Probe Finds Marines Killed Unarmed Iraqi Civilians

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 26, 2006 | Tony Perry

[billorites]

SAN DIEGO — Marines from Camp Pendleton wantonly killed unarmed Iraqi civilians, including women and children, and then tried to cover up the slayings in the insurgent stronghold of Haditha, military investigations have found.

Officials who have seen the findings of the investigations said the filing of criminal charges, including some murder counts, was expected, which would make the Nov. 19 incident the most serious case of alleged U.S. war crimes in Iraq.

An administrative inquiry overseen by Army Maj. Gen. Eldon Bargewell found that several infantry Marines fatally shot as many as 24 Iraqis and that other Marines either failed to stop them or filed misleading or blatantly false reports.

The report concludes that a dozen Marines acted improperly after a roadside bomb explosion killed a fellow Marine, Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas.

Looking for insurgents, the Marines entered several homes and began firing their weapons, according to the report.

In its initial statement to the media, the Marine Corps said the Iraqi civilians were killed either by an insurgent bomb or by crossfire between Marines and insurgents.

But after Time magazine obtained pictures showing dead women and children and quoted Iraqis who said the attack was unprovoked, the Marine Corps backtracked on its explanation and called for an investigation.

The Marines, many of whom were on their third deployment to Iraq, are part of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment of the 1st Marine Division.

The battalion commander and two company commanders were relieved of duty last month because, a spokesman said, Maj. Gen. Richard Natonski, commanding general of the division, had lost confidence in their leadership.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducted a separate investigation, is expected to call for criminal charges, including murder, negligent homicide, dereliction of duty and filing a false report.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I think in human shield use, they expect that no one is going to shoot at someone next to a child at all whether the child is on them, in them, next to them, etc.

[b4its2late]

Sure, but a one year old isn't going to give you that much cover. I mean, are they running around with babies strapped on their chests?

These islamofacists use our values to try and destroy us. They use mosques as places to do their work and plan their work, knowing that we probably won't be storming a mosque anytime soon. If they thought a US Marine might not shoot them if they have a child in their grasp, I believe they would do it. Anything is possible with these people who have no respect for any human life, adult or child.

[carlo3b]

There can be no treachery greater than attacking our military without a complete investigation, trial and unanimous finding of guilt, by a combat experienced jury of their peers.. Our enemy do not wear red hats, or live in purple hideouts. The troops are being shot and killed by civilians with hate in their hearts, and those bitter hearts are seldom worn on their sleeves..

Cut them some slack for God sake, I can easily understand a quick trigger finger, during a firefight.. As for me, I say duck, and shoot the first thing that moves..

[MNJohnnie]

Anyone even bother to notice that all these "News stories" come from the same unnamed, unsubstantiated source? Sort of like the "US Interrogators flushed a Koran at Gitmo" story that turned out to be a lie.

[Patriot from Philly]

I looked at Google News and the Boston Globe can't wait for the report and is out interviewing the villagers and admitting that they can't verify the stories.

This is going to be painful. The media is so happy about this story. They are going to drive support for the war down to 0 and support for Bush down another 10 points.

[MNJohnnie]

And maybe it is all a PR lie being spun by the same people that brought you the "Flush the Koran" story. Maybe people should wait for the report and not decide the rumors and innuendo and guessareporting are factual until it is confirmed. Dozens and dozens of lies have been hyped up by the Junk Media over the last 5 years that turned out to be complete and total frauds. Let us ONE time get the facts instead of leaping to conclusions.

[MNJohnnie]

A human shield is not a shield for a human. Modern weapons are incredibly destructive. To limit the effectiveness of our overwhelming firepower and to generate these sorts of "Atrocity" stories Congressman Treason Murtha is running around spreading, they do stuff like have a family in the next room of a building Insurgents are shooting at US troops from. They could care less about civilian "collateral damage". They merely know how to use our Junk Media against us. What is really sickening is how willing our junk media

[Patriot from Philly]

President Bush should have been out monthy talking about the heroes of this war, giving examples of bravery.

