Mokhiber: Ari, there is a front page article in the Financial Times today titled “The Marines Shot Anything They Considered a Threat.” It reports that marines from the 5th Marines were so unnerved by attacks from Iraqi fighters in civilian clothes that they opened fire repeatedly, hitting unarmed men, women and children, including a six-year girl, who was shot in the head.

Does the President know about this and is he concerned about a potential My Lai situation developing?

Ari Fleischer: Russell, the President is very concerned about situations that threaten our armed forces – suicide attacks on our armed forces. He has high confidence in our armed forces in doing anything they can to protect civilian life and to protect themselves.

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-Thanks to Russell Mokhiber

White House reporter Russell Mokhiber is the editor of the Washington, D.C.-based Corporate Crime Reporter - www.corporatecrimereporter.com. He co-authors the weekly Focus on the Corporation column with Robert Weissman which Common Dreams publishes. He can be reached at: russell@nationalpress.com