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DEFEND OUR MARINES

HADITHA ARCHIVE

Activism works!

On the February 9, 2007 broadcast of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, co-host Alan Colmes stated that there had been "confessions and convictions" in the Haditha Marine case. This is absolutely false and outrageous.

Many, many people sent e-mails in protest. As a result, on the February 12th broadcast of Hannity & Colmes, Alan Colmes apologized for his statement.

We will continue to do everything in our power to turn back the media onslaught against our Marines

On May 11, 2007, we blasted Reuters with e-mails protesting their reporter's addition of sensationalistic details to reporting from the Capt. Stone hearing. On May 12th, we got Reuters to issue a correction.

Contents: 

News: February 4, 2005-December 20, 2006 

Analysis 

A timeline: May 7, 2005-December 21, 2006 

Defense fund information

Lawyers for the defense

About Haditha

The Haditha accusers: what a crowd!

Haditha media errors exposed, June 28, 2006

Interview with Mark Zaid, attorney for S/Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich

Murtha: The libel suit

Other US casualties in Haditha

MURTHA DEFAMATION LAWSUIT DOCUMENTS

SSgt Wuterich's attorneys demanded an apology from Congressman Murtha and Congressman Kline. Only Congressman Kline responded.

______________

News: February 4, 2005-May 7, 2007

* Col. R. Gary Sokoloski. General's aide refuses to testify in Haditha hearings, North County Times, May 7, 2007.

* Propaganda Fear Cited in Account of Iraqi Killings, New York Times, May 6, 2007.

* Stone case may set tone for Haditha prosecutions, North County Times, May 5, 2007

* General's testimony sought at first Haditha hearing, North County Times, April 29, 2007.

* Major announcement: Capt. Randy W. Stone: Haditha case set to unfold starting May 8, North County Times, April 28, 2007.

* Lt. Andrew Grayson: Officer charged in Haditha killings was nominated for medal, Associated Press, April 25, 2007 (story is no longer at original address).

* Officer misconduct alleged in Haditha killings, North County Times, April 22, 2007.

* Reaction to leak of Bargewell Report: Military Cites ‘Negligence’ in Aftermath of Iraq Killings, New York Times, April 22, 2007.

Quote: The 130-page report, by Maj. Gen. Eldon A. Bargewell of the Army, did not conclude that the officers covered up evidence or committed a crime. But it said the Marine Corps command in Iraq was far too willing to tolerate civilian casualties and dismiss Iraqi claims of abuse by marines as insurgent propaganda, said lawyers who have read it.
“All levels of command tended to view civilian casualties, even in significant numbers, as routine and as the natural and intended result of insurgent tactics,” General Bargewell wrote in his report, according to two people who have read it. “Statements made by the chain of command during interviews for this investigation, taken as a whole, suggest that Iraqi civilian lives are not as important as U.S. lives, their deaths are just the cost of doing business, and that the Marines need to get the job done no matter what it takes.”
The report focused only on senior commanders’ handling of the aftermath of the attack in Haditha, in which several marines killed two dozen unarmed Iraqis in the hours after the marines’ convoy was hit by a roadside bomb, killing Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas. General Bargewell’s report, completed at the request of Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the day-to-day commander of American forces in Iraq at the time, did not focus on the killings themselves....

The Bargewell report, which was recently declassified, also established that junior officers, including a captain who issued a news release on the episode that blamed a roadside bomb planted by insurgents for most of the deaths, knew from the beginning that marines had killed the civilians, the lawyers said.

But here is an intriguing bit of information regarding the "cover-up"...

The captain, Jeffrey Pool, told Bargewell's investigators that he was given reports from battalion commanders that accurately described the marines' killing of civilians, said lawyers who read the report. But Pool said he issued a news release blaming the insurgents for the deaths because he believed that they were ultimately the result of the roadside bombing of the convoy that led the marines to strike back, the lawyers said.

"The way I saw it was this," Pool told two colonels questioning him, according to a lawyer who read the report. "A bomb blast went off, or was initiated, that is what started, that is the reason they're getting this, is a bomb blew up, killed people. We killed people back and that's the story."

* Haditha report faults officers, North County Times, April 21, 2007.

* Immunity given to 7 in Haditha case, San Diego Tribune, April 21, 2007.

* 'Simple Failures' and 'Disastrous Results', Washington Post, April 21, 2007. (Bargewell Report exerpts)

* Major leak of Bargewell Report: Report on Haditha condemns Marines: Signs of misconduct were ignored, general says, Washington Post, April 21, 2007. (Army Major General Eldon A. Bargewell Report summary)

* Lt. William Kallop's attorney speaks out: Read the press release.

* Immunity grants may signal problems the Haditha prosecution, North County Times, April 20, 2007.

* Major idiocy: Killings of Afghan civilians recall Haditha, New York Times, April 20, 2007.

* Lt. William Kallop: Marine Officer Receives Immunity in Haditha Killings Case, Washington Post, April 20, 2007.

* Major development, major leak: Military grants immunity to 7 Marines, AP via Washington Post, April 20, 2007 (story no longer at original address).

* Report: Attorneys want Haditha Marine given immunity, North County Times, April 19, 2007.

