Expectations

As I sat and watched the US military spokesman deliver the verdict that the military probe into the killings in Ishaqi, Iraq on march 15th during a raid “revealed the ground force commander, while capturing and killing terrorists, operated in accordance with the rules of engagement governing our combat forces in Iraq”, I wondered to myself did I really expect the probe to be critical of the US troops?
Having spent some time in the US both before and after September 11, the one thing that is really noticeable is their extensive focus on patriotism. Whereas in the UK, we only get our flags when England is playing in the world cup, the US have their flags flying 24/7/365. This deep routed patriotism leads to the unacceptability of criticism of oneself. It become very difficult to be so proud of yourself and critical in the same vain.
As such when you hear President Bush saying that their will be a transparent investigation you really start to wonder. Combine this with the facts that the US are 5 months away from mid term elections and any criticism of the US troops by either republicans or democrats is a vote loser then did I really expect the probe to be critical? After all this is not the first or perhaps the last time that civilians have been killed and the story reported that they were terrorists. Remember the wedding party massacre in 2004? Or the cluster bombs in 2003 that killed innocent civilians that was classed as collateral damage by the US. I noted that the Iraqis have rejected the findings and are to carry out their own investigation. I'd like to see how this is going to happen. Do the Iraqis really think that they will have access to files, statements etc and the soldiers involved to interview them?
As I sit and wait for the verdict on the Haditha killings (which happened last November) I don't know what to expect. Only time will tell.