Editorial: Asking a hard question

Saturday, June 3, 2006 | 7:41 a.m.

With the shameful mistreatment of Iraqi detainees by U.S. soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison still residing in the world's memory, now come accusations that U.S. Marines killed 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha last November.

In reports that have grown increasingly horrific, witnesses allege that a group of Marines went on a rampage after a roadside bomb exploded near their convoy, killing one of their members. Witnesses have told reporters that the Marines forced their way into homes and killed whomever they found inside - including women and children. One witness told the Washington Post that Marines shot a man as he pleaded for his life in English, then killed his wife and five daughters, ages 1 to 14.

The U.S. Marine Corps has launched two investigations, the results of which President Bush has vowed to make public. "The world will see the full and complete investigation," the president said Thursday. "If there is wrongdoing, people will be held to account." Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., believes an outside, bipartisan commission should also look into the allegations.

One of the investigations under way is probing what happened. The other is to determine whether there were attempts to cover up such an event.

For now, we don't know what actually occurred. It would be devastating if the acts of brutality that have been reported turn out to be true - more so, if the Marines attempted to cover it up.

If wrongdoing did occur, those responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent. But there still is no way to compensate for or justify such disgraceful actions.