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May 18, 2006
Hey Murtha
A US lawmaker and former Marine colonel accused US Marines of killing innocent Iraqi civilians after a Marine comrade had been killed by a roadside bomb."Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood," John Murtha told reporters. The November 19 incident occurred in Haditha, Iraq.
Yeah, you "support the troops" so much you'll say shit like this before the investigations are finished and put them at further risk. Asshole.
Sorry. We return you now to our normal PG-13 environment.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at May 18, 2006 07:54 AM
Comments
Agreed. Guilty until proven innocent is not supporting the troops. If the investigation leads to courts-martial than we have to accept that and whatever the truth turns out to be. Until that happens, if it happens, I'll give our troops the benefit of the doubt.
Posted by: Dave E. at May 18, 2006 08:22 AM
Okay, are we yet allowed to question his patriotism?
Posted by: Ken Summers at May 18, 2006 09:28 AM
He supports the troops!
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at May 18, 2006 09:35 AM
I think Murtha is over the top here, as is typical of him, but I actually am amazed at the restraint the media and politicians have shown so far in this story.
The battalion accused of these atrocities is the battalion that relieved mine overseas. I have been in those neighborhoods.
The fact that a battalion commander and two company commanders have been relieved is pretty strong evidence that something has happened, we just can't know what. I hope their relief is only because the regimental commander didn't like something unrelated to this action, but it would seem unlikely.
The USMC is delinquent in putting out more details of this action. My brief contacts with people there at the time leads me to think that it isn't so horrible as the Iraqis claim (no big surprise) but there is considerable doubt as to whether the ROE were observed, even at their most basic level.
It can take a long time to get all the details straight, but I hope the USMC moves with all possible alacrity in explaining as much as they know at this time.
If these Marines did lose control and kill people sleeping in bed, as is claimed by some, I hope strong action is taken so that I can say that I am not associated with them. If their actions were reasonable and the results merely unfortunate, then that needs to be explained quickly.
Posted by: Mike Rentner at May 18, 2006 12:25 PM
I'm with ya on that Mike.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at May 18, 2006 01:07 PM
Agreed, Mike. The USMC needs to move fast and hard.
But, equally true, Murtha is flat wrong. He needs a swift kick in the ass. And to get out of Congress, the scurilous bastard.
Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at May 18, 2006 02:08 PM