thedrifter
05-29-06, 07:55 AM
Murtha: Marines covered up Iraq atrocity
By UPI Staff
United Press International
May 29, 2006
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., says U.S. commanders knew about the killing of civilians by Marines in Iraq last November.
Murtha told ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" it was clear the military knew about the deaths because payments had been made for "accidental deaths."
A U.S. team investigated the incident that took place in Haditha. The same day Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas was killed by a roadside bomb, several Marines went on a rampage -- killing 24 Iraqis, including innocent women and children -- Murtha said.
Murtha said it is still uncertain who authorized the coverup, but he said it may have gone up the chain of command to Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said there was no serious investigation until Time magazine broke the story in March.
Time reported Saturday a videotape of the scene shows that many of the victims, especially the women and children, were in their nightclothes when they were killed.
"We've already lost the direction in this war," said Murtha. "We diverted ourselves from the real war against terrorism into Iraq."
By UPI Staff
United Press International
May 29, 2006
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., says U.S. commanders knew about the killing of civilians by Marines in Iraq last November.
Murtha told ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" it was clear the military knew about the deaths because payments had been made for "accidental deaths."
A U.S. team investigated the incident that took place in Haditha. The same day Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas was killed by a roadside bomb, several Marines went on a rampage -- killing 24 Iraqis, including innocent women and children -- Murtha said.
Murtha said it is still uncertain who authorized the coverup, but he said it may have gone up the chain of command to Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said there was no serious investigation until Time magazine broke the story in March.
Time reported Saturday a videotape of the scene shows that many of the victims, especially the women and children, were in their nightclothes when they were killed.
"We've already lost the direction in this war," said Murtha. "We diverted ourselves from the real war against terrorism into Iraq."