Haditha killings

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Haditha is located in Iraq
Haditha
Haditha
Location of Haditha in Iraq

The Haditha killings (also called the Haditha incident or the Haditha massacre) refers to the incident where 24 Iraqi men, women and children were killed on November 19, 2005 in Haditha, a city in the western Iraq province of Al Anbar. At least 15 of those killed were noncombatant civilians, and the 24 were killed by a group of United States Marines. It has been alleged that the killings were retribution for the attack on a convoy of United States Marines with an improvised explosive device that killed Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas.[1]

An initial Marine Corps communique reported that 15 civilians were killed by the bomb's blast and eight insurgents were subsequently killed when the Marines returned fire against those attacking the convoy. However, other evidence uncovered by the media contradicted the Marines' account.[2] A Time magazine reporter's questions prompted the U.S. military to open an investigation into the incident. The investigation claimed it found evidence that "supports accusations that U.S. Marines deliberately shot civilians, including unarmed women and children", according to an anonymous Pentagon official.[3] On December 21, 2006, eight Marines from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines were charged in connection with the incident.[4][5] As of June, 2008, charges against seven of the eight Marines had been dropped. [6]

In the course of the Article 32 hearings, conflicting testimony has been presented, some of it rebutting the media-cited case made by accusers and prosecutors of the Marines. The investigating officer has told the prosecution so far, "The account you want me to believe does not support unpremeditated murder." He conceded that the central issue was who is to be believed and that he was disinclined to recommend a trial when he thought it was unlikely any Iraqi would agree to come to the U.S. to testify. [7] On 9 August, LtGen James Mattis dropped the charges against Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt,and Lance Cpl Travis Chambers who had been accused of murder, and against Capt. Randy Stone, accused of failing to investigate the incident.[8] On 23 August, the investigating officer recommended charges against Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum be dropped as well[9] but on October 19th, his commanding officer decided the charges should be lowered to involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault.[10]

On October 3, 2007, the Article 32 hearing investigating officer recommended that Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich be tried for negligent homicide in deaths of two women and five children, and that charges of murder be dropped.[11]

As of June 17, 2008, six defendants had their cases dropped and one was found not guilty. The exception is SSgt. Wuterich, whose trial date has been postponed.[12] At least three officers have been officially reprimanded for failing to properly initially report and investigate the killings.[13]

Contents

[edit] Events

[edit] Background

Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, U.S. military forces have been stationed in and around Haditha to control the Haditha Dam, a major hydroelectric installation. The area had seen several clashes between U.S. forces and insurgent groups since the beginning of the Iraq war with many fatalities on both sides.[14][15][16]

A contemporary Time magazine poll reported that 85% of Iraq's Sunnis opposed coalition forces, as compared to 65% of Iraqis overall.[17]

Conditions in Haditha itself were known to have been deteriorating under militant rule, and attacks on U.S. troops as well as executions of suspected informants were common.[18]

[edit] The roadside bombing

On November 19, 2005 Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas was killed in a 7:15AM roadside bombing and two other Marines were wounded.

