Posted on 01/20/2012 9:00:14 PM PST by smoothsailing
Neal Puckett and Haytham Faraj
January 20, 2012
Scott Pelley of CBS 60 Minutes, asked just as direct and hard-hitting questions as any government prosecutor in a 2006 interview of SSgt Wuterich. Today in court the prosecution played nearly 3 hours of outtakes where Pelley attempted to get Wuterich to admit his Marines went on a rampage in Haditha Iraq.
The prosecution team hoped to show that Wuterich admitted to shooting 5 military aged men and made irresponsible decisions to declare a house hostile and then prove he did it without clear understanding of the rules of engagement. Instead, those in the court room watched the last Marine take responsibility, correctly define the rules of engagement in force in 2005 and all specific training for the squad as well as identify the truth of what happened that day.
SSgt Wuterich identified that he used 4 main indicators to determine that the men who drove up simultaneously with the IED explosion could have been insurgents. He further explained the incoming small arms fire on the smoldering remains of the 4th Humvee as emanating from a house south of the explosion site. With careful detailed descriptions, Wuterich told Scott Pelley how he positively identified the house, which may have harbored insurgents and how his squad cleared that house and a second one right behind it.
In the entire 3 hours, Wuterich never once blamed the Marine Corps, his squad, his commanders or the intelligence briefs given to his squad that day. He calmly explained combat and the results of engagements. Throughout it all, Wuterich took responsibility as the senior person in the squad. He came across as truthful, forthright and humane. His testimony was in stark contrast to Sgt Mendoza. Mendoza gave rambling, contradictory testimony and at times admitted to lying to investigators. Nevertheless, Sgt Mendoza has been awarded a combat action ribbon and been promoted three times since the events at Haditha. SSgt Wuterich has yet to be awarded his combat action ribbon for the same day in combat.
SSgt Wuterich Ping!
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Is there a ping-list for this Haditha Marine? If so, please add me to it, Jazusamo.
Welcome to the Haditha Marine ping list, bajabaja, you’re on.
You’re on! Welcome aboard!
I’d like to be added to your ping list also. Thanks
You bet, amom, welcome! You’re on.
You’re on, amom! Welcome Aboard! :)
Thanks to all y’all. 8D
This is very encouraging. Great post. It’s almost as if the prosecution wants to help Wuterich.
Also, for what it’s worth, I talked to a Marine combat veteran today who told me that at his School of Infantry training in Fall of 2007, Marines were trained to clear a hostile house by always throwing a grenade into each room before entering. This was standard training. Very shortly thereafter in late 2007, upon joining the Fleet, infantry Marines were told to stop using grenades when clearing rooms and identify targets before engaging. Can you imagine? Just peek around the corner, I guess, and see if there are any insurgents with AKs waiting to blow your head off.
Absolutely insane. The people responsible for changing the ROE are criminals in my book.
Thanks, Lancey. It’s a shame those that write the ROE don’t have to be the ones peeking around the corner before they get their cushy job, it might change the way we fight wars now.
Thanks for the update smoothsailing Praying for a quick end to this stupid trial.
Fearless under fire! God bless our Marines and bring this farce of a trial to the correct conclusion.
I hope that the panel walks out of the deliberation room with a not guilty verdict five minutes after they walk in for deliberations.
whoa...how could they withhold the SSgt’s CAR ?
Weird. They hadn’t watched the video before they played it?
Good for SSgt.
Please add me to the Haditha Marines ping list.
(Devil Dog’s Dad here)
SSgt. Wuterich should be restored to full duty, his record cleared, and any awards or promotions he should have gotten, before this travesty of “justice” was visited on him, awarded. Who is paying for his defense? He must be nearly bankrupt by now. Perhaps a SSgt. Wuterich fund raiser is needed?
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