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Thanks for the ping, jaz....and thank you Nat Helms for providing coverage at the court martial.

Two reasons manslaughter charges make no sense:

SSgt Wuterich and his team were given orders to take the house;
The ROE at the time were consistent with those used in taking these houses;

Beyond that, SSgt Wuterich just does not have the demeanor of a hothead, revengeful person. Rather, his concern about bringing his men home would be his failing, if anything.

I’m hopeful that the panelists can understand the difference between ROE of today and those at the time.....and maybe also realize that the political overreaction to this incident has not necessarily been of benefit to our men in combat zones.

S: Thanks for the post. J: Thanks for the ping.
I almost broke down as I read the whole report. I keep going back to two extremes. One the good Sargent holding one of his little girls in her bedroom, a picture posted here a few years back. And walking through the horrible events of that day for that squad of Marines on the ground. The parked cars, the potential haji that moved around those vehicles, the known expectancy of running into Iraqi that hated the US forces and would go against them, in that immediate AOR, the little Iraqi girl that later did admit she keep her hands on her ears in anticipation of a big blast to go off.
Our Marines quickly moving about to cover their own squad members. Shortly realizing one of them went down. Many of the thoughts that would have gone into each of their minds as the Sargent issued hand signals, verbal orders.
Haji laying low until the right moment to jump out of one of those neighboring houses, or stay in it at a window if targets of opportunity arouse so they could open up with their AK-47 and perhaps hand grenades. The instant reflexes members of the squad had to do to neutralize those goons standing about that white vehicle. Then blinks later, those that occupied those dwellings, not knowing just who was inside of them.
The goon somewhere within that mix that had a finger on a detonation button.
Simply put. A fucking pure Hell. And then to think back how the ex Marine goon from PA, said they murdered people in cold blood?
I earnestly hope, prayerfully, the judge as well as the prosecutor side will join the ranks of those that do represent the honor bound principles of the Marine Corps., and give in to pressure from the powers that be and end up fully dropping all charges against SSGT Wuterrich, and finally closing this case.
Let the good Sargent stay in the Corps. if he so desires and in any event, provide the way he can take care of his three little girls in the near and long term, not behind bars for something he does not deserve.
End of my prayer for this fine Marine.
I ask the Lord God of Abraham and Issac, as a Christian, to answer this prayer. So that this fine Marine's heart and all his as well as so many others, will finally be lifted up. We can then give HIM the praise and thanks for what HE had done. HE Knows the whole sequence. HE knows what these fine Marines where up against. He knows their hearts.
HE fully knows even beyond what we can appreciate,the ROE, they had to honor and obey, during that period of time, and the conditions these Marines where faced with.

Let HIS Almighty Hand of justice come upon this trial.

Enough said. Smooth and Jazz, and anyone else still tuned into this thread, do have a safe and healthy new day.