(Marines kill 15 Iraqi civilians in their homes) One Morning in Haditha

[LiberalHeart]

"...the details of what happened that morning in Haditha are more disturbing, disputed and horrific than the military initially reported. According to eyewitnesses and local officials interviewed over the past 10 weeks, the civilians who died in Haditha on Nov. 19 were killed not by a roadside bomb but by the Marines themselves, who went on a rampage in the village after the attack, killing 15 unarmed Iraqis in their homes, including seven women and three children. Human-rights activists say that if the accusations are true, the incident ranks as the worst case of deliberate killing of Iraqi civilians by U.S. service members since the war began."

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1174649,00.html

[jpak]

1. My Lai Redux

speechless

[uppityperson]

2. all my words seem trite, so here's quotes from the story. $2500

The available evidence does not provide conclusive proof that the Marines deliberately killed innocents in Haditha. But the accounts of human-rights groups that investigated the incident and survivors and local officials who spoke to Time do raise questions about whether the extent of force used by the Marines was justified—and whether the Marines were initially candid about what took place. Dr. Wahid, director of the local hospital in Haditha, who asked that his family name be withheld because, he says, he fears reprisals by U.S. troops, says the Marines brought 24 bodies to his hospital around midnight on Nov. 19. Wahid says the Marines claimed the victims had been killed by shrapnel from the roadside bomb. "But it was obvious to us that there were no organs slashed by shrapnel," Wahid says. "The bullet wounds were very apparent. Most of the victims were shot in the chest and the head--from close range."

And more from the story"

But the military stood by its initial contention—that the Iraqis had been killed by an insurgent bomb—until January when Time gave a copy of the video and witnesses' testimony to Colonel Barry Johnson, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad. After reviewing the evidence, Johnson passed it on to the military command, suggesting that the events of Haditha be given "a full and formal investigation." In February an infantry colonel went to Haditha for a weeklong probe in which he interviewed Marines, survivors and doctors at the morgue, according to military officials close to the investigation. The probe concluded that the civilians were in fact killed by Marines and not by an insurgent's bomb and that no insurgents appeared to be in the first two houses raided by the Marines. The probe found, however, that the deaths were the result of "collateral damage" rather than malicious intent by the Marines, investigators say.

The U.S. has paid relatives of the victims $2,500 for each of the 15 dead civilians, plus smaller payments for the injured. But nothing can bring back all that was taken from 9-year-old Eman Waleed on that fateful day last November. She still does not comprehend how, when her father went in to pray with the Koran for the family's safety, his prayers were not answered, as they had been so many times in the past. "He always prayed before, and the Americans left us alone," she says. Leaving, she grabs a handful of candy. "It's for my little brother," she says. "I have to take care of my brother. Nobody else is left."

$2500. That is what your life is worth if you are an Iraqi.

[WinkyDink]

8. Hey, "30,000, more or less."

Calling Gen. Powell. Or maybe not.

[redphish]

3. This the sort of thing you can expect to happen...

when our guys a put in a position where they patrol areas where the enemy fighters are hard to distinguish from the civilians. While I am in no way excusing what these marines did, it is understandable that the stress of being walking targets 24/7, with no clear mission can cause even the best trained soldiers to crack. The fault for this horrific episode lies squarely on the shoulders of the maniacs that sent them there in the first place.

[PsN2Wind]

5. So you're of the opinion

that shooting these women and children at close range was the result of the troops inability to distinguish them from enemy fighters.
Sounds a lot like "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out".

[redphish]

6. Not at all

What I'm saying is, these guys cracked under the pressure of being put in an untenable situation by a bunch of lunatics that are posing as our elected leaders and that these "leaders" bear as much of the responsiblity as the soldiers themselves.

[uppityperson]

7. I do not excuse this behavior. However, I do pity our young men&women

who are doing this and fear for their future ability to be humane humans. PTSD.

[leftchick]

4. the photos are horrific

:cry:

[peacebird]

9. Really? "the worst case of deliberate killing of Iraqi civilians by US"

"the incident ranks as the worst case of deliberate killing of Iraqi civilians by U.S. service members since the war began"

Is it the worst case or just the worst case we know about? I recall a wedding party being slaughtered and Fallujah is probably another case in point... This is sickening.

This whole "war" is sickening.

[Seen the light]

10. Dear lurking Freepers

How can you possibly explain this? I keep hearing that the Iraqis are soooooo much better off now that we removed a murderous tyrant. Look at what has happened. We're no better than Saddam was.

[uppityperson]

11. "if it was real, which it wasn't, it was only a few bad apples ...

misunderstanding their orders. Besides, why do you hate Ameruca and why you protectin them whodr want to hurt us again? You got have enough tuna and powdered milk under YOUR bed you traiter?" sinserely, freeper

[redphish]

13. "only a few bad apples misunderstanding their orders"?????

WTF, it was a group of soldiers that totally freaked out and killed civilians. Of course you would blame them, you certainly can't blame the worthless fucks you helped install in the White House now can you.I guess I should have guessed your true color by your extraordinary spelling abilities.

:rofl:

[uppityperson]

16. you do get that that was sarcasm, right?

it was difficult to spell freeperish enough to pass.

[Rose Siding]

12. K&R

speechless

[cassiepriam]

14. I suspect it is not the first such incident, nor will it be the last.

Someday the truth will come out, that our troops have not been boy scouts.

[genie_weenie]

15. Sorry, I don't buy propaganda

right away.

There are irregularities and it very well may be the Marines out there committed murder. But, those photos don't show the Marines murdering the people. And alot of fighting has gone on in Haditha over the last 2 years.

I expect to be flamed for stating the Marines are not guilty, I'm sure some of the attacks will include well look at Abu G as though those incidents bear upon this one, but oh well...

Read the poor girls story. She has been severely traumatized. Her life will never be the same, but I could disect her story but I'll wait until I'm called a murderer.

[allemand]

17. Why was this thread moved?

If this isn't LBN, what is?

:shrug:

[glitch]

18. GOOD question. Moving it didn't keep it off the greatest page though.

Kick, since I can't R.