Clipmarks | Haditha Clips

Rice backs 'worthwhile' Iraq war

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:25:28 GMT

clipped by: beaukivi

Rice backs 'worthwhile' Iraq war

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has again defended the war in Iraq, saying the investment in US lives and dollars will be "worth it".

Ms Rice said a lot had been sacrificed for Iraq but success would change the entire Middle East.

She was speaking soon after eight US marines were charged over the deaths of 24 Iraq civilians in Haditha last year.

She said: "There have been plenty of markers that show that this is a country that is worth the investment, because once it emerges as a country that is a stabilising factor, you will have a very different kind of Middle East."

President Bush said for the first time this week that the US was not winning the war, but was not losing it either.

Tags: iraq

Another Lawsuit Filed Against democrat John Murtha

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:14:20 GMT

clipped by: pkronfield
clipper's remarks: Lies, betrayal, deceit, cowardice, and slander come natural to democrats. This pig Murtha is on top of the pile, slandering his fellow Marines for political advantage. "Semper Fi" means nothing to this swine. His motto should be "Never Faithful", along with "war hero" Kerry, adulterer Edwards, and "leave her in the car to drown" Kennedy.

Clip Source: www.tribune-democrat.com

In May 2006, six months after 24 people were killed in a small Iraqi town, U.S. Rep. John Murtha made a startling accusation.

American soldiers, he contended, had killed innocent civilians “in cold blood.”

Now, less than six weeks before the longtime Johnstown Democrat is up for re-election, a Marine involved in the now-infamous Haditha incident is suing Murtha for slander.

“What Murtha did is outrageous, and I am seeking punitive damages,” said Noah Geary, a Pittsburgh attorney representing Sharratt.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Pittsburgh.

“I sincerely hope that Congressman Murtha will use this opportunity to admit his mistake and take responsibility for the harm his false accusations have done to Justin Sharratt and his family,” Russell said.

Tags: murtha is unfit for public office

Biden's refusal to apologize for Haditha

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:49:48 GMT

clipped by: sillysam

Clip Source: www.rushlimbaugh.com

t's a transcript of Biden in June of 2006 on Meet the Press talking about the Haditha massacre. Now, when you hear Biden talking about this you must keep in mind that he was totally wrong about Haditha, just like Jack Murtha was and Biden has not apologized nor has Murtha. Eight of the Marines charged for that so-called massacre and the cover-up have already been exonerated. One case is still pending. Here's Russert: "Let me ask you a question on Iraq about Haditha, some of the other alleged atrocities. The fact is, our government knew about that for some time. How high up the chain, based on your information, do you think this goes?" Biden: "Secretary of Defense." Russert: "What should be done about Rumsfeld?" Biden: "He should be gone. He shouldn't be in his office tomorrow morning, but I'm so tired of saying this on your show. I've been saying this for two years." "Well, the president knew about Haditha in March." "Well, we can't get rid of the president.

Dark Horse Challenging Murtha Turns Out To Be A Thoroughbred

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:43:48 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: It challenged the signatures on Russell’s petition in court. Just enough signatures were removed to assure that Russell would not be on the primary ballot-–which was the plan.

Undeterred, Russell asked voters to write in his name on the primary ballot to be the Republican candidate in the upcoming general election. He received more than 4,000 write-in votes in the GOP Primary and another 1,000 in the Democrat Primary, enough to once again make him a candidate, Luksik said.

It is an impressive performance in a district with approximately 345,000 registered voters. Instead of the "dark horse" Murtha’s machine expected, they encountered a thoroughbred who apparently knows how to run.

A Haditha Marine father joins "Murtha Must Go"

Darryl Sharratt is the father of former LCpl Justin Sharratt; last year his son was exonerated and publicly lauded for his remarkable courage by Gen James N. Mattis.

