Marine commandant says Fallujah shooting incident still under investigation

AFP ^ | 2/24/05

[TexKat]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Marine Corps' commandant said an investigation was still open into the actions of a Marine who was captured on videotape killing a wounded Iraqi at point blank range during November's assault on Fallujah.

General Michael Hagee denied a CBS News report Wednesday that investigators have concluded there is insufficient evidence to charge the Marine.

"That report is not correct. The investigation is still ongoing. There has been no decision one way or the other," Hagee said at a breakfast with defense reporters.

Once the investigation is completed it will go to the US combatant commander, General John Abizaid, he said.

The November 13 shooting occurred during a search of a mosque in a widely broadcast incident that sparked worldwide outrage and was described by the International Committee of the Red Cross as a demonstration of "utter contempt for humanity."

But Hagee said that email he has received from members of the public has expressed "strong support for the individual marine, and we ought to do nothing on that."

He said the volume of email he had received on the matter was high compared to the response to other incidents.

In the incident, a trooper raised his rifle and shot point blank at an apparently unarmed, wounded Iraqi who was slumped against one of the mosque walls, in footage captured by an embedded cameraman working for the NBC network.

Although the insurgents were found to be unarmed, investigators said the one the Marine believed he had seen moving could have been reaching for a weapon.

The rifleman was withdrawn from combat pending the results of the investigation, but the graphic footage enraged many, months after the scandal over US troops' abuse of inmates at the Abu Ghraib prison.

The raid on Fallujah, part of an attempt at reclaiming key lawless enclaves across the country ahead of January elections, has been the largest military operation in Iraq since the March 2003.

[TexKat]

General Michael Hagee, seen here in 2004 denied a CBS News report Wednesday that investigators have concluded there is insufficient evidence to charge the Marine(AFP/File/Stephen Jaffe)

[TexKat]

Marine commandant says Fallujah shooting incident still under investigation. Ping!!!

I'm getting mighty sick and tired of some of these media outlets.

[JohnnyZ]

Sounds like this is going nowhere, so hopefully the Marine will be cleared and we can all go back to shooting terrorists in peace.

[tfecw]

why did he say that CBS's reports weren't correct.
I would have said something like....

"CBS's report was lie and a blatant disregard for the facts. CBS's report was a blatant attempt to undermind are investigation are pressing the appropriate charges"

[tfecw]

hmm insert an "and we" in the appropriate place ;)

[MEG33]

I am disappointed by this news...I am not surprised that the media made an error.

[ArmyBratproud]

Wow...you mean CBS misreported what the story really was???

No Shock there. They did the same with Vietnam.

Gannon may have a freakish past...but it seems the guy's reporting is better than the reporting of CBS.

[TexKat]

Marine commandant says Fallujah shooting incident still under investigation ping.

[CAluvdubya]

The only surprise in CBS's reporting is that they didn't say the Marine had been convicted of murder. That is usually CBS's take on things.

[BushisTheMan]

The November 13 shooting occurred during a search of a mosque in a widely broadcast incident that sparked worldwide outrage and was described by the International Committee of the Red Cross as a demonstration of "utter contempt for humanity."

One more reason NOT to give any Tsunami donations to this organization (International version anyway).

[sean327]

Why do these A$$clowns continue to call Marines troopers? Last time I checked there were no crossed swords on mine or any other Marines uniforms!

[DustyMoment]

In the incident, a trooper raised his rifle and shot point blank at an apparently unarmed, wounded Iraqi who was slumped against one of the mosque walls, in footage captured by an embedded cameraman working for the NBC network.

Ok, I guess I'm a little slow. Why is this being investigated? As I recall (and by his own admission) John F'n Kerry gave himself a Silver Star for beaching his boat (against SOP), chasing down a wounded, half-naked Vietnamese teenager (wounded by a round from the boat's .50 cal guns) and killing him.

So, please, someone help me understand why this trooper is being investigated for killing a TERRORIST MURDERER!!!!??????

[TexKat]

Marine commandant says Fallujah shooting incident still under investigation. Ping!!!

[mortal19440]

This is CBS trying to poison the water and get the public riled up about a Marine getting off without punishment. The Marines are more than capable of investigating this without CBS rumors. I am sure the Marine in question will get a fair shake and hopefully be returned to duty without any punishment. The next person these A-holes will go after is the 1st Lt. who killed the two terrorists while being attacked. If they raise enough stink they might be able to effect the decision. Fortunately, the Marines have resisted bowing to media pressure better than the other services, hopefully that will be the case in these two investigations. This old squid has his fingers crossed.

