http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-06-07T123516Z_01_L07630940_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-USA-MARINES.xml&src=rss&rpc=22
Haditha case puts "strained" Marines in spotlight
Wed Jun 7, 2006 8:35am ET
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. Marines, fighting in some of the most violent territory in Iraq, often battle their own frustrations as much as the enemy in a guerrilla war against an adversary who blends easily into the local population.
Marines are suspected of killing two dozen men, women and children in the city of Haditha last November, and human rights groups have said it may qualify as a war crime.
"These guys are under tremendous strain, more strain than I can conceive of. And this strain has caused them to crack," said U.S. Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat and retired Marine colonel.
Mouthy Murtha at it Again
Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by carpro, Jun 7, 2006.
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The alternative is to suggest that they did it after carefully considering the situation.
Do you really think that US Marines would do that?
Of course they cracked under the strain. Do you think we teach our Marines to murder innocent civilians? -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
It has not yet been proven that they did exactly what they are accused of.
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Rev,
You need to overlook that fact. You are getting in the way of the latest smear campaign by the left against America and its military. Didn't you get the memo that this is all about politics and not about the truth?
Joseph Botwinick -
If the evidence shows that US troops committed crimes or atrocities, they should be convicted as war criminals, and punished accordingly. If the evidence is lacking, they should be exonerated. Simple as that. Just because they are US troops doesn't excuse criminal acts. To do so puts a stain on all of our brave service members, and demeans the already shaky reputation of the United States. Not only are they an occupying force, but every marine, soldier, sailor and airman are ambassadors of America. War does not excuse murder of innocents. Yes, collateral loss of life is a sad reality of war. Deliberate murder and joy killing should not be.
Some need to worry less about what the Dixie Chicks say, and a little more about the damage done to America by rogue service members in the theater of battle. -
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Just off topic. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
The concern for "rogue" soldiers and the damage they supposedly cause is a clear hyper-sensativity based on a bent against self-defense. In the mean time our soldiers get tied down in their ability to fight the terrorists and their lives are put in greater danger. The anti-war folks want to find american troops doing things like this to have fuel for their anti- american propoganda. So they turn as many situations as they can into some unecessary incident. Our soldiers are hurt by this. The enemy is aided by this, and all of you folks who continue to do this should be ashamed.
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
There are no bad apples. One investigation into so called killing of innocent civillians has come back with the exoneration of our soldiers as will this next one. As I said, there are people just waitng to find our military personel guilty of what ever they can. In turn giving aid to the enemy.
By the way putting underwear on a terrorists head, while very silly, should not be a courtmarshal offence. -
As for humiliation, more went on at Abu Graib than that. Even Bush admits as much, as two "bad apples", Graner and England, were convicted. Again, so much for your credibility on this issue. -
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Lest we forget.
Murtha's concern is not our Marines, but his party's and his own political advantage.
The reason he said our troops were "broken" (demoralized) and now have "cracked" is to cast aspersions on the conduct of the war in general. He is using these isolated incidents to make it appear to the public that we cannot keep this up, that these acts are endemic, that it's ruining our military services.
Therefore we must cut and run.
I see it for what it really is, just more political posturing at the expense of our troops. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Let me correct myself. The statement there are no bad apples is refering to the current investigations, which one by one come up empty of any charges, only accusations.
I didnt mean to raise the heart rates of the hyper sensative. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Here is an example of what Carpo is saying.
Mr. Murtha's Rush to Judgment
[SIZE=-1]Sunday, May 28, 2006; B06
[/SIZE]
A year ago I was charged with two counts of premeditated murder and with other war crimes related to my service in Iraq. My wife and mother sat in a Camp Lejeune courtroom for five days while prosecutors painted me as a monster; then autopsy evidence blew their case out of the water, and the Marine Corps dropped all charges against me ["Marine Officer Cleared in Killing of Two Iraqis," news story, May 27, 2005].
So I know something about rushing to judgment, which is why I am so disturbed by the remarks of Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) regarding the Haditha incident ["Death Toll Rises in Haditha Attack, GOP Leader Says," news story, May 20]. Mr. Murtha said, "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."
In the United States, we have a civil and military court system that relies on an investigatory and judicial process to make determinations based on evidence. The system is not served by such grand pronouncements of horror and guilt without the accuser even having read the investigative report.
Mr. Murtha's position is particularly suspect when he is quoted by news services as saying that the strain of deployment "has caused them [the Marines] to crack in situations like this." Not only is he certain of the Marines' guilt but he claims to know the cause, which he conveniently attributes to a policy he opposes.
Members of the U.S. military serving in Iraq need more than Mr. Murtha's pseudo-sympathy. They need leaders to stand with them even in the hardest of times. Let the courts decide if these Marines are guilty. They haven't even been charged with a crime yet, so it is premature to presume their guilt -- unless that presumption is tied to a political motive.
ILARIO PANTANO
Jacksonville, N.C.
The writer served as a Marine enlisted man in the Persian Gulf War and most recently as a platoon commander in Iraq.
© 2006 The Washington Post Company
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/27/AR2006052700846_pf.html -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
That should never occur. ever!
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
This is a link to a video of an Iraq soldier telling Murtha he is wrong. -
Barbarian, on murdering innocent civilians:
The alternative is to suggest that they did it after carefully considering the situation.
Do you really think that US Marines would do that?
Marines are a highly disciplined bunch, who tend to be "straight arrows." The ones I knew in the service were either in troiuble and on their way out, or completely with the mission. Few in between.
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