Reuters Reported 'Bodies In The Street' At Haditha

Reuters/Sweetness & Light ^ | June 8, 2006 | N/A

[Sam Hill]

A report filed the day after the alleged "massacre" by Saudi-owned Reuters:

A frame grab from a video provided to Reuters on March 21, 2006 by Hamourabi Human rights group shows a body being carried, which Hamourabi says was loaded onto a truck with bodies of a family shot dead in their home in Haditha, in western Anbar province, Iraq.

US details Haditha shoot-out

Last Update: Sunday, November 20, 2005. 9:15pm

A roadside bomb that killed a US Marine in the restive town of Haditha on Saturday also killed 15 Iraqi civilians and led to intense clashes with insurgents.

The powerful bomb detonated as a US military convoy was passing through the town, which is 220 kilometres north-west of Baghdad.

The US military says immediately after the blast, gunmen opened fire on the convoy.

US and Iraqi soldiers returned fire, killing eight insurgents and wounding another in a firefight.

A cameraman working for Reuters in Haditha says bodies had been left lying in the street for hours after the attack.

He says the town has been virtually shut down for the past two days as US and Iraqi forces try to impose order.

US troops have been trying for months to quell the insurgency in Haditha and other Sunni Arab towns on the Euphrates.

It was suspected several months ago that Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was hiding out in the area.

The casualties from Saturday's blast raised the death toll from attacks across Iraq over the past three days to at least 166.

Sunni-led insurgents are stepping up their battle against US and Iraqi forces ahead of parliamentary elections in December.

The cameraman from Reuters was undoubtedly Ali Omar Abrahem al-Mashhadani, shown here after his recent release from prison:

At the time of the Haditha incident, al-Mashhadani had just been released from a year in detention by the US and Iraqi government for his ties to the insurgency.

And yet even al-Mashhadani reports that there were bodies "left lying in the streets."

We have subsequently been told that the Marines went from house to house (now up to 20 houses) and killed people "execution style" in each house. (For example, in the caption for the video grab above.)

Why would there be "bodies had been left lying in the street for hours after the attack"?

And didn't the Reuters cameraman take photos? Why haven't we seen them since?

Aren't they important?

[Sam Hill]

Some more odd discrepancies.

[Sam Hill]

More Haditha questions ping.

[freedomson]

Whenever you have a lot of muslims living together there tends to be bodies in the street. Often without heads attached, as is their way.

[ZULU]

Actually, "HADITH-A" like Fallujah, should have been given the Sodom and Gomorrah Treatment from the skies.

Then none of this nonesense would have happened.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Sounds like a terrorist setup cooked up exclusively for Liberals and RINOs in Congress via the Liberal MSM. Meanwhile, our Marines are sacrificed in the name of PC. Here's an interesting letter I read today on Savage's website regarding the treatment of our brave soldiers.

Dear Dr. Savage:

My Secretary handed me a document this evening which stunned me. It was a document from the investigation which had been scanned and e-mailed to my office by a member of the media. I don’t know who leaked the document- - whether it was an "unnamed Pentagon official," NCIS, or a politician with an agenda- - but I do know that it is an outrage that the only piece of documentary evidence I’ve seen so far in this case came from a member of the media and not from the Marine Corps. As my client sits shackled in solitary confinement in the Marine Corps Brig with charges yet to be filed, the Marine Corps has stooped to leaking portions of the investigation in order to advance their case in the media.

This maneuver calculated solely for the benefit of an agenda constitutes a miscarriage of justice to the prejudice of my client and all involved. The intentional circulation of this document should shock the conscience of all Americans concerned with the fair treatment of our men and women in uniform. I am outraged that government officials would trample on the constitutional rights of a decorated military member in an effort to meet an agenda. This type of malicious action jeopardizes any chance my client and these Marines might have had for a fair trial. An independent congressional inquiry should commence to investigate this impermissible conduct.

In a similar vein, I am troubled by the "unlawful command influence" at the highest levels. When the commander-in-chief and other high level military officials are passing on the guilt of these men and making statements regarding punishment based on pure conjecture, what message is that sending to their military subordinates who will be charged with rendering a fair judgment in this case? Any potential military juror has already seen and heard their superiors at the highest levels intimate their personal verdicts. That kind of influence is patently unjust and, I’m afraid, will operate to taint the judgment of what is supposed to be an impartial fact-finder. My client’s opportunity for justice has been irreparably compromised even before the first charge has been filed.

It is a sad day in military justice when honor on the battlefield takes a back seat to political agendas.

Thanks again for your support. You are a true American.

Jeremiah J. Sullivan, III
Law Offices of Jeremiah J. Sullivan, III

Shackled Marine Update

[pissant]

Yep. The lies are being exposed.

[ZULU]

I agree whole-heartedly with the good attorney.

