massacre, compared to an intense firefight? I guess you have to be an Un-named Pentagon Official, Time Magazine news whore, or a loud-mouthed jacka** posing as a U.S. Congressman to make that call. Must be wonderful to be omniscient and omnipresent. "Semper Fi to the 8, an to Hell with the Washington stuffed shirts". G.R. Baxter Msgt USMC (Retired)
9
posted on
08/02/2006 8:13:44 AM PDT
by
Msgt USMC
To: NormsRevenge
What I find most interesting about this is the fact that Murtha and the un named Pentagon sources feel justified in using this information for political purposes. They obviously think we shouldn't be in Iraq, and feel no shame in trashing the reputations of US soldiers who have not even been charged yet, in order to make their argument.
It is shameful behavior. I am not in favor of the on going presence of US troops in Iraq either, but what Murtha and the Pentagon leaker's are doing is profoundly dishonorable. I hope Murtha loses his law suit and the Pentagon leaker's are identified and fired.
10
posted on
08/02/2006 8:57:53 AM PDT
by
monday
To: monday
One of thse soldiers is seing Murtha for $70,000 and a public apology.
To: NormsRevenge
This from the same people who brought you Qada.
Becki
12
posted on
08/02/2006 12:00:21 PM PDT
by
Becki
(Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.)
To: NormsRevenge
I wonder if this is the same highly placed source that had Kare Rove schackled and convicted. I would not be suprised if this is a ruse to pull Murtha's oysters out of the fire for calling the solders involved murdurers before the fact.
Rob
To: Msgt USMC
To me, it is a bunch of "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" motivated by lying Ragheads who want $2500 a piece for dead family victims--REGARDLESS of who killed them................................................................................................................... NO MENTION of concrete evidence. "Based on accounts from survivors and human rights groups" who have been know for "Situational Ethics"............................................................................................................ THE SILVER LINING: A decision on whether to press charges ultimately will be made by the commander of the Marines' parent unit, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton. That currently is Lt. Gen. John Sattler, but he is to move to a Pentagon assignment soon. His successor will be Lt. Gen. James Mattis.
14
posted on
08/02/2006 4:57:24 PM PDT
by
radar101
(The two hallmarks of Liberals: Fantasy and Hypocrisy)
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