The evidence for a war crime is evaporating:
Yet another Marine has won a court victory in the investigation of the battle at Haditha – adding more doubts to the claims of a massacre. In this case, the officer conducting an Article 32 hearing (equivalent to a grand jury hearing in civilian courts) has ruled that charges should be dropped. In essence, the claims of a massacre at Haditha are now looking false. That said, al Qaeda, through some adept media manipulation, has still won a victory.
There is no reason to convict them before a trial. Our press would give our enemies more protections than they grant our troops.
If this whole case collapses, I hope we will investigate how high up the conspiracy to convict our Marines without a trial went. Even if certain United States Representatives are implicated. If even one Marine went on a rampage, he should pay the price.
We will punish our guilty. They violate our standards. But we should not be so eager to assume that guilt. It is difficult enough for our troops to fight when every action is accurately scrutinized. How do they fight when lies are so easily believed? And I ask this question even if any of the Marines at Haditha that day did something wrong or unlawful.
To illustrate my point, on the way home today, NPR reported on the failure of the government to prove their case against this Marine. NPR described the incident as an accusation representing the "worst human rights violation of the war."
I find that phrasing rather revealing. Every day in Iraq, our enemies commit war crimes that far exceed what our Marines are accused of doing at Haditha. Yet NPR is not aware of this truth. The enemy's crimes don't count according to NPR.
Even if a crime took place at Haditha, it is not the norm. Americans should believe in our troops.
