Marine Charged With 13 Civilian Murder Counts (Haditha)

MSNBC ^ | 12/21/06

[areafiftyone]

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A Marine Corps squad leader was charged Thursday with 13 murder counts stemming from the killings of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha last year, his attorney said.

Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich was charged with 12 counts of murdering individuals and one count of murdering six people by ordering Marines under his charge to "shoot first and ask questions later" when they entered a house, according to charging sheets released by defense attorney Neal Puckett.

As many as eight Marines could be charged in the case, the biggest U.S. criminal case to emerge from the war in Iraq in terms of people killed.

The deaths occurred on Nov. 19, 2005.

Lawyers for two Marines already have said they expect their clients will be charged and it’s believed up to six others could join them.

[StarCMC]

I'd like to be on this pinglist too, please. Thanks!

[EyeGuy]

"I can't believe they even have to defend themselves."


Indeed. This is the crux of this whole sad episode, as America takes another step downward.

WHO specifically decided to bring charges against these Marines?

[Txsleuth]

Fox covering this now...

A news conference expected within an hour...

[radar101]

Since when did Marines become police? Rules of Engagement in Iraq

Rules to Live...and Die...By

By Col. DAN SMITH

http://www.counterpunch.org/smith12082004.html Some ROE are included in unit "standing operational orders" (SOP) and form the basic structure from which adjustments are made to develop operational-specific ROE issued to forces just prior to the start of an operation. For example, the following replicates a pre-September 11, 2001 set of standing ROE for Joint Task Force 6, the multi-service command at Fort Bliss, Texas that is the Defense Department's interface with counter-drug U.S. law enforcement agencies.

Personnel WILL make every effort to avoid confrontation or armed conflict with civilians.

Personnel MAY:

Use only the amount of force necessary and proportional to the threat; Use deadly force in self-defense and in defending others from death or serious bodily injury;
Detain any person posing an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm, releasing them to civilian LEA [law enforcement agents] as soon as possible;
Pursue armed persons only to defend or retrieve personnel;
Pursue unarmed forces to retrieve military equipment.

Personnel MAY NOT:

Use deadly force to protect property;
Use deadly force if other measures would be reasonably effective;
Participate in arrests, searches, seizures, or interrogations;
Trespass on private property. These ROE provide for the use of deadly force to counter deadly force as an absolute right.
They do not sanction deadly force to accomplish a mission.
The use of force for the latter purpose is conditional on the grounds of necessity (a hostile act is imminent or has occurred) and proportionality (reasonable in intensity, duration, and magnitude). For example, destroying the house and livelihood of relatives of insurgent suicide car bombers is neither necessary nor proportional; it is vindictive.

[Ben Chad]

Human sacrifice alive and well in the USMC.

[EyeGuy]

"Die by" indeed when it is impossible to determine just who "civilians" are.

Disastrously constraining ROE's.

[Jrabbit]

Well, I was waiting to see what happened with this.....now I know. Our military is not allowed to win. They shouldn't be expected to fight and die for a country that will charge them with murder for doing their jobs. Bring them home...now!

[pgkdan]

Figure it takes at least two guys an hour to dig a hole that size, plant the bomb, and bury it. SOMEONE in those houses SAW SOMETHING, but let the US soldiers get blown up anyway. THAT MAKES THEM ALL THE ENEMY. Women, children, old young, all very sad, but all VERY INVLOVED if Daddy didn't REPORT THE TERRORISTS DIGGING UP THEIR FRONT YARD.

Amen! I pray that politics don't send these brave Marines to the gallows. This disgusts me more than I can say.

[jazusamo]

You're on Star, welcome.

[vigilante2]

And we have a soldier charged for murder by the DoD

I believe no soldiers have been charged in this case

[La Enchiladita]

:)

Thanks, FRiend...

[RedRover]

DVD recorder alert! Tx says news conference within the hour!

[gardencatz]

I remember when I used to think that the military was an honorable tradition and a good place to get a grounding for young adults before college.

I have a son graduating from Marine Corps Boot Camp in a couple weeks. I raised him to believe that service to one's country and patriotism were honorable. I almost wish I hadn't because this kind of thing scares the crap out of me.

Cindie

[La Enchiladita]

See post #79, here...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1756917/posts?page=79#79

[RedRover]

WHO specifically decided to bring charges against these Marines?

General Mattis.

[jazusamo]

Speaks volumes about him, doesn't it.

[RedRover]

Okay newbie, what are your previous incarnations here?

Even now, Zemo is waiting to be reborn.

[CDB]

Makes my blood boil, too, Sleuthie.

Meanwhile, Sandy Burglar continues to walk free...

[RoadTest]

This just chops the foundation out from under our country's military.

Our enemies couldn't overcome our superior military forces so they have attacked our servicemen instead and are getting cooperation from greedy "American?" lawyers and judges.

They are winning the propaganda war. Get smart, America!

[EyeGuy]

"WHO specifically decided to bring charges against these Marines?

General Mattis."


Who has exactly how much experience in DIRECT combat with a barbaric, non-uniformed enemy that hides among women and children?