U.S. Marines Rally Round Iraq Probe Comrade

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20041116/2004-11-16T153656Z_01_L16269777_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-FALLUJA-INVESTIGATION-DC.html ^ | 11/16/04 | Michael Georgy

[jarcolaNY]

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 f***ing 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.

[injin]

check out his website

http://www.kevinsites.net/

the man is no newbie, I first saw his reports from the northern front , 173rd AB AO , when Iraqi Freedom kicked off.
He had real long hair at the time . I thought "wow! a hippy combat journalista!" So he's been tailing along the doggies
for quite awhile now .
I think he should have given the footage to NIS or somebody,
but not throw it straight to the media sharks.
Now he shall either have to leave or watch his own backside
in Iraq , me thinks....

[Dick Vomer]

The NBC correspondent should go back and embed with the same Marine unit when they hit Mosul.

He'll never go back with a Marine Unit in country for an extended night op. He may do so during the day, he may do it with a camera on him... but his days of going with the troops "anonymously" are done.

Nobody will cover his "6". They wouldn't kill him but that doesn't mean he wouldn't die. It's awful lonely on a battelfield, especially if you are the odd man out.

Kevin Sites should proudly wear the scalp of every Marine who hesitates and dies due to a "fake" surrender or "rigged" body. NBC should be covered with the blood of every Marine as well. Rest well Kevin... you did a great job for the insurgents today. You may get more Marines killed than the islamo-thugs.

[FrankRepublican]

Why fight is the MSM, NBC/General Electric and others try to undermine everything they try to do.

[Redleg Duke]

Damn Right!

[milagro]

How about some OUTRAGE from Amnesty International about the beheadings and the murders of innocent civilians like Mrs. Hassan! Those are scandals--just like the Oil for Food program--but we don't have constant media attention on those issues!! I HATE MORAL EQUIVALENCY!!!

[SE Mom]

My mantra this week: Please call the Commandant of the Marine Corps - 703-614-2500 and offer your support for this young marine.

During my conversation with the marine who answered the phone it became clear they're getting plenty of negative "feedback" from the public.

They deserve better.

[arasina]

"...if the shoot was righteous, the Marine has nothing to fear. The USMC JAG is not known for giving a s**t what the lamestream press has to say."

Thank you for that positive reminder. Meanwhile, WE can continue to push for change in the way the media reports.

[crazyhorse691]

I still have not seen or heard anything that convinces me that this Marine did anything wrong. The Geneva Conventions are a series of wartime rules ,which, when I can find it I will post it,also prohibits against using wounded or the dead to further combat. Of course, beheading probably doesn't fall under the GCs. Just things the US Military does are covered.

[Brad’s Gramma]

My mantra this week: Please call the Commandant of the Marine Corps - 703-614-2500 and offer your support for this young marine.

Repeat for anyone scanning this thread!

[jackieaxe]

to airborne: Well said. Right now MSNBC is talking about Court Marshall procedures with an Army judge advocate asking questions like "will it matter that this insurgent was a prisoner". It makes me sick. A prisoner? It was a mosque where the Marines had just taken fire from, not a prison. I still find NBC's behavior hard to believe. Of course those crooks at the UN and the Arab press are running away with this story. Maybe NBC News should move from New York City to Paris if they want to be an unbiased international news organization. This behavior is treasonous and should not be tolerated. Why does everyone on TV sound like they are routing against us?

[Hotdog]

They need to tell the MSM they are on there own...and quit giving invitations! Let the solders do there job!...and if the MSM interferes...nick thy bastards in the butt and give them something to really call home about!

[kingu]

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.

I'd really like to know why editors let their reporters get away with stuff like this.. I mean, yeah, I know, media bias, but there is a line one can cross... '...a man who later was shown to be unarmed and wounded...' The funny thing is that they'll bend over backwards to say 'allegedly' about any murderer, yet a soldier doesn't even get the same grace.

[Ptarmigan]

Same here.

[airborne]

Amnesty International is like the ACLU. They only help communist causes.

[ezo4]

wounded? who cares. Im just saying

These young guys were saving there ass. end of f*cking discussion.

If you were there what would you do. after two or three days of getting shot at around this place. You walk into a room and see a body that could have a rifle or grenade to turn on you

What would you do? ??? what you should do is put a round through said supposedly bad guys head/spinal stem and eliminate the threat to you and your palls in a tenth of a second.

done

what the hell is up with the media - f#ck em

this man saved his life and others as well

stupid news, Im watching this crap on tv now . Its a bunch bull**** what there saying

[LadyPilgrim]

I support the troops!

I support the troops!

I support the troops!

God Bless the United States Military!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[drpix]

[ From another FR posting on Hezbollah jihadis in Lebanon. ] Here is what this country is up against: women parading as suicide bombers, boys raised worshiping hate and murder becoming islamo-nazi men.

WAKE UP! Americans who can't support ALL our guys in Iraq should go live in Lebanon.

[Dubya]

I support America and our troops.

[Ramonan]

Looks like a DirtBag to me.

[SuperLuminal]

Now....if we could just get the FR admin to rally around our MARINES....