* Major development: Charges dropped against Haditha Marine, North County Times, April 17, 2007.

* Major development: Haditha prosecution said to be fraught with problems, North County Times, April 10, 2007.

* False report: LCpl. Justin Sharratt: Marine's homicide hearing in Haditha case put off, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 10, 2007. (This article was printed a full day before the decision was made by General Mattis.)

* Unbelievable crap. Mr. Wry gets serious [Leftist Makes Haditha Marine Movie], The Guardian, April 9, 2007.

* LCpl. Justin Sharratt: Marine with local ties faces hearing, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 7, 2007.

* LCpl. Justin Sharratt: Granger Marine awaits hearing, South Bend Tribune, April 6, 2007.

* Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. Attorneys for accused Haditha officer fire another salvo, North County Times, April 3, 2007.

* Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. Rangely Marine's attorney says he followed proper procedure, Grand Junction Sentinel, April 3, 2007 (story no longer at original address).

* SSgt. Frank Wuterich. CBS 60 Minutes interview. Read the transcript.

* SSgt. Frank Wuterich. Marine: "Combat" decisions at Haditha, UPI via The Washington Times, March 16, 2007 (story no longer at original address).

*  SSgt. Frank Wuterich. US officer defends Haditha shootings, The Guardian, March 16, 2007.

* SSgt. Frank Wuterich. Charged Marine sergeant says Haditha killings were justified, AP via San Jose Mercury News, March 15, 2007.

* Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. Marine hearing delayed more than two months in Haditha case, Associated Press, March 14, 2007.

* Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. Hearing set for lieutenant colonel charged in Haditha case, North County Times, March 6, 2007.

* Big picture: Marines in Haditha: Locals not focused on alleged ’05 massacre, Stars and Stripes, March 4, 2007.

* Wuterich supporters hope to raise awareness and funds through web site, (Meriden, CT) Record-Journal, February 25, 2007.

* Leaks: Attorney: Haditha leak could lead to dismissal request, North County Times, January 29, 2007.

* Interview: Haditha Marine's father speaks out, NewsMax, January 29, 2007.

* Haditha attorney accuses Pentagon of deception, Reuters, January 17, 2007.

* Tough going for defense funds in Haditha case, North County Times, January 17, 2007.

* More on the leaked photos: Investigators track Haditha images: Marines took photos after contested deaths, Washington Post via Concord Monitor, January 8, 2007.

* Let's hear from Al Qaeda, via our own media: The Haditha shootings: what the witnesses saw, Washington Post via Seattle Times, January 7, 2007.

* Leakers confirm that their own previous leaks were correct: US Inquiry Backs Haditha Killing Charges: Report, evidence supports previous murder allegations, New York Times via The Day, January 7, 2007.

* More on the leaked photos: Marines' photos provide graphic evidence in Haditha probe, Washington Post, January 7, 2007.

* Leakers say the Marines are guilty (and the media is happy to pass it on as news): Investigators find no evidence to support Marines' claims, USA Today, January 7, 2007.

Quote: One worry of military prosecutors is that American investigators failed to persuade the families of the any of the 24 dead to permit their bodies to be exhumed and examined to obtain forensic evidence.

* Chilling new evidence of Haditha massacre, The Telegraph (UK), January 7, 2007.

Quote: A leaked copy of the probe into the incident – the most serious case of alleged US misconduct in the Iraq war so far – quotes a horrified witness saying that the marines went "crazy" after a roadside bomb killed one of their squad and injured two others.

* Major leak to the Washington Post of the NCIS Haditha report: Death in Haditha, Washington Post, January 6, 2007.

Quote: The [leaked] report, which relied on hundreds of interviews with Marines, Iraqi soldiers and civilian survivors conducted months after the incident, presents a fragmented and sometimes conflicting chronicle of the violence that day. But taken together, the accounts provide evidence that as the Marines came under attack, they responded in ways that are difficult to reconcile with their rules of engagement.

* More from the AP leaker:  New details emerge in Iraq slayings case, AP via ABC News, January 6, 2007.

* Major leak to the AP from a "senior defense official": Official: Evidence doesn't back Marines, AP via ABC News, January 6, 2007.

* Haditha case likely to have repercussions: Experts say it could change the Marines, San Diego Union, January 5, 2006 (no longer at original address).

Quote: “This has all the earmarks of one of the great military cases in the country's history,” said Eugene R. Fidell, a noted military defense lawyer in Washington.

* The charges: Court papers released in Haditha case, UPI, December 31, 2006.

* Lt. Andrew Grayson: Area Marine dismayed by charges against him, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 31, 2006. [Unfortunately, this story is no longer available.]

* The charges: Documents released in Haditha slayings, San Diego Union, December 30, 2006.

* Who cares: Local Iraqis react to Haditha charges, North County Times, December 30, 2006.

* Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas: Family of Marine killed in Haditha slaying 'outraged', NBC San Diego, December 30, 2006.

* Lt. Andrew Grayson: Charged Marine is from area, Dayton Daily News, December 28, 2006.

* Yes, and...? Wuterich allegedly ordered to 'shoot first, ask questions later', North County Times, December 27, 2006.

