Stand up

The initial investigation into Marine conduct at Haditha has been completed and if initial reporting is correct...Evidence collected on the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha supports accusations that U.S. Marines deliberately shot the civilians, including unarmed women and children.

Those of us who got cranky about John Murtha's gum-flapping on this issue need to stand up and acknowledge that he may very well have been right and that--regardless of what we thought of his statements so far out in advance of the "facts"--at least some of these men will deservedly face a courts martial.

There is no excuse to offer and none should be made once the final assessment has been made. Should charges be filed, these men need to face justice. Period.