How can anyone justify trying our military boys in the Hadatha killings?

Question

Its war but apparently some people think we can fight it without killing anyone. IT MAKES NO SENSE!

Just one question to you who disagree, how is that marine supposed to know if they are unarmed when there are so many instances of supposedly "unarmed" civilians running up and detonating themselves

Answer 1

I totally agree with you. It is stupid to send our military to do a job and then make them fearful to do that job because of the chance they will be punished for doing the job.

Now, if someone deliberately rapes, or commits crimes, that is different. But IMO, these rules are placing our troops in harms way. If they hesitate for ONE second because of doubts they will be dead.
This PC bullcrap needs to stop. Let the military do their job!!

EDIT FOR ADD: What worries me about these answers is the quickness that some are willing to condemn thousands of GOOD men and women for the sake of a few rouges that would commit these kind of crimes no matter what their profession.

Answer 2

As a Marine, I have followed this story closely. The circumstances in question did not require the level of force they used, and there were obvious non-combatants, and children, that were murdered.
The deaths in question did not occur during a normal firefight, as some would like you to believe. They occured after the area had been occupied, as stated in the official reports.

I can provide links to the official military investigation reports, but I doubt they be read by people that have closed their minds already.

These were my brothers, and they betrayed our code. I hope they get a fair trial, but I'm afraid the evidence is overwhelming. They crossed the line between justified killings and cold-blooded murder.
They taught me the difference in boot camp, and I know these Marines were taught as well.

I've spoken about this incident on other forums. I'll share with you a snippet of my comments:

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I'll wait patiently for a verdict, but I will not be surprised if these Marines are found guilty. To any Marines that knew them, I say this: Those weren't really your brothers-in-arms. They never really knew what it meant to be a Marine. You have a higher ideal to uphold, even if it means your life. Better to die with dignity and honor than live with shame and cowardice. There is a difference between justified killing of enemy combatants and illegal murdering of innocent civilians. I don't think there was any 'grey area' in this situation like in previous allegations against Marines. Most specifically, the story changed after an investigation began. The initial field report was that insurgents had killed the civilians. This has since been rescinded, by the Corps. The change in the story by the Marines in questions is the most damning evidence, in my mind. It stinks of a cover-up. Unless something new is revealed, the evidence I’ve seen is too much to ignore, and it’s too much to believe that the Marines truly believed they were in immediate danger from those civilians. They went door to door, even shooting people that were unarmed hiding in closets. Additionally, they didn’t have enough ‘enemy armament’ captured to justify the killings.
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Answer 3

I agree that it was questionable but big deal their lives didn't mean anything and if the Marines hadn't killed them some Secterian death squad would have.
The did violate the US moral code and what worries me most is the evidence of an internal cover-up.
They deserve to be punished but not with all this publicity. The matters of the military should mostly stay within the military but they should be honest, their circumstances are far beyond the ability to be understood by civilians. Death is a part of war, it happened, give them ? years in the stockade and put them on an unwanted position for the remainder of their enlistment after they are released.

Answer 4

"It's a war" is not a justification for everything that happens. We're not talking about stray bullets in a fire fight. If a marine knowingly killed an unarmed civilian that posed no threat to him, especially children, then that marine crossed the line.

Answer 5

There seem to be enough questions to justify a trial, but I wouldn't assume either a political railroading or a presumption of guilt. Both sides need to calm down and let the military take care of the matter.

Answer 6

Let's say you come home to find your front door open, and your teenage daughter has been raped. The neighbor's door is open, too, so in your rage you run in and beat the neighbor to death.

It wasn't him.

How could anyone justify trying you for that crime?


There are rules of engagement. If you read the facts of the Hadatha killings, the conduct of several of those involved was unforgiveable. Even in the middle of a war.

Your argument is essentially no different than suggesting that during a hurricane it would be okay to steal your neighbor's car and kill his children if they tried to stop you, because after all, there's a hurricane!

Answer 7

These f***in jerks p*ss me off you spend 13 weeks telling these young men that they are killers weapons of the cause of thier country then you put them in a situation where a moments hesitation means you or your buddy die they are forced to make a decision under the pressure they do, people die and they put your *** in for a court martial instead of a medal f*ck you f**kin liberal p**sies leave our fighting men to fight and thank them when they come home for doing the job you wouldnt

Answer 8

there is a difference in killing armed combatants and killing innocents that are not trying to kill you. that does not even count as collateral damage,it was intentional.

EDIT. it is a tough decision and can be a dangerous one. in the case it was determined they made the wrong choice and knew it. if they felt it was right,they wouldn't have tried to cover it up. that is why they are facing charges.
why when you give a realistic answer do people accuse you of condemning the whole military?

Answer 9

Our military has a code of conduct. It is what makes our soldiers better than theirs.
They violated that code!!!!

Answer 10

why they are there from the start?
if they were not there there were be no killing