[edit] Killings and immediate aftermath

Deaths & injuries of Iraqis in Haditha
House #1 -- 7 killed, 2 injured (but survived), 2 escaped
1. Abdul Hamid Hassan Ali, 76 -- grandfather, father and husband. Died with nine rounds in the chest and abdomen.
2. Khamisa Tuma Ali, 66 -- wife of Abdul Hamid Hassan Ali
3. Rashid Abdul Hamid, 30.
4. Walid Abdul Hamid Hassan, 35.
5. Jahid Abdul Hamid Hassan, middle-aged man.
6. Asma Salman Rasif, 32.
7. Abdullah Walid, 4.
Injured: Iman, 8, and Abdul Rahman, 5.
Escaped: Daughter-in-law, Hibbah, escaped with 2-month-old Asia
House #2 -- 8 killed, 1 survivor: Shot at close range and attacked with grenades
8. Younis Salim Khafif, 43 -- husband of Aeda Yasin Ahmed, father.
9. Aeda Yasin Ahmed, 41 -- wife of Younis Salim Khafif, killed trying to shield her youngest daughter Aisha.
10. Muhammad Younis Salim, 8 -- son.
11. Noor Younis Salim, 14 -- daughter.
12. Sabaa Younis Salim, 10 -- daughter.
13. Zainab Younis Salim, 5 -- daughter.
14. Aisha Younis Salim, 3 -- daughter.
15. A 1-year-old girl staying with the family.
Survived: Safa Younis Salim, 13.
House #3 -- 4 brothers killed
16. Jamal Ahmed, 41.
17. Marwan Ahmed, 28.
18. Qahtan Ahmed, 24.
19. Chasib Ahmed, 27.
Taxi -- 5 killed: Passengers were students (طالبان) at the Technical Institute in Saqlawiyah
20. Ahmed Khidher, taxi driver.
21. Akram Hamid Flayeh.
22. Khalid Ayada al-Zawi.
23. Wajdi Ayada al-Zawi.
24. Mohammed Battal Mahmoud.
Source: United for Peace and Justice[19]

Allegedly, five Iraqi men, a taxi driver and four teenagers, were ordered out of their car and shot dead in the street principally by Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich. After their deaths, Lt. William T. Kallop, according to his statements to investigators, arrived on the scene. Kallop and others report receiving small-arms fire, which they attributed to a nearby house. Kallop gave the order "to take the house."[20] Nineteen of those killed were in three adjacent houses which U.S. Marines entered, throwing in grenades and shooting with automatic rifles.[21] According to Kallop,

"The Marines cleared it the way they had been trained to clear it, which is frags first. … It was clear just by the looks of the room that frags went in and then the house was prepped and sprayed like with a machine gun and then they went in. And by the looks of it, they just . . . they went in, cleared the room, everybody was down."[20]

On November 20, 2005 a Marine press release from Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi reported the deaths of a U.S. marine and 15 civilians. It said that the death of the civilians was a consequence of a roadside bomb and Iraqi insurgents. The initial U.S. military statement read:

"A US marine and 15 civilians were killed yesterday from the blast of a roadside bomb in Haditha. Immediately following the bombing, gunmen attacked the convoy with small arms fire. Iraqi army soldiers and marines returned fire, killing eight insurgents and wounding another."[22][2]

Eman Waleed, a nine-year-old child who witnessed the incident, described the US marines entering their house. She said:

"I couldn't see their faces very well - only their guns sticking in to the doorway. I watched them shoot my grandfather, first in the chest and then in the head. Then they killed my granny"[2]

The director of the local hospital in Haditha, Dr Wahid, said that the 24 bodies were brought in two American humvees [2] to the hospital around midnight on November 19th. While the Marines claim that the victims had been killed by shrapnel from the roadside bomb and that the men "were saboteurs", Dr Wahid said that there were "no organs slashed by shrapnel in any of the bodies". He further claimed that it appeared that "the victims were shot in the head and chest from close range."[2]

Soon after the killings, the mayor of Haditha, Emad Jawad Hamza, led an angry delegation of elders up to the Haditha Dam Marine base allegedly complaining to the base captain.[2]

The Marine Corps paid $38,000 to the families of 15 of the dead civilians.[23]

[edit] Evidence about the killings

Video shot by the co-founder of the Hammurabi Human Rights Group, Taher Thabet, which instigated Tim McGirk's original Time magazine article [3], and cellphone photos reportedly taken by one of the Marines[24] the day after the killings have been put forth as evidence that the killings were methodical and without resistance.[2][25] In particular, the video shot by Thabet shows the bodies of the children and women with gunshot wounds, bullet holes in the interior walls of the house, and bloodstains on the floor. Insufficient evidence has come to light to account for insurgents hiding in the houses that first came under attack.

the only AK-47 that was discovered that day—apparently a household defensive weapon, of the type that is legal and common in Iraq. No one has claimed that the rifle had been fired.--William Langewiesche in Rules of Engagement, Vanity Fair, November 2006