Quote: In a release distributed to reporters last week, the Marine Corps identified 21 Iraqis who died at Haditha. While the Marine colonel who announced the charges said last week that there were 24 victims, three of them remain unidentified, a discrepancy that neither the Marine Corps nor defense attorneys was immediately able to address Wednesday.
"The charges that have been preferred reflect the deaths that are supported by the investigation at this point," a statement issued by the Marine Corps said. "The investigation is ongoing and there is always the potential for additional charges."
That is one of the many discrepancies that attorney Zaid said will go to the heart of his client's defense....

* Iraq massacre: US Marines 'will point the finger of blame at senior officers', The Independent, December 25, 2006.

Quote: “We're going to drag every single, two-star and full-bird colonel and general into this thing," said Kevin McDermott, a California-based lawyer representing Captain Lucas McConnell, the commander of Kilo Company, which carried out the Haditha killings. The defense lawyers say their clients were following official policy on the rules of engagement.

*  Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt a "really good friend", South Bend Tribune, December 24, 2006.

* General James Mattis: Ex-Tri-Citian is tough on bad Marines, Tri-City Herald, December 24, 2006.

* Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz: Marine accused of killing 5 civilians, Daily Southtown, December 23, 2006.

[For more on Sgt. Dela Cruz, see: 11th MEU Combat Team in in Najaf: A Fireteam's Tale, Marine Corps News, September 2, 2004.]

* SSgt. Frank Wuterich: One Marine focus of Haditha case, AP via Desert Sun, December 23, 2006.

* Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt: Family Christmas for Marine in Haditha murder case, North County Times, December 23, 2006.

* Captain Lucas McConnell: Hometown stunned by charges, Monterey Herald, December 23, 2006.

* Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt: Haditha Marine home for Pa. Christmas, AP, December 23, 2006.

* Good analysis: Haditha case highlights legal questions, North County Times, December 23, 2006.

* Unwarranted self-congratulation: Viewpoint: Breaking Haditha (Time magazine's Tim "Taliban" McGirk finds the Marines guilty), December 23, 2006.

* The legal road ahead: Charges filed, but Haditha saga is just beginning, Stars and Stripes, December 23, 2006.

* Analysis: Haditha defense seen focused on Iraq battle chaos, Reuters, December 22, 2006.

* The charges: Marines charge 4 with murder of civilians, The New York Times, December 22, 2006.

* The enemy within talks to the enemy in Iraq. Both agree America is bad: Haditha residents on charged Marines: Let us have them, The New York Times, December 22, 2006

* Our enemy, our media: The Haditha Charges: Symbol of a War Gone Bad, Time magazine, December 22, 2006.

* Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt: Marine with ties to area accused in Iraq killings, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 22, 2006.

* The charges: Marines charged in Iraqi civilian deaths, Breitbart, December 22, 2006.

* SSgt. Frank Wuterich: Squad leader key to Haditha case, AP, December 22, 2006.

* General James Mattis: Marine commander is seen as tough but fair, Los Angeles, December 22, 2006.

* Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt charged in Haditha case, Washington County Observer-Reporter, December 22, 2006.

* Our enemy, our media: Marines charged in Haditha deaths (with reaction from Iraqis) AP, December 22, 2006.

* The charges: US Marines face Iraq murder trial, BBC, December 21, 2006.

* The charges: US Marines charged with murder in Haditha, Reuters, December 21, 2006.

* Analysis: Veterans react to Marine Corps decision to file charges in Haditha incident, North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* The accused: Wuterich was leader of squad, North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* The accused: Accused wanted to be Marine since childhood (Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt), North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* The charges: Attorney says Tatum was "doing his job" (Lance Corporal Stephen B. Tatum), North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* The accused: Marine faces charges in Haditha case (Lance Corporal Stephen B. Tatum), Edmonton Sun, December 21, 2006.

* The accused: 3rd Battalion commander highest-ranking officer to face charges (Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani), North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* The accused: Captain Randy W. Stone, North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* The accused: Intel officer faces charges (1st Lt. Andrew A. Grayson), North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* The accused: McConnell showed early leadership skills, former coach says (Captain Lucas McConnell), North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* Background: Photographer spent months embedded with Kilo Company (Lucian Read), North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* The charges: US Marines charged with Haditha murders, Financial Times via MSNBC, December 21, 2006.

* Our enemy, our media: Iraq trial eyed in Haditha shooting case, AP, December 21, 2006.

* The charges: US Marines charged over Haditha massacre, Aljazeera, December 21, 2006.

* The charges: Eight Marines charged in Haditha case, North County Times, December 21, 2006.

* The charges: Haditha, Iraq investigation press statement, United States Marine Corps, December 21, 2006.

* End of Haditha investigation offers sense of relief, North County Times, December 19, 2006.

* Marines to unveil result of Haditha probe on Thursday, North County Times, December 19, 2006.

* U.S. military to announce Haditha charges Thursday, Reuters, December 18, 2006.

 * Haditha massacre charges imminent, ABC News, December 13, 2006. Read General Mattis' memo (as a pdf file) here.

* El Pasoans upset that Marines could be charged in killings, from Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas' hometown, El Paso Times, December 8, 2006.

* A Family's Fight [Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt], Washington (PA) Observer Reporter, December 7, 2006.

