Us Marine Massacre Iraqi Civilians

[Tengutrickster]

WASHINGTON — Stark evidence is emerging of deliberate reprisal killings of about two dozen civilians, including women and children, by a handful of U.S. Marines last November in what may prove to be the worst atrocity yet by U.S. forces in Iraq.

On the eve of Memorial Day weekend, when Americans honour their armed forces with parades and marching bands, President George W. Bush's administration was girding for a new spate of horrific revelations. Although no charges have yet been laid, the Pentagon is in damage-control mode and the top Marine general has flown to Iraq to steady his charges.

In closed sessions, senior military officers have been briefing key lawmakers about the two-month-old investigation, which is nearing completion. As many as a dozen Marines could face charges to include murder, dereliction of duty and making false reports for trying to cover up what happened.

It is alleged that a small squad of Marines killed at least three separate groups of people in cold blood — five men in a taxi and two larger groups, including women and children, in two houses in the city of Haditha. It appears to have been a deliberate set of reprisal killings after a Marine was killed by insurgents, according to reports pieced together from those who have attended the briefings.

“This was not an accident,” said Minnesota Republican John Kline, a former Marine colonel who was briefed about the killings along with other members of the House of Representatives armed-services committee. “This was not an immediate response to an attack. This would be an atrocity,” he told The New York Times.

In preparation for what will be a massive blow to morale in the intensely proud and close-knit Marine Corps, General Michael Hagee flew to Iraq yesterday.

“The most difficult part of courage is not the raw physical courage that we have seen so often on today's battlefield,” the commander said in a statement to all his troops. “It is rather the moral courage to do the ‘right thing' in the face of danger or pressure from other Marines.”

The implication, that subordinates may have failed to resist an unlawful order to kill innocent civilians, awakened echoes of Abu Ghraib, the Baghdad-area prison where Iraqi prisoners were abused and humiliated by a group of army reservists on the orders of a former guard. It is the most vile stain to date on U.S. forces in Iraq.

“It will be worse than Abu Ghraib; nobody was killed at Abu Ghraib,” retired Marine Brigadier-General David Brahms told The Washington Post.

A scandal of such magnitude could send shock waves all the way to the White House.

It was just this week that President George W. Bush described Abu Ghraib as “the biggest mistake that's happened so far, at least from our country's involvement in Iraq.” The pictures of abused Iraqis that rapidly circulated throughout the Arab world undermined Mr. Bush's claims that the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq held the moral high ground and stood in sharp contrast to the wanton brutality of Saddam Hussein's regime.

“We've been paying for that for a long period of time,” Mr. Bush said.

Allegations of an atrocity at Haditha, about 200 kilometres northwest of Baghdad, began circulating in the Arab media after a video of bloodstained walls surfaced. Time magazine published the first U.S. report on the allegations in March.

At first, Marines said that 15 civilians had died in a roadside bombing. Then it was reported that some had died in the crossfire as Marines fought with Iraqi insurgents in violence-torn Anbar province.

But John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat and a 37-year Marine Corps veteran, said the investigation now indicates otherwise.

“There was no fire fight,” said Mr. Murtha, one of the most respected congressmen on military affairs and the first to openly call for a withdrawal from Iraq.

He added: “There was no IED [improvised explosive device] that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood.”

Virginia Republican John Warner, chairman of the armed-services committee, confirmed there were “very serious allegations and there have been facts substantiated to date to underpin those allegations.”

But he also said he hopes that people “will keep in mind the magnificent performance of nearly one million men and women of the United States armed forces who have rotated in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The marines deployed to Haditha at the time of the alleged atrocity were from the Third Battalion of the First Marine Regiment of the First Marine Division. They have since returned to their home base at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Last month, the battalion commander and two company commanders were relieved of their duties; it is not clear whether it was related to the probe.

Globe and Mail

Well well well, it seams that the Iraq war, Just became closer to a pastiche of the Vietnam war now that it got it very own My Lai Massacre.

[LegendaryLukus]

At 5/27/06 05:40 AM, Tengutrickster wrote: Well well well, it seams that the Iraq war, Just became closer to a pastiche of the Vietnam war now that it got it very own My Lai Massacre.

Thats the first thing I thought of when I heard this story. Its things like this that the people of Iraq will remember, even if we did topple their tyranical dictator.

[ParodyMyAss]

I've never heard of your source, so I've no reason to dis/trust it either way. However, this sounds like Iraq is no longer a good place for a war. Let's try Iran, I hear they've got WMDs nowadays. (sarcasm?)