McGirk's first article on this story stated that the Hammurabi Human Rights Group had "coordinated with Human Rights Watch". A correction was issued when no official links or ties could be confirmed.[2] . Thabet shot video of AQ IED attacks which later were posted on YouTube. The Hammurabi Human Rights Group was founded by Abdul Rahman al-Mashandani, who told Reuters that http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/GEO237696.htm] Hadithi, from Anbar province, was one of six board members, and 10 other administrative staff worked in 14 local offices across Iraq. McGirk, who is based in Jerusalem, declined to testify at the hearings.[26]

[edit] Legal proceedings

The intentional killing of noncombatants is prohibited by modern laws of war derived from the UN Charter, the Hague Conventions and the Geneva Conventions, and constitutes a war crime. The Marines and officers are subject to possible courts martial under American military law, the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

[edit] Investigations

On February 14, 2006, a preliminary investigation was ordered by Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, after video evidence was released, which conflicted with the initial U.S. report. On March 9, a criminal investigation was launched, led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, to determine if the troops deliberately targeted Iraqi civilians.[22]

On March 19, 2006, U.S. military officials confirmed that contrary to the initial report, U.S. marines, not Iraqi insurgents, accidentally killed 15 civilians.

Several official investigations began. The first, under United States Army Maj. Gen. Eldon Bargewell, looked into how the incident was reported through the chain of command. A second investigation, headed by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, looked into the criminal aspects of the incident. [27] A third investigation was launched by the Iraqi government. The conduct of Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, the squad leader, came under scrutiny.

On June 2, 2006, news outlets reported that 24 Iraqis had been killed, none as a result of the bomb explosion.[28] This news anticipated the results of the U.S. military investigation, which found that the 24 unarmed Iraqis—including children as young as two years old and women[29]—were killed by 12 members of Kilo Company in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.[30]

The Times published the result of the first investigation, under U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Eldon Bargewell, along with interviews with eye witnesses. It noted that the "official investigation has already resulted in the removal of Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani, the commanding officer, and Captain Luke McConnell and Captain James Kimber, two company commanders, from their duties. Bargewell's investigation found that:

"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. These comments had the potential to desensitize the Marines to concern for the Iraqi populace and portray them all as the enemy even if they are noncombatants."[31]

On June 1, 2006, the Associated Press also reported that the Iraqi government decided to launch its own probe into the alleged killing of 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians by U.S. Marines in the previous year. Adnan al-Kazimi, an adviser to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, said the decision was made during a Cabinet meeting. The probe was to be carried out by a special committee made up of the Justice and Human Rights ministries, along with security officials.

The U.S. Marines investigation has avoided public pronouncements. Nevertheless, in June 17, 2006, the New York Times reported that "Investigators have also concluded that most of the victims in three houses died from well-aimed rifle shots, not shrapnel or random fire, according to military officials familiar with the initial findings."[32] Many of those killed have wounds from close-range fire, and their death certificates record "well-aimed shots to the head and chest" as the cause of death.[32]

[edit] Charges leveled

On December 21, 2006, the U.S. military charged eight Marines in connection with the Haditha incident.[5] Four of the eight, Frank Wuterich, Sanick de la Cruz, Justin Sharratt and Stephen Tatum were accused of unpremeditated murder.[33] Tatum was further charged with negligent homicide and assault, while de la Cruz was also charged with making a false statement. Squad leader Frank Wuterich was charged with 12 counts of unpremeditated murder against individuals and one count of the murder of six people "while engaged in an act inherently dangerous to others."[34] The battalion commander, Jeffrey Chessani, was charged with one count of violating a lawful order and two counts of dereliction of duty. First Lieutenant Andrew Grayson was charged with obstruction of justice, dereliction of duty, and making a false statement, while Captain Randy Stone and Captain Lucas McConnell were charged with dereliction of duty. Stone also faced an additional count of violating a lawful order.[33] All charges against Stone were later dropped.[35] Grayson was acquitted on all counts.[36]

