Marines and the 'massacre': a neighbour tells of aftermath

[spindrifter]

The Times May 29, 2006


<snip> (The introduction talks about a child whose corroborated story tells of the Marines killing 7 members of her family.)

An official investigation has already resulted in the removal of Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffrey Chessani, the commanding officer, and Captain Luke McConnell and Captain James Kimber, two company commanders, from their duties in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment of the 1st Marine Division.

Three marines are to face criminal charges, including homicide, while nine other marines may also face court martial, according to Pentagon sources.

<snip>

Congressmen who have been briefed on the investigation expect it to conclude that up to 24 civilians were killed. While the claims are contentious, the US military has not disputed the seriousness of the allegations.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2201470,00.html

+++++++++++++++

The description of what happened at Haditha is horribly graphic. Children as young as 2 and 3 years old were killed when the Marines invaded another home. As Rep. Murtha has said, this is worse than Abu Ghraib. This group was not winning hearts and minds. It was literally blowing them up.

[bahrbearian]

1. "Three marines are to face criminal charges"

Why is it always a few "Bad Apples",, why dosn't the "Buck Stop Here ":

[waiting for hope]

2. But isn't this war a lot

like Vietnam? I am by no means excusing the actions of these men but really - who is the enemy? Terror? They have been over there for what? Three years? With no end in site...It was easy when we fought the Nazis, Japanese and the Italians - we knew what the objective was but damn if I can figure this one out as I'm sure many of our troop overseas are thinking. It's a stinking mess and it needs to end now before any more tragedies like Haditha happen.

[spindrifter]

4. Here is a glimpse of a slightly different approach:

Per the article, Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffrey Chessani, the commanding officer, and Captain Luke McConnell and Captain James Kimber, two company commanders, have been removed from their duties in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment of the 1st Marine Division. That does not mean that they will eventually face courts martial. It also does not mean the investigation is over.

[orwell]

3. You turn people into killing machines...

...and they act like killing machines.

I'm shocked (but not awed...)

Hey, did you hear who won American Idol?

[uppityperson]

5. 2, 3, 11, 15

"Salim’s daughters — A’isha, 3, Zainab, 2, Noora, 15, and Saba’a, 11 — and his eight-year-old son, Mohammed, were among the dead."