Top general urges restraint by Marines in Iraq

[Barrett808]

Top general urges restraint by Marines in Iraq
By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Marine Corps general flew to Iraq on Thursday to tell his troops they must kill "only when justified," as the U.S. military investigated whether Marines killed civilians in two incidents.

The trip by Gen. Michael Hagee, the Marine Corps commandant, to meet with Marines at bases in Iraq showed his personal concern over recent allegations about the actions of Marines in combat, the Marines said in a statement.

Military officials were to brief members of Congress on Thursday about a criminal probe into a November incident in which Marines are suspected of killing numerous civilians in Haditha, Iraq last November.

The military has said 15 civilians were killed, while a senior Republican lawmaker put the number at about 24.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060525/ts_nm/iraq_usa_marines_dc

[beingthere]

1. They're taught to kill, praised for it, what would you expect?

[saigon68]

4. They are trained like louts

[DinahMoeHum]

2. "Restraint" , my ass. What a laugh-and-a-half. . .

The only thing, general, that your Marines are interested in right now is in surviving and getting the hell out, along with their buddies; and God help ANYONE standing in the way of that. Even you.

:evilfrown:

[katinmn]

3. 3 years in to it and now they tell them.

Must be getting some really bad PR.

:puke:

[Lexingtonian]

5. Nothing says "Mission Accomplished" like

murder sprees against women, children, and unarmed men.

[tabasco]

6. They learned the Laws of Land Warfare in basic training.

They don't need a general to go tell them what is right and wrong.

There is no excuse for hurting civilians and any trigger-happy asshole who does so should be prosecuted for murder.

There are circumstances in which accidents occur, but deliberate violence against civilians should be prosecuted.

The recent air strike in Afghanistan is another example of unwarranted tactics. The officers responsible for allowing the attack should be punished. Indiscriminate bombing is a WAR CRIME.

I doubt that there will be full justice for the dead because the Bush corporate cabal has created a climate in which "anything goes."

[coalition_unwilling]

7. Solution is obvious -- outsource the nasty stuff to

private corporations like Blackwater and CACI -- they are operating in Iraq without any governing authority over their actions. :sarcasm:

[saigon68]

11. They are War Criminals and Savages

Blackwater employs the biggest criminals on the planet

They basically do whatever the fuck they want to do.

No rules, no regulations

Just SHEER KILLING FOR THE SPORT OF IT.

[atreides1]

8. Too Little, Too Late

After speeches about killing and how what they are doing is right and for the good of the USofA, does he really think this will help.

He says this in public, but I'll bet in private he'll tell them go ahead, but don't get caught or leave any witnesses, and for goodness sakes use the AK-47's.

[Charlie Brown]

9. Civilian deaths send top Marine to Iraq

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/25/hagee.iraq/index.html

As the military investigates two reports of Marines in Iraq allegedly killing innocent civilians, Gen. Michael Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, left for Iraq on Thursday to talk about use of force.

According to a statement released by the Marine Corps, Hagee is expected to address the core values of honor, courage and commitment, and "the risk of becoming indifferent to the loss of a human life."

"We do not employ force just for the sake of employing force. We use lethal force only when justified, proportional and, most importantly, lawful," Hagee will tell the Marines, according to a copy of his speech released by the Marine Corps. "This is the American way of war. We must regulate force and violence, we only damage property that must be damaged and we protect the non-combatants we find on the battlefield."

The speech, titled "On Marine Virtue," will also touch on the numbing effects of combat and of watching fellow Marines wounded or killed in fighting.

"There is the risk of becoming indifferent to the loss of a human life, as well as bringing dishonor upon ourselves," Hagee is expected to say. "Leaders of all grades need to reinforce continually that Marines care for one another and do what is right."

[Kagemusha]

10. Even if it's just a speech, it's worthy of being praised.

A lot of people wouldn't do even this much. It's good to see some people standing up for the idea of honor in service of one's country.

For all the good it'll do.