The Iraqi's first statements to NCIS were taken in a group setting, five months after the events occurred and with knowledge that other families in Haditha had received monetary componsation from the United States for events that occurred on 19 November, 2005. The interview that resulted in the witness statements were taken by Special Agent Mannle in a group setting, with each witness adding details and discussing the events in Arabic with one another in front of Special Agent Mannle who does not speak Arabic. Additionally, although $10,000 does not appear to be a large amount of money, testimony from Maj. Hiatt suggested that such a sum of money was equal to 4 times the average annual salary of a typical resident of Haditha. Prior to making these claims, no payments were made to the Ahmed family. The Ahmed familiy was represented by an attorney who represents other families who received compensation for Marines killing their family memmbers. Shortly after making these claims, the Ahmed family was paid $10,000 in Solatio payments.
(Hat tip to Girlene for this excerpt and Red Rover for making the full IO report available here.
I emailed the author of this article and asked him for his source on President Bush "expressing concern". The context - and paragraph - in which that was dropped would seem to indicate Bush had the same concerns Murda did.
I am deeply dissappointed in the decision to court martial Lt Col Chessani, but feel certain he will prevail. I can only surmise that, as the next step up the ladder are the generals he reported to, the buck stops with him.
I wonder how many of them would have ventured out the night of the ambushes.