The soldier did what we wanted him to do, he just did not follow the book precisely. So what? Give him a reprimand, and get on with it.
Posted on 11/16/2004 7:01:14 AM PST by areafiftyone
FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. Marines rallied round a comrade under investigation for killing a wounded Iraqi during the offensive in Falluja, saying he was probably under combat stress in unpredictable, hair-trigger circumstances.
Marines interviewed on Tuesday said they didn't see the shooting as a scandal, rather the act of a comrade who faced intense pressure during the effort to quell the insurgency in the city.
"I can see why he would do it. He was probably running around being shot at for days on end in Falluja. There should be an investigation but they should look into the circumstances," said Lance Corporal Christopher Hanson.
"I would have shot the insurgent too. Two shots to the head," said Sergeant Nicholas Graham, 24, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "You can't trust these people. He should not be investigated. He did nothing wrong."
The military command launched an investigation after video footage showed a U.S. Marine shooting a wounded and unarmed man in a mosque in the city on Saturday. The man was one of five wounded and left in the mosque after Marines fought their way through the area.
A pool report by NBC correspondent Kevin Sites said the mosque had been used by insurgents to attack U.S. forces, who stormed it, killing 10 militants and wounding the five. Sites said the wounded had been left for others to pick up.
A second group of Marines entered the mosque on Saturday after reports it had been reoccupied. Footage from the embedded television crew showed the five still in the mosque, although several appeared to be close to death, Sites said.
He said a Marine noticed one prisoner was still breathing.
A Marine can be heard saying on the pool footage provided to Reuters Television: "He's fucking faking he's dead."
"The Marine then raises his rifle and fires into the man's head," Sites said.
NBC said the Marine, who had reportedly been shot in the face himself the previous day, said immediately after the shooting: "Well, he's dead now."
THOROUGH PROBE PROMISED
The Marine commander in Falluja, Lieutenant General John Sattler, said his men followed the law of conflict and held themselves to a high standard of accountability.
"The facts of this case will be thoroughly pursued to make an informed decision and to protect the rights of all persons involved," he said.
Marines have repeatedly described the rebels they fought against in Falluja as ruthless fighters who didn't play by the rules. They say the investigation is politically motivated.
"It's all political. This Marine has been under attack for days. It has nothing to do with what he did," said Corporal Keith Hoy, 23.
Rights group Amnesty International said on Monday both sides in the Falluja fighting had broken the rules of war governing the protection of civilians and wounded combatants.
Gunnery Sergeant Christopher Garza, 30, favored an investigation but like other Marines said the Pentagon should weigh its decision carefully.
"He should have captured him. Maybe the insurgent had some valuable information. There may have been mitigating circumstances. Maybe his two buddies died in Falluja," he said.
Sites said: "I have witnessed the Marines behaving as a disciplined and professional force throughout this offensive. In this particular case, it certainly was a confusing situation to say the least."
The U.S. military has been embarrassed by scandals in Iraq, most prominently the Abu Ghraib affair in which at least eight U.S. soldiers have been tried or face courts-martial over the abuse of prisoners at the jail outside Baghdad.
There have also been several cases in which soldiers have been charged with wrongfully killing Iraqis during operations.
It's not too hard to beleive he would to what he had to to protect himself & the rest of the squad.
Sounds to me like he shot a dead terrorist making sure he could not blow himself up and kill the Marines friends and officers...
The reporter needs to be beaten severely
imo
The man feared for his life and those of his platoon. Enough said!
Hey, these desk weenies are condemning this guy being shot at and protecting his buddies.
I say give the guy a couple of beers.
Our great Liberal MSM is already trying him.
Contrary to what the liberal media would have the public believe, war is not Hollywood.
There are no "second takes!"
And if anyone thinks they can do a better job, they are welcome to enlist.
In fact, I will be glad to take them down to the Marine Corps recruiter myself.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
The soldier did what we wanted him to do, he just did not follow the book precisely. So what? Give him a reprimand, and get on with it.
Hail our Fallujah heroes! Give that Marine a medal and let him kill more terrorists.
The press needs another Abu Ghraib scandal to dull the shine of this stunning American victory.
What a filthy, rotten, steaming pile they are.
The press pool is a cess pool.
Get them out of there.
Amen. Testify!
---it should be pointed out to the media that during early WW2, upon discovering that the Japs practised deception with booby-trapped wounded and dead that it became SOP to shoot them again to be sure they were harmless--it was reported in the media as a sign that GI's were becoming experienced and wise to the ways of the enemy---
GOD I HATE THE MEDIA!!
I agree. He should be treated like a hero. All of these lib talking heads are trying to judge this guy from behind their desks in their studios not knowing what it's like to be there. I don't know what it's like to be there either, but I could imagine, and I would have done the same thing if I were him.
It also shows that the WWII reporters were patriotic Americans, unlike this hippie f***ing scum from NBC.
Our media is in the same league as Al-Jazeera.
This is nothing John Kerry didn't do and won the Silver Star for it. Politics is definitely involved and the Old Media is trying to run with it.
"The man feared for his life and those of his platoon"
This Marine did not fear for anything. This Marine was in combat and as one who has spent some time in combat I can tell you that in such circumstances, you don't go around and check ID's and take a poll to decide whether to shoot the S.O.B. who is shooting at you.
YOU KILL THE BASTARD!
Any questions?
I thought not!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Someone on another thread suggested killing the reporter. Please explain to me what he did to deserve a severe beating.
Should read ... "overblown, media-hyped scandal..."
Sorry but these POSs don't want to play by the rules then neither should we. They did the same thing in Desert Storm, fake surrenders and fake deaths. They need to be eradicated from the face of the earth.
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