[edit] Pre-trial hearings

Testimony in an Article 32 investigation for Capt. Randy W. Stone, equivalent to a civilian grand jury proceeding, began on May 8, 2007. At the hearing, Marine Lt. William Kallop, the platoon commander who ordered Marines to "clear" four houses, testified that the rules of engagement were followed and that no mistakes had been made. He stated that a Marine on the scene had reported seeing a suspected insurgent in the vicinity. Kallop also believed that small arms fire was being directed from the first house attacked by the Marines.[37]

On May 9, Sergeant Sanick Dela Cruz, who received immunity in return for testimony, testified that he watched Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich shoot five Iraqis who were attempting to surrender. Cruz further testified that both he and Wuterich fired into the bodies of the five after they were dead, and that he had urinated on one of the dead Iraqis.[38][39]

No weapons were found in the white taxi.[40]

The US military has attempted to subpoena material from a 60 Minutes interview with Staff Sergeant Wuterich, specifically material where Wuterich admits to ordering his men to "shoot first and ask questions later." [41] The interview includes Wuterich insisting he perceived a threat from house 1 but saw no gun fire from that house and that he saw no insurgent enter that house. He suggests he saw the dead family in house 1 and proceeded to assault house 2 based on a guess that the gunman may have entered that house. The Marines knocked on the door of house 2 and when someone came to answer they fired through the door killing what they saw to be an unarmed man. They then assaulted the house and killed the family inside. Wuterich believes now that there was probably no threat to begin with. [42]

The Article 32 investigation recommended Capt. Randy W. Stone's criminal charge be dismissed, but that he face a new lesser charge that would be handled administratively for failing to investigate the incident properly.[43] The charges against Stone were dropped on August 9th.[8]

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani was recommended to face court-martial for having "failed to thoroughly and accurately report and investigate a combat action that clearly needed scrutiny."[44] On June 17, 2008 Military Judge Colonel Steven Folsom dismissed all charges against Lt Colonel Jeffrey Chessani on the grounds that General James Mattis, who approved the filing of charges against Chessani, was improperly influenced by an investigator probing the incident. The ruling was without prejudice, which allows the prosecution to refile.[45]

Lt. Col. Paul Ware, the Inspecting Officer for several of the enlisted Marines, recommended on July 11, 2007 that LCpl. Justin Sharratt be cleared of these charges. Ware stated, "[t]he government version is unsupported by independent evidence... To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary."[46] The charges against Sharratt were dropped on August 9th.[8]

Article 32 hearings for LCpl. Stephen Tatum began July 16, and for SSgt. Frank Wuterich begins in August.[47] The investigating officer recommended charges be dropped against Tatum.[9]

[edit] Charges dropped

On April 17, 2007, the Marine Corps dropped all charges against Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz in exchange for his testimony. Seven other Marines involved in the incident have also been granted immunity.[48]

On August 9, 2007, all charges against Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt and Capt. Randy Stone were dropped.[35] On October 19th, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt's commanding officer decided the charges should be lowered to involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault.[10]

On September 18, 2007, all charges against Captain Lucas McConnell were dropped in exchange for immunity and his cooperation with the investigation.[49]

On March 28, 2008, all charges against LCpl. Stephen Tatum were dropped.[50]

On June 17, 2008, all charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani were dismissed by the military judge citing unlawful command influence.[12] The Marine Corps has appealed that ruling.[51]

[edit] Reaction

According to Sidney Blumenthal in a Salon Magazine article,

"The coverup at Haditha reportedly began instantly. However, an Iraqi journalism student shot a video the day after of the bloodstained and bullet-riddled houses where the massacre had occurred. That video made its way to an Iraqi human rights group and finally to Tim McGirk, a correspondent from Time magazine. When Time made its first queries, the Marine spokesman, Capt. Jeffrey S. Pool, who had issued the first statement on Haditha as an action against terrorists months earlier, told reporters that they were falling for al-Qaida propaganda. 'I cannot believe you're buying any of this,' [52] he wrote in an e-mail. Nonetheless, word reached Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the second-highest-ranking U.S. military officer in Iraq, that there had been no investigation and he ordered one immediately."

