This story was originally published in The Denver Post on June 1, 2006.
Colorado Springs – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Wednesday that it is inappropriate for him to talk about whether Marines killed innocent civilians in Iraq until more facts are gathered.
Rumsfeld, in Colorado Springs to give a commencement address to the Air Force Academy’s Class of 2006, said that two investigations are underway in the deaths of two dozen civilians Nov. 19 in Hadithah, Iraq. The military originally said a roadside bomb caused the casualties, although the deaths are now being investigated as murders.
“One (investigation) is to determine what happened, and the second is to determine what happened after whatever happened happened,” Rumsfeld said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon at U.S. Northern Command headquarters on Peterson Air Force Base. “The Marines are working diligently on that. And at the appropriate time, when we gather the facts, we’ll make them available to the public.”
Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani, commander of the battalion allegedly involved in the deaths, is a native of Rangely in northwestern Colorado.
Rumsfeld said it would be inappropriate for him to comment because of undue command influence.
“I could say something by mistake that could adversely affect the outcome of a trial,” Rumsfeld said.
Before his visit to Northern Command, where he was briefed about the military’s plans for hurricane season, Rumsfeld thanked 879 new graduates of the Air Force Academy for choosing to serve their country.
“Each of you has stepped forward to meet a dangerous threat. You’ve volunteered to stand on the front lines of freedom’s defense. Your decision will help decide the fate of millions of human beings across the globe,” Rumsfeld said.
He said members of the class – the first to enter the academy after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 – become second lieutenants at a time when “our country faces threats unlike any we have known. Extremists are trying to terrorize and intimidate free people into submitting to their will. Their war is more than a contest between opposing sides of opposing societies. They have in mind only two outcomes: control us or destroy us,” Rumsfeld said.
During their four years at the academy, members of the class – which started with 1,209 cadets – endured the sexual- assault scandal and a controversy over religious tolerance. Three superintendents and three commandants were at the helm, including former Superintendent Maj. Gen. John Dallager, whom they welcomed with rousing applause.
During the traditional toss of the white hats – while the aerobatic Thunderbirds roared over Falcon Stadium – some grads launched red sashes. The class had asked academy leaders to change the color of the sash on the parade dress uniform from yellow to red, but leaders would not approve the change.
While rock ‘n’ roll boomed from giant speakers on the stadium floor, which filled with smoke from fat cigars, Benjamin Shearn, 22, a grad from Fort Washington, Md., said graduation was one of the best experiences of his life.
“Actually going up there and getting a diploma, knowing you finally got a degree, you finally finished, having a general salute you, that’s a pretty good feeling,” Shearn said.
He said that graduating in a time of war “goes with the territory.”
“I knew I wanted to come before that happened. But definitely, when the final decision came to come here, you had to take that into consideration. So anyone who came here now, they knew that was a possibility.”
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
