Marine generals: Haditha probe helps reinforce corps' integrity

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- As the leadership of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force changed hands, the departing and incoming commanders said they believe an investigation into accusations that U.S. Marines deliberately shot civilians in Haditha, Iraq, will ultimately strengthen the corps.

Lt. Gen. Keith Stalder took command of the Camp Lejeune-based group on Wednesday from Lt. Gen. James Amos, who is headed to the Pentagon to become deputy commandant in charge of combat development.

"We don't know the facts on Haditha, let alone what the facts mean at this point," said Stalder. "We do owe it to the American people to check our assumptions."

Pentagon officials, speaking Wednesday to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity in Washington, said evidence collected about the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha supported allegations that Marines deliberately fired on civilians, including women and children.

Navy and Marine Corps prosecutors are reviewing evidence, and the commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force will ultimately decide whether to bring charges.

All of the Marines accused in the Haditha shootings are members of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, which is based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. But Amos, who was in charge of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force when the accusations were made, said Marine Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee has since talked to thousands of Marines throughout the corps "to take them back to their roots."

"We're going to come out of this just fine," Amos said. "I don't know what the investigation is going to say. The truth will come out and the Marine Corps is going to do the right thing. The American people will know the truth."

In the Haditha case, the Marines first said the Nov. 19, 2005, killings of 15 civilians was caused by a roadside bomb and crossfire between Marines and insurgents. A separate investigation is looking at whether officers tried to conceal the events.

The Haditha incident became known when Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., said in May that he was told by Corps officials that civilians had been killed.

Three battalions of Marines from Camp Lejeune are currently in Iraq, and about 17,000 troops from the base are scheduled to deploy early next year when the command of all Marines in Iraq rotates from officers based at Camp Pendleton to those from Camp Lejeune.

Smart kid.

Hayden Malloy, 3, shies away from U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa., left, as he enters a campaign stop for Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell in Carrolltown, Pa. on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006. A Marine Corps sergeant under investigation in connection with the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha is accusing Rep. John P. Murtha of defaming him in public comments about the case. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Help the 'Pendleton 8' and their families.

The 'Pendleton 8': A look at the 7 Marines and Navy corpsman charged in Hamdania incident
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1670877/posts

VIDEO-Camp Pendleton demonstration for Marines
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1655852/posts

Marine families wait and worry; (Frustrations, anger expressed by relatives of Pendleton 8)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1671948/posts

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Attorney: Col. visited ‘Pendleton 8’ before announcing charges
Navy Times article - 07/28/06

Accused troops' supporters busy fundraising - Hamdaniya / 'Pendleton 8' defense funds ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1654104/posts

Dozens rally at Camp Pendleton gates(24 June 2006) ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1655341/posts

Military justice under spotlight in Hamdania case - 'Pendleton 8' - 7 Marines, 1 Navy Corpsman ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1655333/posts

Lawyers for Marines, medic plan counterattack in Iraq murder case - Hamdaniya - 'Pendleton 8' ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1656712/posts

FREE REPUBLIC EXCLUSIVE: DIRECT INFORMATION ON THE 7 MARINES AND SAILOR HELD FOR MURDER
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1659084/posts

Defending the accused: Many attorneys in Hamdania case practiced law .. in military - 'Pendleton 8'
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1659351/posts

Letter reportedly from accused servicemen expresses thanks(Camp Pendleton 8)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1660140/posts

Delay is likely for (Camp)Pendleton(8) hearings
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1668925/posts

Attorneys for accused troops say Marine Corps hampering defenses
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1669976/posts

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Some of the familes and supporters of the 7 Hamdaniya Marines & a Navy Corpsman, now charged with multiple criminal offenses, have setup web sites for use in accepting donations for legal defense funds or sending notes of encouragement and support to the detainees and their families.

Cpl. Robert Pennington
http://www.defendrob.com

PFC John Jodka
http://www.innocentmarine.com

Tyler Jackson
http://www.fightingfortyler.com

Cpl. Marshall Magincalda
http://www.defendourmarine.com

Cpl. Trent Thomas
http://www.defensefundformyhero.com

Lance Cpl Jerry Shumate
http://friendsofjerry.blogspot.com/

Hospital Corpsman Third Class Melson J. Bacos
http://patriotdefensefund.com/

Other sites supporting the men:

http://www.defendthetruth.com

http://www.warrior-fund.org

If your financial situation permits, please help as you can to cover legal representation costs.

Thanks!

Pentagon officials, speaking Wednesday to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity in Washington, said evidence collected about the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha supported allegations that Marines deliberately fired on civilians, including women and children.

I am sick to death of these confabulatory accusations from the ether. This Robert Burns AP writer must be a communist.

This entire matter is disgusting and typical of the traitorous left. Stuff this one down Murtha's throat. This pile of pig excrement is going to cause MANY Marine deaths -- caused by hesitation, caused by worry, of being thrown in the slammer because of a battlefied accident. Meanwhile, in that split second of hesitation, the terrorist woman, dressed in civilian clothing, fires her weapon and kills a good Marine....

Rot in hell Murtha.

I also think they could have DELIBERATELY fired on them, as a part of their normal procedures for entering an area from which they were receiving fire. Deliberately firing on the people, aka "returning fire" is not the same as the allegations made by Murtha et al as to "cold blooded murder".

Deliberately firing on the people, aka "returning fire" is not the same as the allegations made by Murtha et al as to "cold blooded murder".

True, but if you note, if the anonymous source exists, they are apparently fully complicit in helping this reporter, Robert Burns make the same insinuation.

"Pentagon officials, speaking Wednesday to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity in Washington..."
How about the Marine Corps., demanding the filth bags at the AP disclose just who these supposed officials where so that they could be court martialed. How do we even know if they actually spoke to someone. All we get all the time is someone on the condition of anonymity speaks to someone. As far as I am concerned this could be a total fabrication.

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