Haditha: another video

In contrast to the video Time relied on to condemn Kilo Company, a video of dubious provenance and authenticity, the military apparently has another, one taken by an unmanned aerial vehicle which recorded the entire battle and which confirms the Marine's version of events, or so NewsMax reports:

Military sources familiar with the incident have told NewsMax:
Within minutes of the early morning IED explosion, a firefight erupted between insurgents and Marines. Civilians were caught in the middle of the firefight. Also, although civilians did die, their deaths were the result of door—to—door combat as the Marines sought to clear houses and stop the insurgent gunfire.

Ample evidence proves that a firefight took place. For example, every second of the ensuing firefight was monitored by numerous people at company, battalion, and regimental HQs via radio communications.

Video evidence supports the Marines' claims. Within a very few minutes, battalion, regimental, and division headquarters were able to watch the action thanks to an overhead ultralight aircraft that remained aloft all day. Photos of some of the action were downloaded and in the hands of Marines and the NCIS.

Some of the insurgents involved in planning the attack and firing at Marines during a daylong engagement have been apprehended and are in custody.

Clarice Feldman  6 26 06

Update:

Sweetness & Light has already found an earlier WaPo reference to a UAV overhead at Haditha, making the NewsMax report more credible.

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