San Diego – Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., said Wednesday that up to six Marines would be charged in the killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha.
Udall, of Eldorado Springs, did not know what the charges would be, but indicated they were serious.
Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, said the military would charge the Marines in weeks rather than days, but declined to be more specific about the timing.
The congressmen spoke after Lt. Gen. Richard Natonski gave a one-hour, closed-door briefing to the House Armed Services Committee on the military’s investigations and the next steps.
“I think all of us in there were struck by the incident, the number of civilians involved and the extent of the tragedy,” Udall said.
“There are some questions that still have to be answered, but it appeared the rules of engagement hadn’t been followed.”
The congressmen were asked not to speak publicly about the military’s findings, and Natonski declined to give details. The Marine Corps confirmed Tuesday that prosecutors are finalizing charges.
“I’m just updating Congress,” Natonski said. Asked about any criminal charges, he said, “We’re looking at it soon.”
A squad from Camp Pendleton-based Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment has been under investigation for the Nov. 19, 2005, killings.
According to defense attorneys, the squad was on a routine mission when a roadside bomb ripped into a Humvee, killing one Marine and injuring two others.
In the aftermath of that explosion, 24 Iraqis also died. Defense lawyers have said their clients were following rules of engagement when they returned fire from houses nearby and shot several men in a taxi.
Udall said Natonski described how the killings appeared to occur over a “few hours.” A while after the initial explosion, more people in a nearby house were killed.
