This is the photograph that Deborah Howell calls, "...the most newsworthy a...photo of dead bodies near a taxi, showing that the victims did not appear to have been fleeing, as some claimed."

Actually, it shows nothing of the kind. The bodies may or may not have been moved.

The original caption in the Post read: "A photo contained in a Naval Criminal Investigative Service report obtained by The Washington Post shows a Marine inspecting a roadside scene near Haditha, Iraq, where five unarmed civilians were killed Nov. 19, 2005. Earlier that day, Marines stopped the white taxi in which the men had been riding, then allegedly shot them after a bomb exploded nearby. The incident was the first on a day of violence in Haditha that left 24 civilians dead, among them women and children. Four Marines have been charged with murder. (AP Photo/U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service via The Washington Post)."

Nice of the the Post to share the photo credit with the NCIS.

Let jazusamo or me know if you want on the Haditha Marine Ping List.

Just heard from pinkpanther111 that the Swifties' site has picked up on the Defense Fund announcement: Support The Haditha Marines- $$$ Talk, BS Walks .

Thanks for the post. The lefty antiwar crowd won't be satisfied until every last piece of supposed evidence is revealed before the Article 32 hearing or courts martial.

Thought you'd be interested in this piece by the WaPo ombudsman. She also covered their juxtaposed pictures of the funeral of President Ford and Saddam's hanging.

Hi RR - thanks for bringing to my attention.

Regards, Governs

Can they name the Marine in the photo?

Very good question

Unless they've got videos of our side doing what they claim, they have NOTHING. Pictures of bodies tell us nothing about how they died, what they were doing before they died, or who did it. The WaPo is doing a Nifong in this case.

We can't even be sure when the photo was taken or who is in it. Keep in mind, too, that the commanding officer, Lt. Kallop (who arrived at the scene after the IED went off) has not been charged or named as a prosecution witness. If there was a "murder scene", and people were taking pictures of it, wouldn't the lieutenant take an interest and, say, file a report? He hasn't been charged with dereliction so nobody is saying that he screwed up. Things just aren't adding up.

(My own emphasis added.)

""Among the images, there is a young boy with a PICTURE OF A HELICOPTER on his pajamas, SLUMPED OVER, his face and head covered in blood. There is a mother lying on a bed, ARMS SPLAYED, the bodies of THREE YOUNG CHILDREN HUDDLED AGAINST HER RIGHT SIDE. There are men with GAPING HEAD WOUNDS, and a woman and a child HUNKERED DOWN ON THEIR KNEES, their hands FROZEN AROUND THEIR FACES AS IF PERMANENTLY BRACING FOR AN ATTACK."...Post editors decided that most of the images are too graphic to publish."

Why publish the photos when you put it in words so well. This is right out of the Qana playbook in my opinion.

The Left (includes the WaPo) wants a prosecution to prove how evil the war (and George Bush) is; in some ways, I think SOME in the military and/or politics want a prosecution to prove how "even handed" we are to the Iraqis. In the middle are some guys who quite possibly did nothing wrong--except for being picked to be the goats. I'm currently very disappointed and disgusted with how we treat our own.

Lt. Kallop has an attorney though...Richard McNeil....remember there could be pending charges. You'd think he would be tossed into the pot with the others charged.

Miz,
You found the winning group to be with in your disgust!

Absolutely right, jaz. Same old 60s crap: spit on soldiers to protest a war. And Murthawi and "unnamed defense sources" are their allies. How do they sleep at night?

Wonder how much longer the leaker will give an exclusive to Post reporter Josh White? I won't be surpised if the photos show up somewhere else soon.

Washington Post ombudsman, Deborah Howell and reporter Josh White should be locked up

with insurgents.

Sorry I can't be more compassionate, but when I read this from my son's autopsy, well, you decide:

"...1.B. BILATERAL ECCHYMOSES AND RUPTURED EYEBALLS...

... 2. B. AVULSED, NEARLY AMPUTATED LEFT ARM AT ELBOW....

...3. SUBENDOCARDIAL HEMORRHAGE OF LEFT VENTRICLE..."

Nevermind the skull fractures and brain lacerations, etc.

War is hell, get used to it! I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I'm getting more active. Point me in the right direction, eh?

POP. We have no business being compassionate with those who wish us harm. There isn't another thing I can say that doesn't sound stupid.





This looks like the place, but I would think the accused families' attorneys would need to initiate. One would think THOSE ATTORNEYS SHOULD FREAKEN KNOW IT.

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/crim/faq.htm

It simply requires contact with the local FBI office.

Rational people know that murder is a way of life in Iraq, with victims of all ages and both sexes.

Those disposed to buy into "the marines did it", will do so with little or no urging.

Rational people know better.
That muslims love to stage photos and make outrageous claims is neither new nor rare.