War is war and war is hell. You can't fight a war successfully by acting like a choirboy, espceially when dealing with fanatics.

The WHOLE town probably knew that bomb was there and they were waiting in gleeful anticipation to see American bodies blown up.

We should have blown up the entire town, not just a few dozen bodies.

[Mo1]

Any comment from Time about this article??

[ExTexasRedhead]

IMO, we should have sent all our Liberals into Haditha first as they have all the answers about war and what is politically correct. We can certainly depend on them to defend our country and our security and to know how to fight fanatics. Why sacrifice our brave soldiers when we have plenty of Liberals with all the answers to go first? For example, Murtha, John Kerry, Teddy Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Howard Dean, and the rest of the brainless ones.

[Patriot Hooligan]

"Sometimes I wish that people would take this war more seriously." General George S. Patton

"There is nothing democratic about war. It is a straight dictatorship. The use of force to attain the end desired." General George S. Patton

"May God deliver us from our friends; we can handle the enemy." (Anonymous to me.)

[mass55th]

"US and Iraqi soldiers returned fire, killing eight insurgents and wounding another in a firefight."

This report says Iraqi soldiers were with the Marines. Have any of these Iraqi soldiers come forward to claim Marines went on a rampage? Pardon me if this info has already been released to the public. I was out of the country from April 23rd through May 26th and had no access to US news. I'm now just getting back on track with what's been going on.

[delacoert]

List of recent Haditha incident threads:

