The only problem is, as you are not indicating that you are responding directly to anyone but me, I've not said anything to the contrary. If you can find anywhere in this thread where I have denied that horrendous acts occur in wartime, show me. If you can find anywhere in this thread where I have said that cover-ups don't occur, show me. Otherwise you’re just pulling an argument out of your ass that isn't there so you can vent your spleen.
Perhaps you should re-read your original response to me. I stated that I know for a fact things like this have happened alot in times of war and strife and were covered up, and you responded by questioning how I could possibly know this, and then you turn around and say you know it as well. So..not sure why you took issue with my original statement. I didn't say I knew for a fact that this particular massacre happened, but just that things of this nature happen, have happened, and have been covered up. I went on to state that our government and military tries to keep them under cover.
What I *have* said is that people might actually want to...oh I don't know...actually read the report itself instead of let someone tell them what it says or what "the probe will show."
I agree it will be interesting to see what their findings are, but I certainly have no faith in the honesty and integrity of our system in finding, and releasing the real facts. They have every reason to try and cover it up, soften it, or use a variety of excuses, as we've seen in their initial reactions to journalistic reports on this and other incidents.
It is always deny first, then misdirect, then stall, and then if backed into a corner, investigate and soften things as much as possible before handing out punishments. The spin is what it's all about these days.
What I *have* said is perhaps people might give the investigators a chance to complete their investigation as there'll be plenty of time for you to say they're covering up the truth after the investigation is done and the results are published. Pace yourself.
I agree, and I'm not screaming in outrage, but merely responding to some of the polar opposite reactions of excuse making and denial, and misplaced trust in our military and governmental justice machines.
What I *have* said IF the investigation shows they are guilty of a violating the Uniform Code ONLY THEN do I believe they should be found guilty and punished. Their punishment should be in keeping with what is defined by law, taking into account any mitigating circumstances that may apply under the Articles. However until such time, since ours is a country of laws, we should follow the established principle that they are innocent until proven guilty. But that whole 'innocent until proven guilty' thing is just a part of my terrible naiveté and tunnel vision fed by my ignorance of history. 
Ours is presently not a country of laws that are equal for all, nor has it been for quite some time. Laws are tossed to the side for power, money and politics. Do we have to live with it for the present? Sure. Do we have to agree with how it's handled and the injustices done everyday? Not at all, and it's a good thing that folks speak out about such, or we'd never hear about anything the corporate machine, or the puppet government they control, didn't want us to.
Let me ask you this, if there were no witnesses to the scene (even if immediately after), other than those doing the shooting, do you think we would have heard about this in a timely manner or ever saw an investigation? If just the military or administration knew about it, and no one else, do you think there would be anything said about it to public or press? Do you think justice would be done?
I have stated categorically and will now repeat that *I* don't know if they are guilty or not. If they are found guilty *I* think they should be appropriately punished. But *I* don't claim to even begin to have enough facts to make that sort of call. As such, I don't think I'm in a position to call for their heads. And unless you've got some inside information on the case we're talking about here, you aren't in such a position either. The fact that attrocities were committed by other individuals in the past are is not sufficient evidence to convict these specific soldiers of a crime or punish them in my little world, you obviously may think differently.
I don't know if they are guilty or not either, but I'd have to lean toward some god-awful guilt if it's even made it to this stage. If it was easily explained, or evidence wasn't present, or those that did report it hadn't witnessed the scene, it would never have went past the stage of "enemy combatants (terrorists) killed in daring raid" press release.
But I'm open minded. If you've got a hotline to the absolute undisputed truth of what happened in the incident this thread was talking about (hey, Oral Roberts claimed he held conversations with God, right?), maybe some evidence that we in the unwashed masses you referre to as "the general public and press" aren't privy to, trot it out so we can all have a look.
In most cases none of us have a hotline to the truth, and will never hear the actual truth. But believing what we are told by people that have repeatedly lied about, and covered things up, and would like nothing better than to do the same in this case, isn't, perhaps, the wisest course either. I just am not sure what plausible explanation of innocence there can be for a room full of unarmed civilians, many of them women and children, being killed by our troops, after being herded there at gunpoint. Remember, there were non-military folks around, and not just Iraqi's, and that's why it "came to light" in the first place.
You are of course entitled to believe that when someone doesn't see things the way you see them it's because they are naive, ignorant, blind. But I think that's pretty stupid and narrow minded myself, but by all means knock yourself out. That's what's great about freedom of expression.
Well, thus far, at least according to the direction and continuing fallout over the repeated lies and corruption by our government, I feel justified in saying that it's time to wake up and smell the corruption and waste of human life to those that repeatedly claim how that same administration is just trying to do the right thing
[Note: This is WAY too much typing for a post on a Sunday. I'm going to seek absolution in a bowl of ice cream and some porn.]
Mmm...Ice Cream and Porn, breakfast of champions!