* Captain Luke McConnell will not be charged, Napa Valley Register, December 7, 2006: "Napa native Luke McConnell is not among the Marines facing criminal charges in the November 2005 deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha, according to his attorney. McConnell was captain of the Camp Pendleton-based Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment."

* Charges in Haditha case delayed, ABC News, December 6, 2006.

* Charges being 'finalized' in Haditha killings, North County Times, December 6, 2006.

* Haditha murder charges?, Time, December 6, 2006: "Haditha murder charges? A senior Marine commander tells Congress that the Haditha killings may constitute negligent homicide."

* Major leak:  Marines likely to face charges in Haditha killings, congressman says, USA Today, December 6, 2006.

Quote: A congressman said Wednesday that about six Marines would be charged in the killing of 24 civilians, many of them women and children, last year in the Iraqi town of Haditha. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colorado, did not know what the charges were but said they were serious.

* [Gen.] Mattis said to be free of political influence, North Country Times (San Diego), December 6, 2006. "Pendleton general at center of Haditha charging decision."

* Major leak: At least five Marines are expected to be charged in Haditha deaths, New York Times, December 6, 2006.

* Local man [Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum] under scrutiny in Haditha case, Edmund Sun (Oklahoma), December 3, 2006. "Houston attorney [Jack Zimmerman] defends lance corporal, saying no crimes were committed."

* A look at criminal cases against U.S. troops stemming from the deaths of Iraqis since March 2003, North Country Times, December 6, 2006.

* Major leak: Marine Corps: Criminal charges being finalized in Haditha case, North Country Times, December 5, 2006.

* Marine Corps nears Haditha charges, AP via Houston Chronicle, December 5, 2006.

* Shorter sentences handed down in criminal cases arising out of Iraq, North Country Times, December 2, 2006. There is a good summary by lawyer Gary Myers (who represents Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt) at the end of the article.

* Conflicting accounts of Iraqi deaths given, Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2006.

*  Parents defend son [Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt] accused in Haditha slaying, KDKA, November 24, 2006. Video at the link.

* Haditha 'massacre'--one year on, BBC, November 24, 2006.

* Major leak: Rules of Engagement, Vanity Fair, November 2006. A lengthy article (with quotations drawn from the secret NCIS investigative report) that makes clear why convictions for the house clearings are unlikely. The author also believes Murtha was wrong about the men reacting in Haditha out of anger.

* Family stands by a Marine under investigation, Washington Post, November 22, 2006: "[The family of Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt] have remained silent until now because they did not know what to say....They have privately fumed about politicians -- such as Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) -- who have publicly stated that their son was part of a brutal, vengeful slaughter. And they are livid that no one in the Marine Corps has stepped forward to defend their son."

* Major leak: Report: Five Marines may face charges in Haditha killings, North Country Times, November 21, 2006: "Military authorities may soon charge five Camp Pendleton Marines in the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in the city of Haditha just over one year ago, according to a story Tuesday on National Public Radio that named the five men....Marine Corps spokesman Lt. Col. Sean Gibson said he could not confirm the radio report, which attributed its information to unnamed Pentagon sources."

* Major leak: Five Marines expected to face charges in killing, NPR Morning Edition, November 21, 2006. No transcript, but you can here the story that names five Marines at the link. The five names given to NPR by anonymous DOD sources were:

Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, 26, of Meriden, Connecticut
Corporal Hector Salinas, 22, of Houston, Texas
Corporal Sanick De la Cruz, 24, of Chicago, Illinois
Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum, 25, of Edmund, Oklahoma
Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt, 21, of Carbondale, Pennsylvania

Note: Corporal Hector Salinas was the only Marine on this list not to be charged. Were the leaks by DOD sources an attempt to coerce his testimony? Time will tell.

* Family stands by Marine [Lance Cpl. Sharratt] accused in Iraq incident, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, November 19, 2006.

* Accusations from Iraq tear up one Vietnam vet, El Paso Times, November 19, 2006.

* Cleared of wrong doing in Haditha?,Time, November 14, 2006: Two top generals cleared, others may soon be charged.

* The Haditha Massacre, One Year Later, ABC Nightline, October 30, 2006.

* The Face of Haditha, (SSgt. Wuterich interview), Time, September 17, 2006.

* Marine called Haditha shootings appropriate, Washington Post, August 24, 2006.

* Haditha probe leaves Marines wondering, Sacramento Bee, August 20, 2006.

* Marine names Murtha in defamation suit, Washington Post, August 2, 2006.

* US braced for Haditha effect, BBC, June 20, 2006.

* Family of Marine named in Haditha killings speaks out, Hannity & Colmes, June 20, 2006.

* Interview with Gary Myers, lawyer for a Haditha Marine, CNN Saturday Morning News (transcript), June 17, 2006.

* Defending the Haditha Killings, Salon, June 16, 2006.

* Probing a Bloodbath, The Marines were well prepared for war, but not for insurgency. Did some of them snap—and slaughter innocent civilians in cold blood?, Newsweek, June 12, 2006.

Quote: [Corporal Scott] Jepsen went through the houses entered by the Marines....Jepsen says the Iraqis they spoke to "knew that there were insurgents involved ... knew that there were some houses that let insurgents in."

