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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Marines circle wagons around accused comrade |
| 2004-11-16 |
| Edited for brevity. U.S. Marines rallied round a comrade under investigation for killing a wounded Iraqi during the offensive in Falluja, saying he was probably under combat stress in unpredictable, hair-trigger circumstances. Marines interviewed on Tuesday said they didn't see the shooting as a scandal, rather the act of a comrade who faced intense pressure during the effort to quell the insurgency in the city. "I can see why he would do it. He was probably running around being shot at for days on end in Falluja. There should be an investigation but they should look into the circumstances," said Lance Corporal Christopher Hanson. "I would have shot the insurgent too. Two shots to the head," said Sergeant Nicholas Graham, 24, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "You can't trust these people. He should not be investigated. He did nothing wrong." |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #27 ROFL!!! |
| Posted by: .com 2004-11-16 11:58:32 PM |
| #26 If John Kerry had been elected this wouldn't have happened, because all the Iraqis would know that America is their friend. It's not about Islamic facism or Islamic fundamentalism or lack of education or the fact that a large number of Iraqi males have been sodomized by the time they're teenagers and have issues. It's really Bush Hitler that makes the brave Moslem freedom fighters so angry. They were fine before. They were nice guys. Everything was going well for them. But now we've done it. We've gone and wrecked a good thing. I have no idea at all how this situation can be fixed. Maybe the media should show two or three American guys getting killed by an Iraqi fighter--just to make it even. I think some perspective is needed here. |
| Posted by: donkey shop 2004-11-16 11:55:06 PM |
| #25 Next time he should shoot the reporter first, then cap the bad guy. I am so sick and tired of the fourth estate playing God. |
| Posted by: Doug De Bono 2004-11-16 11:21:39 PM |
| #24 Diplomacy in action. Let's bring home this fine negotiator and appoint him to Condi's staff as her primary problem solver. State needs people who are expert at getting their points understood without misinterpretation and argument. He can start this new career after an all expense paid trip Hawaii. Legal funds won't be necessary, vacation funds yes! |
| Posted by: First Iraq, Then France 2004-11-16 11:15:09 PM |
| #23 I'm in. Legal fund if necessary |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-11-16 10:25:37 PM |
| #22 Rantburgurs circle wagons around accused marine. Count me as one of them. |
| Posted by: Ol_Dirty_American 2004-11-16 10:23:13 PM |
| #21 I'm speculating and have not watched the video, but regardless of what he said or how he acted in the heat of battle, I am sure this young man will be traumatized by the memory of having to make a split second decision under unimaginable duress if it turns out that this Jihadi was not a threat (though obviously he could have been and the Marine had to err on the side of caution). Having a conscience and sense of guilt after this is over what separates us from these jihadi animals these brave Marines and soldiers are fighting so we can watch TV. The media is adding to the trauma here after celebrating Kerry's Silver Star. This sickens me. I'm not speaking from experience, mind you, so this is just my 2 cents. But I do recall talking to a colleague who still is haunted by the memory of almost killing some surrendering Iraqis in Desert Storm under similar circumstances. |
| Posted by: JAB 2004-11-16 9:28:39 PM |
| #20 God damned embedded news assholes. Sanctimonius elitess sonofbitches. God bless the marine corp. The marine did his job and did it well. This is not friggin grade school playground bullshit. This is war. |
| Posted by: John Q. Citizen 2004-11-16 6:20:11 PM |
| #19 All I can say is that is one photographer who won't be going to any company reunions. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2004-11-16 5:38:07 PM |
| #18 If they do set up a fine, someone should put up a website to accept donations. I'd gladly donate to help offset the fine in this case. If the Marine ends up with a profit so be it. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2004-11-16 5:12:14 PM |
| #17 If the "helpless victim" had exploded after being shot, none of this would have made the evening news, except maybe for the crocodile tears the MSM would shed for the dead Marine(s). Why was the mosque still standing, anyway? |
