Posted on 12/21/2006 11:03:18 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
A big BUMP to that.
Please add me to the ping list for this.
Thank you.
I agree, we need to think of something to show these Marines that we give them our support.
Screw the folks back home, if they cave to pressure and convict innocent men then they lose the support of the men and women in the ranks. And they know it, too. I have no doubt that they went that extra mile and make sure that the charges were justified for that very reason.
BTTT.
You're in, Brandie! Welcome aboard.
Dec. 25: Marines should be judged by jury of peers, not by media
Your anti-Iraq war opinion is again showing, by headlining that eight Marines were charged in the civilian deaths in Haditha [Front page, Dec. 22]. There was also an in-depth, three-quarter-page story inside. If eight Marines had just been given the Nobel Peace Prize for humanitarian work in Iraq, you wouldn't have given them this kind of coverage. Why does the Register continuously highlight the negative?
This news needs to be reported, but why such an over-the-top emphasis on the negative? War is hell, and the pressure of seeing your buddies killed daily can bring out the worst in people, even decent people. I am not condoning what it is alleged these Marines did, but I am sure in every war this goes on.
Barely mentioned, and not highlighted, is how the military itself, after hearing of the charges, conducted a complete investigation and is pursuing charges against its own soldiers. The military is not trying to cover it up. How about highlighting that fact?
This kind of negative news goes all over the world, and is used by our enemies to show their people how the evil, brutal U.S. military is killing all their civilians and needs to be fought in jihad. I expect this from them, but it continues to sicken me when I see it in the U.S. press.
Tom Willson, Huntington Beach
•••
As a retired Marine, I don't have a problem with these Marines being charged. I would expect them to be judged by their peers. Their peers have been in combat and lost a close friend during combat. Officers have been in combat and promise troops that they would do everything possible to make sure they survived.
Marines are a special breed; there aren't many of us, and we form a close bond with those we fight alongside. If one of our team gets hit or killed, we all respond.
If the jury is of one's peers, it is a little easier to accept the verdict. Remember, there, but for the grace of God, go you.
N. J. Brunner, Orange
I just hope they get a fair day in court, and don't wind up being a pr campaign by the appeasors.
If they did do it, let them fry... but if they go down to appeasors, not facts, may those who put them on trial die painful slow deaths.
If I were them I would have more faith in a fair trial by court martial than in a civilian court with a jury full of people who can't wait to sell their experiences to 20/20.
Welcome to the Haditha Marines ping list, Brandie. Proud to have another military family member showing support for these Marines.
Wonder if you know whether a court martial has ever been televised? I haven't heard anything yet about a request from C-Span or the like.
I doubt it. Federal courts banned TV cameras in 1994 and military court martials would fall under the same ban.
Washington, Dec 21 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 21) — Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement today in response to Marines charged in the Haditha killings:
“Haditha will be synonymous with two grave misdeeds: the massacre of 24 innocent Iraqi civilians and the cover-up of that massacre. If it were not for TIME magazine’s January 2006 investigation, we would not be here today.
“The individuals in the Marine Corps chain-of-command responsible for the cover-up of crimes against Iraqi civilians in Haditha need to be held accountable. Those who committed the crime need to be held accountable. Those in the chain-of-command who knew about the crime need to be held accountable.
“My father, two of my brothers and my nephew have all served in the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps holds a special place in my heart. However, officials who were aware of the Haditha incident prior to the TIME Iraq investigation and who covered it up, need to be held responsible. This Administration repeatedly understated the impact of this war on Iraqi civilians.
“Deliberately misrepresenting the events of Nov. 19, 2005, until disproven by a national news organization is an injustice unto itself for which everyone involved must be held accountable.
“I am calling on the Inspector General to open an investigation into why the Marine Corps failed to investigate the massacre before they were prompted to do so by TIME magazine—all the way up the chain of command—as high as it goes. I am calling on Congress to open an investigation into this case—all the way up the chain of command—as high as it goes. Open and full investigations are the only way to find out who is responsible for this cover-up.”
Yo, Nobody! Do drop me a line and tell me all about it. Enquiring minds want to know. I wish I could have been there to see that.
What is WITH these clowns and the presumption of innocence???
He really is a dirtbag.
Hiya, lily!
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