Posted on 09/01/2007 11:59:34 AM PDT by RedRover
figured I’d post this here
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=21940
Marine says ordered to kill Iraqi women, children
US Corporal Mendoza says received orders to execute room full of terrified Iraqi women, children in Haditha.
By Rob Woollard - CAMP PENDLETON, California
A US Marine was ordered to execute a room full of terrified Iraqi women and children during an alleged massacre in Haditha that left 24 people dead, a military court heard Thursday.
The testimony came in the opening of a preliminary hearing for Marine Sergeant Frank Wuterich, who faces 17 counts of murder over the Haditha killings, the most serious war crimes allegations faced by US troops in Iraq.
-snip-
Not sure what you meant by that, but no more pings to you
You bring out excellent points and I agree with you wholeheartedly with your statement “These prosecutions from combat mistakes should never happen”. Who with good conscience could prosecute such cases based on minutiae of events not only clouded by time but also the adrenaline rush of the moment. I pray for our soldiers and it tears at my heart to see them put through such ordeals to satisfy the politics of the time. I hunger for a leader that would put himself between our soldiers and the tribunals. Sadly we do not have one of those.
we live in an era when real leaders are put down, marginalized and crucified. I’m thinking of recent events when miltary leaders have experienced all of the above for their honest and truthful remarks. But political leaders face the same.
I was hoping this FR site might be one such place, but alas, is just another bunch of gripers that need a “weeping wall.”
And, we the public sit on our hands afraid to sing out and say, “enough!!”
Fools, fool and idiots. They are going to get us all killed.
I agree with you in general, but just to stick up for my buddies...
The regulars on the Haditha Marine threads are more than gripers. We've helped raise a lot of money for the defense funds, helped arrange rallies, obtained documents and posted them online, given the families a place to find support, been a source of inspiration for defense lawyers, and generally have fought the good fight in the court of public opinion.
So I know FR has been, and can be, an effective forum to influence events--when people are willing to put themselves out and DO something. And it doesn't take more than a handful of people to make a big difference.
It would be a good project to identify those in the military and government, NGO's too, who are at the center of this anti-military crusade. Identify and spread their names and organizations in every newspaper and magazine - if only by writing letters to the editor. This must stop or no one will ever re-enlist, even with a $20M bonus. It is not the danger of being shot at over "there," but being crucified at home.
Thank you for posting your personal view on Vokey’s character. I am glad SSgt Wuterich is in good care.
WOW....WOW.....WEEEE!
I know I am late on posting, but thank you for the ping and the powerhouse read!
Yay!!!! Our wandering girl returns! Glad you’re back! Get ready to tell ALL about your trip home to Texas!
Saw the interview for the first time tonight -
Wuterich says there were 2 or 3 shots that sounded like they came for the South that made him decide that the house was a threat since it seemed to him that this was the only place around where they could have come from.
A Lt. who was not there at the time of these shots was supposed to have authorized the clearing of the house.
Is there anything regarding the conversation that must have taken place between them that resulted in this “authorization” ?
Anybody got a link ?
RS is pig ignorant about Haditha but comes on these threads to say the Marines are guilty.
Regarding his post above, anyone following this case knows that RS is wrong.
In fact, a lieutenant was on the scene and he gave the order to clear the houses. This has been established numerous times, including by the lieutenant's own testimony in the hearings.
All of the regulars on these threads strive to them informative, constructive, and cordial. Trolls aim to disrupt that. The best response is to ignore them and hope they'll go away. So, again, I ask...
“RS is pig ignorant about Haditha but comes on these threads to say the Marines are guilty.”
You are a liar - I have never said the Marines are guilty.
“In fact, a lieutenant was on the scene and he gave the order to clear the houses. “
According to Wuterich, during the 60 minutes interview I reviewed moments ago, The Lt. was NOT on scene during the “2 or 3 shots” that came “from the south”
The Lt. would have had NO first hand knowledge of the events that led to the authorization of the clearing of the house.
Since Wuterich is on trail, it would seem that the details of the converstaion in which he convinced the Lt. to authorize the clearing of the house might be of importance.
Time Magazine should share in that reimbursement.
“All of the regulars on these threads strive to them informative, constructive, and cordial.”
Well lets just see - After some digging I found YOUR post of the orignal 60 minute interview -
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1802939/posts?page=220#220
( and thanks for being so informative, constructive and cordial by directing me to it </sarcasm> )
You note Wuterich’s mention of the 2 or 3 sporadic shots that led him to believe that the house to the south “was only logical place the shots could have come from” BEFORE Kallop arrives on the scene. Wuterich also agreed that he NEVER saw any fire coming from the house.
Wuterich obviously filled in Kallop on the situation and Kallop gave the order to clear the house, with NOONE making a PID, as defined by Wuterich -”It means that you need to be able to positively identify your target before you shoot to kill”
Now turning to the Washington Post, which eveyone seems to hate since they have a copy of the reports -
“Kallop told investigators he began to receive enemy fire almost immediately.””Salinas then stated that he could see the enemy so Kallop told them to ‘take the house,’ “
So we have Wuterich’s own words, which appear to look badly for him vs. the MSM WashPost writings, which everyone hates, as giving him some cover.
??
One could also wonder why Wuterich put dots on different buildings as being the ones they cleared, although the one he put the first dot on IS closer to the road then the houses they cleared.
??
... and you wonder why people are seeking answers ?
This whole ordeal just makes me ill, I cannot imagine that any of my children could ever be in this position. I do pray for swift justice for whatever actually did happen and these that can/do lie to save their own backside will be first in line.
Unfortunately, none of the Marines will ever be exonerated in the court of public opinion (the recent death of Richard Jewel is a reminder of that). Soldiers and Marines are engaged in an unpopular war that the media, and certain politicians, will attempt to end by any means at their disposal--including creating a My Lai out of tragic deaths in Haditha.
If you're interested in what we've learned so far about what really happened in Haditha, I've posted the Investigating Officer's report on the LCpl Sharratt case and the LCpl Tatum case. The summary of facts and the conclusions are worth reading.
Like you, I hope all the facts will come out and that justice will be swift in coming.
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