Bush troubled by Marines allegations
US President George Bush said today he was troubled by allegations that US Marines had killed unarmed Iraqi civilians and that “if in fact laws were broken, there will be punishment”.
It was Bush’s first public comment on allegations that Marines killed about two dozen unarmed Iraqis in the western city of Haditha last November.
Bush said he had discussed Haditha with General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“He’s a proud Marine and nobody is more concerned about these allegations than the Marine Corps.
“The Marine Corps is full of honourable people who understand the rules of war.”
“If in fact these allegations are true,” Bush said, “the Marine Corps will work hard to make sure that that culture, that proud culture, will be reinforced and that those who violated the law, if they did, will be punished.”
The president was asked about the Iraq allegations during an Oval Office photo opportunity with the president of Rwanda.
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