Posted on 06/11/2006 7:44:21 AM PDT by Dubya
OCEANSIDE ---- About 25 people demonstrated outside the main gate to Camp Pendleton on Saturday morning to protest the treatment of seven Marines and a Navy corpsman held in the base brig.
The troops are accused of killing a 52-year-old Iraqi man before they returned from Iraq in April. A Pendleton spokesman said the troops were being held in shackles.
Saturday's demonstration was prompted in part by a call to a national talk-radio show made by Christin Bruce, 38, a San Diego resident and the wife of a Navy serviceman. She said the United States needs to show more respect to troops dedicated to protecting Americans.
"These eight men are ... our family," Bruce said. "I'm here to support them as if they were my family."
Bruce's call to the Michael Savage radio program helped spread the word to supporters about Saturday's protest. Several people held up signs supporting the troops, denouncing their treatment by the Marine Corps, and waving U.S. flags.
The troops are accused of kidnapping and murdering an unarmed Iraqi civilian, and then making it appear as if the Iraqi was armed. An attorney for one of the Marines said he expected them to be charged with murder this week.
A spokesman for the base refused to comment on the troops' condition and why they were shackled.
Jeff Schwik, 42 from Oceanside, said he spent 21 years in the Marines and had seen the brig containing the troops in Camp Pendleton.
He said the shackles were unnecessary.
"It's pretty secure," Schwik said. "Nobody's going to escape from what I've seen."
Protest co-organizer Gary Walker said he brought around 20 people to the protest after he heard Bruce on the radio.
"These (supporters) are people who feel it's not right to shackle Marines," Walker said. "They are caged like animals when we don't even know what happened yet."
Several vehicles entering the base honked their horns to show support for the protesters. Three Marines stopped by to thank the group for its support. The Marines declined to comment or identify themselves.
Contact Patrick Wright at (760) 739-6675 or pwright@nctimes.com
Belinda Morris and Dominic Salvio wave flags and signs Saturday at the Main Gate of Camp Pendelton during a protest in support of Marines who have been accused of killing Iraqi civilians in Haditha recently.
J. KAT WORONOWICZ For the North County Times
Thank God we finally have people protesting in SUPPORT of our boys.
Nicole Saunders, left, reacts as a Marine comes out to remind protesters to stay off the road Saturday at the Main Gate of Camp Pendelton during a protest in support of the Marines who are accused of killing Iraqi civilians in Haditha recently.
J. KAT WORONOWICZ For the North County Times
Yes, its about time American's started standing up for our United States Marines.
All our politicians want to do is put them in prison for killing Muslims.
Standing up for the Marines should start at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Must be PATRICK WRIGHT just couldn't bring himself to identify the "national talk-radio show" as The Savage Nation. Or maybe he was to lazy to research it.
According to the story these men are in the brig because our United States Marines are about to charge them with kidnapping and murder. Then they will no doubt give them a fair trial and, if convicted, a long prison term. Why shouldn't we support the Marine Corps command and their decision in this?
No kidding. We don't want to rock the boat of our precious bipartisanship however. Don't be so shortsighted, keep the "goal" in mind. /s
...and for America as it was intended.
True.
Why wait for the military version of due process?
Why should convicted Mumia get better treatment that awaiting trial Marines.
These Marines don't deserve to to kept in solitary confinement and in shackles even before they are accused of a crime.
1. Not one officer has been treated in this manner. Some one was in charge of these men. Shouldn't he be in the brig too?
2. The bomb droped on Zarqawi killed women and children, does the pilot go to jail?
These Marines are scapegoats to media. This is another act of Bush administration not stading up for the troups. Bush loves pictures with the troops.
What the hell kind of plan is it to walk trough heavily armed neighborhood day after day waiting for someone to shoot at you? Who came up with that plan?
CNN, NBC, ABC, KUSI, Fox6 where all there and this story was picked up nationally. We are going to be there every saturday and the crowds are going to get bigger and bigger.
If I have to choose between supporting the Bush Administration and those Marines I will pick the Marines.
Bump to that!
Shackles? Behind bars, no bail. But shackles? Unnecessary
Why not?
It's not that uncommon for service people to be kept in the brig awaiting charges and trial. There is no concept of bail in the UCMJ. The shackles, if true (and that's a big if), does seem excessive but without knowing the reasons why I don't see how we can comment on it.
If you haven't seen in yet Bill Buckley is already comparing it to My Lai. He couldn't wait either.
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