Army General Chides Response to Civilian Killings in Haditha

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published April 27, 2007 at 3:30 PM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

Inadequate. That's how an Army Major General described the Marine Corps's response at the time enlisted soldiers were implicated in killing dozens of civilians in Haditha, Iraq. The general's report f

Inadequate. That's how an Army Major General described the Marine Corps's response at the time enlisted soldiers were implicated in killing dozens of civilians in Haditha, Iraq. The general's report found its way into the press this week. It also said there was no deliberate cover-up by the Corps.

A report by Army Maj. Gen. Eldon Bargewell said the Marines -- including a two-star general -- failed to adequately look into the killings of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha, despite an obvious need for further investigation.

Bargewell said the Marines did not deliberately cover up the deaths, but instead played down the importance of civilian casualties. The report said “a reasonable person with knowledge of these events would certainly have made further inquiries.

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Thomas Watkins , Associated Press.