16 "foreigners" bodies found in common grave in Falluja

[JohnyCanuck]

Eye witnesses in Falluja have claimed this morning (Wednesday, September 22 ) that some civilians have detected a mass grave in the north western sector of the city containing the bodies of sixteen people of foreign appearance.

The witnesses have informed the correspondent of the German News Agency that the inhabitants of that area have detected a grave this morning at 11 a.m. local time which contained the dead bodies of 16 foreigners who have recently been killed and probably belong to American soldiers who were buried in a ditch in the North West sector of the city.

The witnesses have clarified that the identity of the dead bodies which were hitherto remained unidentified, were found to be dressed in addresses similar to those worn by local Fallujians. The style of their haircut indicated that the dead were military personnel and the colour of the hair and the face appearances suggested that they were foreigners.

<snip>

The witnesses have also added that the local police have arrived to the scene and have prevented the civilians and journalist from approaching the grave and photographing the dead bodies.


The link for the story about this alleged find of 16 foreigners in a mass grave also displays photos of some of the bodies found. WARNING Photos are very gruesome. If dead bodies in varying stages of decomposition are upsetting to you then don't click the link.

http://www.albasrah.net/images/3loj/mass-grave-us-soldiers.htm

I can't vouch for the reliability of albasrah.net, but they are alleging these are US troops that were killed and then buried as part of an effort to hide the extent of US causalties. I rember there was a journalist killed in Iraq by the US some time ago who it was alleged had uncovered mass graves of US troops.

[Pirate Smile]

1. I took it as some troops were trapped and killed and they switched

clothes so maybe they could have their uniforms. Did I miss something that would make this implausible?

[RebelYell]

2. Is friendly fire possible?

They could have dressed them up as locals so if they were found, they would be mistaken for Iraqis.

Slap me if I'm way out there. I can't help myself. Because of Bush, I believe nothing.

[Columbia]

3. Makes no sense at all

Don't you think the 16 families of these "US soldiers" would be wondering where their loved ones were the past few months?

When there are already over 1000 casualties, what is the point of hiding 16?

[RebelYell]

4. Are there any listed as MIA? n/t

[Columbia]

5. Not that I know of

[RebelYell]

10. Please see my posts #8 & #9 n/t

[JohnyCanuck]

6. I was wondering if they could be special ops

since the report appears to say that they were wearing native style dress but had "foreign" or western features. If it was special ops/CIA types maybe they would have ways and means of keeping the deaths out of the public eye. I admit it is speculation on my part. But even if they are not US troops, then who are they? If this report is correct that they don't appear to be Iraqis, then why aren't 16 families somewhere complaining about their missing relatives in Iraq? I could see some of them being loners without close relatives to be concerned about them should they go missing, but for all 16 of them not to have family or colleagues to raise a fuss when they disappeared seems somewhat strange.

[Columbia]

7. SO still need to be accounted for

It is quite tough to pinpoint "western" features especially of corpses months dead. When I was in Iraq, there were many Iraqis who could have passed as a regular white guy on any American street.

Also, it is possible that if they are Iraqi's the families may believe they could be in an Iraqi jail somewhere or if they are Syrians or Iranians then their families probably didn't have contact with them anyway.

[951]

11. I dont believe special ops would have gone down without a fight

[RebelYell]

8. I will never forget reading this:

Reuters Cameraman Killed For Filming U.S. Graves: Brother


Mazen found U.S. troops covered in plastic bags in remote desert areas and he filmed them for a TV program

By Awad al-Ragoub, IOL Correspondent

AL-KHALIL, West Bank, August 19 (IslamOnline.net) - The brother of Reuters cameraman Mazen Dana said he was deliberately murdered for discovering mass graves of U.S. troops killed in Iraqi resistance attacks.

"The U.S. troops killed my brother in cold blood," Nazmi Dana told IslamOnline.net in exclusive statements.

"The U.S. occupation troops shot dead my brother on purpose, although he was wearing his press badge, which was also emblazoned on the car he was driving," he said.

~~~~~~~~

"Mazen told me by phone few days before his death that he discovered a mass grave dug by U.S. troops to conceal the bodies of their fellow comrades killed in Iraqi resistance attacks," Nazmi said.

"He also told me that he found U.S. troops covered in plastic bags in remote desert areas and he filmed them for a TV program. We are pretty sure that the American forces had killed Mazen knowingly to prevent him from airing his finding."

~~~~~~~~

http://islamonline.net/English/News/2003-08/19/article08.shtml

[RebelYell]

