Posted on 04/20/2007 6:31:13 PM PDT by RedRover
On Tuesday, the Marine Corps announced that all charges had been dropped against Sergeant Sanick Dela Cruz. He had been charged with murder for the incident in Haditha, Iraq, on November 19, 2005.
And that was the only part of the story the media got right.
There were reports of a plea deal, that this was terrible for the defense. Lawyers said prosecutors must have had the sergeant over a barrel. Hes saving his own skin! Hes a traitor!
And no one had the facts.
There was no deal, no pretrial arrangement of any kind for testimony, sources close to Sergeant Dela Cruzs defense told me.
Lieutenant General James Mattis ordered Sergeant Dela Cruz to cooperate and testify eleven days before the charges against Sergeant Dela Cruz were dropped.
General Mattis had come to the conclusion that, on balance, the charges against Sgt. Dela Cruz should not go forward. Still, Sergeant Dela Cruz was a witness and (like Corporals Mendoza, Salinas, and others) he will be required to testify truthfully. It would be incredible if he wasnt.
Many have said that Sergeant Dela Cruzs testimony regarding Sergeant Frank Wuterich firing on suspects at the taxi will convict Wuterich. More nonsense.
Heres what some people have a hard time grasping.
Sergeant Dela Cruz only knows what he saw. He doesnt know what Sergeant Wuterich saw.
Dela Cruz doesnt know how the situation looked through Wuterichs eyes when he came to a split-second decision to fire at the five Iraqis beside a white taxi.
And Dela Cruz, who likes and respects Wuterich, is not going to second-guess the way his fellow Marine saw things.
November 19, 2005 was Wuterichs first day in combat. Dela Cruz was in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 4th Marines. His second tour was with the 1/4 in hellholes like Najaf. His third tour (with the 1st Marines) brought Dela Cruz to Haditha that morning.
The two may have seen the situation completely differently, tell different stories about the event, and both be telling the truth as they saw it when one man saw a reason to act.
Sergeant Sanick Dela Cruz is an honorable Marine. When the full story of Haditha is known he will be recognized as a heroic Marine. His coolness in taking prisoners that day is just one instance, among many, that belies the media's tale of Marines on a rampage.
The sergeant will testify to the truth as he saw it. So will the accused. If the cases go to courts-martial, a jury will weigh the evidence and reach a verdict.
I believe that all the accused will be exonerated, if they all get the defense they deserve.
In the meantime, heres advice for anyone following this case. Be glad that justice prevailed for Sergeant Dela Cruz, and believe very little of what you read about the Haditha Marines. From the beginning, the media got it wrong and it's not getting it right yet.
Several phone calls and e-mails later, I got to the bottom of it.
Reuters somehow got hold of a draft of the Corps' press release. That phrase was in the draft. But it was deleted in the final version.
You can see the final version here. There's nothing about "low-level culpability". But everyone just keeps repeating what Reuters said without even knowing what it means!
I can't tell you how important this is. The media is getting nearly everything about this case wrong!
You’re welcome, lily! I thought you’d like this post.
But let's have faith in the Corps. They aren't Murtha and they aren't the media.
Yes, it made my cranky go away. Freeper Fretting is what I had. :)
No, that's not right either. Dela Cruz was ordered to testify. And he was given immunity. So were at least seven other Marines--some at the request of the defense.
I wish this case was never brought forward. I wish the same for Hamdania. From all accounts, the NCIS behaved abusively in both cases, but beyond that, the two cases don't have much in common.
So, Reuters reports it like there’s a quid pro quo, when there’s not. This press release just says charges were dismissed. What about immunity? Nothing is stated in the release about that.
You and me both! You and I both believe in Frank and I’m more convinced then ever that he’ll be exonerated.
So far, there's nothing at all to suggest that General Mattis is being partial to the prosecution.
AMEN TO THAT!!! May God Bless our Marines. We Must always keep the faith!
This case is sounding better, especially with the news of the immunities of others on the scene that day. Lt. Kallop’s testimony will be key to the justification for taking the first two houses. I read he’s heading back to Iraq sometime this year.
I can’t help it, when I see your name I think of chips! So I can’t hold back I have to say it.
You are all that and a bag of chips.
When Frank gets exonerated, I am looking forward to hearing the news from you.
Yes, thank you Sgt Dela Cruz!!!!
Anyone know how much time Dela Cruz has left in his enlistment period? Is it possible he could be sent back to Iraq after this case is over?
Good question.
http://www.usmc.mil/lapa/iraq-investigations.htm
PRESS RELEASE #07-007 April 17, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Charges Dismissed Against Marine In Haditha, Iraq Investigation CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (April 17, 2007) Charges against a Marine allegedly involved in the death of Iraqi civilians in Haditha, Iraq in November, 2005, have been dismissed.
Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz was charged on Dec. 21, 2006 with unpremeditated murder for the death of five Iraqi civilians.
As Consolidated Disposition Authority for the Haditha cases, Lieutenant General James Mattis, granted Dela Cruz testimonial immunity. The charges against him were dismissed on April 2.
Dela Cruz is one of four enlisted Marines charged with violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice on Dec. 21, 2006 for their alleged involvement in the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians following an improvised explosive device and small arms attack on a Marine convoy in Haditha, Iraq on Nov. 19, 2005. Charges were also preferred against four officers for their failure to investigate and report the deaths of the Iraqi civilians.
More information on the investigation can be found at: http://www.usmc.mil/lapa/iraq-investigations.htm.
The charges and specifications are accusations against the individual and the accused are presumed innocent. The Marine Corps is absolutely committed to holding fair and impartial proceedings in full compliance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1818797/posts?page=4#4
The original thread with Roooter/Yahoo's story. There has been no names attached to any of the "officials" who have "leaked" the rumor that Dela Cruz was to testify, we do know for certain that these various news rumors cannot all be right, however, they could all be wrong, and the story is just as simple as what was posted above by the Marine Corps - yes, he got immunity, but that's all it says.
All the other stuff could have very well been contrived by one "journalist", and spread through the pack like a STD, or - the rest of the news.
I should’ve read farther before I posted, you’d already answered it....I’m still asleep, lol.
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