Drone's Video May Aid Marine Inquiry

[Eugene]

Drone's Video May Aid Marine Inquiry
Footage Shot on Day of Iraq Incident

By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 30, 2006; Page A03

Military investigators piecing together what happened in the Iraqi town of Haditha
on Nov. 19 -- when Marines allegedly killed two dozen civilians -- have access
to video shot by an unmanned drone aircraft that was circling overhead for at least part
of that day, military defense lawyers familiar with the case said in interviews.

It is unclear whether the video obtained from that day's flight captured the violence,
said the lawyers, who have consulted with Marines who were there. One lawyer said
investigators have reviewed surveillance footage taken hours after the shootings,
which showed the Marines returning to the town to remove the bodies of the Iraqis.

<snip>

In addition to video from the drone, investigators have records of radio message traffic
between the Marines and a command center, said military defense lawyers who have discussed
the investigation with Marines who were at Haditha but who have not yet been formally
retained by them.

<snip>

Two of the lawyers said the message traffic will show officers in higher headquarters
knew early on that a large number of civilians had been killed and that they did not raise
alarms.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/29/AR2006052900928.html