[maxwellp]

CBS - can't believe anything they report. The International Red Cross - has a very bad reputation amongst our military from previous wars. So, may I recommend with give this Marine the medal he deserves.

[night reader]

The US Marine Corps' commandant said an investigation was still open into the actions of a Marine who was captured on videotape killing a wounded Iraqi at point blank range during November's assault on Fallujah.

Seems to me the only investigation should be to determine whether to award him the Bronze Star or the Silver Star.

[Raycpa]

Seems like the trial ballon must have taken a lot of leftist anger.

[TexKat]

Marine commandant says Fallujah shooting incident still under investigation. Ping!!!

[kc2theline]

CBS original source, ugghhh. Hopefully it will still turn out right for this marine doing his duty. " We were fired upon from this mosque sir. Yes sir, we followed the rules of engagement and did not destroy this holy place of worship. We put ourselves in harms way and went inside to engage the enemy directly sir. One of the wounded AIF started moving, so, to prevent the possibility of him triggering an explosion that might destroy this holy place of worship and/or inflicting serious injuries to the embedded reporter, I removed the threat. Yes sir, thank you sir." How's that for the PC version?

[506trooper]

seeBS screwed up again?

Say it ain't so Joe, say it aint so.

Crap...that's what I get for wanting to believe yesterdays report.

[bubman]

son of a bitch!!!

wtf?

[rocksblues]

Unf*&^$%g believable!

[Soaring Feather]

bump!!

[TexKat]

Marine commandant says Fallujah shooting incident still under investigation. Ping!!!

[hattend]

Why do these A$$clowns continue to call Marines troopers?

It's hard for the lamestream press to change their spots overnight. The author originally wrote "storm trooper" but the editor of the piece toned it down a bit.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Ditto

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[BykrBayb]

Bttt

[Marine_Uncle]

"Why do these A$$clowns continue to call Marines troopers? Last time I checked there were no crossed swords on mine or any other Marines uniforms!"

Semper Fi Marine. Thank you for having served. To many lilly white soft hands in todays press. They probably don't know the difference between a rifle and a gun.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[blackie]

CBS lied again ~ I can't believe it! /sarcasm

[Marine_Uncle]

"Fortunately, the Marines have resisted bowing to media pressure better than the other services...."
Yea but the Marine Corps. just caved under regarding the class uniform a Marine(s) will wear when accompanying a fallen brother on his last earthy journey. Marines will no longer wear dress blues to visit families of those KIA.

[prairiebreeze]

I thought AFP was the source of what I read last night. I hope this is just formalities or something and that this issue is about to end with the young Marine not charged.

[Kitty Mittens]

Oh, brother, why am I not Surprised! The Media is always Flubbing it!

Praying our Brave Marine will be Cleared of All Charges!

[windchime]

The clarification by General Hagee is very disappointing.

Strange that his reference is to a CBS report because the source for yesterday's post was AFP:

Not enough evidence to charge marine in point-blank Fallujah shooting: report
AFP ^ | 2/23/05

Posted on 02/23/2005 7:55:07 PM EST by TexKat

[joedelta]

Thanks for the ping! :)

Once the investigation is completed it will go to the US combatant commander, General John Abizaid, he said.

LTG Abizaid is a great American. He was (one of ) my brigade commander(s) when I was in the 504th PIR at Bragg.

If it comes back to him, he'll do the right thing.

[Steve Van Doorn]

"I thought AFP was the source of what I read last night."

I am a little confused why CBS is sited as the source?

[aBootes]

Thanks for the ping. Appreciate it.

[SE Mom]

Ping for marine on hold......

Thanks for the ping TexKat:)

[Ciexyz]

Nooooooooooooooooo!!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Who wants to bet that Hanoi Kerry didn't
pull some strings to keep this "investigation" open!"

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!

[Little Bill]

I had crossed rifles on mine and I was proud to be called Trooper, get over it.

[Soaring Feather]

bump to the top

[cedarswingman]

Thanks for the ping.

[JLO]

This really sucks! I just read and responded to yesterday's thread about this. Thought it was all settled. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1349751/posts

[KiloLima]

No way. Bad sign. BTW, where is Cpl. Hassoun? Does anyone know?

[KiloLima]

By the time I responded to your ping, Ros, this update came across the wire. The case is not closed, according to the Marines. It should have been closed right after the mission in question. But, thanks to Kevin Sites (don't forget that name!), it became an "incident."

[KiloLima]

I'm not a betting woman. ;-]

[windchime]

Bump!