<center>Haditha Under a Full Moon</center>
Having been engaged in a war with Iraq for over three years, we continue supporting our troops as we should, regardless of their questionable mission. Despite our short memories, let's not forget our President warning the public of the eminent dangers of the Saddam Hussein regime and the great possibility of 'a mushroom cloud' rising from one or our own cities should we not defend our nation by stopping this dangerous and murderous leader of Iraq.
The shortfall of enough ground troops has brought many to two and sometimes three tours of Iraq, which no matter how dedicated a warrior one is, there has to be a certain level of discontent with the constant fear of being killed... it's only human.
Haditha: As reported in The Washington Post, 6/10/06 :
"Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, 26, told his attorney that several civilians were killed Nov. 19 when his squad went after insurgents who were firing at them from inside a house."
Those bastard insurgents. The world would be a much better place for all if it weren't for insurgents. They've got to be rooted out and destroyed, like a cancer, for if the U.S. (and the coalition), doesn't do it, who in the hell is left to clean up the insurgency mess?
"The Marine said there was no vengeful massacre, but he described a house-to-house hunt that went tragically awry in the middle of a chaotic battlefield."
No vengeful massacre. One of their own was killed by an IED and they have a primary mission to save their own. But revenge... no.
"The reports that Marines wantonly shot unarmed civilians in Haditha, including women and children, allege one of the most shocking, and potentially damaging, incidents of the Iraq war. A criminal investigation looking into possible charges of murder against half a dozen Marines is underway."
Charges of murder. When does killing become murder? Isn't murder whenever someone kills someone else? We shouldn't take murder as solely a negative should we? Drop a bomb or two in a neighborhood and several innocents are 'killed'... a byproduct of war, but murder? Come on! Murder is too tough a word to be used, even though killing happened, but the word 'murder'..? Lighten up.
The lawyer representing this 26 year old, Staff Sergeant said:
"He's really upset that people believe that he and his Marines are even capable of intentionally killing innocent civilians."
Really upset. We shouldn't be upset seeing pictures of women and childre dead in their own homes, some assumed to be in prayer position! What's wrong with those that get upset over such things? Goodness gracious... this is war to give these same people a well-deserved democracy and long needed freedom.
"Wuterich's version contradicts that of the Iraqis, who described a massacre of men, women and children after a bomb killed a Marine. Haditha residents have said that innocent civilians were executed, that some begged for their lives before being shot and that children were killed indiscriminately."
Damn those Iraqis! We spend billions of dollars of our hard earned Treasury, even borrowing from China and Japan, to bring democracy to this country and they have the audacity to tell their own brethren that innocent civilians were executed while some begged for their lives..! Somebody has got to tell these people that those lives are a small price to pay for all this democracy and freedom their going to get when our war is finished. These innocent people that are living lives of desperation should be thankful for all we have given them. We've lost alot of our troops there in Iraq, and for what? To be accused of murdering innocent civilians. What a slap in Uncle Sam's face!
"(The lawyer) said that while Wuterich was evaluating the scene, Marines noticed a white, unmarked car full of 'military-aged men' lingering near the bomb site. When Marines ordered the men to stop, they ran; (the lawyer) said it was standard procedure at the time for the Marines to shoot suspicious people fleeing a bombing, and the Marines opened fire, killing four or five men."
'Military-aged men'...? 'killing four or five men'..? Now these troops know when a man reaches (and surpasses) 'military age.' They are taught how to judge these things all throughout Marine boot camp: "How to Recognize a Military-aged Man." They don't teach these same men how to count, however.... that's supposed to be learned in grade school.
And "shoot suspicious people fleeing a bombing" is a good thing to do. Don't consider that these fleeing people just may have a tinge of fear in them... after all a tough-assed Marine never runs away from danger, much less bombs, why should wimpy civilians flee? Fuck 'em... they run - they die.
"The first thing he thought was it could be a vehicle-borne bomb or these guys could be ready to do a drive-by shooting," Puckett said, explaining that the Marines were on alert for such coordinated, multi-stage attacks."
It could be. But then maybe it couldn't be... but worn out, stressed out Marines could be a tad bit unclear on this occasion. But that couldn't be a possibility because these same Marines "were on alert"... so forget that presumption.
The article continues:
"Iraqis in the Haditha neighborhood interviewed in recent weeks said the vehicle was a taxi carrying a group of students to their homes and that the driver tried to back away from the site, fleeing in fear. One account said that the Marines shot the men while they were still in the car."
Again, those Iraqi ingrates, the same ones that we are defending, have the nutz to even suggest that this same car load of fleeing 'military-aged men' were simply students. Where the hell is there school? What are they doing in a car... those 4 or 5 'students' and why weren't they in school where they belong? They Iraqis are obviously full of shit. Can you imagine these people accusing our Marines of shooting these men while they were still in the car? Unbelievable. No wonder our troops need our support... they ain't gettin' any from those Iraqis, are they?
This same Staff Sgt told his lawyer, "that no one was emotionally rattled by Terrazas's death because everyone had a job to do, and everyone was concerned about further casualties. As Wuterich began briefing the platoon leader, (the lawyer) said, AK-47 shots rang out from residences on the south side of the road, and the Marines ducked."
