Haditha evidence points to deliberate massacre of Iraqi civilians by US troops

[Grimmlok]

By ROBERT BURNS

WASHINGTON (AP) - Evidence collected on the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha supports accusations that U.S. Marines 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, Calif. The commander is currently 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.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060802/D8J8ARSG2.html

[silver024]

amazes me that they can kidnap americans and cut their heads off..and put it on video for the world to see

but god forbid we do something to their people

[Grimmlok]

Well..

1) The Americans that were butchered were done so by religious militants

2) US troops massacred innocent CIVILIANS, for no reason.

If you think that's fine, then you have issues.

[DirtyPool]

don't get out your dancing shoes just yet grimm- these marines will not go down without a fight by those who stand by their innocence and those who understand what "i support the troops" actually means.

[ohmygoodness]

Let me guess what it means: Close your eyes, and sing "Lalalalala" while pretending everything is marshmallows and cupcakes?

[SVZ]

There's a difference between a terrorist group doing something and a government of a nation that's self appointed itself to be a protector of the world's freedom.

[DirtyPool]

Let me guess what it means: Close your eyes, and sing "Lalalalala" while pretending everything is marshmallows and cupcakes?

i'm not familiar with the lalala but i do know there is no way to prove what happened without examination of the dead. the case should be dismissed on that alone. it was a tragedy but a tragedy that was an accident.

[Delphinium]

seems to me that there is a rush to judgment here. guess the whole innocent until proven guilty only applies to terrorist murderers?

these boys should be cleared immediately.

[pacific breeze]

All American soldiers are perfect human beings who could never be guilty of anything, much less murder, right? Dream on. It's that kind of bozo thinking that is the reason America isn't respected any more and is fast going down the crapper.

[Grimmlok]

don't get out your dancing shoes just yet grimm- these marines will not go down without a fight by those who stand by their innocence and those who understand what "i support the troops" actually means.

Well so far the evidence leans very much towards a massacre. Will you support the troops if they're found guilty?

i'm not familiar with the lalala but i do know there is no way to prove what happened without examination of the dead. the case should be dismissed on that alone. it was a tragedy but a tragedy that was an accident.

Um.. they ARE examining the dead.

Secondly, on what do you base the GUESS that it was an accident? How do you know?

You don't. You castigate us for labelling them guilty (which we haven't) and yet here you are stating, as if it's a fact, that the whole sorry affair was an accident.. without anything to back it up.

seems to me that there is a rush to judgment here. guess the whole innocent until proven guilty only applies to terrorist murderers?

these boys should be cleared immediately.

Why should they be cleared immediately? Wtf? THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON INTO A MASSACRE.

Why the fuck should ANYBODY be cleared when the investigation has yet to be concluded? What the hell planet do you live on? Is there no sense of justice on planet Neocon?

Should they be cleared simply because they're americans, and the massacred civilians are sandmonkeys that simply don't matter?

You have a fucked up sense of due process, one that is NOT american in the slightest. Sickening.

[silver024]

i didnt mean that it is okay to kill innocent civilians...geez im not that coldblooded

im tired of hearing how horrible american troops are for doing such things, yes its wrong...but just as wrong as what they do to ours

thats all...didnt mean to rile everyone up

[deckchick]

don't get out your dancing shoes just yet grimm- these marines will not go down without a fight by those who stand by their innocence and those who understand what "i support the troops" actually means.... i'm not familiar with the lalala but i do know there is no way to prove what happened without examination of the dead. the case should be dismissed on that alone. it was a tragedy but a tragedy that was an accident.

seems to me that there is a rush to judgment here. guess the whole innocent until proven guilty only applies to terrorist murderers?

these boys should be cleared immediately.

You two are a perfect example why Americans are hated. It was no "accident" They are cowards as well. Real men admit their "mistakes" and take the punishment, they lied and tried to cover it up!

I can only hope that the commander does the right thing and these guys spend many years in prison.

i didnt mean that it is okay to kill innocent civilians...geez im not that coldblooded

im tired of hearing how horrible american troops are for doing such things, yes its wrong...but just as wrong as what they do to ours

thats all...didnt mean to rile everyone up

?? You're tired of hearing how horrible the troops are for doing this? That bunch is horrible... and criminal! Jesushchrist!

If you recall every time one of them beheads anyone, there is an outcry from the whole world, including Iraqis. So following your logic, then we should bitch about the Americans too...