How much prison time should those US marines who killed 24 civilians at Haditha get?

Question

Read the article below if you haven't heard of it or haven't gotten an update:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070106/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/haditha_investigation

To summarize it I'll just say that as a part of "Operation Iraqi Freedom", US Marines killed 24 civilians at Haditha, Iraq. The unarmed civilians were killed by various methods of murder, from grenades to gunshots. 5 of the unarmed civilians were said to have been lined up and then shot one by one, execution style by the Marine Squad leader (that's what the investigators said). When he was done, other marines then shot at the lying bodies several times.

Defense attorneys have disputed the idea that the shootings were in revenge for the roadside bombing, saying their clients were doing what they had been trained to do: responding to a perceived threat with legitimate force. But come on! We're not that stupid. A profession, disciplined, trained soldier (as the Marines say they are) doesn't get revenge on civilians by lining. .

Them up and executing them. That's what Saddam did and look how far he got.

What should their sentence be?

I wonder how many times things like this happen but are covered up by the psychos doing it.

It's a shame to see so many war crimes apologists saying "NONE". It's sad to see that people like this still exist.

So much for the "We're going after war criminals and terrorists" claims, eh?

Avis, then I guess what Saddam did was "just war" too right? Killing massive numbers of civilians for revenge for an attempt on his life. I mean that's exactly what the defense is saying. And that's exactly what these marines did. They killed people who had nothing to do with it for the sake of getting their jollies off of seeing someone die. Tsk.

We have alot hypocrite on YA.

The same people who bit** and whine about Saddam commiting war crimes are usually the same people who are gonna defend the US marines who did the same thing that Saddam did to get the death penalty. I'm not saying that Saddam is a good guy, but some of you need to practice what you preach and remain consistent when it comes to being against war crimes.

Some of you should read the article because people who weren't even old enough to hold a gun were targeted.

Answer 1

I agree with Benjamin on this one, and it is obvious that most of the people answering here and just reacting immediately instead of reading the facts.

What unarmed child is a threat to a grown man? There are so many cases of "trained" soldiers killing civilians during "wars" and getting away with it, having it covered up or tampered with, it is really disgusting. There are supposed to be guidelines for war that soldiers follow. The United States is supposed to be a civilized country, so it's soldiers should be civilized as well. Civilized people don't target unarmed civilians, even if it is a war. And if everyone just thought "it's a war" like some of the answerer's here, there wouldn't BE an investigation into it, would there?

Legitimate force against an unarmed person is not a gun shot. Perhaps detaining them would have been enough. Shoot first and ask questions later seems to be a motto these days, and not just in the US.

The problem with deciding a "sentence" for these marines is that they were following orders. Their Commander would be responsible. If Marines or soldiers do not follow their commanders they are "disobeying orders" and can actually be arrested and thrown into jail for NOT shooting people. The US defense system needs to be more careful in who they choose to lead, it would seem.

I would certainly not ever want to be a part of something where, if I follow orders I may have to shoot and kill people whom I think are innocent, which I would not do, meaning that I could be arrested and court-marshaled, then possibly killed by my own squad for being disloyal (that does happen too).

So, Benjamin, I have no idea how long they should get. I don't think they should have been there in the first place.

Answer 2

As the GI's said in Vietnam, "everything that moves is a fair game".

For the people who said that to kill civilians is justified because it is war. Then is it justified for the Nazis to say 6 million Jews were killed because it is war?. Is it justified for the Japanese to kill their American POW's because it is war?.

Then we say we hate the Nazis. Hang the Nazis. But we're doing just what the Nazis had done. Hypocrisy??.

Answer 3

Zero...casualties of war..
Tell your elected officials to end this war!
As long as the war goes on this can be expected.
Our guys are in a foreign land and they should be able to defend themselves from any threat - no matter what age!
Bring them home!

Answer 4

In a war, you have no time to think in some situations. If you feel threatened, you shoot. It could be a case of you or them. War is hell and people die. Sad fact but true. They should not be punished for protecting themselves.

Answer 5

The same amount of prison time that the soldiers got who did the same during the Vietnam war.
Which was none.

Answer 6

Its a war you dolt. If you think you can do a better job then get your a.s.s. over there and show us how its done. It's no place for squeemish do-gooders or defense attorneys. Semper Fi

You can't train a bulldog to protect you and then want to kill him if he bites somebody.

Answer 7

It's war!! Instead of judging OUR marines, why don't you get off this yahoo and go enlist!!

Answer 8

They should be imprisoned like other murderers. I believe other murderers should also be treated with some kind of mercy, though.

Answer 9

not one second in jail. I am sick of the media trying to make this war out to be something sinister.

Answer 10

None