U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha: Evidence the US military deliberately massacred Iraqi civilians

Sometime last year, when we wrote about the real atrocities at Abu Ghrib, we were called liars. But, references to photographs and videotapes mentioned only in European newspapers began to surface, albeit cryptically, during official investigation of the allegations.

After months of denial and a lawsuit by the ACLU, the Army admitted it had evidence that was more shocking than pictures of soldiers holding vicious dogs over prisoners. It had evidence of murder and rape.

Notwithstanding, a federal judge's order to release the evidence, the military stonewalled "full disclosure." Finally, an Australian newspaper had the courage to print what the American news media shunned. And with its disclosure, there was more evidence of pres. Bush’s dishonesty. More evidence the Bush administration was desperately trying to salvage war in Iraq in order to salvage Bush’s presidency.

Today, senior House Democrat Jack Murtha, himself a decorated Vietnam veteran, disclosed evidence the US military deliberately massacred Iraqi civilians. In Murtha's words, the evidence will prove to be a "very, very bad thing" for the US.

The slaughter stems from the death Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas on Nov. 19, 2005. A roadside explosive device killed Terrazas. Initially, the military covered up the atrocity, claiming the same roadside bomb that killed Terrazas also killed civilians. But, that wasn’t the case. As a result of Terrazas’s death, US marines conducted a house-to-house search that resulted in the slaughter of 23 civilians. But Murtha's sources say the killings were deliberate.

Those of us who lived through the Vietnam, remember the horror of My Lai Massacre. We also remember its cause. At that time, US soldiers were caught in a war that was ill advised and could not be won. Common sense dictates that our leaders would have learned a lesson, but they didn't.

Murtha explained, "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Like My Lai, information about the Iraqi atrocities came from military personnel. Murtha said his information "comes from the commanders, it comes from people who know what they are talking about." It is difficult to believe that this nation will ever recover from the incredible damage inflicted upon it and the rest of the world by Pres. Bush.