9. Here are listed MIA's

Army Sgt. Edward J. Anguiano, age 24, Brownsville, Texas MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Declared dead -- DOD informed Anguiano family April 28, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas A. Blair, age 24, Broken Arrow, Okla. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported March 29, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Sgt. George Edward Buggs, age 31, Barnwell, S.C. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 4, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Pfc. Tamario D. Burkett, age 21, Buffalo, N.Y. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Declared dead -- DOD Report_April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Cpl. Kemaphoom A. Chanawongse, age 22, Waterford, Conn. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Declared dead -- DOD Report_April 16, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Lance Cpl. Donald J. Cline, Jr., Sparks, Nev. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Declared dead -- DOD Report_April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Force Capt. Eric Das, age 30, Amarillo, Texas MIA/Iraq - April 6, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 18, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Master Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, age 38, Cleveland MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 4, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, age 18, El Paso, Texas MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 4, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Pvt. Jonathan L. Gifford, age 30, Decatur, Ill. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Declared dead -- DOD Report_April 14, 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Edgar Hernandez, age 21, Mission, Tx. POW/Iraq - March 23, 2003
LIBERATED ALIVE!!! April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Spc.Joseph Hudson, age 23, Alamogordo, N.M. POW/Iraq - March 23, 2003
LIBERATED ALIVE!!! April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Pvt. Nolen R. Hutchings, age 19, Boiling Springs, S.C. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Declared dead -- DOD Report_April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Spc. Shoshana Johnson, age 30, Fort Bliss,Tx. POW/Iraq - March 23, 2003
LIBERATED ALIVE!!! April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Sgt. Brad Korthaus, age 29, Davenport, Iowa, MIA/Iraq - March 24, 2003
Remains recovered and identified
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Spc. James Kiehl, age 22, Comfort, Texas MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 4, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, age 19, Palestine, W. Va. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
RESCUED April 1, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Pfc. Francisco A. MartinezFlores, 21, Los Angeles, Ca. MIA/Iraq - Reported Missing March 28, 2003
Remains recovered and identified- Reported March 31, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, 35, El Paso, Texas MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 4, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr., 31, Richmond, Va. MIA/Iraq - Reported Missing March 29, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported March 31, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Pfc.Patrick Miller, age 23, Valley Center, Kan. POW/Iraq - March 23, 2003
LIBERATED ALIVE!!! April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon, age 21, Gallatin, Tenn. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O'Day, 20, Sonoma, Calif. MIA/Iraq - Reported Missing March 29, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported March 31, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Sgt. Fernando Padilla-Ramirez, , 26, Yuma, Ariz. MIA/Iraq - Reported Missing March 29, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 11, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Pfc. Lori Piestewa, age 22, Tuba City, Ariz. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 4, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Sgt. Brendon C. Reiss, 23, Casper, Wyo. MIA/Iraq - Reported Missing March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 12, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Sgt. James Riley, age 31, Pennsauken, N.J. POW/Iraq - March 23, 2003
LIBERATED ALIVE!!! April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Pvt. Brandon Sloan, age 19, Bedford Heights, Ohio MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 4, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Sgt. Donald Walters, age 33, Salem, Ore. MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified - Reported April 4, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Force Maj. William Watkins, Danville, Va. MIA/Iraq - April 6, 2003
Declared dead -- DOD Report_April 23, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army CWO David Williams, age 30, Orlando, Fla POW/Iraq - March 23, 2003
LIBERATED ALIVE!!! April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Lance Cpl. Michael J. Williams, age 31, Arizona MIA/Iraq - March 23, 2003
Remains recovered and identified
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army CWO Ronald Young Jr, age 26,Lithia Springs, Ga POW/Iraq - March 23, 2003
LIBERATED ALIVE!!! April 13, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.usvetdsp.com/pwmia_iraq.htm

[RebelYell]

12. It's not like Iraq is a jungle.

MIA's are difficult to believe, unless they were captured. We more or less know who's been captured from the beheading videos.

Call me crazy, if you want. I find the concept of MIA's in Iraq's desert too hard to swallow. It's not like there are opium dens where the troops could AWOL, like in 'Nam.

[RebelYell]

13. I'm dying for someone to refute this and prove it wrong

I find burying young kids in a mass grave that fought for our fucked up country is a travesty.

There isn't a day gone by that I don't think about the article referencing the dead reporter.

[11cents]

14. There's no way to "refute" something like this

All one can do is note that there are plenty of unreliable "news" sources, out there, Arab or Islamic ones among them, and some of them have churned out endless reports of huge US casualties in Iraqi or Afghan battles, of dozens of planes being shot down, etc. They're as credible as Baghdad Bob or George W. Bush. It's not impossible that this is true, but there's ample precedent for thinking it's probably false.

[RebelYell]

15. Is Stanford reliable?

http://wais.stanford.edu/Iraq/iraq_DeathOfDanaMazen(100403).html

I'm just a middle age woman from the Midwest. I have questions.

[RebelYell]

16. The link won't work here

Here's the article from Stanford. Try to copy and paste it in your browser.

Death of Reuters cameraman, Dana Mazen, in Iraq 10.04.03

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Reuters Chief Executive Tom Glocer criticized the "haphazard" handling of a US report into the killing of a Reuters cameraman by a US soldier in Iraq and urged the Pentagon to hand it over.

Glocer told Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in a letter that he was deeply dismayed that neither Reuters nor the family of its cameraman Mazen Dana, had been properly informed of the conclusion of a military investigation into Dana's death.

Dana, an award-winning cameraman of Palestinian desent, was shot by a soldier on a tank as he filmed near Baghdad on 17 August. A US military spokesman said that the inquiry had found troops respected their rules of engagement in the incident, but that Washington would not publish the full report.

Reuters found out about the report by subsequently questioning the spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel George Krivo. In his letter to Rumsfeld, Glocer said: "I am writing to you again in order to express my deep dismay that neither Reuters nor Mazen Dana's family were properly informed of further developments in this case. (Reuters 9/26/03).

Ronald Hilton - 10.04.03

http://wais.stanford.edu/Iraq/iraq_DeathOfDanaMazen(100403).html

[FDRrocks]

17. That last picture looks like Ronald Reagan

Bad taste.

But looking at that face, I would guess it was a slavic man.