[antimedia] antimedia: Apparently, John Murtha is not the only jerk....

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{Our Congressmen had better get adjusted to the idea that civilians are
   dying in the war on terror, because}
...because more of our civilians will die long before this war is over--if
it ever is really over.

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Posted by antimedia:
Apparently, John Murtha is not the only jerk....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1155692858.shtml


   ....to [1]accuse the Marines involved in the Haditha incident of
   murder. A Representative Kline, Republican from Minnesota, and, like
   Murtha, a former Marine officer, accused the Marines of murder as
   well.
   Kline, confronted with the threat of being [2]included in the libel
   lawsuit already filed against Murtha, [3]backed down quickly,
   apologizing for his remarks and agreeing to secret settlement terms
   with SSgt. Wuterich's lawyer.
   Kline was [4]quoted in Time on Sunday, May 28^th.

     "This was a small number of Marines who fired directly on civilians
     and killed them," said Representative John Kline, a Minnesota
     Republican and former Marine who was briefed two weeks ago by
     Marine Corps officials. "This is going to be an ugly story."

   The first statement is true. The second is his opinion, based upon
   what he was told. But what Kline left out was the exculpatory evidence
   -- that the Marines were pursuing terorists who had blown up a Humvee
   and killed a Marine and were firing upon them, and used standard
   room-clearing procedures permitted under the ROE, only realizing
   afterwards that they had killed civilians.

     "There's no doubt that the Marines allegedly involved in doing
     thisthey lied about it," says Kline. "They certainly tried to
     cover it up."

   That's a damn lie, which has now been confirmed by [5]the
   investigation into the alleged coverup. Kline clearly believed the
   allegations that the Marine squad reacted out of rage and slaughtered
   innocent civilians "in cold blood" as Murtha so despicably claimed.
   In an [6]interview with the local CBS affilate in June, Kline said

     "I was surprised -- shocked is probably a better word -- but
     surprised and, of course, disappointed," the Minnesota Republican
     told the Star Tribune before leaving Friday with a congressional
     delegation to Iraq. "As a Marine, I just hate to hear that the
     allegations were that these Marines had shot civilians."

   Kline clearly has never seen combat. Civilians are killed all the time
   in combat. It's one of the reasons war should be the last option
   chosen.

     "I was surprised -- shocked is probably a better word -- but
     surprised and, of course, disappointed," the Minnesota Republican
     told the Star Tribune before leaving Friday with a congressional
     delegation to Iraq. "As a Marine, I just hate to hear that the
     allegations were that these Marines had shot civilians."

   Oh really? What happened to innocent until proven guilty, Kline?
   What is it with these idiots in Congress? What the hell do they think
   they're voting for when they authorize military action? People die in
   war, oftentimes civilians caught in the crossfire, especially when the
   enemy hides among civilians and uses them as human shields.
   Our Congressmen had better get adjusted to the idea that civilians are
   dying in the war on terror, because the enemy could care less about
   civilians or the laws of war or the Geneva Conventions or any other
   "civlized" rules of conflict.
   Worse yet, what is wrong with these two former Marine officers? A
   leader, above all, should stand behind his people until their guilt is
   proven. There is no greater pain than to be accused by your own
   leadership of committing atrocities without being given the
   opportunity to defend your actions. That's why John Kerry's false
   allegations about the prevalence of atrocities in Vietnam were so
   painful to so many.
   Kline's behavior infuriates me, just as Murtha's does. Both should be
   thrown out of Congress on their backsides.

References

   1. http://www.democracy-project.com/archives/002728.html
   2. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060804/pl_nm/iraq_usa_haditha_dc
   3. http://www.startribune.com/587/story/614418.html
   4. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1198862,00.html
   5. http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1150780257.shtml
   6. http://wcco.com/politics/local_story_155153125.html