Murtha Alleges Cover-Up of Marine Massacre in Iraq

News outlets are reporting the details of an alleged massacre of 24 unarmed Iraqis conducted by the U.S. Marines operating in Haditha, Iraq. Rep. John Murtha has been particularly outspoken on the issue, condemning the soldiers’ behavior and alleging a military cover-up. Murtha’s stance is quite ironic in that for decades Murtha had been a staunch advocate of the unobstructed use American military power (i.e., neoconservatism). It seems that Murtha has had his eyes opened just a little bit, or maybe he’s running for political cover. Whatever it is, where was this big, fat idiot when the rest of us were warning Bush not to invade Iraq?? Coward!

“On November 19, 2005, Marines from Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton allegedly killed 24 unarmed civilians in Haditha, Iraq, in a three to five hour rampage. One victim was a 76-year-old amputee in a wheelchair holding a Koran. A mother and child bent over as if in prayer were also among the fallen. “I pretended that I was dead when my brother’s body fell on me, and he was bleeding like a faucet,” said Safa Younis Salim, a 13-year-old girl who survived by faking her death.”

“They ranged from little babies to adult males and females. I’ll never be able to get that out of my head. I can still smell the blood. This left something in my head and heart.”

- Observations of Lance Cpl. Roel Ryan Briones after the Haditha Massacre