* Marine Says Rules Were Followed, Washington Post, June 11, 2006.

* Lawyer: Marine Denies Haditha massacre, USA Today, June 11, 2006.

* Family Unsettled by Inquiry, Washington Post, June 11, 2006

* Haditha's Recent History of Violence, National Public Radio, June 7, 2006.

* Marines in Iraq: The Warrior's Way, Los Angeles Times, June 6, 2006.

* Haditha lawyer criticizes US payments, AP, June 4, 2006.

Quote: On Thursday, Iraq said it was launching its own probe into the Haditha killings, with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sharply criticizing the conduct of U.S. troops in Iraq.

His comments were unusually harsh, suggesting to some that he might be using the incident to bolster his image as a national unity leader at a time of rising sectarian tensions. Al-Maliki is a Shiite, while the Haditha victims were Sunni Arabs, the minority that is the backbone of Iraq's insurgency.

An adviser to al-Maliki, Adnan al-Kazimi, denied Saturday that the announcement was a public relations exercise, saying an Iraqi investigation into the killings was popular among all Iraqis.

Al-Maliki will announce the makeup and mandate of the investigating committee in the next few days, al-Kazimi told The Associated Press. It will be made up of officials from the ministries of defense, interior and human rights and will report directly to al-Maliki, he said.

The findings of U.S. investigations into the killings are to be made available to the Iraqi government, with only the parts pertaining to security of U.S. forces withheld, he said.

* Don't judge until all facts are in, Orange County Register, June 2, 2006.

* Paul Hackett, Gary Solis and others on Hardball, June 2, 2006.

* Major leak: Military Inquiry Said to Oppose Account of Raid, New York Times, May 31, 2006.

* Bush: "Troubled" by war crimes allegations, MSnBC, May 31, 2006.

* Sumaidaie: Marines shot my cousin: We must 'remove the bad apples,' new Iraqi ambassador says, CNN, May 30, 2006.

* Report: Officers not targets in Iraq killing probe, WCBS, May 30, 2006

* Did U.S. Marines Commit Massacre in Iraq? Paula Zahn Interview With Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha: CNN: May 30, 2006.

* What happened in Haditha? NBC Nightly News, May 30, 2006

Quote:
7:25 a.m.: Witnesses say Marines search the area for the bomber. They storm a house directly across from the attack, shooting as they approach.
During the raid, Abdul Hamid's house caught fire. Witnesses say Marines then moved next door to the house of Younis Hamid. Nine people were inside, and eight were killed — five of them children.
Witnesses say Marines then moves to a third location — a taxi parked by the side of the road. In it, residents say, were four university students and a driver. A witness watching from a nearby rooftop says Marines took the five men out of the car and executed them.
One witness says the driver screamed in English, “Please, please!” but they shot him in the body.
Around 10:30 a.m., Marines stormed the house of Eid Ahmed, where they allegedly separate his four sons from the women and children — before killing the men.
Nine-year-old Khalid was in the house.
“This is my father!” he screams. "God will take my revenge!"

* Iraqis' Accounts Link Marines to the Mass Killing of Civilians, Spiegel Online, May 29, 2006.

* Picking Up the Pieces in Haditha, Time magazine, May 29, 2006

* New Witness Describes Alleged Iraq Atrocity, ABC World News, May 28, 2006.

* Iraqis: Marines Killed 24 Civilians, Washington Post (via the Lakeland Ledger), May 27, 2006.

* In Haditha, memories of a massacre, Washington Post, May 27, 2006. "The descriptions of events provided to The Post by witnesses in Haditha could not be independently verified..."

* Major media distortion: The Haditha Scandal's Other Casualty, Matthew Cooper, Time, May 26, 2006.

Quote: One of the most damning pieces of evidence investigators have in their possession, according to a U.S. military source in Iraq, are personal photos, taken immediately after the killings, by a marine who emailed a snapshot back to a friend in the U.S.
This false allegation was repeated by Congressman Murtha on ABC News. Time later ran a correction:
In the original version of this story, TIME reported that "one of the most damning pieces of evidence investigators have in their possession, John Sifton of Human Rights Watch told Time's Tim McGirk, is a photo, taken by a Marine with his cell phone that shows Iraqis kneeling and thus posing no threat before they were shot." While Sifton did tell TIME that there was photographic evidence, taken by Marines, he had only heard about the specific content of the photos from reports done by NBC, and had no firsthand knowledge. TIME regrets the error.

* General to teach rules of war, Washington Times, May 26, 2006.

* Lt Col. Chessani, Capt. James S. Kimber, Capt. Lucas M. McConnell: Three Marines involved in fatal Haditha raid are relieved of command, Associated Press, April 10, 2006.

* Video taken by journalist student key as 12 Americans face war crimes probe in Iraq, AP, March 20, 2006.

* The article that launched it all: Collateral Damage or Civilian Massacre in Haditha?: Last November, U.S. Marines killed 15 Iraqi civilians in their homes. Was it self-defense, an accident or cold-blooded revenge?, Time magazine, March 19, 2006.

* Pendleton Marine Dies in Explosion, North County Times, November 22, 2005. (This is the first report of the death of Lance Corporal Miguel "Mickey" Terrazas.)

