US. congressman makes apology to Haditha marines

kinggovernor · 08-20-2006, 02:58 AM

US. congressman makes apology to Haditha marines
15 Aug 2006 18:11:47 GMT
Source: Reuters
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WASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - A U.S. lawmaker apologized on Tuesday to U.S. Marines under investigation in the deaths of two dozen Iraqi civilians in Haditha in a statement his office said spared him from a libel lawsuit.

Minnesota Republican Rep. John Kline, a retired Marine Corps colonel, issued a three-paragraph statement under a deal with lawyers for Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, one of the Marines under investigation.

Wuterich's lawyers filed a libel lawsuit against another congressman, Democratic Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, on Aug. 2 following his comments on the case.

"Some news outlets have promoted incomplete statements attributed to me that gave the false impression that I have concluded those involved committed unlawful acts," Kline said in the statement provided by his office.

"I am, of course, very concerned regarding any allegations surrounding misconduct by U.S. troops in Iraq. Such allegations must be taken seriously, but we should never rush to judgment before all the facts are known and the military criminal justice process is completed," Kline said.

Kline added, "I want to express my sincere apology" to the Marines in the unit that was in Haditha last Nov. 19.

Wuterich and several other Marines are suspected, but have not been charged, in the killing of two dozen unarmed civilians in Haditha, one of a series of incidents in which U.S. troops are suspected of killing Iraqi civilians.

Troy Young, Kline's spokesman, said the statement stemmed from an agreement avoiding a libel suit by Wuterich. Mark Zaid, a lawyer for Wuterich, said "we are completely satisfied" with Kline's statement.

Kline has been quoted as saying the allegations indicated the killings were "not an accident. This was direct fire by Marines at civilians." But Young said Kline "never accused these Marines of being guilty in this incident."

Murtha, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and leading Iraq war critic, said in May of the Haditha incident: "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."

Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the new top Marine general in U.S. Central Command, is expected to decide whether to bring criminal charges against any of the Marines under investigation.

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Thorgrim · 08-20-2006, 03:21 AM

You didn't provide your own opinion, which is required in any post

What is your opinion? You really think they are innocent?

No BS "oh lets wait until the trial and appeals are over years from now" I want a straight answer about what you think really happened

JaJae · 08-20-2006, 03:42 AM

Who cares whether or not you feel they're innocent or guilty. That's not the point of this. The point is a marine is claiming his innocence and is fed up with politicians and extremists and their jumping to conclusions to further their career and/or agenda. It's about time someone made a stand.

A crackmom on welfare with no job living off the government would be given the benefit of the doubt in a criminal case by liberals and extremists, but US Marines are guilty and lynched before the world to further agendas. It's sick how distorted the minds of some are.

Kytro · 08-20-2006, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Who cares whether or not you feel they're innocent or guilty. That's not the point of this. The point is a marine is claiming his innocence and is fed up with politicians and extremists and their jumping to conclusions to further their career and/or agenda. It's about time someone made a stand.

To be expected of politicains

Thorgrim · 08-20-2006, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Who cares whether or not you feel they're innocent or guilty. That's not the point of this. The point is a marine is claiming his innocence and is fed up with politicians and extremists and their jumping to conclusions to further their career and/or agenda. It's about time someone made a stand.

A crackmom on welfare with no job living off the government would be given the benefit of the doubt in a criminal case by liberals and extremists, but US Marines are guilty and lynched before the world to further agendas. It's sick how distorted the minds of some are.

They falsified reports, thats a fact

It's like watching the Rodney King video and going "oh the officers never hit him, not once" I don't remember anyone saying that...

Scrum · 08-20-2006, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by JaJae

A crackmom on welfare with no job living off the government would be given the benefit of the doubt in a criminal case by liberals and extremists, but US Marines are guilty and lynched before the world to further agendas.

Oh fucking please.

Thorgrim · 08-20-2006, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

Oh fucking please.

You're a serviceman lyncher with an extremely distorted view apparently, accept your caste

kinggovernor · 08-20-2006, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

You didn't provide your own opinion, which is required in any post

What is your opinion? You really think they are innocent?

No BS "oh lets wait until the trial and appeals are over years from now" I want a straight answer about what you think really happened

did they kill those people, yes. what it a fucked up situation yes. Did they do it intially, I don't think so.

Coornidated attacks are like getting jumped by a dozen people, no one has a 100% knowledge of what is happening now or even more what could happen. I came within half a trigger pull of shooting an elderly woman during an attack, meaning I already had her scoped out and had taken the slack out of the trigger. She was literally standing next to an expired terrorist that was shooting at us 1 minute ago, and she had a long rifle looking object in her hand. Its a good thing we had a good set of binos with us, otherwise should who have been wasted. That is the kind of shit that happens, it is very messy it is war.

But they may have murdered these people and if so, the death penalty awaits them

kinggovernor · 08-20-2006, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

You're a serviceman lyncher with an extremely distorted view apparently, accept your caste

no that would be you

motivez · 08-20-2006, 12:16 PM

Yeah, but from what I remember reading about Haditha, this isn't like you're out in the middle of a street and some shit is going down

This is, your friend gets killed, you're pissed, the next day you go to the town and go inside some houses and decide to kill 15 Iraqi's, and then cover it up

A false report was issued that said the Iraqi's died from a road side bomb, so it's not even under dispute whether or not they tried to 'cover up' what happened, as the investigation did find that the Marines were the ones who killed them.

