HADITHA & YUSUFIYAASYMMETRIC PUNISHMENT?

• IN IRAQ, WE’RE LEARNING TO DEAL WITH “ASYMMETRIC WARFARE”.

• BUT WE REALLY NEED TO CUT OUT THE “ASYMMETRIC PUNISHMENT” !

HADITHA & YUSUFIYAASYMMETRIC PUNISHMENT?

• HADITHA: 15 MARINES JAILED FOR “MURDERING IRAQI CIVILIANS”

• OUR SOLDIERS PUT IN BRIG TOO FAST ?? (BEFORE ANY FORMAL PROOF OF WRONGDOING)

• YUSUFIYA: 2 MARINES TORTURED & MUTILATED BY IRAQI INSURGENTS

• OUR SOLDIERS AVENGED TOO SLOWLY ?? (TO DISCOURAGE MORE SUCH SAVAGERY)

HADITHA STORY OVERVIEW

WHAT HAPPENED AT HADITHA o THE BASIC FACTS o ANATOMY OF A TYPICAL IED ATTACK

WHAT THE ACCUSERS SAY (AS PER TIME MAGAZINE) WHAT THE MARINES SAY WHAT EXPLAINS THE DIFFERING ACCOUNTS? WHAT HAS BEEN THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA? WHAT ARE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES AS REAL FACTS EMERGE

o THE MARINES ARE GUILTY BY REASON OF: PRE-MEDITATED REVENGE EMOTIONAL RAGE OTHER

o THE MARINES ARE INNOCENT BY REASON OF: FOLLOWING THE AUTHORIZED RULES OF ENGAGMENT SHOWING THE OVERBLOWN/HYPED ALLEGATIONS TO

BE FALSE WHAT ACTIONS ARE ENCUMBENT ON US TO ENSURE THAT OUR

SERVICEMEN ARE NOT EXPLOITED

HADITHA & YUSUFIYAWHAT HAPPENED AT HADITHA?

On November 19, 2005, in the remote town of Haditha, in Iraq’s notorious Anbar Province, a handful of U.S. Marines allegedly killed 24 Iraqi c ivilians, some said to be women and children. Though the facts are not yet verified, the killings are alleged to be the result of an emotionally charged retaliation for the ambush killing of Marine Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas, who was driving a Humvee on patrol when the vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED).

Our Marines say: 15 civilians were killed by the IED and nine hostiles then killed in a subsequent firefight.

HADITHA & YUSUFIYAWHAT HAPPENED AT HADITHA?

A key point in dispute is whether the 24 who died in Haditha November 19 were gunned down, as Rep. J ohn Murtha has charged, “in cold blood” or were 15 c ivilians killed by the IED and nine hostiles then killed in a firefight as the Marines c laim. The families refuse to allow an exhumation which could possibly answer this key question. According to the J une 2 Washington Post, those exhumations may occur soon.

HADITHA & YUSUFIYAELEMENTS OF A TYPICAL IED: ATTACK

ON A MARINE PATROL

When a Humvee is hit by a mine or an IED, the result is nothing like what one might see in a movie. No chest-c lutching J ohn Wayne departures with inspirational music. There is no glory.

The vehic le, if c lose enough to the blast, flips into the air, snapping necks and spinal cords. Heads and limbs are torn from bodies. Gasoline ignites and ammunition cooks off, burning any survivors to a crisp The impacted soldiers and Marines (many of whom are still teenagers) are instantly shocked, physically sickened, grief-stricken, and enraged over the horror of having watched buddies —who have become closer than any sibling might ever hope to.

HADITHA WHAT DO THE CRITICS CHARGE?

•Rep John Murtha, D-Pa has been among the most reckless critics (May 28, 2006):

•The incident was "worse than Abu Ghraib," calling their actions: war crimes committed "in cold blood.”

