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Report: Marine response to Iraq deaths faulted
(CNN) -- A leading U.S. military commander has determined that "some senior Marine officers were negligent in failing to investigate more aggressively" the Haditha killing allegations in Iraq, The New York Times reported Saturday. U.S. Marines are alleged to have killed up to 24 Iraqi civilians in the western Iraqi town of Haditha on November 19 after a roadside bomb killed one of the Marines. Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the second-ranking U.S. commander in Iraq, reviewed a report conducted by Maj. Gen. Eldon Bargewell "into the reporting, training, and command climate as it related to circumstances surrounding the deaths in Haditha." Chiarelli forwarded copies of the report to Gen. George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, and came up with conclusions and recommendations. In addition to Bargewell's investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is conducting a criminal inquiry. CNN is working to confirm the contents of Chiarelli's findings and recommendations of the Bargewell report. The Times article -- citing two Defense Department officials -- said that Chiarelli concluded "senior officers failed to follow up on inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the initial reporting of the incident that should have raised questions." 
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