Murtha Must Go Blog
http://murthamustgo.blogspot.com/search/label/Jack%20Murtha

Clip Source: warchronicle.com

His unlikely opponent in Pennsylvania's 12th District is an Army Reserve lieutenant colonel named William T. Russell, 47, a Desert Storm and Iraq war veteran who is barred by the Hatch Act from stumping until August 1 when his active duty stint ends. A Cinderella candidate running against the tide of Democratic hopefuls elsewhere, Russell is garnering national attention for his improbable early success.

Just getting on the ballot was a tough battle for Russell, a political outsider who came to roost in Pennsylvania after serving his country around the world. During his military career he lived in 11 states and seven countries. Despite such handicaps he still managed to obtain enough voter signatures get on the primary ballot as the only Republican candidate in the district.

“He is just a nice guy,” Luksik explained. “When people hear him, when they meet him, they come away impressed.”

Murtha’s well financed and artfully crafted campaign apparatus was less easily swayed

Tags: murtha, pennsylvania congressman, lt. col. william t. russell, desert storm/iraq war veteran

Jack Murtha Steps In It Again

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:21:31 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: And, Murtha still has not apologized to the 7 innocent Haditha Marines he accused of cold-blooded murder last time.

UPDATE: Murtha's opponent this year for Congress is Lt. Colonel William Russell a decorated combat veteran who has served in Desert Storm, the Iraq War, and the Pentagon on 9/11.

You can donate to his campaign HERE.

A WilleyBCoyote Video.

Murtha Makes An Outrageous Allegation

http://newsbusters.org/node/5410

Clip Source: gatewaypundit.blogspot.com

[Video]

Here is what Murtha says:

Murtha: I think they have 17 or so guidelines and they've solved 4 or 5 of them.
(Actually they've completed 15 of the 18 benchmarks.)

Murtha: I think the short term it (the Bush Surge) has reduced incidents. I'm not sure if it's because the Iraqis are just worn out but certainly the way they are doing it today it makes a big difference. It used to be we broke down doors. We went in and we killed people inadvertantly. Now they're much more careful about it.

And, just think...
This hateful boob is the national security "expert" in the Democratic Party!

Blackfive adds: "And they wonder why no one takes them seriously in those areas???"

Let's hope justice is served against this hateful man some day soon. Murtha put those Haditha Marines through hell these past few years and he isn't man enough to apologize to them.

He is a coward.

Tags: jack murtha, iraq, surge, u.s. troops, marines

Haditha Marine prepares to sue Murtha over smear

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:35:47 GMT

clipped by: pkronfield
clipper's remarks: They should sue that fat pig Murtha, who, like another disgusting individual (Kerry) claims to be a war hero. Murtha seems to have long ago forgot what Semper Fi means, and stabbed his fellow marines in the back for political advantage. I say sue his ass. Then get him out of office on the double quick so for the first time in his life he will have to work for a living.

Clip Source: wnd.com

With most of the eight Marines charged in the Haditha, Iraq, incident now exonerated, the highest-ranking officer among the accused is considering a lawsuit against Democratic Rep. John Murtha, who fueled the case by declaring the men cold-blooded killers.

lead attorney for Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani said he and his client will look into suing Murtha and the Time magazine reporter, Tim McGuirk, who first published the accusations by Iraqi insurgents.

He noted the New York Times featured the case on the front page when it was being compared by war critics to the infamous My Lai massacre in Vietnam. But now, with evidence the Haditha accusations were a smear, the story has been relegated to the back pages.

Tags: loony left, democrat traitors

Murtha Lied; Marines Were Tried (and Aquitted)

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:44:34 GMT

clipped by: jatfla
clipper's remarks: I'm waiting for the outcry that the trial process was not impartial and there needed to be an international court presiding. Murtha has no credibility and has caused huge embarrassment to himself.

