By: House committee will review the military's investigation into an incident last year in western Iraq involving U.S. Marines that left at least 15 civilians dead, the panel's chairman said Friday.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said a committee hearing will not address the substance of the incident last November in Haditha but will review how the investigation was carried out.
The military at first described the encounter as an ambush during a joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol that involved a roadside bombing in which a Marine died and then a firefight. However, residents of the neighborhood contended that only U.S. forces were shooting after the explosion.
A day later, Arab television aired a videotape that showed images purportedly taken in the aftermath of the encounter: a bloody bedroom floor, bullet holes in walls and bodies of women and children. An Iraqi human rights group called for an investigation of what it described as another deadly mistake that had harmed civilians.
The military began its administrative investigation to review whether the Marines involved had lied about what happened.
Hunter, the House Armed Services Committee chairman, said Friday that the results of the investigation are expected to be delivered to Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, commander of Multi-national Corps Iraq, late next week, and a hearing could occur shortly thereafter.
On Wednesday, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., said the attack by Marines was far worse than originally reported. Murtha said that Marines killed innocent women and children "in cold blood" and that nearly twice as many people were killed than first reported.
Military officials said Thursday their investigation was incomplete but would not comment on Murtha's charge that the incident was more serious than initial reports indicated.
Officials have said 15 Iraqis, eight insurgents and a Marine were killed, and Hunter said he expected the report to show that "in the neighborhood of 20 or so" people died.
Separately, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service has opened a criminal investigation.
About a dozen Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, are being investigated for war crimes in connection with the incident to determine if they violated the rules of military engagement.
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