This is what the repo regime change scum and their oh-so-Christian confederates voted for; maintaining their faith that since shrub stole an election and skated behind 9/11, that God (who's a republican) would never let anything like this come to light. Wolfie & co lead shrub to believe that since we let Israel get away with this shit, the world would let the occupation get away with it.
Posted by jondee at May 28, 2006 03:39 PMIs there a Murtha for President campaign yet anywhere?
Posted by Mary at May 28, 2006 04:19 PMAnd a Happy Memorial Day to us, every one!
For future invasions, Herr F. M. von Rumsfeld & Co might want to "rethink" these picture takin' mobile phones the troops are apparently taking with them everywhere.
And I don't about the death penalty, but at the very least these Marines should be required to retake their "Cover-up 101" basic training course. Sheesh.
Posted by euzoius at May 28, 2006 04:32 PMAfter what we have done to their citizens and country, it's doubtful the Iraqis will ever give us their hearts and minds. We blew that chance when it would have been easy and humane had there been any plans to respect them and their needs after the first six days of the invasion. The policies of Rumsfeld and his gang have not respected our own troops in any way while they are at war or when they come home. Nor can it be said this president has captured the hearts and minds of a significant number of Americans, one of many reasons being his Iraqi blunders.
Posted by Sally at May 28, 2006 04:38 PMWell, Haditha is just a proving ground for an adminnistration 30 years in the future. Coverup? No problem. That's how Colin Powell got his start...Mi Lai. Mark my words. 30 years from now one of these soldiers will be Sec. of Defense or State. Our democracy demands a blood sacrifice from foreign conflicts. And the best blood sacrifice is from the innocent. It keeps the gods of capitalism happy. Besides, how could any country want nukes when we can bring them democracy?
As the neo-cons say: "Nuke the fucking towelheads! On to Iran!"
one of these soldiers
Sorry. Sould say, "One of these Jarheads..."
Posted by phidipides at May 28, 2006 06:15 PMThere is a cell at The Hague with W's name on it.
We should be so lucky.
Posted by NJ Brian at May 28, 2006 07:07 PMIs there anyone out there who thinks that Haditha was a unique event? Like Abu Ghraib was a few bad apples? dd
Posted by Brian Boru at May 28, 2006 09:25 PMIs there anyone out there who thinks that Haditha was a unique event? Like Abu Ghraib was a few bad apples?
Posted by Brian Boru at May 28, 2006 09:26 PM"Is there anyone out there who thinks that Haditha was a unique event?"
Not me. Not for one fucking second. I think atrocities like this are routine in this dirty, illegal, completely unnecessary war. We probably murder more Iraqi civilians than this per day from the air alone. The whole shebang is one massive war crime for which, unfortunately, I don't believe anyone involved in starting it is actually going to do to jail for.
Posted by ran at May 28, 2006 09:39 PMfor an atrocity thats less than 6 months old:
TIKRIT, Iraq, March 15 (Reuters) - Eleven members of an Iraqi family were killed in a U.S. raid on Wednesday...
c/o http://www.chris-floyd.com/march/
I agree with Murtha. They are "murders" and should be held responsible. How in the world do you shoot children? I don't want these same men on the streets of our communities upon returning.
Posted by Judith at May 29, 2006 01:17 AM"Is there anyone out there who thinks that Haditha was a unique event?"
Ran, no. I go back again to the wedding party, where they killed at least as many as the Haditha incident. As one soldier said, the attitude is kill them all and let God sort them out. Truth be known, this is probably a weekly occurence. We will pay eventually for this type of atrocities, and I don't want to hear about our suffering and tears when it happens.
Posted by Judith at May 29, 2006 04:46 AMIf Bill's chef had only slipped him some salt peter, if Monica hadn't pulled up her skirt, if Gore didn't pick a republican grandmother for a running mate, if Donna Brazil had been abducted by aliens, if Gore had contested the election like Rove with rabies, or if KKKarl had suffered a very slow and painful crib death, none of this would be happening.
