Former Marine Says in Book That He and His Platoon Committed Atrocities

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB49I24JEE.html

Former Marine in Iraq Claims in Book That He and His Platoon Committed Atrocities

PARIS (AP) - A former U.S. Marine in Iraq alleges that his battalion committed atrocities against Iraqi civilians during the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, including shooting unarmed protesters.

Jimmy Massey, a staff sergeant who was in the Marines for 12 years and served three months in Iraq before being honorably discharged with post-traumatic stress syndrome, details the allegations in his book "Kill! Kill! Kill!", written with the French journalist Natasha Saulnier and published in France.

A Pentagon spokeswoman said Massey's complaints had already been investigated and found to be unsubstantiated.

Massey said he was in charge of a platoon in the 3rd Batallion of Regimental Combat Team 7, responsible for setting up checkpoints and providing armed cover against terrorists and insurgents.

He alleges that over a period of a month and a half in 2003, his platoon killed more than 30 civilians in Iraq.

[RagingInMiami]

1. I was starting to believe him, but then I read ...

"A Pentagon spokeswoman said Massey's complaints had already been investigated and found to be unsubstantiated."

[TacticalPeek]

Maybe we need to read the fine print.

Maj. Gabrielle Chapin, a spokeswoman at Marine Corps headquarters in the Pentagon, said the Marines are committed to investigating all allegations of violations of "law of war or rules of engagement."

"Mr. Massey made allegations of genocide by members of his command, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, resulting in an investigation," she said.

The investigation was completed in June 2004, "and these allegations were found to be unsubstantiated in regards to law or rules of engagement violations," Chapin said.

-----------

That's a more restrained unsubstantiation. Potentially, she is not denying the purported facts, just reflecting a judgement about laws and regulations.

Since there are other reports of troops killing demonstrators, which presumably did not violate the "law of war or rules of engagement", it is not beyond possibility that the guy is telling it like it was.

[xray s]

10. there it is

Bush's rules of engagement sanction murdering civilians. That is the only logical interpretation of Chapin's response.

[stillcool]

5. and you no longer believe him?

What has the Pentagon said of late to inspire your trust?

[RagingInMiami]

6. Ooops. I forgot to include

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[stillcool]

7. i thought i recognized you...

:hi:

[RagingInMiami]

9. Just me, up to my old tricks

I don't believe a word that comes out of the Pentagon. To me, if they deny it, then it must be true.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

11. yes

that was the dead giveaway to me too.

I wonder if the Pentagon looked as hard into *'s WMD claims and found them substantiated.

[jonnyblitz]

13. self delete..

didn't see your sarcasm thingy later on in the thread. SORRY! i didn't think you were THAT gullible. :hi:

[Double T]

2. The Iraq war is not about winning freedom for the Iraqis...........

it is ALL about 'winning the war' for bush's ego. Unfortunately Americans and Iraqis continue to die for an ego.

[Disturbed]

3. "unsubstantiated."

Yes, the Pentagon must always be believed. LOL

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. The missing billions in Iraq..... are..... "unsubstantiated".... Oooooh

the military.... what a waste of national treasure.

[Raster]

4. The Iraq war is all about greed and vanity. exxon gets their dirty little

oil war and shrubya gets to freak with his daddy/mommy issues.

[Swamp Rat]

12. It should read: A Pentagon SpokesNazi...