Posted on 06/23/2006 12:06:00 PM PDT by kellynla
Two incidents -- the deaths of 24 Iraqis at Haditha on Nov. 19 and the deaths of seven Palestinian civilians on a Gaza beach on June 9 -- illustrate the difficulties inherent in minimizing civilian casualties while fighting enemies who routinely use civilians as human shields. And the two cases should also serve as important cautionary notes to politicians and journalists about rushing to judge good soldiers guilty of misconduct before the facts are in.
When it comes to Haditha, certain facts are not in dispute: The town, located in Sunni-dominated Anbar province, a haven for foreign jihadists and a hotbed of support for Saddam Hussein, had become very dangerous for American troops. During one 48-hour period in August, the New York Times noted, 20 U.S. soldiers were killed in Haditha -- six while out on patrol and 14 more when their amphibious vehicle ran over antitank mines. Four other American soldiers died in a firefight inside a hospital, where terrorists hid behind patients. With that history in mind, a 13-man Marine squadron left its base in Haditha shortly before dawn on Nov. 19. Two miles from their base, an improvised explosive device went off under one of the vehicles, killing one Marine and seriously injuring two others.
After that, virtually every other fact about what took place at Haditha that day is open to question. Haditha residents claim Marines lined people up against the wall and executed them.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
ping
Military prosecutors are traitors.
Should say "difficulty of fighting enemies who use civilians as human shield WHILE those enemies dress in the same civilian clothing."
That compounds the problem immeasurably. By doing so, the enemy has just transformed everyone into an enemy.
That is why a uniform is a requirement in the Geneva/Hague accords and why pretending to be a civilian is a crime.
Not so. They are doing a necessary job required by the uniform code of military justice. And it is an extremely difficult job.
I've had a number of good friends who had their assignment as a prosecutor. (Incidentally, that can change from assignment to assignment. This time a prosecutor; next time a defense; next time a paper pusher.)
Their job in each assignment is to do the best they can to uphold the entire military justice system.
If I wanted to point a finger in the military justice system, I'd point it at the CID interrogators.
I had a battalion commander line a unit up once and tell them that when they were told "You have a right to remain silent" that they should do exactly that.
He said, "They said they can and WILL use what you say against you. After you've said something stupid or incomplete, it's too late. Don't talk to them. At all."
All lawyers are only in the game to win. And believe me it is a game to them.
So much for the "innocent Iraqis" BS. If it can be determined that these "residents" lied (and it shouldn't be that hard), then they should be executed immediately and we move on.
No one should have to fight a war against ununiformed killers hiding among the civilian population and allow those same killers to use our system of justice against our own soldiers! That is the ultimate insanity!
I feel like screaming.
Dumbass.
Just as winning is the game to the terrorists.
Something is terribly awry if the same terrorists can manage to manipulate our military justice system, including its lawyers, into prosecuting our own soldiers!
HELLO?!!?
Is there anybody in a position of authority and leadership with brains out there?
Some things are never intended to happen in broad daylight --- for a reason.
Looks to me as if an executive order is way overdue. Does our commander-in-chief understand his job? Or is it Ok to allow illegal enemy combatants to kill our boys both on the battlefield and in our own courts?
Thank you. If anyone finds a depository for legal funds, please post. These guys could sure use a hand.
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