Haditha Residents on Charged Marines: Let Us Have Them

[sabra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/22/world/middleeast/22cnd-reax.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Haditha Residents on Charged Marines: Let Us Have Them


Dr. Waleed Al-Obeidi, 41, the director-general of Haditha hospital

“If they plan to implement justice, then we welcome this step to refer the eight marines to the court, but we have our doubts in American justice. The verdict will be life sentences for four of them and the other four will be released, according to what we heard in the media. They blamed one soldier in the killing of a whole family, while it was carnage. The Iraqi government should have summoned those soldiers and executed them.”

•

Tahseen Al-Hadithi, 51, cleric and imam of the Haditha mosque

“I prefer they won’t be executed, and to be handed over to Haditha people to get the punishment they deserve.”

Mr. Hadithi said this was not the only crime committed by American forces in Haditha, and noted that charges had been brought in similar incidents elsewhere in the country:

“This is the culture of the occupying marines in our country. If we go back and remember the funeral, and if President Bush could see the family, the children and the women and how the soldiers were moving from one house to another, killing them, what would his comment be? Execution is insufficient punishment to them, and I think they won’t be executed.”

•

Sheikh Bairam Affan, 69, leader of the Al-Mawali tribe in the nearby town of Barwana

“I went to the U.S. forces in my capacity as a tribal sheikh along with other sheikhs after the massacre and asked the Americans to leave because we can not stop the resistance from attacking them in this area. I said to one of the American commanders if you kill people the same way as you did whenever you are attacked then no one will remain in Haditha.’

“They should get the death sentence because they carried out planned executions.”

[rodeodance]

1. umm.. these soldiers are lucky our side has them.

[uppityperson]

2. k&r

[Barrett808]

3. k & r

[Zorra]

4. Better yet, let's give them Bu*h and the PNAC neocons. n/t

[anotherdrew]

5. they should be made slaves of the people of Haditha

just for a second remember and touch the atrocity they committed, these monsters absolutely should be handed over to the locals.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

6. So, in other words, you're in favor of outsourcing torture...

If its terrorists, no matter what they've done, nothing excuses torture. But so long as it's accused American soldiers, then it's perfectly OK.

Not very consistent of you, but an all too typical attitude of extremists.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[0007]

7. Then you don't believe Democracy is alive in Iraq, 'eh?

....and no one said anything about outsourcing torture. I'm in favor of turning those who are guilty of murder over to the community that we reformed, aren't you?

- another proud member of the Reality Based Community.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

8. Don't think you're fooling anyone being deliberately obtuse...

You know, I know, the original poster knew, exactly what would happen if we handed these suspects over to the Iraqis. Your protests of innocence are about as believable as what Chaney says on the same topic. And that is not meant to be a compliment.

Now are you going to own up to what you're saying you're in favor of or not?

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[0007]

10. Get the fuck over yourself man!

[saigon68]

28. Its Richard B. "Cheney", war criminal and enabler of the awol chimpanzee

A link for you to read up on ------------- Chainey or Chain eeeee or Chaney.

LOL

http://www.whitehouse.gov/vicepresident/



And I agree with your adversary. Let our democratic puppets "have at" these killers, like the military gave the Subic Bay Marine rapist over to the residents of Manila


http://politicalpinoy.blogspot.com/2006/12/subic-rape-case-saga-daniel-smith.html



Smith said he met her in a bar, where they danced and kissed and she sat on his lap. When it was time to go, he asked her if she wanted a ride with him and three other Marines, and she agreed.

The incident happened in a moving van at the Subic Bay free port, a former U.S. Naval base, while three other Marines cheered him on.

Smith taking the stand told the Makati Regional Trial Court that he initiated kissing inside the van and the woman responded, even leaning against the window and pulling him toward her.

[TheWatcher]

32. The Conservative in your Screen Name is pretty much all I need to know

Now, if you wish to engage in a battle of wits, you might try and learn to spell.

C-H-E-N-E-Y.

That way you won't look mentally inept in the process.

Even if your talking points are.

[Pastiche423]

9. It wouldn't be outsourcing torture

They committed the crimes in Iraq. Their punishment should happen in Iraq.

[0007]

11. The ConservativeDemocrat believes the guilty should be

presented with the Medal of Honor from junior himself. LOL!!

[cali]

12. No it shouldn't.

Your speaking out of pure vengefulness. They are members of the U.S. military and are subject to military justice. It may not be as satisfying to you as turning them over to the people of Haditha, but that's the way it is.

[Critters2]

21. What about democracy...let the people decide

The people of the country where the crimes were committed.

Or wasn't this about establishing democracy in the Middle East?

[wickerwoman]

31. So what's your take on turning bin Laden over to the Americans?

Isn't it pure venegefulness to want to try bin Laden for 9/11 in the U.S. courts? Should he be subject to Taliban or Saudi justice because he lived there or because he was a Saudi citizen?