He's allowed the media to frame the discussion of our effort and make the US military out to be victims, statistics, or criminals.

And what was with that mushy apology with Blair the other night. He has been beaten down.

He could take this incident, get out in front of it and make the media out to be the biased, irresponsible fools that they are.

But he won't, he'll just talk mush. The media senses his weakness.

[spatso]

"Let us ONE time get the facts instead of leaping to conclusions."

I think that is wise.

[MNJohnnie]

There were children in the Twin Towers on 9-11. Children were raped, tortured and murdered in the school in Beslan. Our side kills children by accident, THEY do it on purpose. Hate American First types should keep that difference front and center in their heads before mindless accept what our enemies tell them as "Fact"

[Canedawg]

" I mean, are they running around with babies strapped on their chests?"

I wouldnt put it past them. They're animals with little regard for human life.

[MNJohnnie]

No, what has happened it the people who SHOULD be President Bush's Echo chamber and help spread the word spend all their time endlessly whining at Bush

"Gee Bush should do this, Bush should do that". When did Conservatives become the party of "sit on our butt and whine until someone comes rescue us"?

[OldEagle]

"Well, just as our America-hating leftmedia has been striving since day one to mold public opinion in order to make Iraq into another Vietnam, they also been not-so-secretly wishing to create another My Lai incident."

One hundred percent correct. I hope the investigation is handled fairly.

[MNJohnnie]

Gee you mean the same Boston Globe that published a front page above the fold fraudlent story about GIs gang raping Iraqi women 2 years ago? Gee maybe people need to get over this utter delusion that the Junk Media is this massive overpowering all dominate force. MORE people listen to talk radio each week then watch the Nightly TV news. THEY do no run the world. If people would get a LOT more cynical about things instead of mindlessly accepting what the Junk Media tells them a gospel maybe they would not have this always doom and gloom mindset. For example. Gee ever wonder why the Junk Media changed from polling LIKELY voters in a 40-40-20 split to polling 38% Dem/27%R/35%Ind? The LAST verifiable result was the 2004 Election. Why don't they use the SAME poll respondent ratio NOW that actually occured then?

Real simply, they would not have this "Bush is a lame duck" story line. It a LIE. Just another example of Garbage IN, Garbage OUT polling

[Patriot from Philly]

Well, I've perked up since I posted that depressing post. I'm beginning to think that perhaps the military is practiciing good PR, get out in front of the story, let the news out gradually.

In fact, the media could really mess up in this case. They are making one mistate after another. (Note ABC: Hastert).

If the media overplays this their credibility will decrease further.

I can go from gloomy to optimistic in 5 minutes.

[Smittie]

The Marines, many of whom were on their third deployment to Iraq.

Good grief, why didn't we just level this hellhole and put in some puppet government so we wouldn't have to waste the lives of our soldiers? I'm tired of fighting p. C. wars.

[epow]

The allies killed millions of German, Italian, and Japanese civilians during WWII with saturation strategic bombing raids, shelling of cities and towns, and the usual horrors of modern warfare. Many thousands of civilian citizens of occupied nations were killed as well. An estimated 10,000 French civilians were killed accidentally by the allied invasion forces on D-Day alone.

Civilian casualties are a hideous but unavoidable part of warfare, and have been as long as tribes and nations have fought each other. IMHO this is nothing more than another blatant attempt by the leftist appeasers and apologists for Islamic terrorism to discredit and embarrass our military forces and turn more people against our involvement in Iraq. How can we expect our young men and women to join the military when they are put at risk of criminal prosecution if they make a mistake under the life and death pressure of a confused firefight with terrorists disguised as ordinary noncombatants in the midst of a crowded and hostile city environment?

[leadpenny]

Note my new tagline.

I sure hope it holds.

[stuartcr]

Sometimes, crazed, demon-spawn Muslim 1yos, can be quite a handful!!!