| Posted by: Tresho 2004-11-16 4:10:21 PM |
| #16 For TV he was supposed to use the bayonet. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-11-16 3:59:53 PM |
| #15 Plainslow said: "What would everyone say, if he had not shot the guy, and he rolled over and blew himself and a few GI's up?" The fine American patriots over at DemocraticUnderground.com would probably hoist a venti soy milk strawaberry-caramel-cinnamon machiato in the air and let out a big cheer. |
| Posted by: gb506 2004-11-16 3:42:49 PM |
| #14 I'd deny the whole thing. Say it was an Al-jeez CGI extravaganza that NBC was hoodwinked into buying. Remember to level the moskk. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-11-16 3:41:32 PM |
| #13 What would everyone say, if he had not shot the guy, and he rolled over and blew himself and a few GI's up? |
| Posted by: plainslow 2004-11-16 3:26:42 PM |
| #12 I agree. He must be punished to set an example to others. I say an Article 15 for unauthorized expediture of ammo. Fine him the cost of the bullets. Under similar circumstances I might have done the same thing. |
| Posted by: Michael 2004-11-16 3:23:41 PM |
| #11 I was 1st Division (Pendelton)3rd Div(Vietnam) 1962-1966.Discharged E-5 Honorable. They will protect this kid somehow,but outwardly,it may not seem that way,I'm sure. |
| Posted by: crazyhorse 2004-11-16 2:54:13 PM |
| #10 crazyhorse...I agree. I spent 8 years in the Marines, and managed to avoid Office Hours (though I got real close once :) ) This could be the first Office Hours in USMC history that they serve cake at! (I'll pay for the cake!) |
| Posted by: Justrand 2004-11-16 2:24:46 PM |
| #9 Justrand.There is what is called Nonjudicial Punishment (Article 15).Marines call it "office hours".It is in that vain I was refering to.I had one once back in 1964.Basically a wrist slap. |
| Posted by: crazyhorse 2004-11-16 2:18:46 PM |
| #8 His 1st Sergeant probably chewed him out already for not throwing a grenade in first! The Marines must NOT punish this young man. Ok, I re-thought that...a "$1 fine" would send JUST the right message! And then when anyone in the MSM asks what value the U.S. puts on the lives of those fighting against us, the answer would be: "a BUCK!" |
| Posted by: Justrand 2004-11-16 1:50:24 PM |
| #7 Sorry I would have poped the bad guy in the head. I saw the video. The bad guy could have easily been hiding a weapon or bomb. He did the right thing. There were no prisoners yet they were still unknown subjects. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-11-16 1:33:17 PM |
| #6 Protect the young man from further legal moves (UN or otherwise)by a court martial,fine him a dollar,and send him home. |
| Posted by: crazyhorse 2004-11-16 1:31:23 PM |
| #5 I like it Don. Maybe Kerry should back the kid. |
| Posted by: plainslow 2004-11-16 1:17:05 PM |
| #4 In fact, the February 1969 incident was considered by Kerry supporters to be his finest hour. Patrolling the Bay Hap River, Kerry and his crew discovered they were about to be ambushed by a Viet Cong soldier who had just popped up at the shoreline with a loaded rocket launcher in his hands. With the VC about to fire, Kerry crew mate Thomas Bellodeau shot and wounded the attacker, saving the entire boat. Only then did Kerry leap to the shore to chase the wounded enemy down - finishing him off behind a hootch. When critics suggested that Kerry's actions that day were something less than heroic, they were hooted down by the press. Certainly the as-yet-unnamed Marine in Fallujah deserves, if not the Silver Star, the same slack the press cut Kerry. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/11/16/92057.shtml |
| Posted by: Don 2004-11-16 1:12:22 PM |
| #3 "Dock him a month's pay" Better yet. just give him a "time out;" make him stand in the corner for 5 minutes. Maybe if there's any chalk left (can't drop bombs without chalk you know) they can have him write something suitable on the blackboard a couple dozen times. |
| Posted by: Dave 2004-11-16 1:06:10 PM |
| #2 I think this soldier showed restraint. I would of shot him as soon as I thought he was alive, then say, he moved. I sure hope Rumsfield and Bush back this kid on this one. Dock him a month's pay, and put him back to fighting. I'm sure the blogger's would start a fund, to more than recoup his one month pay. |
| Posted by: plainslow 2004-11-16 12:36:17 PM |
| #1 Dammit--how did I miss the other post? Please remove--I'm setting up optometrist appointment right now... |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-11-16 11:53:32 AM |