Officers not target of investigations into Iraqi killings -more bad apples

[kpete]

Lawyer: officers not target of investigations into Iraqi killings
By THOMAS WATKINS


CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Pentagon investigations into the shooting deaths of Iraqi civilians are focused on about a dozen enlisted Marines and do not target their commanding officers, the lawyer for one of the officers said Tuesday.

The investigations of up to two dozen killings and whether Marines covered them up are focused on the troops who were in a four-vehicle convoy hit by a roadside bomb last Nov. 19 in the western Iraqi city of Haditha, attorney Paul Hackett said.

The highest-ranking Marine targeted by the investigations is a staff sergeant who led the convoy, said Hackett, a Marine reservist and Iraqi war veteran who last year narrowly lost a special election for a U.S. House seat in Ohio.

The troops are from Kilo Company, part of Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. Hackett represents Capt. James Kimber, one of three battalion officers relieved of command last month.

more at:
http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2006/05/30/ap-state-ca/d8hu8pqg0.txt

[Hubert Flottz]

1. The grunts always pay the heavy price.

The military takes care of it's own...asskissers.

[seriousstan]

3. Paul Hackett is now an "asskisser"? Seems like only yesterday

he was a knight in shining armor.

[Hubert Flottz]

6. You are the one who said Paul was an asskisser not me!

Don't try and talk for me 'cause I aint your dummy.

Where have I seen that old trick before? Hummmmmmmmmmm?

The officers in charge of the soldiers in question, are who I was speaking of. This looks like an instant replay of the Abu Ghraib "bad apple" sham to me.

[seriousstan]

4. dupe

[dysfunctional press]

5. couldn't it also be that officers weren't present or aware at the time?

not having been in the military, but having spent plenty of time in the private sector- the higher-ups aren't always around when the work is being done. and immediate supervisors(private sector equivilent of a sargeant?) aren't always the sharpest knives in the drawer.

HOWEVER- if they were involved in any cover-ups, they should definitely face justice for that.

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Anything "could be" I guess...

Funny how only the EM are ever around when anything bad happens, but the Leaders are always there to lead the parades on Broadway and pin the medals on each other.

SOS, nothing ever changes I guess.

[dysfunctional press]

14. same thing happens in the private sector...

but instead of leaders, they have bosses- and instead of parades and medals, they have "bonuses"...

[MikeNearMcChord]

12. The Officer is ultimately responsible, especially he knew

that the Grunts were in payback mode after the death of their comrade. Unless he truly didn't know, unfortunately, that might make the CO into a true idiot, either way, the careers for the officers are over.

[dysfunctional press]

13. i agree that they are ultimately responsible...

and that they should definitely be made to answer for any attempted cover-ups.

but it could be that they had no real-time knowledge or involvement in the killings.

which would you say would be a worse scenario surrounding a massacre, from a moral standpoint-

enlisted men bearing the brunt of the charges, and officers tho' involved in/approving of a massacre skate...

or

officers being made to accept guilt and punishment along with the guilty, even tho' they weren't involved?

[Supersedeas]

2. those academy boys sure are clean

[Ksec]

8. Hello abu graib all over again.

BUT, the coverup is what gets ya everytime.

The coverup goes way up the ladder.

[Recursion]

9. RHIP...

always has, and always will.

[Ksec]

10. RHIP? Help, Im not very bright.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Rank Has It's Privileges

Especially in the Marine Crotch.