• Blog Reuters Reported 'Bodies In The Street' At Haditha. Source: Reuters/Sweetness & Light ^, on 06/08/2006 9:16:55 AM CDT by Sam Hill. (4 replies)
• Haditha Part I. Source: The Evening Bulletin ^, on 06/08/2006 8:45:26 AM CDT by Miami Vice. (2 replies)
• No Retreat, No Retraction, No Comment From Marines (Drive by Media.... completely unhinged). Source: Washington Post ^, on 06/08/2006 8:05:25 AM CDT by IrishMike. (18 replies)
• Blog Our Marines are in SHACKLES?!. Source: Euphoric Reality ^, on 06/08/2006 1:02:29 AM CDT by American Cabalist . (9 replies)
• Reuters Cameraman in Haditha-No Mention of Massacre. Source: ABC News Online Australia ^, on 06/08/2006 12:58:33 AM CDT by SBD1. (22 replies)
• Marine Commandant 'Gravely Concerned' Over Alleged Misconduct in Iraq. Source: American Forces Press Service ^, on 06/07/2006 8:02:23 PM CDT by SandRat. (24 replies)
• [Blog] Why Did "Rights Group" Delay Revealing Haditha "Massacre"?. Source: AP on Sweetness & Light ^, on 06/07/2006 5:56:26 PM CDT by Sam Hill. (51 replies)
• Outspoken ex-candidate resurfaces on veterans, Marine issues. Source: Akron Beacon Journal/AP ^, on 06/07/2006 4:06:36 PM CDT by Coop. (41 replies)
• Iraq Investigator Tells AP About Haditha (gag). Source: WRAL via AP ^, on 06/07/2006 2:37:44 PM CDT by pissant. (27 replies)
• EXCLUSIVE-Marines To Cite War Chaos As Haditha Defense-Source. Source: Reuters Alertnet ^, on 06/07/2006 1:33:01 PM CDT by areafiftyone. (18 replies)
• Officer praises Haditha marines. Source: Sunday Morning Harold ^, on 06/07/2006 9:04:24 AM CDT by pissant. (17 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread: Officer praises Haditha marines [Former platoon leader] by aculeus. (5 replies)
• US military personnel do more good than harm. Source: The Christian Science Monitor ^, on 06/07/2006 8:58:55 AM CDT by presidio9. (9 replies)
• The Haditha Stratagem (we've been set-up...of course). Source: The American Thinker ^, on 06/07/2006 7:16:01 AM CDT by Dark Skies. (17 replies)
• 'Lawfare' Over Haditha (The administration's domestic opponents play into the enemy's hands) . Source: Opinion Journal ^, on 06/07/2006 5:16:52 AM CDT by IrishMike. (39 replies)
• Media dance macabre. Source: Washington Times ^, on 06/07/2006 12:40:58 AM CDT by duckln. (23 replies)
• Air Force Hero To Defend Accused Marines. Source: aero-news.net ^, on 06/07/2006 12:27:45 AM CDT by Names Ash Housewares. (103 replies)
• Senate to hold hearings on Iraq massacre - Haditha. Source: AP on Yahoo ^, on 06/06/2006 9:16:17 PM CDT by NormsRevenge. (81 replies)
• Warner Wants Hearings on Haditha. Source: ABC News ^, on 06/06/2006 9:06:35 PM CDT by xzins. (29 replies)
• [Blog] A Smear You Can't Take back. Source: MichelleMalkin.com ^, on 06/06/2006 7:42:05 PM CDT by jimboster. (26 replies)
• Letter From Iraq (Blasts the MSM) . Source: WSJ ^, on 06/06/2006 6:16:18 PM CDT by pissant. (12 replies)
• [Blog] Did Marine Haditha Photographer Have A Personal Motive?. Source: AP on Sweetness & Light ^, on 06/06/2006 11:30:47 AM CDT by Sam Hill. (42 replies)
• The Press and the Rush to Judgment. Source: New York Sun ^, on 06/06/2006 9:52:07 AM CDT by Coop. (33 replies)
• U.S. Curbs Iraqi Civilian Deaths In Checkpoint, Convoy Incidents. Source: Wall Street Journal ^, on 06/06/2006 8:23:03 AM CDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks. (5 replies)
• Haditha: Reason for Doubt: If the Marines in Iraq were lied about, it wouldn't be the first time.. Source: FrontPageMagazine.com ^, on 06/06/2006 7:44:38 AM CDT by SJackson. (24 replies)
• [Vanity] Hannity and Liberal Nutbag go at it. Source: Hannity and Combs, on 06/05/2006 8:58:20 PM CDT by pabianice. (55 replies)
• Haditha: On the Ground. Source: Foxnews ^, on 06/05/2006 8:59:40 PM CDT by pissant. (49 replies)
• [Blog] Time's McGirk Wanted To Call Haditha "A Massacre". Source: New York Observer on Sweetness & Light ^, on 06/05/2006 2:20:16 PM CDT by Sam Hill. (50 replies)
• Haditha: reasonable Doubt. Source: Hawaii Reporter ^, on 06/05/2006 1:31:50 PM CDT by AndrewWalden. (16 replies)
• Media's Vietnam sin drone. Source: Washington Times ^, on 06/05/2006 12:07:27 PM CDT by pissant. (5 replies)
• “Supporting” the Troops--Why has the mass media already convicted the "Haditha" Marines?. Source: FrontPageMagazine.com ^, on 06/05/2006 7:35:51 AM CDT by SJackson. (45 replies)
• Muttering madman Murtha (pile of doo-doo that keeps coming out of your mouth). Source: World Net Daily ^, on 06/05/2006 7:30:08 AM CDT by IrishMike. (15 replies)
• How innocent are the 'innocents' at haditha ? (the cover-up by the MSM lynch mob). Source: Democracy Project ^, on 06/05/2006 6:42:06 AM CDT by IrishMike. (49 replies)
• [Blog] The Haditha Killings. Source: Michael Yon's Frontline Forum ^, on 06/05/2006 1:16:14 AM CDT by Starman417. (6 replies)