• Murtha, a Marine veteran who six months ago called for the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, added, "There has to have been a cover-up. … There's no question about it.”…

• "I will not excuse murder and that what's happened," Murtha told ABC News chief Washington correspondent George Stephanopoulos. "This investigation should have been over two or three weeks after the incident."

RALLY #2 -- PLANNINGWHAT DO THE MARINES SAY ?

•Per the attorney for one of the Marines, Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, an eight-year Marine who led the squad :

• The deaths resulted from a firefight with terrorists. Following the IED explosion they set up a defensive perimeter. A car drove by with five Iraqi men inside, and when ordered, in Arabic, to halt, they got out of the car and began to run. The Marines shot and killed them all. They had considered their running to indicate hostile intent.

•

RALLY #2 -- PLANNINGWHAT DO THE MARINES SAY ?

•Per the attorney for one of the Marines, Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, an eight-year Marine who led the squad :

Then a shot came from one of the houses. They then decided to clear the houses along that block. They used grenades to "prep" the first house, before going in. They acknowledged killing the Iraqis over a period of several hours, but deny charges that civilians were lined up and executed. They reported the incident up the chain of command, and said there had been collateral damage, meaning civilian deaths.

RALLY #2 -- PLANNINGWHAT EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENCE?

• SOME OF THE TIME MAGAZINE STORY IS ALREADY FALLING APART:

• Time’s Tim McGirk had reported possessing a “ damning piece of evidence” obtained from John Sifton of Human Rights Watch: a photo, taken by a Marine with his cell phone that shows Iraqis kneeling—and thus posing no threat—before they were shot. • Sifton later said (June 13, 2006) that he has no first-hand knowledge of that photo, and that it appears to him that "Time Magazine mixed up their reporting ...”

RALLY #2 -- PLANNINGWHAT EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENCE?

• SOME OF THE TIME MAGAZINE STORY IS ALREADY FALLING APART (Washington Times, June 14, 2006):

• One of their sources was described as a "journalism student" and "a young local man" who said he shot video of the aftermath of the incident.• Time originally reported that "The video was obtained by the Hammurabi Human Rights Group, which cooperates with the internationally respected Human Rights Watch.." • They later amended the story: "In fact, Human Rights Watch has no ties or association with the Hammurabi Human Rights Group."

RALLY #2 -- PLANNINGWHAT EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENCE?

• SOME OF THE TIME MAGAZINE STORY IS ALREADY FALLING APART (Washington Times, June 14, 2006):

• Actually, the "young" journalist is 43-year-old Taher Thabet al Hadithi, a co-founder of the Hammurabi Human Rights Group, at the time comprising only two members.• Although Hadithi claims witnessing the Marines killing civilians, and that he videotaped the aftermath on the following day, he waited at least two months before bringing his tape to the attention of the media. The Washington Times noted that Hammurabi's other founder, Abdul-Rahman al Mashhadani, failed to mention the alleged massacre during an interview with the Institute for War and Peace in December.• A lawyer for one of the Marines being investigated said that the two Hammurabi co-founders have family members "in local prisons for insurgent activities."

RALLY #2 -- PLANNINGWHAT EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENCE?

• SOME OF REP. MURTHA’s HYSTERICAL CHARGES ARE ALSO FALLING APART:

•

[ SEE LATER SLIDE WITH UPI REPORT OF GENERAL CHIARELLI’S INVESTIGATION ]

HADITHAVOUCHING FOR THE MARINES

• REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM SEAN HANNITY, the former commander of Kilo Company, Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Lieutenant Jesse Grapes, said (June 20, 2006):

HANNITY: You have served with these men. You were their commander. What would you like (the public) to know about these guys?

GRAPES: “ I would serve with any one of them again in a second. The situation in Iraq is not always black and white. In fact, it is gray more times than not, especially in a counterinsurgency where the enemy doesn't wear a uniform, where they operate using a cell phone or a walkie-talkie instead of a gun. It's not easy to figure out who is right, who is wrong.”

