Meaningless without Context

The sineman's latest sign (which he has not posted about) says something to the effect:

"the deaths were not seen as unusual", Marine Commanding Officer, Haditha
Fox News

This "quote" as presented is fairly meaningless. Each reader will take from it what he or she chooses based on his or her preconceptions about the situation in Iraq or the Sineman. Furthering useless divisions in society, precluding productive dialogue, etc, etc. I don't think that's what the Sineman intends.

I understand there are physical limitations on what can be presented in a certain amount of space. This is evident by the size of the letters used to make the sign. He had to squeeze this onto the sign. Thing is, he (the sineman) knows this too. I think he could have come up with a better message than this.

In any event, let's consider the sign. What does it mean? Well, what question promtpted that answer? Do you see how the lack of context leaves us uncertain as the answer's true meaning??

Suppose to question was, "How did you react when the first reports of the killings were received?"

And the answer was, "Well, we've had cases of sectarian violence resulting in civilian casualties and even a few instances of out-right executions of entire families so, the deaths were not seen as unusual".

That certainly alters the true meaning of the quote doesn't it?

Now, I think I know something about the sineman and I think I know (from his previous writings) what he's thinking. I think he's asserting that, in fact, the events at Haditha were not unusual because they were part of policy or the result of a direct order. A policy or order for which he holds President Bush and his administration responsible.

My response to that is simple. Where is the documentary evidence for that? Where are the orders? Where is the policy document? Why has nobody come forward in opposition to this? Could this order or policy be kept secret? Do you really believe that?

This reminds me of the WMD issue. Bush lied we cry with regards to WMD. In spite of overwhelming evidence that Iraq did posses WMD and had not followed through with it's obligations under international law to disarm. The UK, France, Italy, Germany, nearly ever intelligence service, even Bill Clinton thought Iraq had WMD.

And yet, we ignore that. Bush knew they didn't have any. He just lied. uh huh...

And now, with regard to Haditha. There is no evidence what so ever of unlawful orders being issued to any members of the US Armed Forces. In fact, there is evidence of the exact opposite. A group of soldiers acting outside the bounds of their orders. And yet, some of us blindly assert our leaders have committed a criminal act in this case.

Why?

I also find it curious that Sineman chooses to cite Fox News. Does he watch Fox News? Or, by associating them with this quote does he mean to impune them somehow? Or, implicate them somehow? If he doesn't watch Fox News, where did he really get the quote from??