Hell yeah! No one was emotionally rattled..! Now there's a warrior if there ever was one. What Marine would get rattled over seeing one of their own blown to bits by an IED? But wait... he continues by saying 'everyone was concerned about further casualties'... hmmmm... maybe rattled has nothing to do with concern.
"A corporal with the unit leaned over to Wuterich and said he saw the shots coming from a specific house, and after a discussion with the platoon leader, they decided to clear the house, according to Wuterich's account.
"A four-man team of Marines, including Wuterich, kicked in the door and found a series of empty rooms, noticing quickly that there was one room with a closed door and people rustling behind it, Puckett said. They then kicked in that door, tossed a fragmentation grenade into the room, and one Marine fired a series of "clearing rounds" through the dust and smoke, killing several people...
Those Iraqis! How could they see this as indiscriminate murder? So the Marines don't know what's in this room behing closed doors so they toss a grenade (through the closed door?) and after it explodes they fire a series of shots... just in case the grenade in a single room didn't do the trick. Remember, to protect the lives of our own is the most important commitment here. True, our troops are in Iraq to bring precious democracy and freedom, but if any Iraqi threatens our troops or even suggests that our troops just may be out of control, even a little - well, they just might be insurgents.
"Although it was almost immediately apparent to the Marines that the people dead in the room were men, women and children -- most likely civilians -- they also noticed a back door ajar and believed that insurgents had slipped through to a house nearby, Puckett said. The Marines stealthily moved to the second house, kicking in the door, killing one man inside and then using a frag grenade and more gunfire to clear another room full of people, he said.
"Wuterich, not having found the insurgents, told the team to stop and headed back to the platoon leader to reassess the situation, (his lawyer) said, adding that his client knew a number of civilians had just been killed."
It's not clear whether those dead men were 'military-aged' but they could've been... better safe than sorry. The women and children..? Collateral damage. Despite the grenade and gunfire somebody (or more), must've left because a back door was opened. It could only be insurgents... who else would try to get away?
"Neighborhood residents have offered a different account, saying that the Marines went into the houses shooting and ignored pleas from the civilians to spare them."
Dammit! What's up with these Iraqis? Like blaming our Marines for these baseless accusations is going to stop us from bring them democracy and freedom! These people just don't get it. There's got to be more like them... not just in Haditha, but all over Iraq. People that just go on accusing our troops of murdering innocents, as if we would ever do anything like that! Jesus (or is that Mohammed?)... what's up with these idiots?
"A Marine who served near Haditha in November said it was not unusual for Marines to respond to attacks "running and gunning" and that it was standard practice to spray rooms with gunfire when threatened. 'It may be a bad tactic, but it works,' he said. 'It keeps you (Marines) alive.'
Isn't this the big problem? In this war, (and any other for that matter), keeping each other alive is paramount... at any cost. Because if you don't keep your fellow warriors alive they can't keep you alive.
"After going through the houses, Wuterich moved a small group of Marines to the roof of a nearby building to watch the area, (the lawyer) said. At one point, they saw a man in all-black clothing running from one of the houses they had searched. The Marines killed him, (the lawyer) said."
Well, who wouldn't kill a man dressed in all black clothing? It's a damn good thing Johnny Cash is no longer living. If today's Marines saw Johnny, it's possible his life would be terminated.
"They then noticed another man in all black scurrying between two houses across the street. When they went to investigate, the Marines found a courtyard filled with women and children and asked where the man was, (the lawyer) said.
"When the civilians pointed to a third house, the Marines attempted to enter and found a man with an AK-47 inside, flanked by three other men; the first Marine to enter tried to fire his weapon, but it jammed, Puckett said. The Marines then killed those four men."
Damn! There's that black clothing again. What do they say about 'you can't judge a book by its cover"? Apparently today's Marines haven't heard that one. But they reportedly did find a man in a third house with a rifle, but its not clear whether this man was dressed in black. I wonder why? But all ended well. Our troops killed all four men, even though only one had the AK-47. Don't fuck with a Marine! These dudes are born to kill. Just ask them.
Somehow there needs to be a messenger, other than our troops, that informs these Iraqis that whenever you wear black, if you are seen anywhere near an IED explosion, if a bad guy busts into your house or even if you are a 'military-aged man', forget it! You're as good as dead. The Iraqis after three years still haven't learned that to be an insurgent only requires disagreeing with U.S. occupation... that and wearing black.
How much longer will our country continue pouring in money to convince the Iraqi people that we are the beacon of democracy and freedom? How much longer will it take? How many must die to get our goodness over to them? Damn these people. If it takes years and years of occupation, we will prevail. If it takes losing our own democracy and freedom to it, well, goddamn it, we will!! We'll show them how great a nation we were no matter what it takes. And if you or them don't believe this... just ask George. He knows. He talks to God. And goddam it, God better listen to George... or else God might become another insurgent.
Cecil
Full Moon in June, 2006
[note: the photo was not taken in Haditha.]