They deserve the benefit of the doubt, but it's not looking good for them as it is.

Thorgrim · 08-20-2006, 12:29 PM

I don't think they deserve the marines should benefit of the doubt in the court of public opinion when the marines are proven liars

I think they murdered those people and the report will either be a cover up or show overwhelming evidence...

Because I'm a traitor? No

Because you have the entire Pentagon telling the press how guilty these guys are...have NO ONE stand up for them...you can't refuse to draw a conclusion from that

motivez · 08-20-2006, 12:44 PM

They still deserve the benefit of the doubt. They're innocent until proven guilty the same way people like Padilla should have been.. you can't expect fair treatment for everyone if you refuse to give it to citizens and soldiers.

Regardless of what they've done and no matter how much they've dishonored themselves and tarnished the reputation of the Marines, they deserve the protections of our legal system as much as the common criminal.

Thorgrim · 08-20-2006, 12:52 PM

That's why I said court of public opinion, not the legal court

I think sitting here, on this message board and going "oh we can't discuss this because there hasn't been a trial" (not that you in particular said that) is BS, if this were OJ we'd be talking about it everyday...we wouldn't sit here in silence and once briefly yell "INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, WAIT FOR THE VERDICT!"

JaJae · 08-20-2006, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

That's why I said court of public opinion, not the legal court

I think sitting here, on this message board and going "oh we can't discuss this because there hasn't been a trial" (not that you in particular said that) is BS, if this were OJ we'd be talking about it everyday...we wouldn't sit here in silence and once briefly yell "INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, WAIT FOR THE VERDICT!"

Nobody says you can't discuss it. But if you're a politician you should have the sense to not run to the country and lynch our servicement during a time of war. You can say "I think they're guilty of the charges." That's very different than our politicians telling the media and the world that "The people by the name of X, X, X murdered Iraqis."

Before you start that you better be damn sure of yourself or be prepared for a slander lawsuit.

And as a country we should give our men in uniform the same benefit of the doubt you would give any other criminal. It's amazing how the ultra left is all about innocent until proven guilty when it's a minority or some other criminal, but when it's our servicemen they're the first ones to lynch them. This agenda driven political views needs to end when it involves other people's lives.

Thorgrim · 08-20-2006, 02:30 PM

I don't know where you get that notion, you must live in a weird section of NJ...whenever I was in court I always assumed the defendant was guilty inside my head

I don't think I like the over-abundance of the term "lynching"

That's an American lynching (because he was Jewish)...what Murtha did was prepare the country for the report that will come out, to soften the blow, he did a great patriotic service

JaJae · 08-20-2006, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

what Murtha did was prepare the country for the report that will come out, to soften the blow, he did a great patriotic service

No, what Murtha did was call American marines criminals and told America they were guilty when it appears that may not have been the case. It's absolutely absurd beyond all reason that you would consider that patriotic and a service to this country.

George Bush: Saddam has WMDs ... Liar
Murtha: This marine murdered civilians ... patriotic service.

Thorgrim · 08-20-2006, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

No, what Murtha did was call American marines criminals and told America they were guilty when it appears that may not have been the case. It's absolutely absurd beyond all reason that you would consider that patriotic and a service to this country.

George Bush: Saddam has WMDs ... Liar
Murtha: This marine murdered civilians ... patriotic service.

But he did lie...

Iraq Survey Group - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I wonder, why are you so quick to say they are innocent yet so quick to judge Murtha guilty? For all you know Murtha saw a video tape of them doing it, who knows what evidence we've seen...all we know is that basically the entire Pentagon backed him up and no one oppposed him except his lawyer trying to gain any advantage he can so his client isn't shot by a firing squad

JaJae · 08-20-2006, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

But he did lie...

Iraq Survey Group - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I wonder, why are you so quick to say they are innocent yet so quick to judge Murtha guilty? For all you know Murtha saw a video tape of them doing it, who knows what evidence we've seen...all we know is that basically the entire Pentagon backed him up and no one oppposed him except his lawyer trying to gain any advantage he can so his client isn't shot by a firing squad

First of all I never claimed anyone was innocent. Stop trying to spin. I said it doesn't matter what people think. You keep trying to say this man who is filing this lawsuit against Murtha is a liar. Even if you think you can prove that, it doesn't make him a murderer.

Murtha is a politician. He did slander our soldiers by telling the world they were guilty of these crimes if they in fact didn't do it.

So if it's proven this man is innocent, Murtha is guilty of slander. It's as simple as that. You keep claiming to have been in the legal system, yet you sure do have a bit of trouble connecting the dots.

Thorgrim · 08-20-2006, 03:13 PM

I have no trouble connecting the dots...you just don't seem to grasp the terms

Murtha did not say "these men have been tried and found guilty in a court of law"

When evidence came out (before the trial) of the overwhelming guilt of McVeigh, the media was not charged with slander...they were reporting the obvious facts of the case that were being told to them...exactly what Murtha was doing

If all the marines are shown to be completely innocent, then yes, that is slander...however that is a precondition that has not yet been met, and like I've said our military is behind Murtha

He did slander our soldiers

untrue

Again, Murtha was citing a report he read, and said what it would show...NO ONE CONTRADICTED HIS INTERPRETATION, not ANYONE in the pentagon, investigators office, white house, etc

Why? Because he was right, I think any objective person can say that with 99% assurance...you are giving them way too much credit in the court of public opinion