HADITHAIMPORTANT OBSERVATION: THE CULTURAL ROLE OF “BLOOD MONEY”

• A February 2, 2004 BBC article explains the workings of the”blood money” system in a case involving only Iraqis: • A Tribal Court is to hear a case which defies Western logic: one brother has killed another from the same tribe, but the tribe they belonged to is blaming a rival tribe for the killing.

• Their argument is that if there had not been a feud with the other tribe, the killing would not have taken place; they are now demanding $20,000 in “blood money”.

• A British case which speaks directly to the credibility of tribal witnesses and to the Islamic tribal tradition of “blood money” collapsed November 3, 2005. All charges were dismissed after it became clear that the key witnesses were lying in order to gain “blood money”.

HADITHAIMPORTANT:

THE CULTURAL ROLE OF “BLOOD MONEY”

• The logic in the British case and possibly in Haditha is simple: If the coalition did not have a fight with the insurgents, the deaths would not have occurred. The deaths cause a loss in the resources of the tribe. The tribe couldn’t file a claim with Zarqawi - - he might chop their heads off -- therefore it is the coalition that owes blood money.

• In the eyes of tribal people such as Haditha residents, this debt is owed regardless of who actually killed the 24 people in Haditha or the circumstances of those deaths. The payment of blood money is not an admission of guilt; it is a balancing of tribal obligations.

HADITHAUPDATE July 7,8 2006: STILL MORE MISLEADING HEADLINES

Updated: 07:27 AM EDT

MARINE ERRORS FOUND IN HADITHA REPORT

By KIM GAMEL, AP

BAGHDAD, Iraq (July 8, 2006) - A top U.S. commander who reviewed an investigation into whether the Marines tried to cover up the Haditha case agreed that errors were made, a U.S. military official said.

HADITHAUPDATE July 7,8 2006:

MORE MISLEADING HEADLINES

Ref: http://powerlineblog.com/archives/014635.php

The NYTimes' spin on the leaks is entirely negative. Its article is titled "General Faults Marine Response to Iraq Killings." The story begins:

“The second-ranking American Commander in Iraq has concluded that some senior Marine officers were negligent in failing to investigate more aggressively the killings of 24 Iraqi civilians by marines in Haditha last November, two Defense Department officials said Friday.”It quotes the unnamed leakers:

"He concludes that some officers were derelict in their duties," said one of the officials, who declined to identify which or how many officers were singled out.

HADITHAUPDATE July 7,8 2006:

A MORE ACCURATE COVERAGEI t is interesting to contrast the Times account with this UPI Story, which is titled "Report: No Coverup of Haditha":

A Marine Corps general has reportedly found evidence of negligence, but no coverup, in the investigation of an alleged massacre of I raqi civilians.

Citing two unnamed officers in the U.S. Defense Department, The New York Times reported Friday that Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli -- the second-ranked commander in I raq -- found no evidence of a deliberate coverup by Marine officers who investigated the alleged massacre at Haditha in November 2005.

So the UPI correctly captured that Gen. Chiarelli's report rejects the oft-asserted claim that Haditha was covered up by the Marine brass.

HADITHAWHAT’S NEXT ?

BOTH THE MARINES AND THE SENATE ARE INVESTIGATING.

WHAT ARE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES AS REAL FACTS EMERGE:• THE MARINES ARE GUILTY BY REASON OF:

• PRE-MEDITATED REVENGE

• EMOTIONAL RAGE

• OTHER

• THE MARINES ARE INNOCENT BY REASON OF:

• FOLLOWING THE AUTHORIZED RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

• SHOWING THE OVERBLOWN / HYPED ALLEGATIONS TO BE FALSE

HADITHAUPDATE June 9, 2007:

The TRUTH CONDEMNS early, hysterical coverageINVESTIGATING OFFICER RECOMMENDS DROPPING

HADITHA CHARGES AGAINST MARINE

(AP) JUNE 9, 2007 Charges against a Marine officer accused of failing to investigate the killings of 24 Iraqis in the town of Haditha should be dismissed, the Investigating Officer has recommended.

Capt. Randy W. Stone, 34, is one of four officers accused of failing to report and investigate the deaths of the men, women and children in a deadly, chaotic day of battle in the village. Stone’s attorney, Charles Gittins, said Saturday that Investigating Officer Maj. Thomas McCann concluded in a report to the Commanding General Lt. Gen. James Mattis, overseeing the case that Stone should not face trial and the matter should be handled administratively. The recommendation is non-binding. A final decision will be made by Gen Mattis.

HADITHAUPDATE AUG 9, 2007:

The TRUTH CONDEMNS early, hysterical coverage

MARINE'S CHARGES DROPPED IN IRAQ DEATHSLOS ANGELES (AP) - Lt. Gen. James Mattis dropped all charges Thursday against a Marine LCpl, who had been accused of killing three Iraqi brothers in response to a roadside bomb attack in Haditha in 2005. Gen. Mattis wrote: "The evidence does not support a referral to a court-martial," of LCpl. Justin L. Sharratt, 22, who had been charged with the murder in the deaths of three of those killed after the bomb attack Nov. 19, 2005. In his earlier recommendation to the General, Investigator Lt. Col. Paul Ware said murder charges brought against Sharratt were based on unreliable witness accounts, poor forensic evidence and questionable legal theories.

HADITHAUPDATE NOV 20, 2007:

ACCUSED VERDICTStatus Nov 20, 07

LCpl Justin Sharratt – all charges dismissed, exonerated NOT GUILTY

Capt Randy Stone – all charges dismissed, exonerated NOT GUILTY

Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz – charges dropped NOT GUILTY

Capt Lucas McConnell – charges dropped NOT GUILTY

LCpl Stephen Tatum – Investigating Officer recommended dismissal of charges, pending final decision from General Mattis

Per GENL MATTIS future decision 3/28/08

Lt. Col Jeffrey Chessani – Investigating Officer recommended Court Martial, pending final decision from General Mattis

Per GENL MATTIS future decision 4/28/08

SSgt Frank Wuterich – pending Investigating Officer recommendation

INVESTIG OFFICER on 10/3/2007 recommended dropping charges of murder; charges of negligence remain.

M/GEN Richard HuckCol Stepen DavisLt. Andrew Grayson

Article 32 Hearing held on October 2007

Dept Navy Censure for failing to meet high standards of Marine leadership (not reporting

incident up the chain of command)

HADITHAWHATS THE ROLE OF

CONCERNED CITIZENS?

1. ADMONISH PUBLICLY THOSE WHO RUSH TO JUDGEMENT2. BE AWARE OF ENEMY PSY OPS SKILLS3. IF U.S. INVESTIGATORS PROVIDE A 99-100% AIRTIGHT CASE THAT OUR SOLDIERS WERE MURDERING FOR PURE REVENGE OR SPORT – THEN SEVERE PUNISHMENT IS DUE. 4. IF CERTAINTY IS LESS, THEN THE MILITARY AND THE PUBLIC NEED TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.MAKE YOUR POSITION LOUDLY KNOWN TO ALL ELECTED & MILITARY OFFICIALS

HADDITHA

THE END

That’s our Haditha story. [ Don’t You wish our Mainstream Media could report stories as objectively as here - - cynics might say, as truthfully? ]

MORALS: 1) Want the objective truth? Don’t consult TIME

Magazine, the NY Times or AP. You’ll have much better luck with the Washington Times, Fox News or any assortment of online news columnists, such as collected at www.Realclearpolitics.com or www.Townhall.com .

2) Want to know what’s going on? Don’t listen only to the many elitist, agenda-laden reporters. Listen more to our competent, duty-bound servicemen.