U.S. officers censured, Haditha ringleader in court

By Adam Tanner

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy censured three Marine officers on Wednesday for failing to investigate promptly the 2005 killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha, a move that could end their careers.

On the same day, a military tribunal at Camp Pendleton heard evidence against the alleged ringleader in the Haditha killings, including testimony that a "pink mist" of blood erupted from heads of victims in a case that could bring a penalty of life in prison.

The Haditha killings followed a number of abuses by U.S. forces in Iraqi towns and at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad that sparked worldwide outrage and damaged the image of the U.S. military.

Iraqi witnesses say U.S. troops massacred two dozen unarmed men, women and children in Haditha in retaliation for the death of a popular Marine.

In Washington, the Secretary of the Navy handed down a secretarial letter of censure, the most severe form of censure, against Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, Col. Stephen Davis and Col. Robert Sokoloski.

"The essential issue was that the incident occurred at Haditha on 19 November, which resulted in the death of 24 Iraqis, and no investigation was initiated immediately," a senior Marine official said, adding that the first investigation only began in February 2006.

The censure could end the officers' military careers by keeping them from promotion. Their military ranks also could be reduced when they retire because of the censures, meaning a reduction in retirement pay.

Lt. Gen. James Mattis, a senior Marine general looking into the officers' conduct, concluded that they did not intend to cover up the case or break military laws.