According to the Los Angeles Times, military and congressional sources distinguished between two squads: the original Marine squad involved in the explosion and shootings, and a Marine intelligence squad that took photos shortly after the shootings. According to LA Times sources, no investigation occurred until after a March 2006 Time magazine story alleging a massacre, even though the intelligence squad's photos were inconsistent with the Marine squad's report of a firefight. According to the Time story, military officials blamed the delay of the investigation on the Marine squad's efforts to cover up the events:

"Military officials say they believe the delay in beginning the investigation was a result of the squad's initial efforts to cover up what happened."

However, both military and congressional sources said that the "intelligence team" that took photos after the firefight did not appear to participate in any improper action:

"...[m]ilitary and congressional sources said there was no indication that the members of the intelligence team did anything improper or delayed reporting their findings."

The same LA Times story quoted Republican Representative John Kline of Minnesota as follows:

"There is no question that the Marines involved, those doing the shooting, they were busy in lying about it and covering it up — there is no question about it. But I am confident, as soon as the command learned there might be some truth to this, they started to pursue it vigorously. I don't have any reason now to think there was any foot dragging."[25]

In June 2006, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned the killings and called for a swift investigation, saying: "The crime and misery of Haditha ... is a terrible crime where women and children were eliminated."[53]

John Dickerson and Dahlia Lithwick of Slate suggested that the Iraqis should be able to put the Marines on trial even though 85% of Iraqi Sunnis opposed coalition forces:[17]

"Let's let the Iraqis put the Americans alleged to have committed these crimes on trial. The United States wants to encourage the fledgling Iraqi institution of democracy, right? That's why we wanted Saddam tried in Iraq, and through the Iraqi judicial system--both to build up its legitimacy and to give Iraqis the sense of ownership that comes with having control over the legal process. Why, then, shouldn't we also turn over our own soldiers who were involved in either the Haditha massacre or any of the other possible massacres for trial under the Iraqi justice system?"[54]

News website NewsMax observed after the initial reporting:

"In an April report that pre-dates the uproar over the Haditha allegations, a Marine press release describes the Iraqi town as 'a hotbed of insurgent activity less than a year ago.' That would be about the time of the so-called Marine massacre. Plainly, not all the residents of this terrorist hotbed were as innocent as Marine media critics are now claiming." [55]

[edit] Comments by Representative Murtha

On May 17, 2006, Democratic Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a retired Marine colonel and critic of the war, stated at a news conference that an internal investigation had confirmed the story.[56][57][58] He was quoted as saying:

"There was no firefight, there was no IED (improvised explosive device) that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."[59]

On August 2, 2006, Marine Corps staff sergeant Frank D. Wuterich, who led the accused squad, filed suit for libel and invasion of privacy. The lawsuit is currently pending. The filing states Murtha "tarnished the Marine's reputation by telling news organizations in May that the Marine unit cracked after a roadside bomb killed one of its members and that the troops 'killed innocent civilians in cold blood.' Murtha also said repeatedly that the incident was 'covered up.' "[60] As of June 2008, Wuterich is charged with nine counts of manslaughter.

On September 25, 2008 former Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, one of the Marines exonerated in the hearings, filed a slander suit against Rep. Murtha. The lawsuit states that "Sharratt, in being labeled repeatedly by Murtha as a 'cold-blooded murderer,' and by Murtha outrageously claiming that the Haditha incident was comparable to the infamous (My Lai) massacre of Vietnam, has suffered permanent, irreversible damage to his reputation." [61]

