lederhosen (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lederhosen) wrote2006-05-19 09:55 am
lederhosen) wrote2006-05-19 09:55 am
Entry tags:
Haditha
MSNBC reports:
A Pentagon probe into the death of Iraqi civilians last November in the Iraqi city of Haditha will show that U.S. Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood," a U.S. lawmaker [John Murtha] said Wednesday.
Article summary: on November 20th, a USMC spokesman announced that a roadside bomb in Haditha has killed one Marine and fifteen Iraqi civilians. From what Murtha and unnamed 'military officials' are saying about the investigation, it now appears that the civilians - some as young as three - were not killed by the bomb, but shot in cold blood by Marines as payback for the death of one of their own.
Military officials say Marine Corp photos taken immediately after the incident show many of the victims were shot at close range, in the head and chest, execution-style. One photo shows a mother and young child bent over on the floor as if in prayer, shot dead, said the officials, who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity because the investigation hasn't been completed.
A couple of points of note:
- According to his Wikipedia entry, Murtha spent nearly forty years in the Marines and Marine Reserves, including action in Korea and Vietnam, so presumably he does not make these claims lightly.
- The 'roadside bomb' story seems to have been abandoned only after Time got hold of video evidence to the contrary; don't go assuming that the incidents that make the news are the only ones that happen.
A Pentagon probe into the death of Iraqi civilians last November in the Iraqi city of Haditha will show that U.S. Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood," a U.S. lawmaker [John Murtha] said Wednesday.
Article summary: on November 20th, a USMC spokesman announced that a roadside bomb in Haditha has killed one Marine and fifteen Iraqi civilians. From what Murtha and unnamed 'military officials' are saying about the investigation, it now appears that the civilians - some as young as three - were not killed by the bomb, but shot in cold blood by Marines as payback for the death of one of their own.
Military officials say Marine Corp photos taken immediately after the incident show many of the victims were shot at close range, in the head and chest, execution-style. One photo shows a mother and young child bent over on the floor as if in prayer, shot dead, said the officials, who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity because the investigation hasn't been completed.
A couple of points of note:
- According to his Wikipedia entry, Murtha spent nearly forty years in the Marines and Marine Reserves, including action in Korea and Vietnam, so presumably he does not make these claims lightly.
- The 'roadside bomb' story seems to have been abandoned only after Time got hold of video evidence to the contrary; don't go assuming that the incidents that make the news are the only ones that happen.
no subject
For instance, looking at this particular unit's record (3rd Battalion, 1st Marines), they seem to have spent about half of the last three years in Iraq, on three separate tours (first one including the invasion, second including the battle of Fallujah). That undoubtedly puts them under a great deal of stress.