• How Haditha Came to Light. Source: Time ^, on 06/04/2006 10:08:05 PM CDT by MinorityRepublican. (52 replies)
• [Blog] A Brief Comparison of Haditha and St. Lo . Source: NewsBusters ^, on 06/04/2006 11:52:53 AM CDT by Congressman Billybob. (31 replies)
• Haditha, Hotbed of 'haddis or Guilt on the Western Front. Source: Newsmax ^, on 06/04/2006 10:46:23 AM CDT by Valkeri. (7 replies)
• Robert Riech - "We don't know how many Haditha's there are out there" -- Video. Source: This Week on ABC ^, on 06/04/2006 9:24:59 AM CDT by FreedomNeocon. (58 replies)
• Fantastic FR post 'Haditha uncovered' with thorough analysis and links. Source: Post #222 in Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 4 June 2006, on 06/04/2006 9:11:06 AM CDT by Phsstpok.
• Take atrocity claims with grains of salt (Four BIG Reasons). Source: NY DailyNews ^, on 06/04/2006 8:53:18 AM CDT by IrishMike. (31 replies)
• Haditha killings could haunt the GOP in the midterm elections (BS Barf Alert). Source: Newsweek on MSNBC ^, on 06/04/2006 8:30:26 AM CDT by TSchmereL. (13 replies)
• Mark Steyn: Events at Haditha don't change need for victory . Source: Chicago Sun-Times ^, on 06/04/2006 4:22:14 AM CDT by croak. (61 replies)
• Fight a more sensitive, ethical war, troops told. Source: Scotsman.com ^, on 06/03/2006 10:13:28 PM CDT by EnigmaticAnomaly. (95 replies)
• Iraqi survivor wants U.S. troops executed (Haditha). Source: Yahoo! News ^, on 06/03/2006 4:52:25 PM CDT by El Conservador. (53 replies)
• What's Lost in the Hue and Cry Over Haditha. Source: Washington Post ^, on 06/03/2006 2:09:50 PM CDT by baseball_fan. (26 replies)
• [Blog] Innocent Until Proven Guilty...Unless You're A Marine . Source: GOP USA ^, on 06/03/2006 11:37:49 AM CDT by smoothsailing. (70 replies)
• [Satire] War Journalists Get ‘Core Values Training’. Source: ScrappleFace ^, on 06/03/2006 11:36:11 AM CDT by Kaslin. (2 replies)
• [Blog] UK Times Smears our Marines. Source: Michelle Malkin.Com ^, started on 06/03/2006 11:13:05 AM CDT by spanalot. (17 relies)
            See also Duplicate thread on 06/03/2006 3:20:19 PM CDT by GilGil. (17 replies)
• [Blog] Haditha 'Massacre' Source Once Jailed By US Troops. Source: Right Stream News ^, started on 06/03/2006 11:10:11 AM CDT CDT by HHKrepublican_2. (57 relies)
• Haditha Child: I Knew of Bomb Plot to Kill Marines. Source: NewsMax.com ^, started on 06/03/2006 10:26:22 AM CDT CDT by Carl/NewsMax. (177 replies)
• Haditha killings recall Vietnam's My Lai . Source: AP on Yahoo ^, started on 06/02/2006 8:52:09 PM CDT CDT by NormsRevenge. (50 replies)
• GIs at Ishaqi cleared; Haditha probe open. Source: Yahoo!News ^, started on 06/02/2006 8:10:29 PM CDT CDT by Kaslin. (21 replies)
• Hell & Haditha. Source: National Review Online ^, started on 06/02/2006 7:32:45 PM CDT CDT by SuzyQ2. (108 replies)
• Haditha Investigation Doesn't Reflect Majority of Troops, General Says. Source: American Forces Press Service ^, started on 06/02/2006 6:25:17 PM CDT by SandRat. (4 replies)
• Kristol: Haditha Handwringing (The last thing we need is hand-wringing liberalism). Source: The Weekly Standard ^, started on 06/02/2006 4:19:55 PM CDT by RWR8189. (17 replies)
• U.S. Military Denies New Abuse Allegations at Ishaqi (Marines Exonerated from Killings). Source: abcnews ^, started on 06/02/2006 2:43:57 PM CDT by demlosers. (85 replies)
• As accusations mount, Iraq furor grows. Source: AP/Yahoo ^, started on 06/02/2006 2:29:22 PM CDT by tobyhill. (90 replies)
• U.S. accused in more Iraq civilian deaths . Source: AP via Yahoooo ^, started on 06/02/2006 12:44:12 PM CDT by ARealMothersSonForever. (37 replies)
• Questions Arise About Haditha Doctor - Wahid al-Obeidi - Central Figure In "Massacre" Case. Source: Pipeline News ^, started on 06/02/2006 12:41:28 PM by pissant. (17 replies)
• BBC: Taking the Insurgents' Word For It. Source: NRO ^, started on 06/02/2006 12:34:36 PM CDT by pissant. (36 replies)
• Haditha Marines and Duke LaCrosse players. Source: American Thinker ^, started on 06/02/2006 12:26:53 PM CDT pissant. (24 replies)
• Marine Irked at Inclusion in Haditha Case. Source: AP on Washington Post^, started on 06/02/2006 11:53:21 AM by LSUfan. (24 replies)
• Marine Brass Seem Exonerated (And I predict, so will the Enlisted!). Source: The Washington Times ^, started on 06/02/2006 11:13:25 AM CDT by kellynla. (120 replies)
• [Vanity & Blog] Haditha, Iraq: What it should mean.. Source: JEFFHEAD.COM ^, started on 06/02/2006 10:17:29 AM CDT by Jeff Head. (107 replies)
• Haditha reporter's and doctor's backgrounds (motives emerging). Source: American Thinker ^, started on 06/02/2006 9:10:03 AM CDT by teddyballgame. (54 replies)
• Keeping the Faith (Some thoughts about Haditha, the war in Iraq, and historic context.). Source: The American Prowler ^, started on 06/02/2006 1:52:28 AM CDT by nickcarraway. (24 replies)
