TRIAL OF SSGT WUTERICH: NO MURDER, NO JAIL, THE END OF AN ORDEAL

Defend Our Marines ^ | January 24, 2012 | Nathaniel R. Helms

[shalom aleichem]

Media coverage is all about how incensed the Jihadis are over the light sentence. Reports keep saying Sgt W was “involved in” the deaths of 24 innocent civilians, etc., implying he killed them all with his bare hands, when he was only conviced of and pleaded to one count of “Negligent Dereliction of Duty”. That’s all! Not even intentional or reckless DOD. “Negligent”! Now this Sgt will have to go into hiding or the witness protection program for life to save himself and his family. He’s being treated worse than OJ or Casey Anthony! There were originally 7 charged. He was in limbo for 6 years! Where is the American Legion? VFW? anyone?

[xzins]

I remain unaware of any law making the words "shoot first ask questions later" illegal.

Someone will say the ROE render those words illegal, but I have read nothing in the ROE saying they must always be uttered in their entirety and without any mistake whatsoever whenever they are referenced.

In short, I find it unfathomable that a 24 year old, fresh to combat, E-5 Sergeant, the lowest ranking sergeant in existence, is being punished for words spoken following the killing of one of his Marines, and immediately before he was ready to engage those same shooters.

Even more important is that the ROE that day that truly applied were a (1) "reasonable certainty the target is legitimate" AND (2) use deadly force to protect yourself and your unit.

There is nothing on that ROE card that says "this cannot be paraphrased or summarized verbally at any time."

For Wuterich the target was declared legitimate when he was told to "clear south". So, his priority was "protect yourself and unit". He reminded his troops to take the attack to the enemy "shoot first questions later".

And that is a PERFECT summary of "protect yourself" when engaged in an attack.

[srweaver]

I believe the words “shoot first and ask questions later” were/are being focused on by the prosecution and media specifically for their inflammatory value. Obviously, those in a dynamic, hostile situation would use/view these words very differently and with a very different meaning than someone than someone sitting safely in a courtroom and/or a living room (as SSgt. Wuterich has pointed out).

Ssgt. Wuterich HAS been judged by his peers, in their testimony during his trial, and found overwhelmingly “not guilty.”
I can not even begin to imagine the pressures he was exposed to, both in combat and in the courtroom, and respect his decision to move forward in his life in the ways that seem best to him. Also, I do not carry the burdens and responsibilities placed upon him by the U.S. government and Marine Corps, and resulting in the deaths in Haditha.

Perhaps the situation in Haditha was “unavoidable,” and the burden of the deaths that occurred, but the subsequent prosecution of the Marines involved in this case is unsupportable and reprehensible, in my strong opinion.

[xzins]

I continue to be appalled that these men have been persecuted for years even though there has not been one single conviction of murder or even manslaughter.

Our country is taking combat troops to court for actions on the battlefield that finally are proven to have been entirely defensible and ALWAYS, even from the standpoint of those not there that day, were a matter of split second judgement on the battlefield.

That is a blemish on this nation.

And to save face, the government fought for a piddly negligence charge against a young sergeant E5 who simply summarized their rules of engagement in a word order that they didn’t like.

It’s like being convicted in court for interpreting The Tale of Two Cities in a non-standard way on an English paper. It’s a “word crime” or a “thought crime” on a freaking battlefield.

[RedRover]

To make things even murkier, no said they ever heard SSgt Wuterich give such an order. Even prosecution witnesses, such as Mendoza, testified that he never heard Wutertich give an order all day.

Wuterich pleaded guilty to the charge of negligent dereliction of duty so this is moot. But still, it’s among the reasons so many of us thought this case was winnable.

[jazusamo]

Couldn’t agree more with the three of you. Even SSgt. Wuterich says “or words to that effect” and this squad was in a fight for their very lives.

It’s pathetic that this whole case for six years boils down to a few words nobody is even sure was said so our government can say at least one person was guilty of some wrong doing.

I could go on but my rant would contain nothing that hasn’t been said before, there was no wrong doing by these Marines in my view.

[srweaver]

I also think the case was winnable, but am relieved that SSgt. Wuterich will be able to get on with his life absent external “controls” and “threats” (150+ years!) from the government.

What internal sense of responsibility/accountability he feels for the events in Haditha and his role in them, and how they affected his decisions in his court-martial are between him, his conscience, and his God. I cannot speak to/for his fellow Marines and their views, but am appreciative and humbled by the way many of them have served before, during, and after the events at Haditha.

My prayer for him is abundant mercy and peace, and great grace to function in the many roles and obligations he faces now that this “trial” is over.

That also goes for the rest of the men who have served faithfully through these courts-martial.

[Gene Eric]

>> THE END OF AN ORDEAL

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the Haditha Marines.