Posted on 06/03/2006 8:26:22 AM PDT by Carl/NewsMax
A 12-year old survivor of the alleged massacre of innocent civilians by U.S. Marines patrolling Haditha has admitted she had prior knowledge of the plot to detonate an IED as their convoy was passing by her house on the morning of Nov. 19, 2005.
In a CNN interview broadcast Wednesday, Safa Younis - who says eight members of her family were killed by U.S. troops - recalled that she was getting ready for school as the Marine Humvee approached.
"I was planning to go to school. I was about to go out of bed. I knew the bomb would explode so I covered my ears," the youngster said, according to a CNN translator.
"The bomb [then] exploded," she explained. "The bomb struck an armored vehicle. I don't know if it was a Humvee or an armored vehicle. When the bomb exploded, they came straight to my house."
Younis complained that after the bombing killed Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, his fellow Marines broke down the front door of her house.
"The American forces entered the house and started shooting with their guns. They killed my mother and my sister Nour. They killed her when she shot her in the head. She was only 15 years old. My other sister was shot with seven bullets in the head and she was only 10 years old."
The Haditha co-conspirator continued:
"And my brother Muhammad was hiding under the bed when the U.S. military hit him with the butt of the gun and the started shooting him under the bed. The U.S. military then shot me and I was showered in blood. We couldn't leave the house because the U.S. military surrounded the area with a large number of soldiers."
Younis said she survived by pretending to be dead.
But the "innocent" Haditha 12-year-old failed to give any further details about which other family members knew about the bomb plot. Or whether one of her relatives had detonated the blast.
Has anyone heard any news on whether the Iraqi's are going to "allow" these bodies to be exhumed for REAL autopsies? No ballistics have been mentioned yet.
Iraqis won't exhume... Press eats it up... Marines Guilty as charged no trial no jury... The verdict is in we lose just like vietnam.. Thank a liberal... John Kerry/Murtha congrats you and the media will make this Mai Lai... I can only hope that those Marines you tarnish now will someday pay you the same respect...
If the Iraqis won't exhume, the prosecution really doesn't have a case.
"We want the Americans to be hurt just like us," she told the cameraman from her cousin's house, where she is now living.
In one of the homes, Marines ordered four brothers inside a closet and shot them dead, said the Haditha lawyer, Khaled Salem Rsayef.
Rsayef said several of his relatives _ including a sister, brother-in-law, aunt, uncle and several cousins _ were killed. He and his brother, Salam Salem Rsayef, spoke to The Associated Press by telephone from the Euphrates River town of 90,000 late Thursday and Friday.
Despite the Iraqi government's insistence of cooperation between the U.S. and Iraqi investigations, the Rsayefs said they and other victims' families refused the request several months ago to exhume the bodies, which is prohibited in Islam.
The Rsayef brothers met at least four times with U.S. military investigators looking into the killings. They said the meetings began in February and were held at Samarra General Hospital. The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, the two brothers said, suggesting that the U.S. investigations are not finished.
Khaled Salam Rsayef identified the four brothers killed in the closet as a car dealer, a traffic policeman, an engineer and a local government employee. He said the U.S. military did not compensate their families because the brothers were believed to be insurgents.
The lawyer said his account of what happened was based on his personal observations from the rooftop of his home and windows. He said his house is several dozen yards away from the three homes raided by Marines. The killings, which he did not witness in person, were recounted to him and other members of his family the following day by survivors, he said.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157738,00.html
RALEIGH, N.C. — A former Wall Street trader who rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks will not be tried on murder charges for killing two suspected Iraqi insurgents, a Marine general decided Thursday.
The decision by Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, commander of the 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune, ends the prosecution of 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano (search), whom prosecutors accused of killing the men without justification.
"Down at the unit level, there was never a question about Ilario's conduct and whether or not he did the right thing," Charles Gittins, Pantano's civilian lawyer, said. "It was up in the higher echelons. The people removed from combat situations needed to put more trust in their officers rather than assuming they're guilty."
"That's exciting, isn't it," said Pantano's mother, Merry Pantano of New York, who said she hadn't yet spoken to her son about the decision. "Needless to say, we are quite ecstatic."
The two Iraqis were killed during an April 2004 search outside a suspected terrorist hideout in Mahmudiyah, Iraq. Pantano contended he shot them in self-defense after the men disobeyed his instructions and made a menacing move toward him.
Prosecutors alleged Pantano intended to make an example of the men by shooting them 60 times and hanging a sign over their bodies — "No better friend, no worse enemy," a Marine slogan. While citing self-defense as his motive, Pantano did not deny hanging the sign or shooting the men repeatedly.
An Article 32 hearing (search), the military equivalent of a grand jury session, was held in April. In a report dated May 12, the hearing officer, Lt. Col. Mark Winn, had recommended that the murder charges be dropped.