Clip Source: www.frontpagemag.com

Murtha Lied; Marines Were Tried (And Acquitted)

On May 17, 2006, John Murtha, he of the unassailable “war hero”/“patriot” mythos, assailed his fellow Marines in Haditha as murderers “in cold blood.” The super-patriot made this indictment, in front of an international audience, before an investigation had concluded.

yesterday, military judge Col. Steven Folsom dismissed all charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani, the highest-ranking officer accused in the Haditha massacre-of-justice.

The antiwar Left morphed reporting errors into a “cover-up,” much as it deformed a self-defense operation against terrorists hiding amidst Iraq’s civilian population as an imperial assault on 24 blameless Iraqi civilians

Every trial to date has proven the report truthful and Murtha a calumnious liar:

Haditha killings

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:07:51 GMT

clipped by: kmcolo
clipper's remarks: Wiki snapshot

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

The Haditha killings (also called the Haditha incident or the Haditha massacre) refers to the incident where 24 Iraqi men, women and children were killed on November 19, 2005 in Haditha, a city in the western Iraq province of Al Anbar. At least 15 of those killed were noncombatant civilians and all were killed by a group of United States Marines

It has been alleged that the killings were retribution for the attack on a convoy of United States Marines with an improvised explosive device that killed Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas.^[

A Marine Corps communique initially reported that 15 civilians were killed by the bomb's blast and eight insurgents were subsequently killed when the Marines returned fire against those attacking the convoy. However, evidence uncovered by the media contradicted the Marines' account.

the central issue was who is to be believed

Tags: iraq

Front page news?

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:02:09 GMT

clipped by: sillysam

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

Judge Dismisses Charges Against Marine Officer Accused of Failing to Investigate Haditha Iraqi Killings

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A military judge has dismissed charges against a Marine officer accused of failing to investigate the killings of 24 Iraqis.

Iraqi Police Says Senior Qaeda Militant Killed

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:12:35 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Anbar, a former epicentre of Sunni-led insurgency, has seen a dramatic fall in violence since the end of 2006 after local Sunni groups began siding with US forces to fight Al-Qaeda.

Clip Source: afp.google.com

Iraqi police parade with their national flag

HADITHA, Iraq (AFP) — Iraqi police on Friday killed a senior Al-Qaeda in Iraq militant and four aides during a gunbattle in the western province of Anbar, the police official who led the assault said.

Saudi national Abu Bakr al-Saudi was killed along with his four comrades near the town of Haditha in the Sunni Arab province, Colonel Mohammed Hussain told AFP.

"We got a tip-off about his whereabouts from the locals. Our forces fought an intense seven-hour battle with him and his aides during which Abu Bakr and four others were killed," Hussain said.

One of the militants killed was a Tunisian, Abu Yakeen, the colonel said, adding two others were Iraqis, while the police were yet to identify the fifth dead militant.

Another Iraqi militant was arrested after the clash, Hussain said.

US and Iraqi forces claim Al-Qaeda militants are currently operating mainly in Nineveh province with the provincial capital of Mosul being their last major urban bastion.

Tags: senior al-qaeda in iraq, abu bakr al-saudi, haditha, colonel mohammed hussain, mosul

Should be front page news

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:56:16 GMT

clipped by: sillysam

Clip Source: www.breitbart.com

US Marine acquitted of all charges in Haditha killings

A court martial on Wednesday acquitted a US Marine for his role in the deaths of 24 civilians in Haditha in Iraq in 2005, the sixth man to be exonerated in the affair, a military official said.

Lieutenant Andrew Grayson, 27, was declared "not guilty on all charges" by a jury, said a spokesman for the Camp Pendleton military base in southern California where the hearing started on May 28.

Grayson had been charged with making false statements and attempting to fraudulently separate from the Marine Corps. He was also charged with obstruction of justice, but the military judge dismissed this charge Tuesday.

He was the first Marine to stand trial in connection with the killings of 24 men, women and children in Haditha, the most serious war crime allegations leveled at US forces since the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.