[edit] Comparisons with My Lai Massacre and other incidents

Many news reports have compared the Haditha Killings to the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War, with some commentators describing it as "Bush's My Lai,"[62][63] or "Iraq's My Lai."[64] Very often, the killings have been described as part of a wider pattern of perceived human rights abuses committed by coalition forces in Iraq. As a Spiegel reporter notes in an interview with Michael Sallah, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his investigation of atrocities committed by the Tiger Force unit in Vietnam [65], "you would have difficulties finding a single newspaper in Germany, or elsewhere in Europe, that does not deal with My Lai, Abu Ghraib, and Haditha in the same commentary."[66] It is suggested that the Haditha killings may, like the My Lai Massacre, result in further reduction of American public support for the conflict.[63] Some reject that comparison, including Christopher Hitchens, who has written that "all the glib talk about My Lai is so much propaganda and hot air."[67] The massacre has also been compared to recent human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly the Shinwar Massacre.

The most frequent parallel drawn between the execution of 504 Vietnamese villagers at My Lai and the two dozen Iraqis killed in Haditha is the military instinct to cover-up and whitewash civilian deaths. Martin Shaw pointed out on the analysis website OpenDemocracy [4], that of the 22 officers put on trial for the My Lai massacre, all were acquitted except for Lieutenant William Calley, who served only three and a half years of his life sentence. Professor Shaw observed that "in the few cases in which soldiers have been accused over atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan, convictions have been few and far between."

Comparisons have also been made to the case of Ilario Pantano, who was initially charged with premeditated murder in Iraq but this was dropped after it was determined there was no credible evidence or testimony. Pantano himself has spoken out in defense of the "Haditha Marines," objecting to the "rush to judgement." [68]

When interviewed by the The Nation, a group of marines who had served extensively in Iraq spoke as follows about Iraqi civilian deaths:

“ Some participated in such killings; others treated or investigated civilian casualties after the fact. Many also heard such stories, in detail, from members of their unit. The soldiers, sailors and marines emphasized that not all troops took part in indiscriminate killings. Many said that these acts were perpetrated by a minority. But they nevertheless described such acts as common and said they often go unreported - and almost always go unpunished.[69] ”

[edit] Allegations of investigative failures

Family, friends, defense lawyers and conservative talk radio host Michael Savage have openly criticized the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) for its role in this case. They highlight the recent string of immunities granted as a sign of possible NCIS bungling.[70] Others have lambasted the NCIS for being slow to act.[citation needed]

[edit] Film

The 2007 film Battle for Haditha was based on the incident.

