New probe into US killing of civilians in Iraq

[ProSense]

What we need is an investigation into the war.

New probe into US killing of civilians in Iraq

1 hour, 38 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The US military has ordered an investigation into US forces who killed Iraqi civilians last week, the latest in a series of allegations of abuse and indiscriminate shootings that has mired its three-year occupation of Iraq.

The investigation relates to an incident on March 15 in the village of Al Bu Seifa, near Balad north of Baghdad, and comes hot on the heels of a US Navy criminal probe into reports that marines intentionally shot 15 civilians dead near the western town of Haditha last year.

The US military says four civilians -- two women, a child, and a man -- were killed in the early hours of last Wednesday when troops, looking for an Al-Qaeda suspect, came under fire as they raided a house.

Iraqi police say 11 civilians were killed -- including five women and four children.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060322/ts_afp/iraq_060322103336

[katinmn]

1. It will be a whitewash like every other investigation.

[neoblues]

2. This seems uncharacteristically honest...

What? Were there hundreds of qualified witnesses so they couldn't deny it? Or did these troops actually even commit this atrocity--or were they concsientious objectors who've been framed to set an example as well as make public relations points with IRAQIs? Why do I ask such apparently ridiculous questions... I ask because (a) this seems a departure from the standard operating procedure of 'cover up', whatever it is 'cover it up', always 'cover it up' and (b) they LIE so consistently that even when "admitting" such an embarrassing/difficult thing--we just know we aren't getting the truth, so what is the lie here?

Statement: I Always Lie.
Question: Is that a Lie?
Answer: No. (or Yes)
Question: Is that the Truth?
Answer: Yes. (or No)
Question: Do you ever tell the Truth?
Answer: No. (or Yes)
Question: Was that the Truth?
Answer: Yes. (or No)

Question: Which, if any of the "Answers" above were True or Honest? Which were False or Lies?
Answer: Some or All Were or Were Not The Truth (or Lies).

Question: Are we getting anywhere?
Answer: Yes. (or No)

Statement: These troops may have done something awful.
Question: Why are you telling us this? (Since you always have "ulterior motives")
Question: Can we trust what you tell us? (Are you somehow being honest this time?)
Question: How do you benefit from telling us this? (If you don't, perhaps you are telling the Truth this time? Or is it some kind of trick?)
:banghead:
Argghhhhh... this is what happens when one's government develops a reputation for lying. Even when it tells the truth, you can't even begin to be sure.

I hope our troops were justified if they did it; if they did, and it wasn't "justified", they were probably under circumstances that we, as civilians, can't understand--and though that doesn't excuse anything, it should be considered before we condemn them and stand as yet further evidence that "war is hell". Whatever can be done to prevent the shooting of innocent civilians must be done. The best possible situation would involve our troops not even being there.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Kinda like having Enron investigate it's own books.