Friday, December 22, 2006
The Murders at Haditha, Iraq
Many atrocities have taken place during the past three and a half years in Iraq, atrocities committed by all sides. They cannot be justified but deaths of civilians -- so called "collateral damage" during military operations are one thing, deliberate killing of civilians by soldiers is another matter. That is what happened at Haditha on November 19, 2005. The rape and murder of 15-year old Abeer Hamza at Mahmudiyah was another shameful incident.
The Washington Post By Josh White and Sonya Geis Friday, December 22, 2006; Page A01 Four U.S. Marines were charged with multiple counts of murder yesterday for their alleged roles in the deaths of two dozen civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha last year. The accusations set up what could be the highest-profile atrocity prosecution to arise from the Iraq war. In an unusual move, the Marine Corps also charged four officers with crimes related to their alleged failure to investigate and report the Nov. 19, 2005, slayings, which occurred when the Marines conducted a house-to-house sweep and attacked a vehicle after a member of their unit was killed in an ambush. The separate investigation into how the incident was reported led to dereliction charges against a lieutenant colonel, two captains and a first lieutenant. They are accused of failing to thoroughly investigate and accurately report the slayings to superiors. The lieutenant also faces charges of making a false official statement and obstructing justice, according to the Marine Corps. |
See: Sarah Meyer's "The Haditha Doctor and the Media Dissemblers"
Also Civilian Victims in Iraq
Haditha-Hamandiya-Ishaqui
Haditha, Iraq, Truth it is Ugly
Haditha - Few Marines and Slaughter of Civilians
