Haditha cover-up probe sent to US commander in Iraq

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07283479.htm

Haditha cover-up probe sent to US commander in Iraq

WASHINGTON, July 7 (Reuters) - Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, has been sent a report on whether there was a cover-up of Marines' involvement in the killing of up to 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha last year, the military said on Friday.

Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, head of U.S. ground forces in Iraq, completed his review of an investigation team report of whether Marines involved in the Nov. 19 incident lied about what happened and whether senior officers sufficiently examined their account.

"Chiarelli completed his findings and recommendations today and forwarded copies of the report to the commander (of) Multi-National Forces-Iraq," the military said in a brief statement. It gave no indication of the findings.

Chiarelli received the findings of the investigative team headed by Maj. Gen. Eldon Bargewell three weeks ago.

[leftchick]

1. only three weeks ago?

damn this is being dragged out now isn't it? I expext Casey to Lie about this as well as everything else he lies about.

[ladjf]

2. Why is this dragging out so long? Regardless of the guilt or

innocence, to drag it out suggest an attempt to stifle the news about it.

[Igel]

3. The full text of the report hasn't been leaked yet?

Must be vacation time.

[DemReadingDU]

4. must not be good, another terror plot unveiled today

about the N.Y. tunnels

[struggle4progress]

5. US military Haditha report finds fault with commanders

By Alastair Macdonald
Reuters
Saturday, July 8, 2006; 6:42 AM

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. military report passed to the commander in Iraq on Friday found Marine officers failed to respond properly to conflicting reports of the killings of up to 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha last year, an official said.

"The Marines will go through their day of pain," the military official said, on condition of anonymity, when asked about possible disciplinary action against the unit involved ...

It was now up to Iraq commander Casey to decide on any disciplinary action, the official said. Three Marine field officers from the regiment involved, a lieutenant colonel and two captains, were relieved of their commands in April.

The report is, however, principally an administrative review of the procedures following the killings -- notably how far they were deliberately covered up -- and is unlikely to lead to criminal proceedings. A separate criminal investigation is under way that officials say is likely to lead to murder charges ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/08/AR2006070800277.html