Marine cleared in mosque shootings probe

[DistressedAmerican]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7738733/

Marine cleared in mosque shootings probe
Military concludes 3 unarmed insurgents were killed in self-defense

By Jim Miklaszewski
Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 8:08 p.m. ET May 4, 2005The U.S. military has cleared a Marine who shot three unarmed, injured insurgents in a mosque at the height of fighting in Fallujah, Iraq, in November.

Marine commander Lt. Gen. John Sattler has ruled the soldier involved fired his weapon in self-defense — and no charges will be filed against him.

The shootings occurred at a mosque during an intense street-to-street battle for Fallujah. Caught on tape by an NBC camera, a squad of Marines entered the mosque to investigate reports of enemy gunfire. Inside, they found four enemy insurgents, wounded in a firefight the day before.

[Goldmund]

1. Interesting.

What was he defending himself against?

[Moderator]

2. DistressedAmerican, please edit your subject line

published title: "Marine cleared in mosque shootings probe"

Thank you

[DistressedAmerican]

3. My Bad. Forgot Where I Was For A Second!

Fixed...

[dxdem]

4. Was this the

"he's faking it!" shooting? If so...I'm livid...

[MisterP]

5. yep: the mosque was also reported as "cleared"

[DistressedAmerican]

6. Kicker!

[MountainLaurel]

7. Color me shocked

At this point, has anyone responsible for war crimes in Iraq NOT been cleared?

[RuleofLaw]

8. I wonder

If Germany had used that tactic if it would have worked at Nuremberg or at any other trials later.

"Your honor, my client is accused of:

The killing of 22 hostages, including women and children, in reprisal for an attack on two German policemen.

The deportation of 55 Jews, including 52 children, from Izieu, east of Lyon.

The liquidation of the Lyon Committee of the General Union of Jews of France and the subsequent deportation of 86 people on 9 February 1943."

(actual charges against "The Butcher from Lyon", Klaus Barbie)

"now, the German military investigated the incident at the time and found no basis for any of the charges. He acted within the rules of engagement and was cleared." "Obviously he is not guilty since he has already been investigated".



This is so much bullshit. America has absolutely no credibility left, and all that keeps it alive is other countries fear of its collapse.

[UpInArms]

9. related: Marine videotaped shooting man in Iraq mosque did not break rules

Marine videotaped shooting man in Iraq mosque did not break rules of engagement, Corps says

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5386812.html

SAN DIEGO -— A Marine corporal captured on video shooting an apparently injured and unarmed Iraqi did not violate the rules of engagement and will not face a court-martial, the Marine Corps announced.

<snip>

In sworn statements, the corporal said he shot three insurgents in self-defense in the mosque Nov. 13, believing they posed a threat to him and his fellow Marines, the statement said. Autopsy results showed that all three died of multiple wounds from gunshots fired from the corporal's M-16.

One of the shootings was recorded by Kevin Sites, an NBC cameraman embedded with the Marines, and the dramatic footage prompted outrage among Iraqis and an immediate investigation by the Marine Corps.

In the video, as the cameraman moved into the mosque, a Marine in the background could be heard shouting obscenities and yelling that one of the men was only pretending to be dead. The Marine then raised his rifle toward an Iraqi lying on the floor of the mosque and shot him.

...more...

[DistressedAmerican]

10. I remember Sites Getting Grilled About Even Airing The Footage.

Along with the Abu Ghraib photos it is the only other time I can recall where there was widespread call for censorship of images coming back from the war.

Sadly, most of the censoring goes on under the table before the story ever sees light of day!

[daleo]

11. Remember this when/if "insurgents" kill a hostage.

This case, among others, will be part of their justification.

[UpInArms]

12. related: O'Reilly: Marine Who Killed Iraqi in a Mosque Should Be Promoted

http://www.newshounds.us/2005/05/06/oreilly_marine_who_killed_iraqi_in_a_mosque_should_be_promoted.php

excerpt:

O'REILLY: Now, you can imagine what this marine and his family have been through. We're glad it's over for them. The difference between this program and some other media vehicles is that we give the benefit of the doubt to the military, which is fighting as you know a vicious war on terror. From the get-go I knew the marine didn't have an evil intent, that he was protecting himself and his squad. Just the day before that action, another marine in the unit was killed when the booby-trapped body of a dead Iraqi exploded.

Now, for those of you critical of the Fallujah marine, I say you're sadly misguided. The young man should be promoted for what he's been through.

...more...

[Englander]

14. O'Really= Fascist. n/t

[Solly Mack]

13. Self-defense? I saw ALL of the videos...that wasn't self defense