* An Interview with Colonel Davis, Bill Roggio, The Long War Journal, February 19, 2005.

* [Gen. Mattis] "It's fun to shoot some people", CNN, February 4, 2005. Remark caught on video by San Diego TV station KNSD.

For more news links, see Free Republic threads below in "Fact and Opinion" below.

______________

Analysis (before the hearings began)

Sweetness & Light:

* More media lies and distortions in Iraq: The Associated Press source Jamil Hussein still does not exist, January 6, 2007.

* Our enemy, our media: New York Times: Haditha residents want to tear accused apart, December 22, 2006.

* Lawyer: Captain to be charged in Haditha case, December 19, 2006.

Quote: "One hopes Captain McConnell and the rest of these Marines will get a fair trial. But it is hard to see how. The local "witnesses" seem to be pathological liars by nature. And as far as I know, the families are still preventing the exhumation of the bodies for forensic study. Add to that the overwhelming pressure from our one party media to convict somebody, anybody for this supposed atrocity. And bear in mind McConnell wasn’t even there at the time of the action. God help him and the rest of the accused.

* Time magazine's Haditha reporter says all is lost in Iraq, October 22, 2006.

* Related: Lefty pop trash British director to make Haditha movie, September 26, 2006.

* Marines thought about bombing Haditha house, September 22, 2006.

* Time magazine says Haditha Marines will be charged, September 17, 2006.

* Washington Post: Marine investigator calls Marine shootings "appropriate", August 24, 2006.

* Washington Post: Officer said Haditha didn't warrant inquiry, August 19, 2006.

* More anonymous New York Times sources say Marines are guilty, August 18, 2006.

* Accuracy in Media: Time massacres truth in Haditha, June 27, 2006.

* Hammurabi Rights Watch denials raise more questions, June 23, 2006.

* Why have families fought exhuming victims?, June 21, 2006.

* The wildly conflicting first reports of Haditha, June 19, 2006.

* Is this Hammurabi Rights Watch other member?, June 19, 2006.

* Time's Tim McGirk reinvents his video source, June 18, 2006.

* Marines' lawyers question Haditha tape source, June 16, 2006.

* Haditha Marine's lawyer will call Murtha to testify, June 15, 2006.

* The Washington Times' on Time's massacre, June 14, 2006.

* Why did "rights group" sit on its Haditha story?, June 7, 2006.

* The questionable sources for Time's Haditha scoop, June 5, 2006.

* Haditha lawyer wants more compensation, June 3, 2006.

* Related: AP runs My Lai photo as Haditha news, June 3, 2006.

* Haditha reporter's Thanksgiving with the Taliban, June 2, 2006.

* The Haditha our media won't tell you about, June 2, 2006.

* Haditha doctor was arrested, hates the US, June 1, 2006.

* Haditha reporter was jailed by the US--twice, June 1, 2006.

* Ex CNN embed seems to doubt Haditha charges, May 30, 2006.

* The New York Times begs for tales of "Marine massacre", May 29, 2006.

* Mr Murtha's Rush to Judgment, 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, Washington Post, May 28, 2006.

Quote: "A year ago I was charged with two counts of premeditated murder and with other war crimes related to my service in Iraq. My wife and mother sat in a Camp Lejeune courtroom for five days while prosecutors painted me as a monster; then autopsy evidence blew their case out of the water, and the Marine Corps dropped all charges against me."--2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano

* John Murtha: "Marines killed civilians in cold blood", May 17, 2006.

* Related: John Murtha: Don't indict me, I'm a whistleblower!, December 1, 2005.

Bing West in The Atlantic:

* The Road to Haditha: How did the heroes of Fallujah come to kill civilians in Haditha? A Vietnam veteran who witnessed the battle of Fallujah says it's too soon to judge the Marines--but not the high command. The Atlantic, October 2006.

Interview

* Interview with Darryl Sharratt and Tim Harrington, The Front Line with Kit Jarrell, February 10, 2007.

NewsMax

* General Tom McInerney: Haditha Defendents' Rights Violated, Phil Brennan, NewsMax, February 7, 2007.

* Haditha accusations unmasked, Phil Brennan, NewsMax, January 18, 2007.

Other sources:

* U.S. Soldiers Aren't Guilty Before a Verdict, Opinion Journal (WSJ.com) July 7, 2006.

* Were Kalishnikovs Used to Kill the People of Haditha?, Gateway Pundit, June 16, 2007.

* Reflections on Haditha, Bill Roggio, Counter-Terrorism Blog, June 13, 2006.

* Networks Which Hyped Haditha as 'Massacre' Show Little Interest in Marine's Version, NewsBusters, June 13, 2006.

* UK Times smears Marines: Massacre Marines blinded by hate, Hot Air, June 2006.

* Wallowing in Haditha, Rich Lowry, National Review, June 6, 2006.

* Haditha: Is McGirk the New Mary Mapes?, Clarice Feldman, American Thinker, June 9, 2007.

* What Happened at Haditha?, Chronwatch, June 1, 2006.

* Ghosts of Haditha, Dallas Morning News, "War critics like John Murtha even use tragedy to bash our efforts.", May 31, 2006.

