Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.S. Military Denies New Abuse Allegations at Ishaqi (Marines Exonerated from Killings)
abcnews ^ | June 2, 2006 | JONATHAN KARL

Posted on 06/02/2006 12:43:57 PM PDT by demlosers

Officials Conclude Troops Followed Rules of Engagement

Horrific images of Iraqi adults and children have fueled new allegations that U.S. troops killed civilians in the Iraqi town of Ishaqi. But ABC News has learned that military officials have completed their investigation and concluded that U.S. forces followed the rules of engagement.

A senior Pentagon official told ABC News the investigation concluded that the allegations of intentional killings of civilians by American forces are unfounded.

Military commanders in Iraq launched an investigation soon after the mid-March raid in the village of Ishaqi, about 50 miles north of Baghdad.

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell will make a statement about the Ishaqi allegations today in Baghdad, ABC News has learned.

In Ishaqi, American forces were going after a high-value terrorist target they succeeded in apprehending. The U.S. military reported in March that four people died when the troops destroyed a house from the air and ground.

But previously unaired video shot by an AP Television News cameraman at the time shows at least five children dead, several with obvious bullet wounds to the head. One adult male is also seen dead.

"Children were stuck in the room, alone and surrounded," an unidentified man said on the video.

A total of 11 people died, according to Iraqis on the scene. The Iraqis said the people were killed by U.S. troops before the house was destroyed.

Other Incidents in Question

The allegations in Ishaqi surfaced amid several other alleged incidents that have raised questions about the behavior of U.S. troops in Iraq.

Military sources told ABC News that charges will likely be filed against officers up the chain of command in connection with the killing of 24 civilians by U.S. Marines in Haditha, Iraq, in November 2005.

Among those who may be charged are senior officers whom officials believe were not on the scene at the time of the killings but should have been aware that something had happened and done something about it.

On Thursday, the White House confirmed that an investigation began nearly three months after the Haditha killings, after Time Magazine showed a video to a military spokesman.

(Page 2 of 3)

Until then, the military insisted the civilians in Haditha had been killed by a roadside bomb.

Two Women Killed

On Wednesday in Samarra, a pregnant woman named Nahiba Jassim and her cousin, Saliha Hassan, were killed by gunfire when their car entered what the U.S. military called a clearly marked, prohibited area near a checkpoint and observation post manned by coalition forces.

According to the military, the driver of the car ignored signals and commands to stop, so troops fired shots to disable the vehicle.

Facing a constant threat of deadly attacks by insurgents, American forces in Iraq are allowed to fire in self-defense if they believe they are in danger. One of the survivors of the incident told ABC News they were rushing the pregnant woman to the hospital because she was about to give birth and they didn't know the road was blocked.

Jassim's brother was driving, and he said the soldiers shot straight into their vehicle.

"I didn't see any warning," he says. "I was driving at speed, and they started shooting at us."

Doctors at the hospital tried to save Jassim's baby but failed.

The U.S. military generally compensates the family of any civilian who is killed inadvertently by American forces. It's not known if this will apply in this case.

Iraqi Leaders, President Bush React

The allegations of unwarranted violence have outraged Iraqi officials.

Reacting to video of the Ishaqi incident, Muayed al-Anbaki, chairman of the Iraqi Human Rights Association, said Friday, "It looks like the killing of Iraqi civilians is becoming a daily phenomenon."

On Thursday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called the Haditha allegations "a horrible crime" — his strongest comment on the incident to date.

"This is a phenomenon that has become common among many of the multinational forces," the prime minister said. "No respect for citizens, smashing civilian cars, and killing on a suspicion or a hunch. It's unacceptable."

At the same time, in light of the Haditha investigation, U.S. military commanders have ordered new ethics training for all troops in Iraq.

(Page 3 of 3)

"This is just a reminder for troops either in Iraq or throughout our military that there are high standards expected of them and there are strong rules of engagement," President Bush said. "The Haditha incident is under investigation. Obviously, the allegations are very troubling for me and equally troubling for our military."

Today, Army Brig. Gen. Donald Campbell explained to reporters what he thinks could be behind these incidents.

"Well, I'd say it's difficult to pin down specifically, but obviously, when you're in a combat theater dealing with enemy combatants who don't abide by the law of war, who do acts of indecency, soldiers become stressed, they become fearful," he said. "It's very difficult to determine in some cases on this battlefield who is a combatant and who is a civilian."

Campbell said the military will investigate the allegations.

"It doesn't excuse the acts that have occurred, and we're going to look into them," he said. "But I would say it's stress, fear, isolation and, in some cases, they're just upset. They see their buddies getting blown up on occasion, and they could snap."

Last week, Bush expressed regret for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal — the first incident to raise questions about the military's handling of the war. He called it "the biggest mistake that's happened so far, at least from our country's involvement in Iraq."