• Haditha: Blood Money, Lies and Videotape?. Source: Front Page Mag ^, started on 06/01/2006 11:09:03 PM CDT by beaversmom. (77 replies)
• Officers Likely to Be Charged in Haditha Killings, Sources Say. Source: ABC News ^, started on 06/01/2006 10:15:24 PM CDT by NormsRevenge. (87 replies)
• Investigators of Haditha Shootings Look to Exhume Bodies. Source: The Washington Post ^, started on 06/01/2006 9:46:12 PM CDT by WildPlum. (19 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread by kristinn. (109 replies)
• Haditha Doctor Was Arrested, Hates US Too (article has different title). Source: Uruknet ^, started on 06/01/2006 8:44:39 PM CDT by Sam Hill. (156 replies)
• Slain Marine's Kin Blasts John Murtha . Source: NewsMax ^, started on 06/01/2006 7:26:06 PM CDT by Aussie Dasher . (40 replies)
• Haditha Reporter Was Jailed By US, Shares Name With Source (Sweetness & Light). Source: Reuters on Yahoo ^, started on 06/01/2006 5:24:18 PM CDT by Sam Hill. (123 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread by Thebaddog. (44 replies)
• New 'Iraq massacre' tape emerges. Source: BBC ^, started on 06/01/2006 5:19:46 PM CDT by Axlrose. (149 replies)
• Freep a poll! (Haditha. Criminal act or accident?). Source: Pasadena Star-news ^, started on 06/01/2006 3:51:22 PM CDT by dynachrome. (63 replies)
• Marine officer a "political casualty" of Haditha investigation. Source: AP ^, started on 06/01/2006 3:51:16 PM CDT by NormsRevenge. (66 replies)
• Survivors say Marines went house to house in a rage. Source: Seattle Times ^, started on 06/01/2006 1:59:32 PM CDT by edpc. (107 replies)
• U.S. Troops in Iraq to Get Ethics Training( Iraq opens own probe of civilian deaths). Source: The Washington Times ^, started on 06/01/2006 1:46:43 PM CDT by kellynla. (20 replies)
• The Real Haditha The MSM Won't Tell Us (article has different title). Source: The Gaurdian ^, started on 06/01/2006 11:11:58 AM CDT by AmericanYankee. (99 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread: The Haditha Our Media Won’t Tell You About by Sam Hill. (42 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread: Guardian [UK] via NavySeals.com on 06/04/2006 5:27:23 PM CDT by blasater1960. (37 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread on 06/05/2006 7:37:09 AM CDT by SJackson. (14 replies)
• A Town Awoke to Slaughter (Haditha. Get your Barf Bag out!) . Source: Los Angeles Times ^, started on 06/01/2006 9:52:47 AM CDT by kellynla. (26 replies)
• Rep. Murtha: Semper Fi?. Source: The American Thinker ^, started on 06/01/2006 9:28:55 AM CDT by Quilla. (55 replies)
• Pentagon Haditha inquiry finds false reports- WPost. Source: Reuters ^, started on 06/01/2006 9:06:38 AM CDT by delacoert. (50 replies)
• Marine injured in Haditha talks about massacre (see the Video Interview). Source: King5 Seattle News ^, started on 06/01/2006 8:13:43 AM CDT by bobsunshine. (116 replies)
• Family of slain Marine doubts Haditha reports (New interview + great tribute). Source: MSNBC/AP ^, started on 05/31/2006 8:01:26 PM CDT by pissant. (81 replies)
            See also Duplicate thread by LSUfan. (25 replies)
• Probe Finds Haditha Killings Unprovoked. Source: Reuters ^, started on 05/31/2006 6:01:53 PM CDT by Types_with_Fist. (552 replies)
• White House: Haditha details to be public. Source: AP/Yahoo ^, started on 05/31/2006 8:20:21 AM CDT by Coop. (508 replies)
• Father of Marine Backs Son's Iraq Comrades. Source: Forbes/AP ^, started on 05/31/2006 1:02:15 PM CDT by pissant. (122 replies)
• A reporter's shock at the Haditha allegation (Was embedded with Marines - different perspective). Source: CNN ^, started on 05/30/2006 2:49:13 PM CDT by gondramB. (97 replies)
• Iraqis' Accounts Link Marines to the Mass Killing of Civilians. Source: New York Times ^, started on 05/30/2006 2:03:35 PM CDT by delacoert. (64 replies)
• Pilotless plane took video of town where Iraqis died (Important). Source: Mercury News/WaPost ^, started on 05/30/2006 12:13:00 PM CDT by pissant. (427 replies)
• On a Marine Base, Disbelief Over Charges. Source: New York Times ^, started on 05/30/2006 8:00:23 AM CDT by Peach. (308 replies)
• Drone's Video May Aid Marine Inquiry. Source: Washington Post ^, started on 05/29/2006 11:45:20 PM CDT by Lancey Howard. (84 replies)
• Evidence of massacre by Marines caught on film. Source: The Courier Mail ^, started on 05/29/2006 10:36:31 PM CDT by MinorityRepublican. (246 replies)
• Marine at Haditha: 'I Can Still Smell the Blood'. Source: ABC News ^, started on 05/29/2006 8:12:03 PM CDT by marli (438 replies)
• Probe Finds Marines Killed Unarmed Iraqi Civilians. Source: Los Angeles Times ^, started on 05/27/2006 6:37:13 AM CDT by billorites. (70 replies)