* In Cold Blood, Opinion Journal (WSJ.com) May 18, 2006: "Murtha's description is false..."

* Expose the Left: Murtha on Hardball, May 17, 2006.

* Haditha: A Case of Liberal Hypocrisy, Townhall, March 9, 2007.

* Haditha Case a Fabrication?, The Strata-Sphere, April 25, 2007.

* Haditha prosecution acknowledges weak case, Democracy Project, April 21, 2007.

* Congratulations, Sergeant Dela Cruz, Conservative Thoughts, April 20, 2007.

* Talk Show America: An E-mail from a Haditha Father, Conservative Thoughts, April 16, 2007.

* Great overview of the "innocent civilian" issue: Hostile Environment: Insurgents and the Haditha Marines, Conservative Thoughts, March 18, 2007.

* Our enemy, our media: The Reuters connection to Haditha, Chickenhawk Express, December 24, 2006.

* Military blogger: Haditha Marines charged, Political Pistachio, December 23, 2006.

* News commentary: Haditha Case, Pipeline News, December 23, 2006.

* Military/investigative blogger: Unraveling Haditha, Euphoric Reality, December 22, 2006.

* Commentary: Murtha owes all Marines an apology for his hideous slander, Gateway Pundit, December 22, 2006.

* A rhetorical reminder from a blogger: In case you forgot why Murtha is scum, Hillbilly White Trash, December 22, 2006.

* Commentary: Haditha: Wuterich charged with 13 counts of murder, Hot Air, December 21, 2006.

* Commentary: Haditha Round-up, Captain's Journal, December 21, 2006.

* Military blogger: Haditha revisted, Blackfive, December 21, 2006.

* Military blogger: A soldier's perspective, December 21, 2006.

* The enemy within: Haditha: Marines' lawyers outraged by leak of NCIS report, Hot Air, January 6, 2007.

Quote: An NCIS. spokesman declined to comment on the report, which it has not officially released, and said the agency was troubled by the leak of it to The Post.

* Our enemy, our media: Reuters E-mailing the Terrorists, Newsbusters commentary, January 4, 2006.

* Marines should be judged by a jury of peers, not by media: Letter to the editor / OC Register, December 25, 2006.

* From wacky land: Mild-mannered media and the Marine massacre at Haditha, Peace, Earth, and Justice Network, December 24, 2006.

* Leftwing sobsister editorial: Haditha's day in court, Cleveland Plain-Dealer, December 24, 2006.

* Reasonable editorial: Death at Haditha, Sacramento Bee, December 23, 2006.

* Leftwing handwringers: When the press dropped the ball on Haditha, Editor & Publisher, December 21, 2006.

Free Republic threads:

* Lt. Col. Chessani defense announcement: Case against Marines blamed on Murtha politics, WND, March 6, 2007.

* News discussion: Marines battle their past in an Iraqi city, Los Angeles Times, February 2, 2007.

* News discussion: Valley Marine Will Face Multiple New Charges [Haditha is to Blame! Criminal Photog is Back], February 1, 2007.

* Interview discussion: Haditha Marine's father speaks out (Darryl Sharratt), Newsmax, January 31, 2007.

* News discussion: Attorney: Haditha leak could lead to dismissal request, North County Times, January 29, 2007.

* News discussion: Moonbats Want Blood! [Haditha Marine photos], (Washington Post) January 14, 2007.

* News discussion: Guilty until proven innocent [Haditha Marines], (NewsMax), January 12, 2007.

* Important announcement! Announcing the Haditha Marines Defense Fund, January 6, 2007.

* News discussion: Family of Marine killed in Haditha 'outraged', (NBC San Diego), December 30, 2006.

* News discussion: Wuterich allegedly ordered 'shoot first, ask questions later, (North County Times), 

* News discussion: Haditha Marine home for Pa. Christmas, (AP) December 23, 2006.

* News discussion: Squad leader key to Haditha case, (AP), December 22, 2006.

* News discussion: Sharratt charged in Haditha case, (Washington County Observer-Reporter, December 22, 2006.)

* News discussion: Marine Charged With 13 Civilian Murder Counts (Haditha), main discussion thread at Free Republic, (MSNBC) December 21, 2006.

* Marines to unveil result of Haditha probe on Thursday [New details], North County Times, December 19, 2006.

* U.S. military to announce Haditha charges Thursday, Reuters, December 18, 2006.

* Haditha massacre charges imminent, (ABC News), December 13, 2006.

* A Family's Fight, (Washington Observer-Reporter), December 7, 2006.

* About six Marines likely to face charges in Haditha killings (Congressman blab after hearing), December 6, 2006.

* At least five Marines to be charged in Haditha deaths, (New York Times News Service) December 6, 2006.

* Haditha Murder Charges?, (Time), December 6, 2006.

* Marine Corps near Haditha charges (AP via Houston Chronicle), December 5, 2006.

* Panel to hear update on Haditha report, (North County Times), December 5, 2006.

* Local man under scrutiny in Haditha case, (The Edmond Sun, Oklahoma), December 4, 2006.

* Ansar al-Sunnah Claims Responsibility (Revenge for "Crimes" Haditha), (Site Institute), December 1, 2006.

