Iraqi ambassador claims US Marines 'intentionally' killed cousin

[cal04]

The new Iraqi ambassador to the United States has accused US Marines of "intentionally" killing a cousin in the Iraqi town of Haditha last year. Speaking only hours after presenting his credentials to President George W Bush at the White House, Ambassador Samir al-Sumaidaie said his relative was shot dead five months before the killing of 24 civilians in the town in November that is now the subject of a controversial inquiry.

The ambassador told how Mohammed al-Sumaidaie, a 21-year-old engineering student, was killed after opening the door of the family house to US Marines on June 25. "I believe he was killed intentionally. I believe he was killed unnecessarily," Mr Sumaidaie said on CNN television. "The Marines were doing house-to-house searches, and they went into the house of my cousin. He opened the door for them. His mother, his siblings were there. He let them into the bedroom of his father, and there he was shot."

At the time, Mr Sumaidaie was the ambassador to the United Nations and the US military agreed to investigate the death after he released a statement. Mr Sumaidaie said the investigation "concluded that there was no unlawful killing. I would like further investigation," he told CNN. The ambassador added that General George Casey, commander of US forces in Iraq, had rejected a first investigation into the death. Mr Sumaidaie said he was still waiting to see a copy of the report.

The ambassador said his family had been told his cousin was shot dead "in self-defence" but he could not believe
this. "I know the boy. He was in second year engineering courses at the university. Nothing to do with violence. All his life has been studies and intellectual work." The ambassador added that he was also suspicious about the deaths of three other youths in Haditha shortly after that of his cousin. "They were in a car, they were unarmed, I believe, and they were shot."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1651583.htm

Wolf Blitzer spoke later in the day with Ambassador Samir Sumaidaie
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/30/cnna.sumaidaie/index.html

[joemurphy]

1. Maybe our democratization mission has hit a snag.

Let's just get out of there. We're not doing ourselves or them any good anymore.

[mikeytherat]

19. Anymore? Have we EVER done them or ourselves any good in this debacle?

mikey_the_rat

[uppityperson]

2. And this is the new Iraqi Ambassador to USA?

Good for him. Press the issue. Very good.

[PublicWrath]

6. I saw the interview this evening. He's impressive. And brave, too.. ...nt

[AKing]

3. How long before he winds up dead? nt

[enigma000]

11. We could start an Ambassador Samir Sumaidaie Death Watch

Or a dead pool. I choose June 29/06

[OKNancy]

4. Important read. Recommended

I don't know how things can get any worse. Disgusting

[uppityperson]

5. k&r

get in a position of power and then let them know. Smart man.

[leftchick]

7. woopsies! He went off topic!

I bet he loses his job soon. Or there is an "accident".

[uppityperson]

8. one more kick.

will check in the morning and kick it up for the day crowd too. Peace

[Nostradammit]

9. Kick for the ambassador.

[flordehinojos]

10. bush better watch his bohancasses

}(

[sabra]

12. and this is from the Iraqi Ambassador to the US

:-(

[PA Democrat]

13. So the military's initial "investigation" into the incident

"concluded that there was no unlawful killing." And now after the brass tried to cover up this atrocity, I predict they'll try to say that it was "just a few bad apples."

Disgusting.

[LuckyLib]

14. You don't have to go too far to find an Iraqi with family dead from

this circus. With the rate of explosions daily, everyone will have been touched by the time we get ourselves out of there.

[rocktivity]

15. In the words of Daily Show host Jon Stewart

"AWWWWWWWWK-WARD!"

By the way, why the heck did he take the job?

:rofl:
rocknation

[BuyingThyme]

16. They've been murdering people like there every day.

Hopefully it will start pouring out now; but they might just step up the murders.

[katty]

17. U.S. will not be able to get away with "few bad apples" this time

game over - no matter what they spin.

[uppityperson]

18. one more kick for irony & an example of fighting from the inside

[Voltaire99]

20. "I would like further investigation," he told CNN.

Sorry: only one whitewash per family, please.