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The New Yorker Radio Hour

From In the Dark: What Happened That Day in Haditha?

Aug 23, 2024
Madeleine Baran, the lead reporter behind the investigative podcast, unfolds a chilling narrative about the Haditha killings in Iraq, where 24 civilians lost their lives to U.S. Marines in 2005. She discusses the complex layers of truth: was it a war crime, a tragic mistake, or something else? Baran shares Khalid's poignant quest for justice after losing his family, revealing the emotional scars that remain. The probing investigation exposes the struggles of victims’ families against a backdrop of unresolved grief and the elusive nature of military accountability.
43:30

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The Haditha incident illustrates the stark conflict over narratives, with various interpretations framing the killings as either a war crime or collateral damage.
  • Khalid Salman's relentless pursuit of accountability reveals the challenges faced by victims' families in seeking justice within a flawed military legal system.

Deep dives

The Haditha Incident

In November 2005, 24 civilians, including families and children, were killed by U.S. Marines in the city of Haditha, Iraq. The incident occurred in the context of heightened tensions due to the Iraq War, where both insurgents and American forces were engaged in violent confrontations. Khalid Salman, a local lawyer, lost family members in the killings and became a key figure seeking answers. He emphasized the need for accountability and justice regarding the actions of the Marines, which represented a significant event in U.S. military history.

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