No DMJ's

The base is on lock down from any non-military visitors indefinitely.
Smyth, Stefan and I will be evaluating alternate locations tomorrow based off of the swell direction.

The base is locked down due to a slaughter in Iraq by US Marines (so the media says)
Several marines are being held in Camp Pendleton for further investigation. For this reason the media has been bombarding the base and trying to get on.. End result lock down of the base from all non-military personnel. My step-brother looked into it today and there is no way to get us on.

This is a result of two separate incidents: See Below



Article #1 President George W Bush has promised to reveal the full results of an investigation into reports that US Marines killed unarmed civilians in Iraq.

"The world will see the full and complete investigation," Bush said.

The US military is conducting at least two investigations into the November 19 killings of 24 people in Haditha, including women and children, following a bomb attack on a military convoy in which a Marine died.

The Iraqi government is doing a separate investigation.

"If there is a wrongdoing, people will be held to account," Bush told reporters after a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

The president said the ethical training ordered for US troops in Iraq following reports that Marines killed unarmed civilians will serve as a reminder of the international rules of war.

"This is just a reminder, for troops in Iraq or throughout our military, that there are high standards expected of them and that there are strong rules of engagement," said Bush.

He said he has spoken to Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, about the matter several times. (AP)


Article #2 US seen charging Marines in Iraqi civilian death

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - U.S. military prosecutors were expected to charge seven Marines and a Navy corpsman in the death of an Iraqi civilian, a defense attorney who represent two of the Americans said late on Thursday.

Marine officials "told us charges would come Friday, but then let us know they probably will not release them until Monday," said attorney David Brahms, who declined to identify his clients.

The eight men are being held in the brig at Camp Pendleton in the April 26 killing of a Hamandiya man and a subsequent attempt to make the dead Iraqi appear to be an insurgent by placing an AK-47 near his body.

The investigation is not connected to the alleged massacre of 24 Iraqis in the town of Haditha by Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Kilo Company on November 19, that was denounced on Thursday by President George W. Bush and leading Iraqi politicians. That investigation is continuing.

Seven Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Division, Kilo company are under investigation in the Hamandiya killing. A Navy corpsman stationed with the Marines is also expected to be charged.

Some of the Marines in the Hamandiya case are expected to face murder charges, while others may face dereliction of duty charges for assisting in the cover-up, Brahms said.