* Parents Defend Son Accused in Haditha Slayings, (Pittsburgh Post Gazette), November 24, 2006.

* Report: Five Marines may face charges in Haditha killings (North County Times), November 24, 2006

* Family Stands by a Marine Under Investigation (Washington Post), November 22, 2006.

* Haditha Statement by Murtha Not Holding, (via Reuters), October 5, 2006.

* Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Covers for Murtha/Haditha Statement, October 2, 2006.

* US Marines considered bombing Haditha home, (Reuters), September 27, 2006.

* Time-Lai, (Sweetness & Light), September 7, 2006.

* Marine Called Haditha Shootings Appropriate, (Washington Post), August 24, 2006.

* The road to Haditha: changing face of war, (Baltimore Sun), August 23, 2006.

* Marine didn't suspect Haditha wrongdoing, (Las Vegas Sun), August 19, 2006.

* Officer called Haditha routine--Marine said deaths didn't merit inquiry, (Washington Post), August 19, 2006.

* Report: Marines may have foiled evidence (more slanderous accusations), (AP / Yahoo), August 18, 2006. See also duplicate thread.

* Congressman [Kline] makes apology to Marines, (Reuters), August 18, 2006.

* LA Times falsely claims that Murtha was briefed before making charges, (Newsbusters), August 17, 2006.

* The Haditha Massacre: A Congressman [Kline, R-MN] Apologizes, (Time), August 15, 2006.

* Haditha investigation prompts introspection, disbelief within Marine Corps, (San Diego Union), August 15, 2006.

* Haditha probe leaves Marines wondering / Haditha probes prompts concerns among Marines, (AP), August 14, 2006.

* Freeper Exclusive! Homecoming for K/3/5 Marines, August 13, 2006.

* Photo of Marine in Haditha: Cpl.Tom C. Ferguson's father fights Murtha's lies, August 11, 2006.

* Rush to judgment: Iraq war Marine infantry platoon commander exposes Murtha's lies, August 10, 2006.

* Haditha Marines came under fire--says lawyer, August 9, 2006.

* Father of Haditha Marine stonewalled by Reid, Murtha, August 8, 2006

* Pentagon leaders distorting Haditha facts, (NewsMax), August 8, 2006.

* Whatever it is, this isn't treason, (Observer-Reporter / SW PA), August 6, 2006.

* Marine generals: Haditha probe helps reinforce Corps integrity, (North Country Times), August 4, 2006.

* General briefed Murtha AFTER murder comment, Corps says, (Reuters), August 3, 2006.

* Iraqis, Marines improve Haditha security, (Multi-National Forces-Iraq), August 3, 2006.

* Marine alleges libel, (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat), August 3, 2006.

* Murtha statement on lawsuit, (John Murtha US Rep) August 2, 2006.

* Source: Haditha evidence implicates Marines (lying sack of crap alert), (AP / MSNBC), August 2, 2006.

* Marine names Murtha in defamation suit, (Washington Post), August 2, 2006.

* Biased Reporting, (Thomas Sowell / Townhall.com), July 12, 2006.

* Haditha report to be made public, (North Country Times), July 11, 2006.

* The media's dereliction of duty, (Opinion Editorials), July 10, 2006.

* Marines face "day of pain" in killings probe (findings should be made public in probably a week), July 9, 2006.

* U.S. commander finishes Haditha review, (AP), July 8, 2006.

* Marine cover-up over Haditha deaths? (traitor media won't give up smearing U.S. troops), (MSNBC), July 8, 2006.

* Report: No cover-up of Haditha, (Washington Times), July 7, 2006.

* Report finds U.S. Marines failed to probe Haditha: CBS, (Reuters), July 7, 2006.

* The My Lai Lie, (Fred Barnes / The Weekly Standard), July 3, 2006.

* Iraq war changes game for Murtha: Anti-war stand puts him in unusual spot, (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review), July 2, 2006.

* Lynching the Marines, (Ralph Peters / RealClearPolitics), June 28, 2006.

* Hammurabi's denials raise more questions, (Sweetness & Light), June 23, 2006.

* Iraq rights group on Haditha denies rebel links, (Reuters), June 23, 2006.

* Reckless atrocity charges, (Washington Times), June 23, 2006.

* Former commander of Haditha Marines breaks his silence, (Hannity & Colmes), June 22, 2006.

* Why have Haditha families fought exhumation? (Sweetness & Light), June 21, 2006.

* Haditha: "no knowing cover-up", (MichelleMalkin.com), June 21, 2006.

* U.S. braced for Haditha effect, (BBC), June 20, 2006.

* Rush to judgment belies the Marines we know, (Kansas City Star / syndicated column), June 20, 2006.

* Wildly conflicting first reports of Haditha, (Sweetness & Light), June 20, 2006.

* Does the chairman of Hammurabi write poetry? Major Haditha source, (Sweetness & Light), June 19, 2006.

* Tim McGirk keeps changing his Haditha story, (Sweetness & Light), June 18, 2006.

* Haditha report to fault oversight (but no deliberate cover-up!), (Los Angeles Times), June 17, 2006.

* The "fog" in the New York Times Haditha investigation story, (Democracy Project), June 17, 2006.