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Haditha Statement by Murtha not holding Reuters is reporting that higher command considered an aerial bombardment in support of the ‘Haditha 8’ Marine squad because the firefight with the insurgents was so intense that day. The following statements are attributed to Maj. Sam Carrasco, who was overseeing troop movements in the area that day. [LINK] [EXCERPT:] "We saw insurgents go into a house, and we did not drop bombs on that house because we did not have (positive identification)," Carrasco told investigators. "They had engaged a previous unit and had run into a house with weapons." "We vectored the (Marine) squad and they got shot up. I watched the whole thing happen as they got shot up ... And now I'm kicking myself in the ass because we didn't drop the bomb and we didn't lead with appropriate force because we didn't have positive identification." “This report, if true, places Rep. John Murtha in a shameful situation, considering he stated the following on “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” on May 19, 2006” said Vets for the Truth Johnstown Co-Chairman Harry Beam. [transcript]: BLITZER: He was responding in part to you, because you've suggested this week that there in effect was a massacre. MURTHA: Well there was. [a massacre] There's no question about it. I know, in talking to a number of people, and the information, I've never given you bad information yet. I talked to about it, in the context of the fact that these troops are under such tremendous pressure and that's what happens when they're under tremendous pressure. When this thing's all over, you're going to see exactly what I've said to be true. That, there was an IED attack, it killed one marine, and then they overreacted and killed a number of civilians without anybody firing at them. That's what you're going to find out. Vets for the Truth and their Boot Murtha project have long accused Murtha of using the Marine’s Haditha incident for his own political advantage, and they have long campaigned against him, because no politician should abuse American service personnel for their own political gain. Vets for the Truth Boot Murtha Rally Co-Chairman Harry Beam (Johnstown, PA), said, “It is one more clear and convincing incident which, again, reflects the fact that John Murtha is no friend of America’s military fighting personnel.” Reuters obtained a transcript of an interview Carrasco gave two investigators in March. |