Related articles:

• Collateral Damage or Civilian Massacre in Haditha? old (Mar. 19, 2006)
• Pendleton Marine dies in explosion old -- original? (Nov. 22, 2005)
• FACTBOX-Investigation into Haditha killings in Iraq
• New Witness Describes Alleged Iraq Atrocity
• Three versions from the surviving child (Safa Younis Salim):
  • Iraqis' Accounts Link Marines to the Mass Killing of Civilians
  • Iraqis: Marines Killed 24 Civilians
  • What happened in Haditha?
• Marines' families discuss Iraq incident
• Military Inquiry Contradicts Marines Account Of Haditha Deaths
• Military Inquiry Said to Oppose Account of Raid
• PAULA ZAHN NOW: Did U.S. Marines Commit Massacre in Iraq?; Interview With Pennsylvania Congressman John Murth
• Haditha: Reason for Doubt
• Iraqi residents say bodies in video from U.S. raid
• Under US noses, brutal insurgents rule Sunni citadel

Video link:

ITN videos on Haditha

The most current list is always available on my page.

Please ping me to new Haditha threads or old ones I may have missed.

Haditha thread ping list is available on my profile page. Mail me if you want to be added or removed.

[bray]

You are the best! Stay on this.

Pray for W and Our Marines

[ZULU]

"For example, Murtha, John Kerry, Teddy Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Howard Dean, and the rest of the brainless ones."

I can add a few others: John McCain, Chuckie Hegel, Chrissie Whitman, Tom Kean Jr., Chuckie Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, etc.

[TheBattman]

Hehehe... you have a point....

The more I hear on this event, the more solid my opinion of what likely happened grows. I have spoken with a former student of mine who is serving in Iraq right now and have heard stories of what he has witnessed that really helps answer what likely happend to the Marines..

First - these terrorists use civilans as cover, shooting from the rooftops, from inside homes with children and elderly, schools, and from other areas primarily occupied by civilians.

Second - The terrorist can come in any form - from a young adult male (the stereotype) to young children with guns and rocks, to older folks who can barely hold a gun. Of course, there is no guarantee that all of these non-traditional combatants are voluntarily in the situation they are in... I have heard too many stories of old men, women, and children being forced into the streets with a gun or bomb by terrorists holding the remainder of their family hostage...

Third - if the Marines were storming the homes of civilians and executing the residents - then explain the walls literally covered in bullet holes from what appears to be LOTS of shooting - and the bullet holes are of various sizes - leading one to think they may have come from more rifles than the US issue 5.56 mm round... And the other obvious signs of a firefight - not an execution.

So - my current working theory (of course, not being on-site and having access to all the official evidence, this is simply a theory based on news reports, video footage, still phots, and talks with people who either are currently in-country, or have been...) is:

The Marines on patrol in what was (and still is) known as a terrorist stronghold were already on high-alert because of the known violence in that area. An IED and/or RPG attack insued. The Marines took the fight to every terrorist they could find at the time - following the gunfire and insurgents to homes and buildings being used as cover. The Marines fought it out and killed a few insurgents - with a possiblity that a civilian or two may have been caught in the crossfire.

I also suspect that the much larger body count reported is due to the fact that civilians forced to fight did not fulfill the job the terrorists required - thus the terrorists murdered families of those who "failed".

The one thing that I still have a question mark regarding is the initial report by the marines - that several of the dead civilians were killed by an explosive (IED)... When many of the bodies found were shot.

[xzins]

Interesting stuff and good find. Thanks.

I'm reminded of a training mission we had in Puerto Rico back in about 94/5 time frame for foreign troops going into Haiti. The class on the difference between concealment and cover was fascinating.

An M16 bullet goes through most anything; an M60 bullet through just about everything; and a 50 cal round through everything except heavy armor.

Hiding is a house is concealment and not cover. Bullets will rip through those walls like they aren't there....and they will definitely kill, kill, kill.

Even a phone pole is concealment and not cover.

A few stacks deep of sandbags is the beginning of cover, but a determined machine gunner will rip those up in pretty short order.

My point: a running battle with rounds flying inside a town FOCUSED on an enemy in a certain location in front of homes COULD cause one or two homes to be hit with an extreme number of rounds. Everyone inside could easily have been killed with rounds to the head, torso, etc.

[ExTexasRedhead]

We need to get the word out over and over again. Exposure is what they fear the most. Their true colors are out there for all to see and they're not red, white, and blue!

[ExTexasRedhead]

Send this list to every member of Congress along with a demand to know why our Marines are being treated worse than terrorists. Wonder if they've prepared their PC answers yet.

[sono]

That man in the foreground of that image capture sure looks like a Russian - most certainly NOT Iraqi.

[IrishMike]

For your work thank you.

[IrishMike]

Ping for the truth !!!!!

