Is the Haditha massacre the Mai Lai of Iraq?

They were out of control - reports claim that one of their company had been killed, and they went out looking for revenge.

I think we've had many oppotunities for Mai Lai to recur during this war - Abu Ghraib and Gitmo, to name a few. Both of these came with pictures and reports of terrifying atrocities.

However, what made Mai Lai was not only the massacre, but also the response of the American public, particularly college students, who demonstrated, took over campuses, etc. in hopes of ending the atrocities.

Unfortunately, the American public isn't interested in demonstrating or expressing outrage. Many people don't seem to know about the events at all, and the media isn't even running it as a major story. So even though the massacre and rape were horrific acts symptomatic of a corrupt system and an unjust war, it's not Mai Lai. I don't believe that the acts of the Kilo Company will do anything but sadden and sicken a few while remaining ignored by the rest of the America.

1st of all - everyone needs to stop comparing Iraq with Viet Nam, as there is no comparison. Do real research not just believing gossip! Use your common sense! Do you actually believe it is possible for a whole "company" of marines to be on drugs and out of control? Do you even know how many marines are in a "company?" I think this is extremely unlikely. American soldiers and marines are the toughest, most skilled, and most compassionate in the world. Compassion is America, but there are always a few bad apples! Don't get on the bandwagon that let's those few destroy all the sacrifice of the rest!

You can't put give American kids guns and drop them into a place where they can't tell the difference between civilians and enemy troops for an extended period of time then expect good things to come from it. Were they on drugs? Who cares they were supposed to be out of there 2 years ago after the Iraqis welcomed them with open arms and their oil paid for the entire reconstruction. As for the comparison of Haditha to Mai Lai, Haditha involved less civilians, but more coverup and points to a more widespread practice of dehumanizing Iraqis than Mai Lai.