Bush promises "absolute justice" and "transparency" on the Iraq rape case

See, kung isa kang biktima ng rape sa Iraq, you get top US officials scurrying to promise "absolute justice" to you, kasi alam nilang napaka-damaging ng allegations na ito-- because if it looks like they're trying to cover up or whitewash the crime to protect one of their own, mali-lintikan sila ng International at Mainstream media, at mas lalo pang masisira ang kredibilidad nila sa mga iraqis. If this is not done right, then goodbye, "hearts and minds", hello insurgency.

Here's the report:

Bush says Iraq rape, murder charges 'very serious'

Washington, July 07: US President George W. Bush has promised "absolute justice" if US soldiers are found guilty of committing atrocities against Iraqi civilians.

"These are very serious charges and what the Iraqis must understand is that we will deal with these in a very transparent up-front way. People will be held to account if these charges are true," he told CNN television in an interview yesterday.

"There will be absolute justice if this person is guilty," he said in an apparent reference to a US Iraq war Veteran charged with raping and murdering an Iraqi woman after allegedly gunning down three members of her family.

The Veteran, 21-year-old Steven Green, pleaded not guilty yesterday in connection to the alleged March 12 incident near Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

"If in fact the charges are true that somebody was raped and murdered, then they ought be concerned," Bush said of Iraqi leaders. "But they've got to be comforted in knowing is that we will deal with this in a way that is going to be transparent, above board and open."

From the AP:

U.S. Calls Iraqi Rape-Murder 'Inexcusable'
Jul 6, 11:10 PM EDT
By KIM GAMEL

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- America's two top officials in Iraq on Thursday sought to calm Iraqi anger over allegations that U.S. soldiers were involved in the rape-murder of a girl, promising an open investigation and calling such acts "absolutely inexcusable and unacceptable."

The rare joint statement from U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Gen. George W. Casey, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq, came as military officers investigated the apparent failures of leadership to keep a close watch on American troops.

It's too bad "Nicole" the pinay rape victim is not an Iraqi, though. Kasi yung attitudes at yung level of cooperation ng US gov't (at ng DOJ natin) sa kaso niya is very different compared to the top level US officials attitudes towards the Iraqi victims.

Oh well, there's always Mindanao Joe Bob to make us laugh.