ABC News' Hilary Brown and The Associated Press contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: defendourmarines; iraq; ishaqi; murthawatch; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-106 next last
To: demlosers
Military sources told ABC News that charges will likely be filed against officers up the chain of command in connection with the killing of 24 civilians by U.S. Marines in Haditha, Iraq, in November 2005.

If there was a crime committed at the time why aren't the soldiers being charged? Or, are we not being told about that?

21 posted on 06/02/2006 1:33:34 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Make them go home!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: demlosers
The BBC is running this as if it's a fresh new incident with "new" evidence. link
22 posted on 06/02/2006 1:36:46 PM PDT by spunkets
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: demlosers

Paleese- this is only a crime when Americans do it? Where is the balance? (no answer necessary)


23 posted on 06/02/2006 1:36:57 PM PDT by synbad600
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nikos1121

I think they're trying to do that more and more every day.


24 posted on 06/02/2006 1:39:50 PM PDT by moose2004 (You Can Run But You Can't Hide!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: demlosers

All it is is Already Been Chewed news, chewing its cud.
Again.
Any troops home or coming home--wear your uniforms or we won't be able to buy you drinks/your meals. Congratulations, and thanks to you all.
Democrats and their dying news organs are evil. We know who the `good guys' are!


25 posted on 06/02/2006 1:41:03 PM PDT by tumblindice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: demlosers
If a U.S. convoy gets blown to hell. It's news.

Blame President Bush.

If a terrorist shoots up dope to make him feel invincible, uses women and children as sand bags, and kills American troops in ambushes. It's news.

Blame President Bush.

If American soldiers react to seeing their best friends, husbands and fathers blown to bits by terrorists who then scurry into buildings and side streets, and the Americans react by engaging the terrorists and killing them, and "civilians" who may or may not have been aiding the terrorists die in the cross fire. It's news.

Blame President Bush, AND THE "GOD D*MN JARHEAD MARINES" (who the lefties hate the most anyway).

What if American soldiers give years of their lives, limbs, and even their lives liberating a people, giving them a chance for democracy, if they take the fight that first killed 2000+ Americans on U.S. soil back to the enemy, if build the roads and schools and power plants, and help restart a country's strategic industries?

Well, that, my friends, is not news. Moreover, it all would have happened anyway, faster, and without bloodshed if only the U.S. "imperial stormtroopers" hadn't run amoke throughout Iraq and other countries of the world.

That's the American left's playbook, including 98% of all lawyers, 95% of all professional journalists, and 99% of Democrats in the U.S.A..

Every U.S. bodybag, every alleged "atrocity", every IED that kills an American, is just one more "political opportunity" for the Democrats. I never had much use for the Democrats due to policy differences. But prior to the war, when the Democrats allied themselves with the political positions of those killing U.S. soldiers, or perhaps it was prior to 2000, when Gore tried to subvert Democracy by stealing a Presidential election, or maybe it was back in 1997, when an American President elected by Democrats committed purgery to cover up an "affair" with a college intern, I'm not sure where the line was drawn, but an insurmountable gulf was created.

At this point, I can fully comprehend how individuals must have felt back in 1860, except, of course, that half the Republicans now are busy trying to be Democrats, from the petty corruption to their liberal ideology, to their political opportunism, fighting a war President from their own party. But I can understand how the unthinkable became thinkable, in 1860.

And finally, now, let's all attack the Marines under fire in Iraq. By all means, let's allow the Navy and Marine JAG officers, graduates from the most far radical leftist law schools in the country, built a case from "evidence" months after the fact in a country at war, to denigrate and destroy the Marines who are actually on the firing lines. You've heard the old saying that a good prosecutor could get a Grand Jury to indict a turnip? Well, you've seen nothing until you've seen the UCMJ system go after a soldier or officer once a Congressman, Senator, or "60 minutes" gets their finger into the pie. (Hint: The Jahadists in Iraq have more rights under the new Iraqi constitution than our Soldiers and Marines have under the UCMJ. If JAG and the CofC wants to get these guys, they're toast.)

I won't excuse atrocity or murder by our troops, but I sure as heck do not trust their accusers or prosecutors.

SFS

26 posted on 06/02/2006 1:42:28 PM PDT by Steel and Fire and Stone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mo1

Commanders are responsible for everything that does or does not happen.


27 posted on 06/02/2006 1:45:24 PM PDT by acsrp38 (Warning!!! If we voted against God in NE - we will vote against you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: jocko12

What are the libs going to say when the investigations determine that the murders of innocent civilians in Iraq, being blamed on the US Marines, were actually committed by Al-quaeda?

Will they admit to being dupes?


28 posted on 06/02/2006 1:46:41 PM PDT by Signalman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: demlosers

How do you turn terrorists into a civilians?

Kill'em!


29 posted on 06/02/2006 2:02:33 PM PDT by DonnerT (Government perpetuates political predation!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: demlosers
"This is a phenomenon that has become common among many of the multinational forces," the prime minister said. "No respect for citizens, smashing civilian cars, and killing on a suspicion or a hunch. It's unacceptable."

