I've mentioned Haditha before. Time Magazine broke a story about an incident there involving the death, or perhaps murder, of more than a dozen civilians at the hands of US troops. Now we have our first report on what the findings of an investigation into the incident may be, from Rep. John Murtha, the ranking Democrat on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee:

There was no firefight. There was no IED (improvised explosive device) that killed those innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them. And they killed innocent civilians in cold blood. That is what the report is going to tell.

If Murtha is right, this is no Abu Ghraib. It's worse. Though I doubt it will get the same level of media play.

Meanwhile, troop reductions this year look increasingly unlikely despite some people's wild fantasies. (More reports here, and here. AL points out Rumsfeld still hopes for a drawdown in 2006)