[morefngdbs]

Until more is put out for 'the publics' information (and we all know how spin doctored that can be) this is still an investigation underway.
Although if you look at how the Taliban /Alkaida use civilians as a cover and as protection from attack (often with their co operation) we know these are the type of actions being used by the terrorists in Iraq.
If as a civilian you are helping (willingly or not) the enemy , people should not be surprised that 'mistakes' are going to happen to so called civilians.
It's not nice ,or right, it is a fact of armed conflict.
Without an identifiable enemy force to fight, the bad guys useing every dirty trick they can think up to protect themselves (remember they don't give a shit about people's rights-theirs or ours) Bad Shit is going to happen.

[HighlyIllogical]

Iran IS developing WMDs.

Anyway:

They obviously deserve a court martial, but I'd look in to their CO and XO. They may have had a hand in it. Hell, during the Abu Ghraib scandal, why didn't we look into the generals, the company commanders etc. in lieu of punishing a bunch of pvt.s?

[LegendaryLukus]

At 5/27/06 07:41 AM, ParodyMyAss wrote: I've never heard of your source, so I've no reason to dis/trust it either way.

How about The Times?

Times online

[shandy-andy]

its old news. you'll find it anywhere. they killed woman and children in cold blood. hail.

[peedee]

At 5/27/06 10:15 AM, GSgt_Liberal wrote: Iran IS developing WMDs.

Source?

[ImmoralLibertarian]

At 5/27/06 10:15 AM, GSgt_Liberal wrote: Iran IS developing WMDs.

Really, where’s your proof?

[LordDarlington]

At 5/27/06 07:41 AM, ParodyMyAss wrote: I've never heard of your source, so I've no reason to dis/trust it either way. However, this sounds like Iraq is no longer a good place for a war. Let's try Iran, I hear they've got WMDs nowadays. (sarcasm?)

http://news.google.c..amp;btnG=Search+News

Geeeeeeeee! That was difficult.

[HighlyIllogical]

At 5/27/06 01:30 PM, o_r_i_g_i_n_a_l wrote:

Really, where’s your proof?

Obviously, there's no 100% certain proof, but we have evidence that suggests it, evidence which I trust more so than Iraq.

Recall Amenejad's (sp?) statements. He won't attack us, but his having the weapons is dangerous enough. Oh, and "It is generally believed that Iran's efforts are focused on uranium enrichment, though there are some indications of work on a parallel plutonium effort. Iran claims it is trying to establish a complete nuclear fuel cycle to support a civilian energy program, but this same fuel cycle would be applicable to a nuclear weapons development program. Iran appears to have spread their nuclear activities around a number of sites to reduce the risk of detection or attack." (http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iran/nuke/)

Then: "Let me start by describing several aspects of Iran’s nuclear activities, and why they trouble us so much. There is much we do not know about Iran’s weapons program, but much that we do know has been corroborated by a series of IAEA reports over the past year. It is the accumulation of this public and uncontradicted evidence, not just our own sensitive intelligence information, that leads us to our conclusions about Iran’s true objectives. To this moment, Iran has never supplied coherent explanations for what it is up to, which is yet another indication that we are watching a clandestine nuclear weapons program in operation." But that's just Bolton in 2004.

"The UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on 28 April that Iran had not complied with a Security Council demand that it suspend uranium enrichment. The US, UK and France have proposed a new Security Council resolution ordering Iran to comply." (http://news.bbc.co.u..dle_east/4031603.st
m)

[Tengutrickster]

All of you idiots when off topic this is not about fucking Iran or it nuclear program it about US soldiers killing Civils in a vengance act.

Now if you want to talk about Iran get the fuck out of here and go in one of the mutiple treads about it.

[GunCrave]

Is it me or does Tengutrickster seem both happer and eager to trash the US military? Fucking prick.

[Tengutrickster]

At 5/27/06 11:32 PM, GunCrave wrote: Is it me or does Tengutrickster seem both happer and eager to trash the US military? Fucking prick.

Oh right reporting a news now is dissing your poor wittle military.

In case your poor little mind didnt get the message those guys killed 15 people unarmed civilians.

[GunCrave]

At 5/27/06 11:45 PM, Tengutrickster wrote:

At 5/27/06 11:32 PM, GunCrave wrote: Is it me or does Tengutrickster seem both happer and eager to trash the US military? Fucking prick.

Oh right reporting a news now is dissing your poor wittle military.

In just about all your post you try to demonize the US military. Just what alittle search can dig up.

In case your poor little mind didnt get the message those guys killed 15 people unarmed civilians.

