Haditha witness alleges squad leader planned to kill [SSgt Wuterich Article 32]

As a combat chaplain, I wouldn't give you an ounce of spit for a team member who didn't have those kind of feelings. I'll bet Dela Cruz just stood there nodding. Why didn't he turn him in at the time, if he thought it was such a crime to think that thought?

Why? Because Cruz knew that Wuterich was doing nothing more than venting, and saying nothing more than, "We're gonna stick together. We're gonna pull each other through this. We're gonna fight for each other. We'll shed blood for each other."

And chaplain, your words means a lot in my book on a subject like this. That deserved repeating. If Dela Cruz ever actually heard something like this from Sgt (at the time) Wuterich's lips.....this is all too real.

Thank you, Girlene. You are such a good reviewer. I tend to interpret what was meant if our guys said something or did something that others are trying to use against them.

You cut right to the heart with Dela Cruz who failed polygraphs and changed stories. You remind us to question everything he says. “If Dela Cruz ever actually heard something....”

You are dead on right.

"Sgt Wuterich followed his ROE and Law of War in Haditha on 19 November 2005. 3rd squad, 3/1 kilo Company was in a firefight this day. Sgt Wuterich used sound military judgement and followed orders in clearing those houses. He is a hero, a fine Marine and an American treasure. Sgt Frank Wuterich preserved the lives of His Marines. He will be exonerated."
Yes dad. This is the only real justified action that can be carried out. It so obviouse to so many of us since the truth has been brought out that your son and the rest of his Marine patrol simply followed their ROE it is beyond pathetic that these NCIS scum bags are even being given any latitude in their presentations.
There where no criminal actions performed by these fine Marines, only extremely difficult fraction of a second decisions and follow up actions they had to perform. General Mattis knows the real truth.
It continues to be perplexing as to why any of these *hit head NCIS people are even respected in the least for providing factual information that could lend some element of credence to charges being brought forth on any of these Marines.
The system must produce results. Fine. Let each of these Marines be fully exonerated from any falsely construed deviation in their duties and let them move forward, and with all your families and finally get some rest from this terrible travesty that has been fousted upon you all.

Well, info from this NY Times link provides a little background on what Dela Cruz is dealing with. At Marines’ Hearing, Testament to Violence

[snip]...Sergeant Dela Cruz, whose credibility has been an issue in hearings for other marines charged in the Haditha killings....

[snip] Sergeant Dela Cruz has admitted to lying to an Army colonel who initially investigated the Haditha episode, in which Marine riflemen killed 24 Iraqis, including at least 10 women and children, after a roadside bomb killed one of their comrades.

In a sworn statement, he told the colonel that Iraqi Army soldiers traveling with his unit had killed the five men near the car, and that he had yelled at them to stop, to no avail.

Sergeant Wuterich’s lawyers took pains to point out that Sergeant Dela Cruz’s immunity deal protected him from being charged in the Haditha episode,

So now it's becoming clear what Dela Cruz may have done to get his immunity. He may have originally lied about what happened that day. Then maybe Dela Cruz blamed Wuterich for telling him to lie when his story didn't match the others. Maybe Dela Cruz was the weakest link to break since he wasn't involved in the other houses. NCIS seems to like the weakest link to provide "testimony" to win their cases. Much easier when there's no hard evidence.

Oh, and in other testimony presented today....Staff Sgt. Justin Laughner, a member of a Marine intelligence unit that inspected the scene of the Haditha killings, said Sergeant Wuterich had told him the men had run from the car when they were shot.

Sergeant Laughner also said squad members had been worried that the car could have been carrying a bomb.

Hmmm...Both Mendoza and De la Cruz were trying to get citizenship through military service. Neither one of them are the sharpest knives in the dishwasher. Neither one of them passed lie detector tests,and both of them were bought by the prosecution. Shame on the prosecution for depriving these weak souls of their only opportunity to be honorable young men.

If evil had only the strong, free willed and righteous to feast on, it would have surely starved to death long ago.

Good summary.

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