The Massacre in Haditha

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Based on the latest reports from the Pentagon, Congressman John Murtha--a former Marine--says the massacre at Haditha will do more harm to the US war effort than the torture at Abu Ghraib. The explanation six months ago was that 15 civilians were killed by a roadside bomb, but death certificates show that 24 men, women and children were shot in the head and chest, and Marines quietly made payments to surviving relatives. That might have been the end of the story, until a report by Time magazine. Now those involved may face murder charges. The White House says all details will be made public as soon as multiple investigations are concluded. Did Marines "snap" and retaliate after the death of a comrade? Did officers who authorized payments to victims' families fail to tell higher ups? Can such incidents be prevented or are they inevitable when warfare leads to occupation? Making News: US Changes Its Mind about Talking to Iran, with CaveatsOn her way to Vienna for talks on Iran's nuclear program, Secretary of State Rice said the US will change course if Iran meets certain conditions. President Bush stressed the importance of diplomacy in solving the issue as he reiterated both the need for Iran to prove that it does not have a weapon and to verifiably suspend nuclear programs. Steve Weisman, diplomatic correspondent for the New York Times, calls the announcement a "major reversal of US policy."Reporter's Notebook: Lance Armstrong Cleared of Doping ChargesTen months ago, the French sports newspaper L'Equipe claimed it saw "indisputable" evidence that Lance Armstrong used an illegal drug before his 1999 Tour de France victory. Today, an investigation by a Dutch law firm cleared the seven-time champion and accused the World Anti-Doping Agency of misconduct. Armstrong says WADA has broken the law. Samuel Abt covers cycling for the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune.
Based on the latest reports from the Pentagon, Congressman John Murtha--a former Marine--says the massacre at Haditha will do more harm to the US war effort than the torture at Abu Ghraib. The explanation six months ago was that 15 civilians were killed by a roadside bomb, but death certificates show that 24 men, women and children were shot in the head and chest, and Marines quietly made payments to surviving relatives. That might have been the end of the story, until a report by Time magazine. Now those involved may face murder charges. The White House says all details will be made public as soon as multiple investigations are concluded. Did Marines "snap" and retaliate after the death of a comrade? Did officers who authorized payments to victims' families fail to tell higher ups? Can such incidents be prevented or are they inevitable when warfare leads to occupation?
  • Making News: US Changes Its Mind about Talking to Iran, with Caveats
    On her way to Vienna for talks on Iran's nuclear program, Secretary of State Rice said the US will change course if Iran meets certain conditions. President Bush stressed the importance of diplomacy in solving the issue as he reiterated both the need for Iran to prove that it does not have a weapon and to verifiably suspend nuclear programs. Steve Weisman, diplomatic correspondent for the New York Times, calls the announcement a "major reversal of US policy."
  • Reporter's Notebook: Lance Armstrong Cleared of Doping Charges
    Ten months ago, the French sports newspaper L'Equipe claimed it saw "indisputable" evidence that Lance Armstrong used an illegal drug before his 1999 Tour de France victory. Today, an investigation by a Dutch law firm cleared the seven-time champion and accused the World Anti-Doping Agency of misconduct. Armstrong says WADA has broken the law. Samuel Abt covers cycling for the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune.

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Warren Olney