Iraqi Girl Tells Of Massacre By US Marines

An Iraqi schoolgirl, ten year old Imam Walid, has revealed to the media how she lost seven members of her family at the hands of 'screaming' US Marines, following the death of one of their colleagues by IED in Haditha, Western Iraq.



Once again, a shadow is cast over the Coalition and its forces. This latest sorry episode from Iraq will no doubt fuel the Insurgency further, making the work of the US Marines and other forces of the Coalition harder still.

In traditional style, the Pentagon first denied that their troops were responsible for the deaths of the civillians, and instead tried to once again bluff the media by saying that the roadside bomb had killed the civillians. However, in the light of videos appearing that actually show bullet holes consistant with automatic rifle fire, they have confirmed that the civilians were shot dead. A criminal investigation is underway.

This kind of brutal killing of innocent civilians shames the Coalition troops who place their lives on the line every day on the streets of Iraq. Such acts are proven to be an invaluable recruiting tool to the militias and to the terrorists. Unfortunately though, unless consistant and heavy media pressure is placed on the Pentagon, it is feared - indeed expected - that this investigation will amount to nothing, and the feelings of injustice will fan the flames further.

[edit on 3/30/06 by FredT]

Good find.

Things like this do happen in war. Which is why war is bad, and why we have Geneva Conventions. The US however is on record as disrespecting and disregarding the Geneva Conventions at an official level. I certainly hope the grunts aren't scapegoated for getting with the program.


.

This is all over ITN as we speak... They are making a lot of fuss over this. And rightly so. Things like this cannot be 'forgotten'.

Here's the ATSNN Story that talks about the investigation into this event in Haditha.

I certainly hope they find the truth and someone is held accountable if it is found to be true.

Unfortunately, I think alot more of this is happening than what we think. I think we need to get our troops out of there. We are slowly getting sucked into the dirty side of the war. We've done our part. Let the Islamists sort it out. It is their country. At first, I was for the war, after all, I'm a Desert Storm vet. But the more I see, the more I think that President Bush has alternative motives. What are we doing building bases there. I'd like to see the Iraqis come to the US and try to build a base. We need to worry about what's going on right here in the US, right under our noses. What makes us so Holy that we have the right to tell other countries how to rule their people, especially a country that doesn't border ours. We didn't find WMD's so let's get out of there, before our troops get trapped over there. It's obviously not helping the oil prices any.

Wow, there are certainly no made up minds here, no sir, not here.
This just once again shows how little it takes for people to believe something true as long as its what they want to hear. I’d be surprised if any “eyewitness report” would be discounted by certain people on here as long as it had something negative to say about the US military.

Originally posted by WestPoint23
Wow, there are certainly no made up minds here, no sir, not here.

This just once again shows how little it takes for people to believe something true as long as its what they want to hear. I’d be surprised if any “eyewitness report” would be discounted by certain people on here as long as it had something negative to say about the US military.

Well, if the military didn't have a history of just this type of action, I'm sure it wouldn't be taken as seriously. However, since the US military is guilty of many horrible acts against humanity, I'm more inclined to believe this witness than the military.

Originally posted by WestPoint23
Wow, there are certainly no made up minds here, no sir, not here.
This just once again shows how little it takes for people to believe something true as long as its what they want to hear. I’d be surprised if any “eyewitness report” would be discounted by certain people on here as long as it had something negative to say about the US military.

LOL

Unfortunately WestPoint, you are not understanding: there is MORE than just an eyewitness account: they are showing pictures on ITN of rooms covered with blood spatterings caused by exit wounds, showing doors shot open, with the bullet holes consistant with a burst from a rifle. You are hinting at defending something that is seeming less defendable as time goes on.

And, as it has already been pointed out, if there weren't so many of these incidents taking place, people would be a little less ready to asssume the worst.

[edit on 30-3-2006 by Daystar]

Originally posted by Daystar

Unfortunately WestPoint, you are not understanding: there is MORE than just an eyewitness account: they are showing pictures on ITN of rooms covered with blood spatterings caused by exit wounds, showing doors shot open, with the bullet holes consistant with a burst from a rifle. You are hinting at defending something that is seeming less defendable as time goes on.

Intersting that it would take ITN so long too carry the story since it has been known for weeks. Must be a slow news day; so it is time to start the propganda machine running.

I think ITN are making a bigger song and dance than most other agencies because of their guy Ali Hamdani, a video diarist who reports reguarly to them. He got an exclusive interview with Imam Walid.

While not completely disputing the story told by the little girl.

Not all battlezone aftermaths are what they seem.
Forgive me if I don;t have all the details, but these are the basics

A friend of mine had just talked to one of his army buddies.
This guy had served in Bosnia, and had just finished a tour in Iraq.

It was an ambush, and his buddy's group was probably outnumbered.
They think they killed quite a few of the people who were firing upon them.
But they left the area, after the major portion of the shooting had died down.