Validity of Charges on Haditha Marine Questioned

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 04:37:59 GMT

clipped by: Rustee
clipper's remarks: "Our position is that if this had not been Haditha and everything around it, he never would have been charged." - Attorney for defendant, Joseph Casas

Clip Source: nctimes.com

A military hearing officer said Saturday he has serious doubts over the validity of criminal charges filed against a Marine lieutenant

The hearing officer, Col. Robert Stahlman, said that if 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson was guilty of dereliction of duty for not ordering an investigation into the slayings, numerous other members of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment command staff should have been similarly charged.

Testimony during the hearing showed that Grayson had ordered the destruction of 70 photographs taken by a member of the intelligence team he led at Haditha. The order, however, was in keeping with a military policy that photographs deemed not to have any intelligence value be destroyed.

The man in charge of intelligence gathering for the 3rd Battalion at Haditha, Maj. Jeffrey Dinsmore, testified Saturday that he considered the photos "extraneous" and that Grayson and his team were responsible for developing intelligence leads and not probing civilian killings.

Tags: haditha, iraq, marines

Haditha Marine Says He Was Ordered To Delete Iraq Photos

Sat, 31 May 2008 03:59:51 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: There's more to this atrocity at the link

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A Marine who took pictures of Iraqi men, women and children killed by U.S. forces testified Thursday that he deleted the photos under an officer’s orders and later lied repeatedly to investigators about what happened to the images.

The testimony by Staff Sgt. Justin Laughner came during the court-martial of 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson, who is accused of helping cover up the Nov. 19, 2005, killings in Haditha, Iraq.

Laughner said he took the photos of the bodies hours after a roadside bomb hit a convoy, killing the driver of a Humvee and wounding two Marines.

After the bombing, investigators say, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich and a squad member shot five men by a car at the scene. Wuterich then allegedly ordered his men into several houses, where they cleared rooms with grenades and gunfire, killing the Iraqis. In all, 24 men, women and children died.

“I wasn’t truthful with them because I knew I had already deleted them,” he said. “I felt that I had done something wrong.”

US Soldiers testify about war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:35:11 GMT

clipped by: petercasier

Clip Source: theroadtothehorizon.blogspot.com

Dozens of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans publicly testified this weekend about crimes they committed during the course of battle, many of which were prompted by the orders or policies laid down by superior officers.

The weekend gathering, called the Winter Soldier Event demonstrated that well-publicized incidents of U.S. brutality, including the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and the massacre of an entire family of Iraqis in the town of Haditha, are not isolated incidents perpetrated by "a few bad apples," as many politicians and military leaders have claimed. They are part of a pattern, the organizers said, of "an increasingly bloody occupation."

One testimony:

Tags: iraq, afghanistan, war, war crimes

3rd marine cleared of Haditha charges

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:37:10 GMT

clipped by: jklugman
clipper's remarks:

Officials close to the Haditha case said they think prosecutors dismissed the charges in order to pursue Wuterich aggressively at trial. The cases against three of the Marines accused of shooting civilians have fallen apart, and Wuterich remains the only one left for prosecutors to target for accountability. Wuterich led the Marine squad and allegedly told his troops, as they approached a group of civilian homes that day, to shoot first and ask questions later.

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

The Marine Corps yesterday dismissed all charges against one of the Marines accused of killing women and children in the Iraqi town of Haditha in late 2005, the third time a Marine linked to the slayings has been exonerated

Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, who has admitted shooting civilians inside their homes as part of a pursuit of insurgents, was cleared and granted immunity to testify in further hearings related to the investigation. The move leaves only Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich to face charges in connection with the shootings on Nov. 19, 2005.

Although the Marines were at first accused of going on a rampage, the case has evolved into a far more complex examination of the Corps' rules of engagement and the general conduct of wartime operations in hostile residential areas.

Tags: haditha, marines, iraq, war, civilian-killings, stephen tatum, frank wuterich