[edit] See also

[edit] Incidents

Iraq War portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ U.S. military mourns 'tragic' Haditha deaths, CNN. Accessed June 1, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g McGirk, Tim. Collateral Damage or Civilian Massacre in Haditha?, Time. Accessed June 1, 2006.
  3. ^ "Evidence suggests Haditha killings deliberate: Pentagon source". Associated Press. 2 August 2006. http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/08/02/haditha-investigation.html. 
  4. ^ "Marines charged in Iraqi civilian deaths", Associated Press, December 21, 2006.
  5. ^ a b U.S. marine faces 13 Haditha murder charges, CBC. Accessed December 21, 2006.
  6. ^ Whitcomb, Dan (2008-06-18). "Charges dropped against Marine in Haditha case". Reuters. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080617/us_nm/usa_iraq_haditha_dc. Retrieved on 2008-06-19. 
  7. ^ "Hearing officer challenges Haditha prosecution". North County Times. June 15, 2007. http://nctimes.com/articles/2007/06/16/news/top_stories/1_01_090_12_00.txt. 
  8. ^ a b c "General drops charges for two Marines in Haditha shootings". North County Times. August 9, 2007. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/09/news/breaking/1_00_908_7_07.txt. 
  9. ^ a b "Hearing officer recommends charges be dropped in Haditha case". North County Times. August 23, 2007. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/23/news/top_stories/1_00_118_23_07.txt. 
  10. ^ a b Carter, Chelsea J. (October 19, 2007). "Courts-Martial for 2 in Haditha Deaths". Associated Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hNUaTPsL6OBHarjCDUGxJ0EYsm9AD8SCLMR00. 
  11. ^ Mark Walker, Officer: Drop murder charges against Haditha Marine, North County Times, October 3, 2007.
  12. ^ a b "MILITARY: Charges against Haditha battalion commander dropped". North County Times. June 17, 2008. http://nctimes.com/articles/2008/06/17/military/zeca5018258ba2e208825746b005ae619.txt. 
  13. ^ Template:Cite web +
  14. ^ "Battles rage across Saddam heartland where 70 Iraqis are killed by US forces," The Independent, June 14, 2003
  15. ^ "Six snipers among seven Marines killed in Iraq" CNN August 2, 2005
  16. ^ "14 more Marines from Ohio unit die in Iraq," AP August 4, 2005
  17. ^ a b Poll: What Do Iraqis Want?, TIME, December 12, 2005.
  18. ^ Omer Mahdhi and Rory Carroll, "Under US noses, brutal insurgents rule Sunni citadel," Guardian UK, 22 August, 2005
  19. ^ "Victims of the Haditha Massacre". UnitedforPeace.org. http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3283. Retrieved on 2007-11-18. 
  20. ^ a b Josh White, "Marine Officer Receives Immunity in Haditha Killings Case," Washington Post, April 20, 2007.
  21. ^ "They entered the house as a hostile environment. The rules of engagement permitted them to proceed their entry with hand grenades exploding and going in shooting and that’s exactly what happened." Neal Puckett (Wuterich's defense attorney), "Haditha defense lawyer says killings were legal," CNN's "American Morning," Monday June 12, 2006.
  22. ^ a b BBC News "Haditha: Massacre and cover-up?"
  23. ^ Eric Schmitt and David S. Cloud, "General finds senior Marines lax in Haditha killings probe," New York Times News Service, July 8, 2006.
  24. ^ Ghosh, Aparisim, "Picking up the Pieces in Haditha,", Time online. Accessed May 30, 2006
  25. ^ a b Perry, Tony and Julian E. Barnes, "Photos Indicate Civilians Slain Execution-Style," Los Angeles Times, May 27, 2006.
  26. ^ "Request for generals at next Haditha hearing denied," North County Times, May 22, 2007.
  27. ^ Perry, Tony. "House to Look Into Probe of Pendleton Marines,, Los Angeles Times. Accessed May 20, 2006.
  28. ^ Poole, Oliver, "'Worst war crime' committed by US in Iraq,", Telegraph.co.uk. Accessed May 27, 2006.
  29. ^ "Death certificates describe in horrific detail how Haditha civilians were killed,", CNN. Accessed June 1, 2006.
  30. ^ "Pentagon sources: Civilians likely killed without provocation," CNN. Accessed May 27, 2006.
  31. ^ "'Simple Failures' and 'Disastrous Results'," Excerpts from Army Maj. Gen. Eldon A. Bargewell's report, Washington Post, April 21, 2007
  32. ^ a b Broder, John M., "Contradictions Cloud Inquiry Into 24 Iraqi Deaths," New York Times, June 17 2006.
  33. ^ a b "8 Marines face charges in Haditha killings," CNN. Accessed December 22, 2006