I think they were supposed to stay, to make a report, but they left for a short period of time to gather more manpower. Upon returning, they found locals, placing childrens clothing, shoes, etc...all around the area of the ambush.

Changing the whole complexion of the aftermath. Now it looked as if an elementary school had been raided..

These stories really need to be sorted out, and not automatically believed.





[edit on 30-3-2006 by spacedoubt]

Originally posted by Daystar
I think ITN are making a bigger song and dance than most other agencies because of their guy Ali Hamdani, a video diarist who reports reguarly to them. He got an exclusive interview with Imam Walid.

Is that the Journalist Student, who claimed to have taken the video?

I can see their making a big deal out of it if it was there reporter, but so late after the event???? Come on who do they think they are kidding? I still have a feeling this so called video could have been a set up for propaganda purposes.

I Can not believe that even the youngest student would not think of taking pictures of the bodies, yet all this student showed were what he claimed were bags that he claimed had bodies. No actual bodies with bullet holes in them were shown in the original release, that alone also makes me wonder.

it's war it happens, someone kills your buddies in such cowardly manners you might be ready to do some bad things too, of course it doesnt make it right, but war never is. it's WAR!

Do we believe the crying poor wounded child or the grief struken valiant defender of freedom?

Thats the difficulties with eye witness's, they can be influenced and so cna what they say.

So...this all happened in November and it's just now coming out four months later?

lol
Accurate details are long gone.

Originally posted by XphilesPhan
it's war it happens, someone kills your buddies in such cowardly manners you might be ready to do some bad things too, of course it doesnt make it right, but war never is. it's WAR!

You know, you should be VERY careful about calling IEDs a cowardly way of killing.

Especially when talking in a discussion about a country that has the ability to throw guided missles that can travel hundreds of miles to kill a target around like confetti.

I promise you: cruise missles and high altitude bombers are viewed by the Coalition's enemies as just as cowardly.

Unfortunately WestPoint, you are not understanding: there is MORE than just an eyewitness account: they are showing pictures on ITN of rooms covered with blood spatterings caused by exit wounds, showing doors shot open, with the bullet holes consistant with a burst from a rifle. You are hinting at defending something that is seeming less defendable as time goes on.

Wow, pictures and a little 10 year old girl who could be influenced by god knows who. Tell me, how many rifles in that part of the world could have made those very same holes? Or how many people besides the US could be responsible for this “incident”? In a court of law this accusation would have been tossed out already.

Especially when talking in a discussion about a country that has the ability to throw guided missles that can travel hundreds of miles to kill a target around like confetti.

Yeah maybe you should consider that that very same nation could level that entire country if it so desired. I wonder if our enemy would have the same restraint if they had the same capability as us. Better yet do you still think we’re cowards?

[edit on 30-3-2006 by WestPoint23]

Originally posted by ThatsJustWeird
So...this all happened in November and it's just now coming out four months later?

lol
Accurate details are long gone.

That is the part that bothers me, why so long to report it? Remember when several were killed in Pakistan they screamed bloody murder immediately not weeks later; it was only a matter of hours. But not in this case the first mention was weeks after it happened, which makes no sense and more suspect as to its authenticity.

Originally posted by WestPoint23
In a court of law this accusation would have been tossed out already.

Funny you should say that..... it may just turn out like that

And by the way, there are more eyewitnesses than the little girl, so please don't try and play her age against her, saying she will be easily influenced.

But lets for a moment assume she WAS influenced: she is the best child actor in the world.

I have 2 views on this issue.

Firstly, let's assume that the girl is not telling the truth and that she faked everything to ensure the "invaders" are held responsible. People there indeed have a mutual hatred for the Coalition forces and it wouldn't be much of surprise if she's into the hatred too. Moreover, I have to say age do play a role in this. A kid and a grown adult think and preceive things differently. Since she's the only one alive, it just makes the matter worst.

Secondly, let's assume she is telling the truth and that the Coalition forces did raided their house and slaughter her family members intentionally. I do believe that's possible because there are groups of soldiers who want revenge and will kill the innocent to satisfy it. WW2 and in Vietnam numerous accounts of revenge killings and abuse surfaced. By the way, about the girl, what does the girl have to benefit from lying when all she is left with is the dead bodies of her family members? That's the worst thing a child could ever have.

About the news being slow to be reported, well, it could be because of technical stuff such as budget or technical difficulties. Or probably only recently that TNI have recieved the news and don't tell me the the news hypes it because it is of their interest to do so. All news agencies do that! Don't tell me the news have to be stories that is neutral such as "Top Headlines : Mexican Man Eats The Most Borritos!, Asian peace prevails! Soldiers in Iraq war plays a game of football with Iraqis." I don't think news would be the same if no horrifying true reports were told to the audience.

All I'm saying is it could be true. No child could stand there and lie while her family members ade dead on the floor. That's what I think.