WaPo: Haditha Report Condemns Marines
posted at 12:58 pm on April 21, 2007 by see-dubya
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The Marine Corps’ analysis of how the Haditha incident was handled has come out, and the Washington Post could choose to emphasize one of two angles. Well, possibly more, but two are suggested by the excerpts they chose to give. Here’s one possibility:
1. “I found no direct evidence of any orchestrated effort or any effort on the part of any individual above the squad level to cover up this incident. “…
Recommendations
“I recommend that this investigation be used to inform the continuing development and improvement of ROE [rules of engagement] reset training and that it be used as a case study for training in staff procedures and reporting.” [and, by implication, nothing more severe was recommended--See Dubya.]
or do you think they ran with this?
2. “Leaders from the platoon through the 2nd Marine Division level, particularly at the Company and Battalion level, exhibited a determination to ignore indications of serious misconduct, perhaps to avoid conducting an inquiry that could prove adverse to themselves or their Marines. . . ”
and
“The RCT-2 Commander, however, expressed only mild concern over the potential negative ramifications of indiscriminate killing based on his stated view that the Iraqis and insurgents respect strength and power over righteousness.”
Okay, decide which angle the WaPo took, and look at the headline to see if you were right. Me, I think I’m going to wait to see the whole report, because it sounds to me like the Marine Corps was cleared of a coverup, even if there are problems with the way they regard Iraqi civilians, and there will be changes to the rules of engagement based on this incident.
Whatever those changes are going to be, I hope they don’t make it any harder for Marines to defend themselves.
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My grandfather rolls over in his grave knowing that the same country that encouraged him to kill Japanese unremorsefully is the same one upset that in the heat of battle some Marines killed people of unknown allegiance.
Tim Burton on April 21, 2007 at 1:31 PM
The Washington Post is a mullet wrapper at best. Like See-Dubya, I’ll wait for the “real” report, not the Pravda-style interpretation presented in that alleged newspaper.
Zorro on April 21, 2007 at 1:58 PM
Lets see, people who refuse to stand up and fight for their own country, and at times are complicit in attacks on our troops, are to be valued over men and women risking it all to provide security for the aforementioned indigent population?
I’m not saying they should be of lesser value, but for crying out loud, if these people would pick a side, their deaths could be put into some sort of context in relation to our troops lives.
What is more tragic….
A civilian being murdered by the baddies because they helped the coalition?
or
The same civilian dying in they cross fire because they allow the baddies to move freely in their community?
The civilians are either for us or against us. If they aren’t going to actively help us then I have a tough time feeling sorry for them. If they are against us, then I have ZERO problem with them becoming casualties.
The civilians refusal to help is the only part of the dems argument against the war that makes any sense. If the outcome in Iraq existed in a vacuum, I’d say pull out tomorrow and let them suffer the consequences of their own actions because there isn’t a one of those haji MFers worth one american life.
But that isn’t the case. The outcome in Iraq has serious ramifications for the US of A and the ROE should lean towards the defense of our troops first. God knows they willingly put their lives on the line for others and by #ell they don’t need to be led like lambs to slaughter because politicians want to fight a moral war!
csdeven on April 21, 2007 at 2:42 PM
I like Bruce Kesler’s headline a whole bunch better: Haditha Prosecution Acknowledges Weak Case
bdfaith on April 21, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Yes, bdfaith, but WaPo’s headline sets up the left’s Outrage and Horror should the Marines be acquitted.
You have to remember what’s important to the MSM.
Merovign on April 21, 2007 at 5:15 PM
The “mainstream media” wants another My Lai, so that they can undermine our nation’s efforts in the Iraq War. To me, those in the mainstream media are being filthy, low-life scum. Our Marines are terrific; they don’t deserve this.
Phil Byler on April 21, 2007 at 9:07 PM
My two “vacations” to Iraq has shown me this is so true I can’t even tell you. This is one thing liberals will never understand about this conflict. Makes me wish I was in the Marine Corp instead of the Army… THEY get it.
BadBrad on April 21, 2007 at 9:19 PM
Has any body heard from Murtha?
B Moe on April 22, 2007 at 10:47 AM
Thankfully, no.
techno_barbarian on April 22, 2007 at 12:40 PM
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