Bush Troubled by Reports of Iraq Killings
- From: "Walt" <bravegars222@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 31 May 2006 10:14:08 -0700
Is anybody on this group equally as troubled???
******
Bush Troubled by Reports of Iraq Killings
By NEDRA PICKLER
WASHINGTON May 31, 2006 (AP)- President Bush said Wednesday he was
troubled by allegations that U.S. Marines had killed unarmed Iraqi
civilians and that, "If in fact laws were broken, there will be
punishment."
It was Bush's first public comment on allegations that Marines killed
about two dozen unarmed Iraqis in the western city of Haditha last
November.
Bush said he had discussed the incident with Gen. Peter Pace, chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "He's a proud Marine. And nobody is more
concerned about these allegations than the Marine Corps. The Marine
Corps is full of honorable people who understand the rules of war."
"If in fact these allegations are true," Bush said, "the Marine Corps
will work hard to make sure that that culture that proud culture will
be reinforced. And that those who violated the law, if they did, will
be punished."
The president was asked about the Iraq allegations during an Oval
Office photo opportunity with the president of Rwanda.
"I am troubled by the initial news stories," Bush said. "I'm mindful
that there's a thorough investigation going on. If in fact, laws were
broken, there will be punishment."
Military investigators have evidence that points toward unprovoked
murders by Marines, a senior defense official said last week.
Once the military investigation is completed, perhaps in June, it will
be up to a senior Marine commander in Iraq to decide whether to press
charges of murder or other violations of the Uniform Code of Military
Justice.
On Tuesday, White House spokesman Tony Snow said President Bush learned
of the killings only after a reporter from Time magazine asked
questions. Time published an article in March that said the Pentagon
was investigating the incident.
Asked when Bush was first briefed about the events in Haditha, an
insurgent stronghold in western Iraq, Snow replied Tuesday: "When a
Time reporter first made the call."
Bush was briefed on the incident and investigation by his national
security adviser, Stephen Hadley, Snow said. He would not detail Bush's
personal involvement since.
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