Posted by TIKI AL at May 29, 2006 05:08 AM"Is there anyone out there who thinks that Haditha was a unique event?"
Yes. As a former Marine and retired US Army soldier I know it is. Most of us are caring, patriotic, and sympathetic people, and a cross-section of America. I agree with Murtha. Its a sad day for all who live in the United States.
The blame here is on the Administration: for using a fighting machine like the Marines as policemen and ambassadors of good will. Also for sending them back 2, 3 or more times or extending their duty in a combat zone where they are under increasing threats, watching their buddies die or be maimed, and the stress levels rising against an invisable enemy while they are repeatedly warned to smile for the cameras and show nothing but good will.
This should have been over 6 months after we entered Baghdad and our troops home by now. Bush is to blame for not replacing Rummy when things started to slide down hill. And most of the generals, who were (and still are) too busy sucking ass to get that next star, than to stand up and say enough of this disgraceful leadership from the top.
When they put the murderers up for courtmartial, the entire chain of command should be there with them----from Bush on down.
Unfortunately, it's a bit optimistic to think Haditha will turn out to be the only instance of troops behaving "unprofessionally" to use the current euphemism of militarism. We've had a number of suspicious deaths of detained prisoners already documented, I believe.
It should be noted that Haditha became a "problem" only because an IRAQI journalism student shot film that contradicted the Marines official "insurgent attack" account. This wouldn't have been investigated without that prior evidence.
We can hope Haditha is an aberration, but I doubt it. Every soldier in Iraq has been placed under the difficult combat stresses Hank details above, after all. If these guys "overreacted" under the stress, why exactly would we think others have not? It's illogical to dismiss it entirely.
And this massacre certainly calls into question these ubiquitous "insurgent attack" stories we have been fed daily for 3 plus years now.
Posted by euzoius at May 29, 2006 07:14 AMI thought Commander ala Chimp majored in history at Yale. Was he playing hooky when they taught massacre\occupation 101? When SS big shot Heydrich was assinated in 42, the entire town of Lidice disappeared. Every man over 15 was shot, and the women and children sent to camps, where many died. Things like this happen when you start wars for no reason.
Being caught in the middle of a civil war with no solution is too much to ask of our soldiers.
This war's been fought with excessive force from the jump. I read somewhere that during Shock n Awe phase Rummy had to sign off on any bombing target projected to kill more than 30 civilians. The black-hearted bastard signed off on every such request that passed his desk.
Then there's the cluster bombs in civilian neighborhoods, massive us of DU shells, complete lack of fire discipline by the troops for example Fallujah was ignited by our boys opening fire on a peaceful protest, all the gratuitous checkpoint shootings, mercs answerable to noone murdering Iraqis with impunity, the wedding bombing Judith menioned above, and on and on.
This is why you don't fucking start unnecessary wars, or rather you shouldn't if you have so much as a shred of human decency.
Posted by ran at May 29, 2006 09:05 AMYes. As a former Marine and retired US Army soldier I know it is.
Absolute bullshit. It's like claiming Mi Lai was a one-off. It was not. My god, have you seen the film of people whacking Iraqi civilians for fun? The neo-con reaction is "this doesn't happen," qualified by "we only need to kill enough of them to get them to demand an end to the insurgency." If you believe your own statement you are quite deluded.
How about those we round up in the middle of the night and "disappear?" That doesn't happen either.
Posted by phidipides at May 29, 2006 10:22 AMKillings like Haditha, Fallujah, and now Kabul are not only not in the finest tradition of our military, they are barely in the tradition of any legitimate fighting force. It is not the Flag Officers or the staff officers or the enlisted who are bringing forth this aberration. This is leadership, civilian leadership, from the Pentagon repeating a dark, atonal fugue; working it in to the mix. Yes, the U.S. Military has fired shots into crowds, leveled civilian neighborhoods, performed reprisal killings on innocents, and tortured non-combatants in its jails. The leadership needs to answer for the wrongdoing now. Enough service personnel have paid for the blunders of the civilian leadership.
When will they answer?
Posted by obelus at May 29, 2006 06:15 PM