No, its war. In war, the baddies are going to die, and sadly, anyone standing near them is going to die too. We aren't going to serve subpoenas on them, we aren't going to take them into court, if they are a threat, if they look like a threat, if they are standing near someone who looks like a threat, their life is in grave and imminent danger.

If they fail to slow down for a checkpoint, they and everyone in their car is going to die. They may be perfectly innocent, maybe they got nervous, maybe they're just on their way to the store, maybe their kids are in the car, but if they fail to slow down at a checkpoint they will be launched into the next life right now.

If Dad and his brothers open fire on an squad of marines, they have signed their death warrant, and the chances are that everyone in the house with them will die right along with them. Its tragic, its a shame, but its so certain an outcome that it may as well be a natural law of the universe. Open fire, trigger an IED in the company of your wife and kids, and you have very likely just killed them. The bullets that take you out will not stop with you.

If you are an insurgent leader, and you are unlucky enough to have found a place on our "high value target" list, there is a hellfire missile with your name on it, and anyone standing near you when it launches is going to die with you. Its a guarantee. They may be innocent, they may play no part in the war at all, but they will die along with their uncle, the "high value target".

There is no point in apologizing about it. You may feel bad about it, but the blame lays with the man who picked up rifle and attacked from amidst a crowd of non-combatants. You can try to protect them, but its inevitable that some will die thanks to the stupidity and cowardice of their uncle, dad, son, brother.

30 posted on 06/02/2006 2:04:42 PM PDT by marron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: demlosers; All
I just called the traitors at AP who published this lie today (phone number 212 621 1500) and I asked them to withdraw their bogus article about this supposed massacre by our troops of Iraqi civilian in March now after the military proved it is a total lie. The AP traitors kept transferring from one a**hole to another and the last SOB was very angry and he hung up the phone on me.

Please call the traitors at AP and show them who they really are: Liars and Traitors.

31 posted on 06/02/2006 2:15:11 PM PDT by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: twigs
Yes it is different one but it was part of the massive offensive of lies that that the traitors in the democrat party and their media have been launching in the last few days against our troops and the war in Iraq under the new found subject of "American troops killing Iraqi civilians". Now this one is a proven a total lie and the traitors offensive have been crushed.
32 posted on 06/02/2006 2:18:04 PM PDT by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: demlosers

I'm sure they are real disappointed about the outcome of this case over at DU


33 posted on 06/02/2006 2:34:41 PM PDT by Nokia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wolfstar

Republican Bill Schuster is the Rep. for District 9 in PA not John Murtha:

Details here:

http://www.house.gov/list/press/pa09_shuster/flight93goldmedals.html


34 posted on 06/02/2006 2:35:13 PM PDT by JulieRNR21 (Katherine Harris is 'In It to Win It' .....Go here: http://www.electharris.org/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: jveritas

It doesnt matter if they are innocent, the damage is done.

Proganda win for the enemy, thanks to the media. Things like this can have more of an effect on the entire military operation then any IED or beheading.

The media needs to realize that they are aiding the enemy and I'm not being paranid or over-patriotic. This is real, the enemy knows the media can easily be manpulated because of the overall political agenda.

The media needs to reevaluate journalism ethics in the time of war more thn our soldiers needing "sensitivy trianing."


35 posted on 06/02/2006 2:37:32 PM PDT by AmericanYankee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: marron

Thank you. The voice of reason. you just made my day!


36 posted on 06/02/2006 2:40:03 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie (Illegal Aliens....STFU!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: DevSix

I agree...Support Our Troops!!!


37 posted on 06/02/2006 2:40:53 PM PDT by katiedidit1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: demlosers
ABC News Denies Psychotic Hatred of US Military; Says Headlines Are 'Not Biased'
38 posted on 06/02/2006 2:43:58 PM PDT by pabianice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JulieRNR21
Republican Bill Schuster is the Rep. for District 9 in PA not John Murtha

Thanks. Much appreciated. So the fellow who lost a son in Iraq and calls Sean Hannity often was either wrong or lying.

Yesterday, someone claiming to be a colonel serving in Iraq called in to Rush's show. He said some powerful things. This morning Rush said checks with the Army showed there is no such person serving in Iraq.

Both are good examples of how careful we all must be re what is said on public forms. At least here on FR, info can and often is corrected quickly, as you just did. Thanks again.

39 posted on 06/02/2006 2:44:47 PM PDT by Wolfstar (So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn, There's vultures and thieves at your back...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Tulsa Ramjet
If the iraqis soldiers and security would step up to the plate and take more control of their nation,

let's face it...it isn't going to happen. They, the people of Iraq, are not willing to fight for freedom. Sure they went out and voted, under the watchful eye of the coalition...but they really don't want freedom.

40 posted on 06/02/2006 2:54:14 PM PDT by EBH (We're too PC to understand WAR has been declared upon us and the enemy is within.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-106 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson