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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Timofei on June 02, 2006, 02:50:21 PM

Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Timofei on June 02, 2006, 02:50:21 PM
Enough details have emerged from survivors and military personnel to conclude that in the town of Haditha last November, members of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment perpetrated a massacre. The killings may have been in retaliation for the death of a Marine lance corporal, but this was not the work of soldiers gone berserk. The targets (children from 3 to 14, an old man in a wheelchair, taxi passengers), the hours-long duration of killings, the number of Marines involved, the careful mop-up — all amount to willful, targeted brutality designed to send a message to Iraqis. As Representative John Murtha has pointed out, the patently false story floated afterward, blaming the killings on roadside bombs, and Marine payoffs to survivors imply a cover-up that may extend far up the chain of command.
What matters about Haditha? After all, Iraq is a place where civilians die every day. Many of them die as a result of insurgent car bombs, or at the hands of Sunni or *****e militias. Many thousands of others died in US air attacks early in the war (as civilians did recently in airstrikes in another US war zone, Kandahar).

Even in this context there remains a distinctly sickening horror in close-up systematic killing of civilians that's at odds with the declared US mission in Iraq and is repugnant to our national ideals. Even under intense battlefield conditions, troops can instigate atrocities, or they can resist them. In the My Lai massacre, in 1968, Hugh Thompson Jr., an American helicopter pilot, saved many lives by putting himself between the guns of Charlie Company and the villagers whom those behind the guns — led by their officers — were wantonly killing. A generation of future US military officers were taught the details of the My Lai massacre as a particular lesson: What makes war crimes is criminal leadership. Whatever the responsibility of the unit commanders in Haditha, it is George W. Bush as Commander in Chief who has sent the clear message that human rights abuses and violations of international law are justified in the "war on terror."

That the Marines institutionally covered up Haditha until Time magazine raised questions with the Corps suggests that the moral damage from the Iraq War is broader than a single debased unit. That is what so powerfully motivates Murtha, a Marine and Vietnam veteran. Another Marine, Senator John Warner, is promising hearings, but his Armed Services Committee's toothless investigation of Abu Ghraib offers scant hope of serious inquiry. As with My Lai a generation ago, it is participants in the Haditha killings or cover-up — some haunted by what they saw or heard about — who are bringing details to the press.

What happened in Haditha and how it was covered up is only half the story. The rest is yet to unfold: whether Haditha kindles a long-overdue reckoning with the moral catastrophe of this war or the shock gets defused by low-level Congressional inquiries; whether Haditha turns out to have been the low point of the US military venture in Iraq or a foreshadowing of worse to come. What we need is not the "picture of what happened" promised by the White House but a full-scale investigation both of the massacre in Haditha and of the climate of impunity that allowed it to happen and to be ignored for so long.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/02/opinion/main1676788.shtml
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: lazs2 on June 02, 2006, 02:52:51 PM
I think that I will wait to hear the results of the investigation.

lazs
Title: The Thread title should be 'Why Haditha DOESN'T Matter
Post by: Hangtime on June 02, 2006, 03:33:01 PM
I wish everybody would recognize what the marines have done right... and freverently wish that this case would be thoroughly investigated before it gets tried in the media...

unfortunately, it won't be. it's already being compared to My Lai. the troop, it's officers and the marine corps are being roasted for political expediency.

Fact: War sucks, **** happens, and the press revels in it, politicans use it for votes and opinion grandstanding and the Marine Corps will wind up being the scapegoat. And there WILL be a scapegoat.. and it won't have much if anything to do with the reality of war.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: AquaShrimp on June 02, 2006, 03:41:46 PM
Haditha is a sickening situation.  The big goal of the U.S. was to restore peace to Iraq (after no WMDs were found), not to shoot women, children, and old men.

Even monsters wear uniforms sometimes.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Hangtime on June 02, 2006, 04:04:07 PM
Ok.. find me an example of warfare where 'atrocities' did not occur on both sides.

You won't find one.

It's called the 'nature' of war.. and it happens. Yes, we try real hard to keep it from happening, yes, when it happens, it's horriffic... but to assume that just because the soldier is an american that an atrocity won't occur is assinine.

This is all part of the 'fallout' of armed conflict.. you have a war, yer gonna have 'atrocities.'

And, just as sure as rain falls.. it'll be exploited not as a regretable and expected by-product of war, but instead, as an example of the supposed butality and insensitivity of the American Soldier.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: vorticon on June 02, 2006, 04:23:27 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Hangtime
Ok.. find me an example of warfare where 'atrocities' did not occur on both sides.

You won't find one.

It's called the 'nature' of war.. and it happens. Yes, we try real hard to keep it from happening, yes, when it happens, it's horriffic... but to assume that just because the soldier is an american that an atrocity won't occur is assinine.



and to want that, because it happened during war, the scale of a atrocity should be minimized, is dangerous at best.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on June 02, 2006, 04:24:12 PM
Read there:

It will be exploited by politicians to either help further their careers or attack someone else's.  

Time started it by wanting to sell a story.  Now every politician in Washington is going to try to sell their own version of the story to someone.

He who writes the best story, wins.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: GtoRA2 on June 02, 2006, 04:28:06 PM
Wait, did I miss the trial where Marines were convicted of the crimes that murtha claims they did?
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: AlGorithm on June 02, 2006, 04:32:07 PM
Washington will try to paint Haditha as an aberration, much the way they did with My Lai. In reality, it's a psychological message to those who support the insurgency.

Insurgent guerrillas can't operate without support of the populace. The massacre of civilians at the scene of insurgent attacks (Fallujah, Haditha, Ishaqi, My Lai and countless other unnamed and forgotten villages) is intended to send a message; You will be held accountable for the actions of the insurgents you support.

Any chance of "winning the hearts and minds" of the Iraqis was lost a long time ago. Just as it was in Viet Nam, by a corrupt, incompetent and duplicitous administration.

It's not surprising that the key players from Nixon's administration (Cheney and Rumsfeld) are screwing up the in the same ways they did in Viet Nam, and using many of the same tactics to suppress domestic dissent (illegal wiretaps, enemies lists, smear campaigns, bogus prosecutions).

Now their only chance to maintain control is to put the populace under the boot.

The best is yet to come. When this war is over, tens of thousands of the boots that have been stepping on arab necks will be handed badges and start stepping on yours.(http://netsecs.us/dot.jpg)
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Eagler on June 02, 2006, 04:47:06 PM
^^:noid ^^
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: AlGorithm on June 02, 2006, 05:07:26 PM
^^^(http://www.sheepusa.org/images/h_image.jpg)^^^
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Gunslinger on June 02, 2006, 05:19:21 PM
Quote

The Marine is Lance Cpl. James Crossan, who rode in the passenger seat of the Humvee that was struck by an IED. The driver was Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, whose body was split in two by the attack. Lance Cpl. Crossan suffered a broken back, shattered bones, and perforated eardrums.



Crossan: We used to go out on patrols and have the little kids count the patrols and all that stuff and we couldn’t really do anything except grab them and throw them inside their houses…
KING 5 TV interviewer: Why would you do that? Because you were afraid that the kids were scouting for the insurgents or you thought they were in danger?

Crossan: There are little kids that scout for ‘em. ‘Cuz later that day we, along the main road there, we cut behind a few buildings and the next patrol that went out got hit. And that little kid that was just there and there was people all around. But the day that I got hit they were planning a major attack and it got spoiled, so, and there was like 20 some people, insurgents, that were gonna attack the cop that day.

Then we got hit by an IED and the cops sent out a squad of Marines, and the insurgents just started attacking then, just right off the bat and we just foiled it. We were just driving back from the cop. I remember taking a left and then a right, and then remember waking up from the ground for a split second. And then waking up in the helicopter and then finally knew what happened in the hospital.

KING 5: So after you were injured, also tell me, you lost one of your guys. What can you tell me about him?

Crossan: We lost Lance Col. Miguel Terrazas. He was a good guy. He was from El Paso, Texas. And he was my point man. He was pretty much the guy I went to if I needed anything.

KING 5: Was he driving the Humvee at the time?

Crossan: Yes he was.

KING 5. And so you were sitting next to me?

Crossan: Yes, I was in the passenger side. I know in my heart if I was there, I possibly could have stopped what happened, so. ‘Cuz I know that the other team leaders and even staff sergeants…they both, they all kinda, listened to me and I just gave ‘em ideas and all that stuff. Things just went smoother. But I just don’t know.

KING 5: How do you feel about the villagers involved? Um, you know, do you have emotion as you think about them or not really?

Crossan: No. Because half of them were bad guys. You just never know, so. It really didn’t cross my mind.

KING 5: There are reports of, you know, little children being killed and women being killed.

Crossan: Little kids I can see being bad and even some of the women, but just over there, you just can’t tell who the bad guy was...
Quote

Now, Lance Cpl. Crossan does suggest that Marines crossed the line (the part of the interview that will become the most publicized), though it should be kept in mind that he had been helicoptered from the scene and did not witness the alleged atrocities:


Crossan: ...And I know they [the Marines] did something irrational and they’re gonna get the consequences put on them.
KING 5: You think there are other instances like this that have happened with perhaps your squad or other squads?

Crossan: Probably yes in the Marine Corps and in the Army.

KING 5: Why do you think so?

Crossan: Things happen every day that you just don't hear about. You, I don't know, America only hears about the bad things over there. And they don't hear any of the good things. America just doesn't understand.

I think they [the Marines] were just blinded by hate, when they see T.J. (Terrazas) blown to pieces and me stuck underneath the wheel not knowing what happened. And they just lost control. Bad things happen.

http://michellemalkin.com/mt/oct05-tb.cgi?__mode=view&entry_id=5300
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: john9001 on June 02, 2006, 05:42:11 PM
Quote
Originally posted by AlGorithm


It's not surprising that the key players from Nixon's administration (Cheney and Rumsfeld) are screwing up the in the same ways they did in Viet Nam, and using many of the same tactics to suppress domestic dissent (illegal wiretaps, enemies lists, smear campaigns, bogus prosecutions).

(http://netsecs.us/dot.jpg)



and now boys and girls it's time for a history lesson.

after 6 years of messing up in Vietnam, LBJ and his master mind, wizkid McNamara, left office and Nixon was now president of the USA and he won the Vietnam war with operation linebacker 2 and brought the troops home, but then the democratic controlled congress cut off all military aid to south Vietnam and let the north invade and "win".
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Toad on June 02, 2006, 05:55:18 PM
Quote
Originally posted by AlGorithm
Washington will try to paint Haditha as an aberration, much the way they did with My Lai.
[/b]

Really? How many other "My Lai" type incidents can you document? Must be a bunch, right?

Quote
It's not surprising that the key players from Nixon's administration (Cheney and Rumsfeld) are screwing up the in the same ways they did in Viet Nam,
[/b]

Oh, yeah... Mr. Nixon's war....  :rofl

13 May 61 - President Kennedy orders 100 "special forces" troops to S. Vietnam

November 1963, Lyndon Johnson becomes President.

July 64 - Announcement states that US military contingent in Vietnam would increase 5,000 more to 21,000

7 Feb 65 - "In the early hours of February 7th, 1965, the VC upped the ante when they launched a guerilla assault against the military barracks at Pleiku where US military advisors were housed. The attack left 8 Americans dead, and President Johnson reacted as though the VC had delivered a personal insult." Johnson ordered a retaliatory air-strike against North Vietnam the next day.   Operation "Rolling Thunder" began in mid-February and lasted 3 years

April 7, 1965- The U.S. offers North Vietnam economic aid in exchange for peace, but the offer is summarily rejected. Two weeks later, President Johnson raises America's combat strength in Vietnam to more than 60,000 troops.

End of 1966- By the end of 1966, American forces in Vietnam reach 385,000 men, plus an additional 60,000 sailors stationed offshore. More than 6,000 Americans have been killed in this year, and 30,000 have been wounded.

1967- Secretary of Defense Robert Strange McNamara, appearing before a Senate subcommittee, testifies that US bombing raids against North Vietnam have not achieved their objectives. McNamara maintains that movement of supplies to South Vietnam has not been reduced, and neither the economy nor the morale of the North Vietnamese has been broken.

At the end of 1967, there were 485,600 US troops involved in the VietNam war and more had already be requested and were on the way.

1968... Mr. Nixon at last takes charge of "Mr. Nixon's War". Troop levels peak at 536100. US and North Vietnam meet at the beginning of the Paris Peace talks.

1969 troop levels begin to drop; 475200.

1970 troop levels continue to drop; 334600, about the same level Johnson had in 1966.

1971 troop levels continue to drop; 156800

1972 troop levels continue to drop; 24200

1973 toop levels are essentially nil at 50. Paris Peace talks result in the end of US involvement.


Oh yeah... Mr. Nixon's war. You bet.

Let's see, he was inaugurated in January 1968 and Paris Peace talks started in May 1968. Troop levels in VietNam also begin to drop as soon as Nixon takes over.

Mr. Nixon's war.  Screwed up the in the same ways they did in Viet Nam. Heh.

Johnson ramps the troops from ~21,000 to roughly 485,000 between 1963 and the end of 1967. Robert STRANGE McNamara micromanages a war using a method that is most famous for absolutely idiotic Rules of Engagement on the ground and in the air.

And it's "Mr. Nixon's War". Nixon. Oh, yeah...HE's the one that screwed the pooch in VietNam. :rolleyes:

What a bloody joke.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: soda72 on June 02, 2006, 06:07:24 PM
1975: Saigon surrenders
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Debonair on June 02, 2006, 06:41:09 PM
it was nixon's to win or lose
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Gunslinger on June 02, 2006, 06:42:54 PM
Why do you guys feed that troll.  For gods sake he posted a pick of flag draped coffins asking "if I laughed about it" in response to a funny thread of protesters crossing the line and getting pepper sprayed.

Seriously the guys a troll and has no reguard for anything here except for sturing up the pot.  Don't respond to him.

I've read a few news articles today and I seriously hope that this article is true because it says the charges are total BS.  I hope its true for the sake of the Marines doing a tough job in a tough situation.  You never know what you would do until you've walke a few miles in their boots.

Either way I have to have faith in the system that the investigation will be fair and true.  I have to have faith that these Marines will not be used as a political tool by the left or the right.  And last but not least I have to remind myself that right or wrong this is a less than 1% accounting of our troops behavior while serving their country and it is not the exception but the rule of conduct with the enemy we are fighting there.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Toad on June 02, 2006, 07:15:56 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Debonair
it was nixon's to win or lose


ROFL!

Well folks, there's :39 left in the fourth quarter. It's 4th and 99 for the home team... Johnson hands Nixon the ball!


Nixon runs with it! It's juking, he's jiving, he's all over the field. It LOOKS - LIKE - HE - COULD - GO - ALL - THE - WAY!

OH NO! they tackled him at the North Vietnamese 1 yard line as time runs out.

Forkin' Nixon lost the game for us.



:rofl
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: midnight Target on June 02, 2006, 07:27:37 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Toad
ROFL!

Well folks, there's :39 left in the fourth quarter. It's 4th and 99 for the home team... Johnson hands Nixon the ball!


Nixon runs with it! It's juking, he's jiving, he's all over the field. It LOOKS - LIKE - HE - COULD - GO - ALL - THE - WAY!

OH NO! they tackled him at the North Vietnamese 1 yard line as time runs out.

Forkin' Nixon lost the game for us.



:rofl


No wait... It's the old hidden ball trick! Nixon has handed the ball to Ho. Ho laterals to Chi.... Chi darts around Rummy and tosses it to Min. Min sidesteps Agnew and hurdles Cheney for the TD!

NV scores!
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Toad on June 02, 2006, 07:30:14 PM
The NV actually scored in the next game Hanoi U vs Saigon. They won in a rout.

You can blame the entire US for that loss... as well as Saigon; they couldn't field a team.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Yeager on June 02, 2006, 07:35:43 PM
Ahhh...**** happens :aok

Semper Fi Mac
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Ack-Ack on June 02, 2006, 07:38:49 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Debonair
it was nixon's to win or lose



It was Nixon's choice to lose the war or get us out while saving some honor.   The war was already lost way before Nixon came into power.



ack-ack
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Vulcan on June 02, 2006, 07:48:21 PM
No sympathy here, if the iraqi's chose to let their children participate then they chose to suffer the consequences:

(http://www.tc.umn.edu/~nahm0002/child/pal-child-abuse-21.jpg)

to the US Marines who have to pull the trigger on the of these so called civi's, must be a hard thing to do.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Eagler on June 02, 2006, 07:51:22 PM
I thought we left because we finally got a repub in the wh and he realized there was no oil in nam ... that's the only reason republicans wage war right?
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Hangtime on June 02, 2006, 07:53:36 PM
I knew several guys that fought the north.. the whole family had been fighting the north for a couple of generations. They were people.. good people. Christians, if it makes a difference.. (it did there, but it didn't to me) ..they died; killed by a 10 year old girl who was booby trapped. it was utterly insane... and if you didn't get yer head wrapped around a whole new reality early on... well; suffice to say the western concept of sanity was not thick on the ground over there.

In vietnam there was no such thing as a 'non-combatant'.  I'm no authority on Iraq... but I can certainly attest to the virtual impossibilty of telling the players apart based on location, gender, age or appearance in vietnam.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Wolfala on June 02, 2006, 10:36:35 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Hangtime
I knew several guys that fought the north.. the whole family had been fighting the north for a couple of generations. They were people.. good people. Christians, if it makes a difference.. (it did there, but it didn't to me) ..they died; killed by a 10 year old girl who was booby trapped. it was utterly insane... and if you didn't get yer head wrapped around a whole new reality early on... well; suffice to say the western concept of sanity was not thick on the ground over there.

In vietnam there was no such thing as a 'non-combatant'.  I'm no authority on Iraq... but I can certainly attest to the virtual impossibilty of telling the players apart based on location, gender, age or appearance in vietnam.



A good friend of mine 1st Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, he and I went to school together. When he got deployed to Iraq he was flying a CH-47 and ate an SA-7 back in November 2003, which killed he and 16 others. The 2nd ship saw the other missile blow by but not track at all. He wasn't a gung ho type, but he was 6'5. I dunno who pulled the trigger - doubt it matters much, but the gloves were off for me at that point.

Wolf
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Mr Big on June 02, 2006, 10:50:20 PM
Quote
Originally posted by john9001
and now boys and girls it's time for a history lesson.

after 6 years of messing up in Vietnam, LBJ and his master mind, wizkid McNamara, left office and Nixon was now president of the USA and he won the Vietnam war with operation linebacker 2 and brought the troops home, but then the democratic controlled congress cut off all military aid to south Vietnam and let the north invade and "win".


That's pretty much true.

Don't forget that Kennedy got us into the war in the first place.

Nixon then takes the rap for getting us out after getting the north on it's knees? LOL!
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: AlGorithm on June 02, 2006, 11:57:39 PM
They're running a poll at al-jazerra

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/84EA679E-DE70-4CCF-929D-8B43E1BA2ECF.htm

Will the US military investigation into the killings of Iraqi civilians in Haditha reveal the truth?

                     Yes :
                      32%

                     No :
                      58%

                     Unsure :
                      9%


NOTE: Voting is controlled by cookies. You can't vote repeatedly unless you delete your cookie(s).

Apparently the administration has succeded in exporting their version of democracy*, buggy voting software and all.
 

*Democracy 2.0 (C) 2000 Diebold Inc. (http://www.securityfocus.com/news/11391)
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Gunslinger on June 03, 2006, 10:13:52 AM
Time for a little perspective here:

This is what the media and SOME on the left want you to beleive.

Quote

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2205982,00.html#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=World
(http://images.thetimes.co.uk/TGD/picture/0,,305242,00.jpg)
Victims in al-Haditha. The US is carrying out two inquiries (AP)


'Massacre Marines blinded by hate'
From Tim Reid in Washington

Corporal claims that his comrades, who were accused of killing Iraqi civilians, lost control
 
A MEMBER of the US Marines unit accused of murdering 24 unarmed Iraqis said yesterday that his colleagues “were blinded by hate” and lost control before the massacre.  


That's the UK times leading the reader to beleive that those people where blind folded and executed by US Marines.

Now we go to a news week article from MSNBC.com:
Quote

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7615458/site/newsweek/

Graphic Image (http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/Newsweek/Components/Photos/Mag/050502_Issue/050423_IraqBodies_vl.standard.jpg)
Insurgents in Haditha executed 19 *****e fishermen and National Guardsmen in a sports stadium


I'm not for one minute excusing any attrocities committed by anyone.....BUT this is beyond biased and almost outright slander.  It's important to remember that these types of executions committed by our enemy are the RULE and not the exception.  There won't be any investigations into these killings, no trials, no indictments, and worse of all no public outcry because it happes EVERYDAY
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Sixpence on June 03, 2006, 11:05:49 AM
You want the truth? The truth is we all have our breaking point, people snap, even marines, they are human too. If this happened, they will face a severe punishment. And to be honest, I feel for these young men, it's like having a son who got drunk and got behind a wheel and killed someone. You feel for him and wish there was something you could change, but know he must take responsibility for his actions(not a very good analogy, but the best I could come up with).

You are hinting that this is policy? I find it hard to believe that soldiers like Pat Tillman would kill civilians to send a message. I know marines would be loud and vocal if given such a dishonorable command.

There is a reason they say war is hell, that's what it is, these are the things that happen. Considering the ruthlessness of the enemy, I say our young men have handled themselves very well. God bless them.

war, what is it good for, nothin
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: AlGorithm on June 03, 2006, 11:52:10 AM
Interesting flash video here;

http://www.flurl.com/uploaded/Bareknucklepoliticscom_EXCLUSIVE_10122.html

Quote
Sixpence wrote;
You are hinting that this is policy? I find it hard to believe that soldiers like Pat Tillman would kill civilians to send a message. I know marines would be loud and vocal if given such a dishonorable command.


They have been put in a situation where everyone is a potential threat. The 8 year old kid sitting on a pile of rubble could be a spotter for an insurgent with an IED. Every car that isn't an SUV or HUMV could be a carbomb.

Imagine being surrounded by lions every time you leave your house. You'll get a little trigger happy too.

We get back to the question of exit strategy. We have the ability to invade and conquer, but not to occupy a country with a hostile populace. Didn't they learn anything in Viet Nam or Somalia?

The administration lied to the public and congress about WMD to get approval to invade. They lied to the military about resources available. They lied to everyone about the "welcome" we would receive from the Iraqi populace.

Now we're 3 years into an occupation for what reason? Why are we still occupying Iraq? If it's strategic positioning for strikes on Syria or Iran, then get on with it! The longer we sit, the more organized the opposition gets, and the more vulnerable we are to attacks from the flanks or rear.

It's becoming the same kind of war Viet Nam was... an excuse to throw money at defense contractors who give the politicians a nice cut.
Quote

There is a reason they say war is hell, that's what it is, these are the things that happen. Considering the ruthlessness of the enemy, I say our young men have handled themselves very well. God bless them.

These are the things that happen with a mismanaged war. Our whole military doctrine has been based on leveraging our ability to strike the enemy while denying the enemy the opportunity to strike back. We've spent trillions of dollars developing the technology and resources to do this, and the clowns in DC can't even get honest with themselves long enough make proper use of it.
(http://netsecs.us/dot.jpg)
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on June 05, 2006, 04:44:22 PM
Now, on top of everything else, we get morons like this:

http://www.slate.com/id/2142896/?GT1=8295

"Let the Iraqis hold the Haditha trials"

People like this really burn me up.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Gunslinger on June 05, 2006, 05:19:08 PM
What dumbfounds me is the fact that we are still discussing this as if it won't be taken care of.....IT WILL.  What angers me is Haditha and Abu Garihb keep getting brough up as if they are the norm for our troops over there when in fact it is the norm for the enemy we fight.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: john9001 on June 05, 2006, 06:59:29 PM
today the terrorists dragged 21 iraqis from vans and executed them, where is the outrage? where is the UN?, where is amnesty international? where are the Europeans that condemn the USA?

where is murtha to call for a investigation?\

the only iraq deaths that matter are the ones that die from American solders, ignore the iraqs that are killed by the terrorists.

hypocrites
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Timofei on June 06, 2006, 12:22:08 AM
Quote
Originally posted by john9001
today the terrorists dragged 21 iraqis from vans and executed them, where is the outrage? where is the UN?, where is amnesty international? where are the Europeans that condemn the USA?

where is murtha to call for a investigation?


They're terrorists. We know they're bad. We're supposed to be the good guys. That means we get held to a higher standard.

And the terrorists don't act in our name, using our tax dollars. That gives us a responsibility to speak up. And lastly, we've assumed that all civilized people condemn barbarity and brutality, which is we we've assumed that you all on the Right know that we hate torture and slaughter.

You're proving that we were wrong on both counts: You don't assume we condemn barbarity. That's because, when it's done by your guys, you choose to attack those who condemn it -- and avoid any criticism of those who should be held most accountable.

You and the rest of your Bush-defending pals need to go home and take an ethics class. This kind of argument is shameful. In fact, I'll go a step further: It's un-American. Our national identity is based on holding ourselves, and our country, to the highest moral standard on Earth.

And that -- rather than this kind of slippery rationalizing -- is true patriotism
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: StarOfAfrica2 on June 06, 2006, 01:18:07 AM
Who are you to say your "morals" are better than anyone else's Mr High and Mighty?  

How dare you compare yourself with your nose in the air and your head in the clouds to men who have been thrown (willing or not) into the heat of combat, and come out the other side?  

Are you saying you never failed to live up to your own standards?

Our armed forces are held to the HIGHEST standards of any military force in the world.  Period.  Guess what?  They fail sometimes.  Because, like us, they are imperfect HUMAN BEINGS.  We all fall short of our ideals.  And trust me, whether Haditha happened like the media is presenting it, or something else entirely went down, there are men over there right now who will answer for it, and be held accountable.  

What worries me is not that no-one will be held to answer for this, but that the RIGHT people might not be; just whoever is politically expedient.  

Nobody here has tried to justify ANYTHING.  Nobody in the military has tried to justify it.  Nobody ANYWHERE has tried to justify it.  A few have tried to EXPLAIN it, to try to put into words a vague sense of what its like there, to try to help people understand how it COULD happen.  No one has yet  explained what DID happen.

Withold your judgements please.  Not only are they premature, you're blowing the needle out of the self righteous-meter.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: lazs2 on June 06, 2006, 08:37:36 AM
timofei talking about our national identity.... LOL... how many times have you had to change your handle here?

lazs
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Stringer on June 06, 2006, 09:41:08 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Eagler
I thought we left because we finally got a repub in the wh and he realized there was no oil in nam ... that's the only reason republicans wage war right?


I've heard a rumor that the republicans also wage war over WMD's, but since none have been located it is still an unconfirmed rumor.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: john9001 on June 06, 2006, 09:50:06 AM
there are only winners and losers in war, "good guys" and "bad guys" are a game children play.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: BluKitty on June 06, 2006, 12:53:17 PM
Yet another "We told you so" From the anti-war crowd.....

Wow we've had alot of them this war (rollseyes)

We told 'you' so.....This is War, We told 'you' not to go.... even Sun Tzu would call 'you' a fool on this one.
Title: Why Haditha matters ?
Post by: Red Tail 444 on June 06, 2006, 01:33:01 PM
And the kid who was abused by his parents, gets picked on in school, then decides to return the favor and wipes out classmates can get a free pass because...well...he just snapped?

You wouldn't try to save that kids punishment, and shouldn't defend these guys either if they get cinvicted. it's clear something happened, someone lied, and if it's been proven in a court, the USMC would need to come clean so the 99% of the honorable men and women over there don't get the fallout.