[Eagle9]

The one thing that I still have a question mark regarding is the initial report by the marines - that several of the dead civilians were killed by an explosive (IED)... When many of the bodies found were shot.

That inconsistency may well be the reason why the investigations have not yet been concluded, despite the growing accumulation of evidence showing that the "massacre" is a concoction by the terrorists.

[Just A Nobody]

Thank you, thank you!!!

[marron]

I have seen the photos of piles of bodies at the morgue. I have not seen any photos of the battle scene before the bodies were disturbed. Since there were apparently reporters on the scene, where are the photos?

Why did it take 4 months for the information to come out, when there were reporters on the scene?

This didn't happen. Its a manufactured incident.

[Velveeta]

Good catch!

[karnage]

"It's a manufactured incident."

I'm witchoo.

[Publius6961]

My Secretary handed me a document this evening which stunned me. It was a document from the investigation which had been scanned and e-mailed to my office by a member of the media. I don’t know who leaked the document- - whether it was an ...

If the document has already been "leaked" why isn't it shared with the rest of us? We can only infer from the tone of the post that the document is prejudicial to this lawyer's client; exposing that to the widest audience increases the likelihood of constructive help to the accused marine's benefit.

As an aside, I have never been in the military, but speaking to a few who have, the impression that I get is that "rights" as enjoyed by civilians is a different univerese to "rights" (or lack thereof) as enjoyed by a member of the military; I have heard over and over that in the military "you have no rights" or your rights are simply "what superior officers say they are". A rather strange monster to understand, never mind grappling with.

All I know is that when members of our military, doing their duty in a war zone are mistreated worse than captured enemy terrorists, something is truly wrong, and it angers me.
When our president and the highest military leaders respond to punishing these heroes based on accusations alone, without actual charges, something is seriously wrong. Being hanged by the hypothetical is simply unacceptable.

I can only repeat my disgust at the circumstances, the injustices visited on the kids putting their lives on the line daily for all of us, and my total commitment to never accept fighting under those circumstances, nor to allow any member of my family to do so.

[Publius6961]

That list of links is awesome, delacoert.
Thank you for the obvious time and effort that must have gone into preparing it.

[AmericanYankee]

When these marines are exonerated, they should hold a televised press conference with every single media organization including Al jazeera. They should openly criticize the media at this press conference and go point by point how they readily splurge enemy propaganda and NEVER gives troops any fair coverage. Basically scold the entire media.

[TheCrusader]

"The one thing that I still have a question mark regarding is the initial report by the marines - that several of the dead civilians were killed by an explosive (IED)... When many of the bodies found were shot."

The answer is that Marines aren't coroners. Initial reports after a fierce battle are almost always contradictory, as can be expected.

What really makes me irate is the thought of U.S. Marines sitting shackled in some military dungeon somewhere without so much as a charge being filed against them yet. They take our heros, our brave defenders, place them in the most confusing war ever fought with the most ridiculous rules of engagement constraints ever dreamed up, then treat them WORSE than we treat terrorists at GITMO as soon as some allegation of misconduct is raised against them.

[TheCrusader]

"I can only repeat my disgust at the circumstances, the injustices visited on the kids putting their lives on the line daily for all of us, and my total commitment to never accept fighting under those circumstances, nor to allow any member of my family to do so."

You and I both, and I say that as a member of a family with a long military history. My dad served in WWII, in the South Pacific and at Normandy. His brothers served too. My mother's brothers all served during WWII, and she herself worked for the Dept of the Navy with her sister, as civilians during WWII. I served in Vietnam, my brothers are Vietnam era veterans. My step son is currently serving in the U.S. Marines. But if I could turn back the clock three years, I would have discouraged him from serving because of the ridiculous, counter-productive and absolutely STUPID way this war in Iraq is being fought.

The rules of engagement and the embedded media are as deadly to our troops as that other enemy they must deal with, the islamic terrorists. It's not just the media and the Democrats that are to blame for this debacle, it's the moderates in the White House who are running this war that are caving in to the pressure of Leftist political correctness and media scrutiny. Bush is a weak leader who tries to appease all sides. Are we in a war or not? If so, remove the microscopes our troops are being scrutinized under and let them fight; if not, then let's get our guys home immdediately. We can use them on our borders.

[spunkets]

The bodies left in the street for hours were the 4 from the taxi that were shot. The other 4 terrorists were from the 4th house.

[Thombo2]

He definitely look European.Guys in pic were from some human rights group.I don't know where they're from though.

[Sam Hill]

It's hard to keep it straight, but I thought only the Marines talked about the taxicabs.

The Haditha locals never seem to mention them, but always make it sound like all the 15-24 were from the houses.

[Sam Hill]

BTW, the larger question still remains.

Why no talk of a massacre? This was a Reuters reporter/camera man.