While finding some problems with Pantano's behavior, Winn concluded that one witness' accusation that Pantano shot the detainees while they were kneeling with their backs to him was not supported by other testimony or evidence.
Witnesses testified the sergeant who was Pantano's main accuser was a weak Marine who was bitter about Pantano removing him from a leadership role within the platoon.
More than a half-dozen Marines who served with Pantano in Iraq praised him in testimony, saying he was an able leader who remained cool in combat and was amiable with Iraqis.
Pantano, 33, is now helping to train troops at Camp Lejeune, but his attorney said he hopes the decision will clear the way for the Marine to return to a combat unit.
"I think (the decision) demonstrates that Ilario acted honorably in combat and the suggestion that he didn't that tarnished his reputation was unjustified," Gittins said. "I'm pleased for Ilario and his family because the nightmare is over."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157738,00.html
Good movie for you to review.. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT....
See post #84.
Despite the Iraqi government's insistence of cooperation between the U.S. and Iraqi investigations, the Rsayefs said they and other victims' families refused the request several months ago to exhume the bodies, which is prohibited in Islam.
Why so, after all she's seen them for years?
Oh but the media will try this case in the court of public opinion on the War in Iraq... The media won't apologize for the drive by on these Marines and more Americans get hypnotized right before an election...
Then there is no real case against them. Pictures won't hack it, and the only real witness (a child) has made conflicting statements and may have dual loyalty.
I just would be so grateful if this thing turns out different from what Murtha, the media and Hissy Matthews and his crowd are crowing for.
Based on what I know to this point, I'm not feeling so good about it.
I admire the Marines tremendously and hope they may have erred but did not cross the line.
I've heard the families have refused (though perhaps there is still a family member that might come forward and say "ok"....but I doubt it).
These Marines completely deserve the benefit of the doubt until clear and substantial evidence proves otherwise -
Over zealous JAGs are a real problem (Just like in the Civilian side).
See? This is what happens when one doesn't read the WHOLE thread:) Thanks, TexKat.
I would expect the pressure on the family by the US is pretty intense- it's not going to be a conclusive investigation without ballistics...and CREDIBLE autopsies.
No wonder they're resisting.
When "she" first saw the perpetrators plant the bomb, why didn't she call 911???
If it wasn't possible for some reason or other, our task should NOW be to make it possible, safe, and even lucrative, to do so.
Hey, SWEET OLD BILL, that's my name too!!
Yessir, SOB, you is done went and stole my name.
And since Saturday will be my 80th birthday, I'll bet I've had that name longer nor you.
signed/SOB
:^)
His lips are moving..
DoD Identifies 13 Casualties - June 3
By: United States Department of Defense
Published: Jun 3, 2006 at 08:45
The Department of Defense announced today the death of thirteen soldiers and marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Brock L. Bucklin, 28, of Grand Rapids, Mich., died May 31, in Balad, Iraq, of a non-combat related cause. Bucklin was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Sgt. Benjamin E. Mejia, 25, of Salem, Mass., died in Marez, Iraq, on May 31, of non-combat related causes. Mejia was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
Cpl. Alexander J. Kolasa, 22, of White Lake, Mich., died in
Baghdad, Iraq, on May 31, of non-combat related causes. Kolasa was assigned to the 704th Main Support Battalion, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Spc. Bobby R. West, 23, of Beebe, Ark., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 30, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated during dismounted patrol operations. West was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Capt. James A. Funkhouser, 35, of Katy, Texas, died in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 29, of injuries sustained when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during reconnaissance patrol operations. Funkhouser was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Cpl. Richard A. Bennett, 25, of Girard, Kan. and
Capt. Nathanael J. Doring, 31, of Apple Valley, Minn. died May 30, following a non-hostile helicopter accident near Al Taqaddum, Iraq, on May 27. Both were assigned to Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-169, Marine Aircraft Group-39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Spc. Jeremy M. Loveless, 25, of Estacada, Ore., died in Mosul, Iraq on May 29, when his Stryker came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations. Loveless was assigned to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
Spc. J. Adan Garcia, 20, of Irving, Texas, died on May 27, when his convoy encountered small arms fire received while returning from an explosive ordinance mission. Garcia was assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
Capt. Douglas A. Dicenzo, 30, of Plymouth, N.H. and
Spc. Robert E. Blair, 22, of Ocala, Fla. died in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 25, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
Lance Cpl. Kevin A. Lucas, 20, of Greensboro, N.C., died May 26, while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Pfc. Caleb A. Lufkin, 24, of Knoxville, Ill., died on May 25, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., of injuries sustained on May 4, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq. Lufkin was assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Let our soldiers loose to prosecute the war the way they deem necessary.
Afterall, it's their a$$es in danger, not ours.
The next time a Hadithan insurgent thinks about planting an IED, he may think twice about putting his relatives and neighbors in jeopardy.
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