Squad Leader Key to Haditha Case [New Details]

Associated Press ^ | December 21, 2006

[RedRover]

Eight Marines are charged in the deadliest criminal case to arise from the Iraq war, but prosecutors say the actions of just one led most directly to the deaths of 24 unarmed civilians and a subsequent attempted cover-up.

According to court papers, Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, killed 12 people and was responsible for the deaths of six others in the Iraqi city of Haditha last year, telling three other Marines under his command to "shoot first and ask questions later, or words to that effect."The four are charged with unpremeditated murder, and four officers are charged with dereliction of duty for failing to report or properly investigate the killings.

After the killings, Wuterich lied about the circumstances, prosecutors say.

His lawyer, Neal Puckett, said he thinks prosecutors will try to pressure those serving under Wuterich to testify against him in exchange for reduced charges or sentences.

"They work really hard on the lesser actors to try to get them talk about the greater actors," Puckett said. "It's a common practice to flip the little guys against the big guys.

"If convicted of unpremeditated murder, the four could each face life in prison.In a similar case at Camp Pendleton, seven Marines and a Navy corpsman were charged with kidnapping and murdering an Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamdania. Four pleaded guilty, agreeing to testify against others in return for reduced charges and prison sentences.

Military prosecutors have declined to discuss the case, which has drawn great interest in Iraq.Prosecutors say Wuterich, 26, of Meriden, Conn., showed a "wanton disregard for human life," murdering six people in a home after "disregarding the requirement to have positive identification prior to engaging a target.

Afterward, they say, he told his men to lie to investigators and himself gave a false statement when he said his squad came under fire from four men in a car.

All four Marines accused of murder have said through their lawyers that they followed rules of engagement after a roadside bomb killed one of their comrades. They say they came under small arms fire from nearby houses and responded appropriately, using approved tactics to eliminate the threat.

Besides Wuterich, the others facing unpremeditated murder charges in the case are Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz, 24, of Chicago, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 22, of Canonsburg, Pa., Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, 25, of Edmund, Okla.Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani, 42, of Rangely, Colo., 1st Lt. Andrew A. Grayson, 25, Capt. Lucas McConnell, Squad Leader Key to Haditha Case 31, of Napa, Calif., and Capt. Randy W. Stone, 34, face charges in connection with how the incident was investigated or reported.

[Eagles6]

"They beheaded people they didn't like in the square on Saturdays mornings. DVDs of the beheading were on sale by the afternoon."

I truly believe that this is jihadi porn in the truest sense. Have you ever listened to them chanting "allahu akhbar" (mpigsbuh) as they make a human sacrifice? It honestly sounds as if they are fondling themselves or each other to exstacy as the head comes off, the shot is made or the bomb goes off.

[Eagles6]

exstacy= ecstasy

[CottShop]

You know- perhaps Americans should start sending recruiting offices a clear message that we do NOT appreciate what they are doing and will think long and hard about whether we want to serve in a force that does not defend their own and who does NOTHING to prevent being convicted in public opinion even before a trial. Our soldiers were in a HOTBED of terrorist activity- the place is described as being filled to the gills with terrorists, and now we're goign to convict them for reacting to a situation as best they could under the circumstances? Shameful!! http://sacredscoop.com

[PhilDragoo]

Of course, what should one expect from a military strategy that allows Mookie Sadr and Iranian President Imanutjob to dictate the terms of battle.

My response to this vital question consists of two bullet points:

God Bless the memory of Gunny Hathcock.

It was a Marine then-captain who held the chart for the Joint Chiefs November 1965 in the small White House conference room where they attempted unsuccessfully to persuade LBJ to allow them to bomb Hanoi and mine Haiphong.

That fifteen minutes of shame is described in "The Day It Became The Longest War" in the May 1996 Proceedings of the Naval Institute.

The military can only enact the political will of civilian leadership which in the extant case is seen through a glass darkly.

Indeed why is Mookie still killing our people if not to placate a perceived Iraqi/Arab "street" which would include his patron in Tehran that neo-Hitlerian Aloud Jihadinutjob.

If we are in it to win it then tell these wiseass prosecutors to stand down.

There was a scandal over the USNA electrical engineering exam in 1993-4 which put the careers of hundreds of midshipmen at risk because the firebreathers could not establish who had the crib, who'd seen it, who knew about it but did not report it--but someone had eaten the captain's strawberries and by Godfrey there'd be hell to pay.

No doubt some of the overamped shysters in the current fiasco cut their teeth on that capital case.

That was the May the President (traitorrapist42) addressed the brigade in That Stadium with Those Battles on its walls and famously lied for 32 minutes he would not put our people at risk in Bosnia. And that worked out well.

Here we are and that traitor's beard will be 44 if there is not a major. . .a major course correction.

Namely, more Patton, less Wally Cox.

[berdie]

I don't think the recruitment offices have a lot to do with things. Sadly, until a miracle happens and the people of the world are holding hands and singing Kumbaya, we will need a military. I want the best we can have. I blame the media and a weak-kneed response from our politicians. Had both stood behind the effort, I don't think there would have been these kind of issues.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: "Today, [Adm. "Bull" Halsey] would have been brought up on charges"

It has happened already and will continue.. unless we politely inform whoever to knock it off or it's going to be their political ass.

To wit,

H. RES. 419

Condemning religiously intolerant remarks and calling on the President to clearly censure and reassign Lieutenant General Boykin for his religiously intolerant remarks.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. OCTOBER 28, 2003

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1013875/posts

Hint, Christianity was not the target of General Boykin's remarks.

[Cheburashka]

In a guerrilla war..with no uniformed enemy..where the populace is infiltrated with opposing forces, I find this verdict appalling.
---
There has been no verdict. There have been charges filed. Try to keep up.