Why did he not notice signs of a massacre? All of the locals were supposed to be outraged. He was clearly in the neighborhood (or claimed to be).

After Time's story broke in May, he was on the scene the next day, and one the first reporters to "confirm" that it was a massacre.

[Prost1]

In my country (USA) one is innocent until proved guilty.

The Marines are innocent. They have not had a trial and have not been convicted.

The bodies of the victims are not being allowed to be exhumed so that the deaths can be recorded for court record.

Thus, the Marines are innocent! There is no evidence against them!

Get it! (note: not personal to recipient, but comment in general to readers.)

IOW, I agree with Michael Savage! Love him, hate him or don't care...he is right on this issue!

Paul Revere needs to Ride!

[spunkets]

"Why no talk of a massacre? This was a Reuters reporter/camera man."

Cameramen usually disapear in a gunfight. Where's the pics of the dead terrorists around the taxi? Cameramen usually have a camera.

According to the Marines, the taxi blocked their way. It pulled around the corner and caused the patrol to stop, or slow down. The bomb went off after the patrol vehicles stopped, or were coming to a halt. Just after the Marines(joint US/Iraqi patrol) exited to go to the aid of the Marines in the destroyed vehicle, they came under fire from the first house, or from just outside it. I think that's the point the taxi emptied and the Marines fired on it and the house.

The Marines advanced on the house. Some took up guard positions and the others assaulted it. I would assumed they used grenades and initial fire around corners and through the door. That's, because they IDed the house as the source of the ambush.

In general the population of Anbar is sympathetic to the terrorists. They're only moved to cooperate with them actively by threats and intimidation. Since none of the terrorists that ambushed the Marines with fire were in the house, they probably retreated to some other cover nearby. The 9y/o survivor already confessed the family was in on the IED setup.

Towards the end of the assalt on the first house, they were again fired upon. They thought the fire came from the 2nd house. It probably came from the 4th house, or from the terrorists that retreated. They did use grenades on the 2nd house. In all this, I'm sure the fat guy, the "budding journalist" was not outside pointing his fat belly at the Marines while he watched the action.

The 3rd house was cleared w/o firing. The 10+ inside were handed over to an Iraqi guard. The 4th involved firing, because 2 of the 4 men inside were handling and probably trying to hide an AK.

Evidently this action continued. The terrorists that first fired on the MArines were probably part of the group that got hit with the Harrier ordnance a few hours later. I'm sure the cameraman didn't show up until the action was well over. Marines from battalion showed up, some took pics. The bodies from the houses were carried out by Marines much later, loaded on trucks and taken to the hospital. I doubt they let anyone enter the buildings until it was all over.

The "massacre" is just a story the Iraqi miscreants made up. The report on the story of the false press release is supposed to be released very soon. Maybe Fri., or next week. That will give an indication of where this is all going.

"After Time's story broke in May, he was on the scene the next day, and one the first reporters to "confirm" that it was a massacre."

They might all be at Zarkawi's today confirming the same thing... Bunch of womenn and children killed...lots of wreckage.

[spunkets]

"It's hard to keep it straight, but I thought only the Marines talked about the taxicabs."

The media/Iraqi miscreants attempted to say they were just college students on their way home and the Marines killed them just, because they were there. They claimed they showed up after the bomb went off and they tried to back away, then were shot. It's not flying for some reason. Probably, because they discovered that the initial sequence of events was better documented then they thought. The taxi blocked the patrol to give the bombers a better shot. They're suggesting that the bodies in the street were from the houses now.

[WOSG]

LOTS OF LINKS ON HADITHA - thanks!

[American Cabalist]

Al-Mashhadni's video is a FRAUD, and I'll tell you why. His video shows Iraqis (and Europeans??) removing bodies from houses and piling them in a truck outside. THIS NEVER HAPPENED!

1. We already know that Marines were sent in to photograph the site and take the bodies to the morgue. The Iraqis DID not remove the bodies themselves. See this article about a Marine Mom saying her son was traumatized with having to remove the dead children's bodies.

2. The video shows and the narrator describes charred corpses with limbs blown off. The Iraqi doctor claims all 24 were killed with execution-style gunshots to the head and chest. Doesn't jibe.

3. Several men were standing about 5 feet away from the IED when it exploded - their body parts have NOT been accounted for by the same illustrious Iraqi doctor and the Hammurabi group.

4. The guy who runs the heretofore nonexistent Hammurabi Human Rights Monitoring group is Abdel Al-Mashhadani. The photojournalist who took the video and brought he "story" to gullible Tim McGirk of TIME Magazine is Ali Al-Mashhadani - who was arrested, WITH HIS BROTHER, last summer for having ties to terrorists!

There's a lot more here. All the links, and video, and articles - read it all for yourself. Interesting updates at the bottom of the article.