Oh forgive me, I was just pointing out your obvious jubilation to defame the military. Fuck off kid, you're just another anti-american asshole who will never contribute anything positive to the board. You use the deaths of these innocent Iraqis to vent your hatred. You couldn't care less about these lost lives.

[Tengutrickster]

At 5/28/06 12:00 AM, GunCrave wrote:

At 5/27/06 11:45 PM, Tengutrickster wrote:

At 5/27/06 11:32 PM, GunCrave wrote: Is it me or does Tengutrickster seem both happer and eager to trash the US military? Fucking prick.

Oh right reporting a news now is dissing your poor wittle military.

In just about all your post you try to demonize the US military. Just what alittle search can dig up.

Oh noes! him such a bad boy! I dont need to demonize the US military there making fools of themselves pretty well by trying to cover up all the bullshit they do.

In case your poor little mind didnt get the message those guys killed 15 people unarmed civilians.

Oh forgive me, I was just pointing out your obvious jubilation to defame the military. Fuck off kid, you're just another anti-american asshole who will never contribute anything positive to the board. You use the deaths of these innocent Iraqis to vent your hatred. You couldn't care less about these lost lives.

Oh because you or the Average American care Maybe? You know each time a Marine get killed in Iraq it a tragedy, and terrorist are cowards to kill womans and childrens, but when US troops kill civilians oops, see no evil hear no evil.

Yes i hate the US governement, do it hate Every one that lives in America no.

And as far as military goes well i never like any military of the world, not even those from Canada.

[DaRKNeZz1]

At 5/28/06 12:00 AM, GunCrave wrote:

At 5/27/06 11:45 PM, Tengutrickster wrote:

At 5/27/06 11:32 PM, GunCrave wrote: Is it me or does Tengutrickster seem both happer and eager to trash the US military? Fucking prick.

Oh right reporting a news now is dissing your poor wittle military.

In just about all your post you try to demonize the US military. Just what alittle search can dig up.

In case your poor little mind didnt get the message those guys killed 15 people unarmed civilians.

Oh forgive me, I was just pointing out your obvious jubilation to defame the military. Fuck off kid, you're just another anti-american asshole who will never contribute anything positive to the board. You use the deaths of these innocent Iraqis to vent your hatred. You couldn't care less about these lost lives.

SHUT THE FUCK UP.

"fuck off kid" *looks at profile* Damn you're a funney little kid you know that? Never contribute anything positive to the board ehh?.......well considering NG's BBS is shit who cares? I don't give a fuck about anybodys life, but it doesn't mean I can care about the fact that these people shouldn't have to die.

Now go back to masturbating k?

[AustinR]

you are a lier I know for a fact the USA is clean and inocent and you are someone with thier head up thier ass

[GunCrave]

At 5/28/06 12:18 AM, Tengutrickster wrote:

At 5/28/06 12:00 AM, GunCrave wrote:

At 5/27/06 11:45 PM, Tengutrickster wrote:

At 5/27/06 11:32 PM, GunCrave wrote: Is it me or does Tengutrickster seem both happer and eager to trash the US military? Fucking prick.

Oh right reporting a news now is dissing your poor wittle military.

In just about all your post you try to demonize the US military. Just what alittle search can dig up.

Oh noes! him such a bad boy! I dont need to demonize the US military there making fools of themselves pretty well by trying to cover up all the bullshit they do.

I haven't seen much covering up. Stories usually get leaked regardless, dumbass. What bullshit are they doing? When an massacre is committed by american troops foreigns idiots like you go ape shit, but when you hear about a terrorist abducting a civilian and slowly decapitate his head with a knife you don't shit. it's fucking anti-fanatics like you that make me a xenophobe.

In case your poor little mind didnt get the message those guys killed 15 people unarmed civilians.

Oh forgive me, I was just pointing out your obvious jubilation to defame the military. Fuck off kid, you're just another anti-american asshole who will never contribute anything positive to the board. You use the deaths of these innocent Iraqis to vent your hatred. You couldn't care less about these lost lives.

Oh because you or the Average American care Maybe? You know each time a Marine get killed in Iraq it a tragedy, and terrorist are cowards to kill womans and childrens, but when US troops kill civilians oops, see no evil hear no evil.

The difference is marines accidently kill civilians. It's something called collateral-damage. They're bad seeds in the military, but they're a small, small minority. Terrorist don't care either way who gets killed. They'll use women and children as human shields, murder innocent civilians, use mosque and child nurseries as mortar sites, etc. There's no comparing the two, most marines are valiant soldiers while all terrorist are murdering monsters.

Yes i hate the US governement, do it hate Every one that lives in America no.