[W04Man]

How can AP say this with a straight face?

"Military prosecutors have declined to discuss the case, which has drawn great interest in Iraq. Prosecutors say....."

Is the AP guy/gal stretching the facts a little here?

[68skylark]

I find this verdict appalling.

I don't think there's been any "verdict" yet -- they have simply been charged, and have yet to be tried.

[68skylark]

They beheaded people they didn't like in the square on Saturdays mornings.

So are you saying it's a bad thing when innocent civilians get killed in this war? Others here feel it's okay (at least when it's our guys doing the killing).

I don't really know what happened at Haditha. I have reasonable faith in military justice, and if our guys are guilty they'll have to pay a price for what they did.

[KeyLargo]

Unpremeditated Murder

Teachers Say Charged Marine 'Bright Kid'
Dela Cruz Charged With Unpremeditated Murder

POSTED: 9:25 am CST December 22, 2006

CHICAGO -- Teachers of a 24-year-old Chicago rifleman who is in the Marines expressed shock at the charges against him.

Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz is charged with the unpremeditated murder of five civilians and making a false official statement with intent to deceive. He faces a possible life sentence and dishonorable discharge.

The Marine Corps has charged eight of its own in connection with an incident that left 24 civilians dead in the Iraqi town of Haditha last year.

Also charged is the squad leader involved, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich. He's accused of murdering 12 people and faces another murder count for ordering Marines under his command to "shoot first and ask questions later."

Dela Cruz graduated in 2002 from Wells Community High School, NBC5's Charlie Wojciechowski reported. ....

excerpt.

Also POLL to Freep included.

Go to: http://www.nbc5.com/news/10591143/detail.html

[newfreep]

War is not perfect and in a terrorist controlled town, our boys need to do what they need to do. And that includes shoot first & ask questions later.

Too many freakin' peace activists that simply do not have the intellect to connect the dots.

[panthermom]

You send our military to fight a WAR they damn well should be able to take care of business. What kind of crock is this? They were in one of the worst parts of Iraq, known as a hotbed of terrorist, the scum is known to use women and children as bait, whether they are doing it willifully or not makes no difference. The Marines are taking fire, what were they supposed to do? After they dodge the bullets and reach the building are they supposed to ask Ahmed if he is involved in any terrorist activities? Right....If you're taking gunfire from the enemy, in my opinion the shoot first, ask questions later tactic is the one I would prefer if my son or husband were in that situation. No instead lets string them up because they reacted and the commanding officer decided to protect his men while doing his job. Would it have been better had they reached the inside of that building and decided to ask questions and were blown up by a suicide bomber, would that be better? We would hear on the news that they were all killed and how grateful we all are for their sacrafice. Their moms would get a Gold Star all because our guys can't shoot back. We don't know the half of it as far as what the terrorist do to our men and women. The fact they they have shown the amount of restraint is truly a testament to their courage. Put yourself in their shoes, we didn't start this war, the terrorists did. Now they are sent to a country with no rules, where evil lurkes everywhere, to fight people who value death more than life. No uniforms, using women and children as shields, the enemy mixing with the population, you NEVER know if you are approaching someone who is glad you are there or someone who wants you dead.

[Grimmy]

You have it backwards. Those playing the trendy traitor games get put down and dealt with according to law and tradition, or we cease to exist. There is plenty reason for the current military leadership to have zero faith in the steadiness and/or faithfulness of this nations population. They've been betrayed once before by folk too stupid, weak, feckless or simply malicious that gave themselves over to enemy propagandists, and its been so popular to play the enemy sympathizer since, that we as a culture cant even bring ourselves to act against it for our very own survival. If the heathen of this nation sit on their thumbs and let this happen, the end of our days has begun. Those Marines fought for you. What are you going to do for them? Freekin parasites.
I mean that last to every single citizen in this country and every country that has benifited from the defense provided by our military, not the commenter specifically.

[RedRover]

BTTT. All you said.

[verity]

"I'm pig ignorant about the workings of military justice."

Nothing personal, RedRover, but lack of knowledge and experience is what makes these threads entertaining.

[Potts Mtn. Pappy]

Being an old, old Marine, I can recall the combat training I received. We were told that we were to take prisoners only when requested by upper echelon. They also explained why. Just common sense. You can't afford to take men out of the line to babysit and remove prisoners to the rear. I received this training over 50 yrs ago

Semper Fi

[RedRover]

-- They beheaded people they didn't like in the square on Saturdays mornings.

--So are you saying it's a bad thing when innocent civilians get killed in this war?

I was trying to convey that Haditha was brutually, ruthlessly, ruled by insurgents whose word was law.

These Marines had a stopped convoy in a place where an ambush could easily have been sprung.

"Shoot first", sounds like a damn good idea in that situation.

I don't really know what happened at Haditha.

I don't either and am putting my faith in the process. I have no choice. On the other hand, these boys have been condemned as "cold blooded killers" for the past six months. The families (now faced with the need to beg, borrow, or steal a hundred grand for experienced civilian counsel) have been through hell.

You and I may respectfully disagree, but I firmly believe all the political grandstanding and media spin must be countered. Our Marines deserve the presumption of innocence--and most especially in a case where their accusers are jihadists.

[RedRover]

LOL! Well, at least I'm upfront! I was hoping it'd be a refreshing change.

[RedRover]

I salute you for your service, Pap.

As I mentioned in another post, these Marines had been attacked and stopped their patrol in Injun territory. If I had been the squad leader, must first thought would have been protecting my squad against ambush.

As it happens, the ambush was sprung after the fact.