LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.Best Political Blog Winner, 2007 Webby Awards, People's Voice and Jury.   Exclusive Truthdig Merchandise - Gore Vidal signed first editions - Signed Mr. Fish prints
 
July 25, 2008
Log in / Register

 Choose a size
Text Size

Reports
 * NEW! * Six Little Words

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture
 * NEW! * Nikki Keddie on Iran

Digs
Inside the Data Mine

Truthdig Bazaar
The End of Faith

The End of Faith

Sam Harris
$19.74

In Search of the Blues

In Search of the Blues

By Marybeth Hamilton

more items

 
Ear to the Ground

U.S. Troops Reportedly ‘Smiled Before Killing’ Detainees

Email this item Email    Print this item Print   
Posted on Aug 2, 2006

Four U.S. paratroopers charged with murdering three detainees in Iraq smiled before shooting them, according to the BBC.

  • Separately, in the Haditha massacre, a Pentagon official says evidence supports the claim that U.S. troops deliberately killed some two dozen civilians.

  • Atrocities like these are further poisoning America’s already toxic image in the Middle East, and a continued occupation is likely to produce more of the same.

    BBC:

    Four US paratroopers charged with murdering three detainees in Iraq smiled before shooting them, a military court has heard from a fellow soldier.

    Private First Class Bradley Mason told the hearing at a US base near the Iraqi city of Tikrit that one of the accused threatened to kill him if he talked.

    He also said soldiers had been ordered to “kill all the male insurgents” in the operation on 9 May of this year.

    The incident is among a string of murder allegations against US troops.

    Link



    AP:

    Evidence collected on the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha supports accusations that U.S. Marines deliberately shot the civilians, including unarmed women and children, a Pentagon official said Wednesday.

    Agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service have completed their initial work on the incident last November, but may be asked to probe further as Marine Corps and Navy prosecutors review the evidence and determine whether to recommend criminal charges, according to two Pentagon officials who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity.

    The decision on whether to press criminal charges ultimately will be made by the commander of the accused Marines’ parent unit, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, Calif. That currently is Lt. Gen. John Sattler, but he is scheduled to move to a Pentagon assignment soon; his successor will be Lt. Gen. James Mattis.

    Investigators conducted a wide range of interviews but did not obtain permission to exhume the bodies of the 24 who were killed, one official said.

    Link

    Email Newsletter

    Get truth delivered to your inbox every week.

    Previous item: CNN Host Gets Heated With Israeli Spokeswoman

    Next item: Hamas Detainees Accuse Israel of Abuses

    Jump to Comments

    Advertisement


    Elsewhere: .

    Are you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.

    Add Your Comment

    Posts by unregistered readers are moderated. Posts by members
    are published immediately. Why wait? Register today!






    Notify you when others comment on this article?


    Are you a human?
    Retype the word you see here.


    Please read and abide by our comment policy.
    By submitting this comment, you agree to this site's terms and conditions.

    Newsletter

    Get Truthdig in your inbox

    Privacy Policy

     
    Click here to advertise with Truthdig
     

     
    Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
    Copyright © 2008 Truthdig, L.L.C. All rights reserved.