And as far as military goes well i never like any military of the world, not even those from Canada.

Forgive me, I guess you're not an anit-american asshat, you're an anti-american asshat and pussy. "Oh save the innocent Iraqi terrorist from the american bastards. If you don't I'll bleed out my vagina some more about their atrocities." - You

Do you really understand without that military you wouldn't get the right to bitch? Are you such an arrogant piece of shit that you think you're morally higher somehow because you don't like the military. You're probably just some french cunt anyways. Never knew how to fight never liked to fight.

[Nylo]

At 5/27/06 11:45 PM, Tengutrickster wrote: Oh right reporting a news now is dissing your poor wittle military.

In case your poor little mind didnt get the message those guys killed 15 people unarmed civilians.

Liberal slime, it's the date and way you presented your story. An insignificant fraction of our military does something wrong and you're all to eager to present it on the "eve of memorial day weekend". Hey Americans, before you go celebrate your little holiday that honors your soldiers, look at how much they suck.

That's pretty sick.

[Sonicgamer00]

At 5/27/06 11:45 PM, Tengutrickster wrote:

At 5/27/06 11:32 PM, GunCrave wrote: Is it me or does Tengutrickster seem both happer and eager to trash the US military? Fucking prick.

Oh right reporting a news now is dissing your poor wittle military.

In case your poor little mind didnt get the message those guys killed 15 people unarmed civilians.

You stupid liberal piece of shit. You really couldn't care less about the lives lost. It jst gives you a reason to bash the military. Honestly, you need to shut up. You're making a fool of yourself. You're a hypocritical bastard who's opinion nor thought holds any weight or value. So go home, kid. No one gives a shit.

[MarkyX]

OMG, a group of soldiers kills a bunch of citizens (possibly by accident) and the entire army is fault.

Put it this way: If the angry islamic extremists are a minority and we shouldn't view the rest of the muslim population as crazy people, than no one should view the US army as babykillers over the actions of a few rogue soldiers.

[LegendaryLukus]

Actually I don't think paralles should be drawn with My Lai. There, 500 people were killed.

I'm not using this as an excuse to bash anyone, but no matter the fact the the vast majority of US soldiers wouldn't think of doing something like this, those people will remember it. The US and her Allies standing in Iraq is faltering, and the insurgents gain popularity through this kind of bad press.

[Kenzu]

At 5/28/06 06:15 PM, LegendaryLukus wrote: Actually I don't think paralles should be drawn with My Lai. There, 500 people were killed.

I agree.

[PsychoPilot]

Who gives a shit about brutality on Insurgents and If some civilians get hurt thats their problem for hidding terrorist in their own houses like dumbasses. Its not like they havent killed their own with roadside explosives and Im pretty sure they dont give a shit about their own people they killed.

[smith916]

what new's paper did this article come from?

[aznsapient]

At 5/29/06 07:52 PM, PsychoPilot wrote: Who gives a shit about brutality on Insurgents and If some civilians get hurt thats their problem for hidding terrorist in their own houses like dumbasses. Its not like they havent killed their own with roadside explosives and Im pretty sure they dont give a shit about their own people they killed.

this kind of mentality creates insurgents and terrorist.....oh yah....just because the insurgents kill their own people it does not mean everyone else can....are we better than them or just like them??? i mean we're here to help them right?? then we should give a shit if they or us are killing civilians...

[PsychoPilot]

At 5/29/06 09:03 PM, aznsapient wrote:

At 5/29/06 07:52 PM, PsychoPilot wrote: Who gives a shit about brutality on Insurgents and If some civilians get hurt thats their problem for hidding terrorist in their own houses like dumbasses. Its not like they havent killed their own with roadside explosives and Im pretty sure they dont give a shit about their own people they killed.

this kind of mentality creates insurgents and terrorist.....oh yah....just because the insurgents kill their own people it does not mean everyone else can....are we better than them or just like them??? i mean we're here to help them right?? then we should give a shit if they or us are killing civilians...

Well you read wronge because the people who let terrorist hideout in there homes are usually sadam and al qaeda loyalist. More than anything we try try helping the civilians who have been supressed by terrorism and its cost on there families. Terrorist kill and put fear in there own people because they consider them as traitors to there cause of hate and there taking over. Because of this many terrorist kill innocent iraqi civilians.
Some the iraqi citizens try to fight off tyrants for freedom while many are still afraid that they will take over again and slaughter all of them.

[jeremiah-bullfrog]

baby killers

[PsychoPilot]

At 5/29/06 11:09 PM, jeremiah_bullfrog wrote: baby killers

nutjob