Whatever Happened to "Innocent Until Proven Guilty"?

Considering how often the MSM has been wrong, one would expect members to exercise a bit of caution now and then.

Of course, considering how the MSM generally behaves, expecting anything of the sort is a waste of time.

We do not know what happened at Haditha. We might never know what exactly happened at Haditha. But, until the investigation is completed, it is wrong to speculate. The MSM likes to jump to conclusions wherever US troops are concerned. Liberally biased reporters always perceive our military men to be in the wrong.

We trust the Marines to do the hard work, to keep us safe, to do the things that are necessary that we won't do ourselves. We owe them the benefit of the doubt.

The MSM likes to prate on about how people we know to have committed heinous crimes, like Tookie Williams, are innocent until proven guilty. And, even when that person is found guilty (as sin) by a jury of his peers, the MSM still treats him as though he were someone as pure as Mother Theresa.

Why not treat these Marines the same way?

We need to hear both sides of the story, see all the evidence, and allow the Military justice system to do what it is supposed to do.

Now, here is a lot more information:

Crossposted from Stop the ACLU, written by Jay:

While many jumped on the bandwagon to condemn our Marines of a bloody rampage of murder in Haditha, others have been staying on the side of caution. Red Hot Cuppa Politics has been following how much of the MSM’s story has been falling apart. Today, the Washington Post gives us one of the Marine’s side of the story.

“It will forever be his position that everything they did that day was following their rules of engagement and to protect the lives of Marines,” said Neal A. Puckett, who represents Wuterich in the ongoing investigations into the incident. “He’s really upset that people believe that he and his Marines are even capable of intentionally killing innocent civilians.”

Wuterich’s detailed version of what happened in the Haditha neighborhood is the first public account from a Marine who was on the ground when the shootings occurred. As the leader of 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Wuterich was in the convoy of Humvees that was hit by a roadside bomb. He entered the house from which the Marines believed enemy fire was originating and made the initial radio reports to his company headquarters about what was going on, Puckett said.

The reports that Marines wantonly shot unarmed civilians in Haditha, including women and children, allege one of the most shocking, and potentially damaging, incidents of the Iraq war. A criminal investigation looking into possible charges of murder against half a dozen Marines is underway. A separate probe is examining whether Marines tried to cover up the shootings, and whether commanders were negligent in failing to investigate the deaths.

My position is the same as it always has been. Don’t jump to conclusions. Give our military the benefit of the doubt and presume they are innocent until they are proven guilty.

Hot Air says:

The defense in five words: What would you have done?

Other reactions:

Blue Crab Boulevard

I personally detest the trend these days to trial by media, but I can well understand the defense lawyers trying to respond to the twisted and distorted reporting going on right now. It is time to do exactly what I have been maintaining all along - wait for the investigation and give these accused men the presumption of innocence.

Rightwing Nuthouse

We still don’t know what happened at Haditha. And it is very clear that the truth of the matter is proving more elusive than the anti-war left will admit. To do so would ruin their campaign to delegitimize our troop’s efforts in Iraq as well as build support for withdrawing our military before the job is done.

The Political Pitbull:

If there are any individuals that deserve the benefit of the doubt, it’s our troops fighting an extremely difficult war in Iraq. But the Marines accused of the incident in Haditha have not been given that privelege. Some are determined to declare these Marines guilty without the conclusion of any official investigation. As The Post story establishes, however, this is hardly an open-and-shut case: the differing accounts of what happened in Haditha–from the Marines’ to the Iraqis’ to the various press reports–only further complicate what the public “knows” about this incident. It’s unfortunate that some are not willing consider the details that contradict their agenda.

Some are starting to wonder if the entire MSM account of Haditha is a hoax.

See Sweetness and Light for all the details on this.

As for me, I’m witholding any judgement until all the facts come out. I advise others to do the same. As the truth comes out, it is clear that one side is lying. If the Marines are guilty, they will be punished. What will happen to the other side if they turn out to be the liars? Credibility is on the line for both sides. I give the Marines the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

More at:
Confederate Yankee
Riehlworld
Sister Toldjah
Atlass Shrugs
Politburo Diktat
All Things Beautiful
AJ Strata has lots on Haditha. Here, here, and here.
Captain’s Quarters
Gateway Pundit says this is all bad news for Murtha.
The Real Ugly American

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