Iraqis told civilian deaths were 'unfortunate'

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http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/05/30/news/top_stories/1_01_404_29_07.txt

CAMP PENDLETON ---- Iraqi officials were told shortly after 24 civilians died at the hands of Camp Pendleton Marines in Haditha in 18 months ago that while the deaths were unfortunate, they stemmed solely from the local populace allowing insurgents to use homes to stage attacks against U.S. troops.

Testifying via videotape recorded in March because he is now back in Iraq, Marine 1st Lt. Max Frank said he was told by his superiors to provide that explanation to local hospital officials when he delivered the bodies to the facility's morgue the night of Nov. 19, 2005.

"We were to explain to the Iraqis that the Marines were sorry about this, but this is what happens when you allow terrorists to use homes to attack Marines," Frank said during the opening day of a hearing to determine if Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani should be tried for dereliction of duty for failing to order an investigation into the deaths.

Chessani faces two counts of dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order for his role in the Haditha case, an incident that spawned worldwide condemnation of the Marines when brought to light in early 2006.