Marine accused of killing 24 Iraqis in Haditha makes plea deal

[BeGoodDoGood]

22. Marines

"Slowly the convoy went down River Road and then took a left onto Route Chestnut. Near the intersection of Route Chestnut and the road the Marines call Route Viper, an enormous explosion erupted beneath the convoy's last vehicle, a Humvee.

"I'm not seeing 4, I'm not seeing 4," yelled Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt, a Fallouja veteran who was manning the gun turret in the first vehicle.

"Fourth vehicle is hit, T.J.'s dead," yelled Lance Cpl. Rene Rodriguez.

T.J. was Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, 20, a popular Marine with a cheerful, blustery manner. He was from El Paso, but buddies called him T.J. in reference to rowdy times they had shared in Tijuana.

The blast killed him instantly. Parts of his torso were strewn 100 yards from the burning Humvee. His severed legs remained in the driver's seat."


http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-49352.html

Planting a bomb like that had to be noticed by the locals.

Now, it is mitigation for the locals that the insurgents might threadten them over any help they gave to the Americans.

And it is mitigation for the Marines that they had to watch their friends blown up while the people they were trying to help stand by and say nothing.

There were no murder convictions in this affair.

Shame on you who rush to condemn the Marines who were trying to do their best on your behalf.

We never should have invaded Iraq, but was not their decision.


Walt