[anotherdrew]

13. all these war supporters want to live by the old rules, let them die by them too

I'm way past wanting to play nice with so-called "conservatives" - It's a disgusting word that doesn't mean a god damned thing anymore.

These soldiers, who've done such vile actions, have placed in grave danger all their ex-comrades, because I can assure you, in Iraq revenge will be had, if not against these 8 then against 80 others...

How can anyone pretend the evidence isn't conclusive enough? They are guilty. And it would have all been covered up and denied by "conservatives" if they had had their way. To hell with conservatives.

[anotherdrew]

14. it wouldn't be the same as outsourcing torture and you know that

I hope they're each given life sentences without possibility of parole and chemically castrated least they rape again. I'd like to know what the hell went wrong with these people to do such a thing, and I'd like a way to watch for it and catch it early the next time. I'd like to see their commanding office explain and face charges over why he had no control over his men and let them wander off and do this, their officer is SUPPOSED to be responsible for the actions of the men serving under him.

What is SO very disturbing is that these monsters came DAMN CLOSE to getting away with it.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

23. I do? Who in Iraq do you think doesn't torture?

I'd really like to know.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[anotherdrew]

24. so you are perfectly willing to ASSUME that their response would be torture?

Look what Iam suggesting... I've heard many a 'conservative' argue that slaves are mostly treated well becasue they are a valuable asset... Old rules apply here I say because these fools took a whole family entire and for nothing. Imagine just for a moment... Make it personal... What would you do if your brother's family were wiped out so that your cousin could be raped to death? Would you so glibly give up your demand for your own justice? Would you meekly surrender your claim to the invading army? Is it really so easy to deny them?

[ConservativeDemocrat]

30. Look pal, read the news why don't you?

Every day scores of bodies show up on the streets of Bagdad, many with obvious signs of torture.
You may try to justify that as just being their way of doing things - but to everyone who is sane, that's outsourcing torture.

Your "what would <b>you</b> do if your bother's family were .." sentence sounds just like any other Republican trying to justify abusing prisoners. They answer is that there is a rule of law which we follow in these cases, so we don't become exactly like what we are trying to stamp out.

And I'm sorry, but if you don't understand that, you don't belong in the Democratic party.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[oblivious]

33. I would guess at least 99% of people in Iraq don't torture.

[whopis01]

27. think of how many others

have gotten away with it over there. These are just the only ones caught.

[Barrett808]

15. Iraq town has little faith in US trial of Marines

HADITHA, Iraq, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Iraqis in Haditha, where 24 unarmed civilians were killed last year, said on Friday four U.S. Marines charged with their murder should be executed, a penalty they will not face in the United States.

"They should hand them over to us so that we can kill them. They do not deserve a trial," said one young man who refused to give his name.

Khaled Salman, whose sister Asmaa was among 24 people killed in Haditha, gathered with friends in the early hours of Friday to watch television coverage of the charges being announced.

"Those soldiers killed 24 people. They killed women and children, isn't that enough for them be executed? Just so that the family can have peace," said Salman, 41.

"It's a political trial and it will not bring our rights back," said Salman, visibly angry.

(more)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22911553.htm

[wtmusic]

16. wonder why. nt

[sabra]

17. more Iraqi reactions here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2662409&mesg_id=2662409

[David Dunham]

18. Bush/Cheney should be on trial not the soldiers

Bush/Cheney placed the US troops in horrible situations in Iraq.

[anotherdrew]

26. these ones went well beyond the horrible situation they found themelves in

they've earned special sanction, beyond what is owed to the "leaders"

[IndianaGreen]

19. As a recent rape case in the Philippines showed, we can't trust US military

to impart justice to one of their own. These scumbags should be turned over to an Islamic court in Iraq to face trial, just as we did Saddam.

On the other hand, we could do what is righteous, stop the kangaroo court that the Saddam trials have been, and ship him to the International Crimes Court for trial. Our war "heroes" should follow Saddam to The Hague to face justice.

[saigon68]

29. See # 28 above

http://politicalpinoy.blogspot.com/2006/12/subic-rape-case-saga-daniel-smith.html




Smith said he met her in a bar, where they danced and kissed and she sat on his lap. When it was time to go, he asked her if she wanted a ride with him and three other Marines, and she agreed.

The incident happened in a moving van at the Subic Bay free port, a former U.S. Naval base, while three other Marines cheered him on.

[treestar]

20. That's at least 2 Iraqis who are nowhere near understanding

democracy and the rule of law.

Wasn't getting rid of Saddam for them and bombing them supposed to let them have all that?

:banghead:

[Miss Chybil]

22. I heard on the news these Marines aren't even confined to quarters.

They are free as birds to go and do as they please until the trial. When I was in the Army people were confined to quarters for shoplifting.

[anotherdrew]

25. uh yeah, it's a fraking joke, they're begging them to run for it. n/t