Posted on 01/02/2012 10:28:48 AM PST by smoothsailing
January 2, 2012
It certainly seems appropriate that the last defendant in the Haditha case is the squad leader, SSgt Frank Wuterich. Leaders take responsibility, and SSgt Wuterich has taken full responsibility for the actions of his squad in Haditha. His stance from the outset has remained clear:
As the last Marine originally charged in the deaths of Iraqis in Haditha, Iraq in 2005, SSgt Wuterich will be seated at the defense table in his general court-martial two days from now, Wednesday, January 4th. Barring last minute motions or outright dismissal of charges, jury selection will begin Wednesday or Thursday. SSgt. Wuterich will be tried by a jury of combat-experienced Marines, and the panel will include at least two Marines from the enlisted ranks.
Much has been written over the last six years about Haditha, and links to some of the most recent news articles and commentaries are included at the bottom of this post to help bring readers up to date. For older Free Republic postings, please use this link or enter the keyword Haditha in the Free Republic search engine.
The purpose of this Free Republic thread is to serve as a "Master Post" where trial news and updates can be brought together in one place for easy reference by those interested in following the proceedings as they unfold.
Freepers Smoothsailing, Red Rover, and Jazusamo will monitor the thread, post updates, and attempt to answer questions or direct readers to information sources. Jazusamo maintains the Haditha Marine Ping List. Please ask Jazusamo to be added to the ping list if you wish to be alerted to updates.
Recent News and Commentary:
MILITARY TIMES-Haditha Marine Faces Trial
Count Down to the Last Haditha Trial
MILITARY: Two high-profile cases set for Pendleton courtrooms
Remember SSgt Frank D. Wuterich: The last Haditha Marine goes on trial
Dont rewrite Murthas legacy (Haditha Marines)
North County Times now reporting:
Deal might be in works in Wuterich Haditha prosecution
Just off hand, why would Wuterich want to cut a deal? It appears that he’ll be exonerated.
Nat Helms, author of the recent book My Men are Heroes, has written extensively about Haditha. He said: Sullivan, who is prosecuting Wuterich, may eventually face some heat of his own for how and why star prosecution witness [Lance Cpl.] Humberto Mendoza managed to get transferred to Sullivans Chicago-based reserve unit as a driver after he was granted immunity.
Another article from 2007 USA Today:
Among those provided with immunity to testify are an officer who told troops to raid a house and a sergeant who took photographs of the dead but later deleted them from his camera.Mendoza, who was not charged in the case, told investigators that he shot at least two men, but did so because they were in houses declared hostile.
"I was following my training that all individuals in a hostile house are to be shot," Mendoza told investigators. He was given immunity Dec. 18, just days before the Marine Corps announced murder charges against four enlisted men and dereliction of duty charges against four officers.
I can’t imagine why he would want to, he’s repeatedly proclaimed his innocence. He’s winning his case!
I think the prosecution is grasping at straws in an attempt to save face.
Staff Sergeant Wuterich should not deal with the government if it involves his pleading guilty to anything or accepting any form of non-judicial punishment.
If he does, every newspaper and every history written will in the future begin with the lead sentence: Staff Sergeant Wuterich who admitted ____ was punished by Gen _______ with a letter of reprimand for official file.
Thanks, xzins. I had completely forgotten about those articles and remember them now that you linked them.
scratchin my head...what could the prosecution still have that the defense would even consider that deal ?
I agree with you. The defense is winning. The prosecution is losing. I say let them lose, no deals.
No problem, jaz.
A wise man I know uses the following tagline:
If you don't like growing older, don't worry. You may not be growing older much longer
:>)
LOL! Well said.
Dear old Dad always said, “One thing about growing old - - it sure beats the alternative.”
.
If it can be proven that NCIS coerced a testimony from him via a threat of deportation after hours of harsh treatment in an interrogation room, I’m all for charging both NCIS and Sean Sullivan with something.
Subornation of perjury for the agents.
Letter of reprimand if Sullivan had knowledge.
And it seems that all of these troops are telling an incredibly similar story of illegal interrogation by NCIS. AS with sexual harrassment, the more accusations the more likely where there’s smoke there’s fire.
Oh, I would say NCIS did some pretty underhanded things in investigating Haditha.....but who will charge them? The military has no jursidiction over NCIS, a civilian agency. I believe the DOJ could......but would they?
If there are concerns with the jury, I can understand to some degree a willingness on Wuterich’s part to cut a deal. At the same time, all of the testimony has been in Staff Sergeant Wuterich’s favor.
Four huge facts are:
1. His Lieutenant ordered him to clear the houses, declaring them hostile.
2. Mendoza said Wuterich gave no orders. Salinas said Wuterich gave no orders.
3. The intel reports about white cars accompanying attacks were permitted to be introduced.
4. Not only was it confirmed they were receiving fire, but Tatum confirmed weapons racking sounds and new evidence was admitted about expended AK47 rounds being inside the houses.
I don’t see how you can slip either a dereliction or a manslaughter conviction through those very solid facts.
What was he supposed to do, draw a cross-hairs on his chest, stand up in the open, and challenge an insurgent to shoot him?
It speaks volumes that SSgt Wuterich is no hurry to just take a deal. It’s looking now as if we won’t hear anything more until this afternoon. But anything can happen.
That's an editorial "you" and not a personal one. I'm not saying that you would want to slip anything through.
Just want to make sure you know that. You are one of the long-term, steadfast posters here, and everyone should know it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.