Marines Could Face Murder Charges in Deaths of Iraqi Civilians in Haditha

[Terri]

Marines Could Face Murder Charges in Deaths of Iraqi Civilians in Haditha

Fox News

WASHINGTON — Murder charges may be brought against some Marines for what may be the worst atrocity committed by U.S. military personnel in Iraq, a senior Pentagon official said Friday.

The official said Marines were likely responsible for killing as many as two dozen unarmed civilians, including women and children, in Haditha last November. A separate investigation is under way into whether Marines tried to cover up the killings. The official requested anonymity, citing the ongoing criminal investigation of the incident.

The Marines initially reported that one Marine and 15 Iraqi civilians had been killed in crossfire when U.S. forces responded to an insurgent attack on Nov. 19. The first report to the contrary surfaced in March, when Time magazine quoted witnesses saying the Marines "went on a rampage after the attack, killing 15 unarmed Iraqis in their homes, including seven women and three children."

More (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197168,00.htm l)

[billybigrigger]

Is this a leak to Fox news or something that the administration wanted out in the first place. Wonder if this is the same guy that Murtha claimed briefed him on this issue. Wonder if any other members of congress were briefed. Hope it's not true!.

[Danny]

<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr class="standard"><td>Quote </td></tr><tr class="standard"><td class="QUOTE">Is this a leak to Fox news or something that the administration wanted out in the first place[/QUOTE]
It's nothing that hasn't already been reported. Except it's becoming more and more apparent that these Marines could face a death sentence if found guilty.


Needless to say, we know he's (Murtha) all too willing to exploit his own, and even exaggerate the facts, as long as it gives him another fifteen minutes in the spot-light. The backlash our men in harms way may encounter, means nothing to him.

As for the charges, only time will tell as the investigation continues.

I'm sure we'll hear plenty from the; &quot;I love the troops, but this is disgraceful and they should be punished&quot; crowd before long though.

[Charie]

<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr class="standard"><td>Quote </td></tr><tr class="standard"><td class="QUOTE">The first report to the contrary surfaced in March, when Time magazine quoted witnesses saying the Marines &quot;went on a rampage after the attack, killing 15 unarmed Iraqis in their homes, including seven women and three children.&quot;

[/QUOTE]

If the first report was in Time magazine in March, where did they get the information? And why is it only being widely reported now?

I keep thinking there were terrorists hiding in the house with the civilians. It just seems as though there was information on this when it actually occurred. Can't remember exactly. Maybe this was on a different occasion.

I hope it isn't true, but I'm afraid it is.

[Thundercat505]

[QUOTE--charie--I keep thinking there were terrorists hiding in the house with the civilians. It just seems as though there was information on this when it actually occurred.]

if memory serves, that is about the way I heard it as well. only thing is that it may have been taking fire from that house and when they went in the terrorist(s) went out the back and the family was caught.

usual scenario for that crowd and the only survivor not telling the truth to cover that fact up.

[Terri]

A little background on one of the Marines involved.

<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr class="standard"><td>Quote </td></tr><tr class="standard"><td class="QUOTE">Colo. Marine in eye of storm (http://www.insidedenver.com /drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_47313 23,00.html)

Rocky Mountain News

RANGELY - Jeff Chessani was a straight arrow growing up in small-town western Colorado.
He graduated from Rangely High School in 1982, earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Northern Colorado in 1988 and has made a career as a Marine Corps officer.

He had advanced to lieutenant colonel when he was relieved of command April 7 in the wake of an ongoing military investigation.

The two-pronged investigation focuses first on the deaths of as many as two dozen Iraqi civilians in Haditha, an insurgent stronghold. That inquiry could result in murder charges against Marines in the battalion that Chessani commanded.

[/QUOTE]

[Charie]

I hope they can find out the truth on this.

I don't think this was because the troops are stressed out because there are not enough of them there. Anyone in battle is stressed out. Period.

The question is......... are you able to keep your head and use your best judgment as you were trained.

According to the second news article it looks as though the crux of the matter lies with a staff sergeant who is unnamed.

The officers will take the fall for this no matter how it turns out because they were in command of the troops when the incident occurred. Their careers are in the toilet.

I just hope it isn't as bad as it looks because it smears the whole Marine Corps, of which my husband was one.

[billybigrigger]

However, as senior Marine officers and other military officials have briefed members of Congress about the investigation, the Haditha incident has come -into focus as something that has shamed the corps.

The above was from Terri's post. Now we know were Murtha probably got what he called credible information from. This does not look good for the people involved if it actually happened the way it was discribed in this news report.