General passed over Haditha investigation

A two-star general testified on May 10 that he learned almost immediately that marines under his command had killed at least 15 civilians–including women and children–in Haditha, Iraq, in 2005 but that he did not believe the incident merited an investigation. Maj. Gen. Richard A. Huck was the latest of several witnesses in a military hearing at Camp Pendleton to say the deaths of Iraqi bystanders in Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005, were widely known but did not raise concerns. Reports of the killings went up and down the chain of command, said Huck, who led the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq at the time. Yet no one–from the company commander to Gen. George W. Casey Jr., then commander of multinational forces in Iraq–indicated they wanted a preliminary inquiry into why so many civilians had died. Based on the reports he had received, Huck said: "in my mind's eye I saw insurgent fire, I saw Kilo [Company] fire and I saw Iraqi security forces fire. I could see how 15 neutrals in those circumstances could have been killed." Four officers are charged with failing to investigate the deaths. Huck's testimony, by videoconference from the Pentagon, came in an Article 32 hearing, similar to a grand jury proceeding, for one of the officers, Capt. Randy W. Stone. Attorneys for the marines charged with failing to investigate have said they did not violate any military rules and were not trying to hide the incident. Huck testified that any number of the marines who knew about the deaths could have requested an investigation. The officers first discussed the possibility of investigating the deaths at Haditha after a Time magazine correspondent sent an email with questions in January 2005, the executive officer for Kilo Company, 1st Lt. Adam P. Mathis, testified. Mathis said that in response to one of the questions Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani, the battalion commander, answered: "No, there is no reason to do an investigation. This was a bona fide combat action." Chessani is charged with failing to investigate and dereliction of duty.