  34. ^ "U.S. Marines charged with murder in Haditha," Reuters AlterNet. Accessed December 22, 2006.
  35. ^ a b Whitcomb, Dan (August 9, 2007). "Charges dropped against 2 Marines in Haditha case". Yahoo. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070809/us_nm/usa_marine_haditha_dc. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. 
  36. ^ "Marine Is Acquitted in Iraq Killings," New York Times, June 5, 2008
  37. ^ Mark Walker, "Officer testifies Marines did nothing wrong at Haditha," North County Times, May 8, 2007.
  38. ^ Mark Oliver and agencies, "Haditha marine 'watched superior kill surrendering civilians'," Guardian Unlimited, May 10, 2007.
  39. ^ "Marine 'witnessed' Haditha killings," Al Jazeera, May 10, 2007.
  40. ^ "Members of an explosive ordnance disposal team that was summoned to the scene scoured the taxi and found no weapons or evidence of bomb-making materials, the defense official said." "Officials: No Support for Marines Claims in Haditha Probe," Associated Press, January 06, 2007.
  41. ^ "Military Subpoenas CBS Haditha Video , Prosecutors: Unaired "60 Minutes" Footage Has Marine's Admission Of Crimes In Iraq Massacre," CBS News.
  42. ^ "The Killings In Haditha, Charged Marine Tells 60 Minutes He's Sorry Iraqi Civilians Were Killed, But Insists He Made Right Decision," CBS News.]
  43. ^ "Lesser Charge Recommended Against Marine," Associated Press, June 20, 2007
  44. ^ Mark Walker, "Hearing officer: Haditha commander should be court-martialed," North County Times, July 11, 2007.
  45. ^ "Marine Cleared In Haditha Massacre". CBS News. 2008-07-17. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/17/iraq/main4185854.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-06-18. 
  46. ^ Thomas Watkins, "Officer Advises Against Trial for Marine," Associated Press, July 11, 2007.
  47. ^ Alex Roth and Rick Rogers, "Evidence against Marines called weak," San Diego Union Tribune, July 12, 2007.
  48. ^ "7 Marines granted immunity in Haditha killings". Associated Press. April 20, 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18237072/. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. 
  49. ^ "U.S. officer charges dismissed in Haditha killings," Reuters.]
  50. ^ "[1]"
  51. ^ "MILITARY: Marine Corps appealing dismissal ruling for Chessani". North County Times. June 18, 2008. http://nctimes.com/articles/2008/06/18/military/zcbf483709c591cef8825746d00001c81.txt. 
  52. ^ "George Bush Sr. asked retired general to replace Rumsfeld," Sidney Blumenthal, Salon, June 8, 2006
  53. ^ "Maliki: Haditha a terrible crime," Al Jazeera, June 4, 2006.
  54. ^ John Dickerson and Dahlia Lithwick, "Home Court Advantage," Slate, June 4, 2006.
  55. ^ Rush to Judgment Against Haditha Marines, NewsMax, May 27, 2006.
  56. ^ Miklaszewski, Jim; Viqueira, Mike (May 17, 2006). "Lawmaker: Marines killed Iraqis ‘in cold blood’". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12838343. Retrieved on 2007-08-15. 
  57. ^ Bowman, Tom. "Pentagon Investigates Alleged Massacre in Iraq," All Things Considered, National Public Radio Accessed May 19, 2006.
  58. ^ Goldenberg, Suzanne. "Marines may face trial over Iraq massacre," The Guardian. Accessed May 27, 2006.
  59. ^ CNN News, "Lawmaker says Marines killed Iraqis 'in cold blood,'"
  60. ^ Josh White "Marine Names Murtha in Defamation Suit" Washington Post August 2, 2006
  61. ^ Pa. Marine sues Rep. Murtha over Haditha comments
  62. ^ "Bush's My Lai," Robert Parry, consortiumnews.com, May 30, 2006
  63. ^ a b "Haditha Massacre: Iraq's Mai Lai," Al Jazeera, May 29, 2006
  64. ^ "Haditha Killings Recall Vietnam's My Lai," Washington Post, June 2, 2006
  65. ^ "2004 Pulitzer Prize Winners — Investigative Reporting," The Pulitzer Prizes. Accessed November 27, 2006.
  66. ^ (German) ""In Vietnam war es genauso," Spiegel Online, Accessed June 5, 2006
  67. ^ "Why Haditha Is Not My Lai," Christopher Hitchens, Slate, June 5, 2006
  68. ^ "Mr. Murtha's Rush to Judgment," Ilario Pantano, Washington Post, May 28, 2006
  69. ^ "The Other War: Iraq Vets Bear Witness."
  70. ^ Walker, Mark (April 20, 2007). "Immunity grants may signal problems with Haditha prosecution". North County Times. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/04/21/news/top_stories/1_02_204_20_07.txt. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. 

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