history really does repeat itself

[Guest guest]

Given the echos of Vietnam ringing out more and more

strongly , it is hardly surprising that one of the

episodes of Vietnam is echoed in todays news -- ie the

 

Mai Lai massacre .

 

Top Marine Visits Iraq as Probe of Deaths Widens

Friday, May 26, 2006The commandant of the Marine Corps

flew to Iraq to address his troops yesterday, and

members of the Senate Armed Services Committee were

briefed on allegations that Marines had purposely

killed as many as two dozen Iraqi civilians in

November.

The two developments were indications of the growing

seriousness of two investigations into the incident in

Haditha that has led to charges from a congressman

that Marines killed civilians " in cold blood. "

 

" When these investigations come out, there's going to

be a firestorm, " said retired Brig. Gen. David M.

Brahms, formerly a top lawyer for the Marine Corps.

" It will be worse than Abu Ghraib -- nobody was killed

at Abu Ghraib. "

An Army lawyer who has heard some accounts of the

investigation said, " It's a lot more serious than

people thought at the beginning. It's really bad

timing, " coming as the repercussions of the Abu Ghraib

detainee abuse scandal are waning, he added. He

requested anonymity because he is on active duty and

not authorized to be interviewed. If so, the case is

likely to make it more difficult for the Bush

administration to bolster support for the war.

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), chairman of the Armed

Services Committee, was briefed Wednesday by Gen.

Michael W. Hagee, the Marine commandant, and again

yesterday by Brig. Gen. John Kelly, the legislative

liaison for the Corps. Warner described the case as

consisting of " very, very serious allegations " that

resulted in " a significant loss of life, civilian. "

Hagee flew to Iraq yesterday " to reinforce the ideals,

values and standards " of the Corps, the Marines said.

" There is a risk of becoming indifferent to the loss

of a human life, as well as bringing dishonor on

ourselves, " Hagee said in a statement announcing his

trip. " We do not employ force just for the sake of

employing force. "

Two military investigations of events in Haditha are

expected to be completed soon, and charges could be

brought by late June, according to a person familiar

with some aspects of the case. A civilian lawyer

tracking the case said he has heard from Marine

contacts that there could be as many as a dozen

court-martial proceedings.

At issue is what occurred on Nov. 19, 2005, after a

Marine convoy was allegedly hit by a roadside bomb,

killing Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas. An initial inquiry

found that 15 civilians were killed in the crossfire

of a subsequent Marine firefight with insurgents.

In April, the Marine Corps relieved Lt. Col. Jeffrey

Chessani of his command of the 3rd Battalion of the

1st Marine Regiment, the unit involved in the

incident. Two of his company commanders were also

relieved of command. The 1st Marine Regiment is part

of the 1st Marine Division and is based at Camp

Pendleton, Calif., just north of San Diego.

Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) said last week that there

was neither a bomb nor a firefight, and that 24

civilians had been killed " in cold blood. "

" It's much worse than reported, " said Murtha, who like

Warner is a former Marine and maintains close ties

with senior Marine officers despite his vigorous

opposition to the war. Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), a

retired Marine helicopter pilot, said in an interview

he thought Hagee was doing the right thing. " I was

saddened, surprised and outraged that this could

happen, " Kline said. He said he thought the incident

would be regarded as " a horrific aberration " for the

Marines.