Washington,
Dec 21, 2006 -
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 21) — Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement today in response to Marines charged in the Haditha killings:
“Haditha will be synonymous with two grave misdeeds: the massacre of 24 innocent Iraqi civilians and the cover-up of that massacre. If it were not for TIME magazine’s January 2006 investigation, we would not be here today.
“The individuals in the Marine Corps chain-of-command responsible for the cover-up of crimes against Iraqi civilians in Haditha need to be held accountable. Those who committed the crime need to be held accountable. Those in the chain-of-command who knew about the crime need to be held accountable.
“My father, two of my brothers and my nephew have all served in the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps holds a special place in my heart. However, officials who were aware of the Haditha incident prior to the TIME Iraq investigation and who covered it up, need to be held responsible. This Administration repeatedly understated the impact of this war on Iraqi civilians.
“Deliberately misrepresenting the events of Nov. 19, 2005, until disproven by a national news organization is an injustice unto itself for which everyone involved must be held accountable.
“I am calling on the Inspector General to open an investigation into why the Marine Corps failed to investigate the massacre before they were prompted to do so by TIME magazine—all the way up the chain of command—as high as it goes. I am calling on Congress to open an investigation into this case—all the way up the chain of command—as high as it goes. Open and full investigations are the only way to find out who is responsible for this cover-up.”
