Semper Fi!
Duty, Honor, Country! Still worth fighting for!
Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!
Posted on 01/20/2012 4:33:55 AM PST by RedRover
Camp Pendleton, Calif. -- The decision is in. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Frank D. Wuterich is back on trial this morning to face charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and dereliction of duty for his role in the deaths of 14 Iraqi civilians who died at Haditha, Iraq in late 2005. If convicted he could face the rest of his life in prison.
The 31-year-old father of three young girls was on the verge of submitting a request for administrative separation from the Marine Corps when he suddenly changed his mind. Compelled by the certainty of his own innocence and a deeply ingrained sense of duty he asked his defense team to end negotiations that have been going on for most of two days.
The government’s case now rests on evidence the prosecution has gleaned from outtakes it obtained from the CBS news program “60 Minutes” in 2007 and the testimony of Naval Criminal Investigative Service special agents. The NCIS has said the Haditha investigation was the biggest inquiry in the history so perhaps there is more.
The NCIS special agents who will testify have to overcome the inherent prejudice of eight hard bitten Marines who have already heard how its overzealous agents used reprehensible tactics to badger and bully Marines who had already survived trial by fire.
When the trial unexpectedly recessed Wednesday prosecution witness Sgt. Humberto Mendoza was testifying. He was a Private First Class on November 19, 2005 when his squad was ambushed at the southern edge of the city. The prosecution’s eyewitness was so befuddled by defense attorney Haytham Faraj’s cross-examination when it slammed to a halt, he had just admitted he wasn’t sure what happened the day the entire Marine Corps was stood on its ear.
At the appropriate time Defend Our Marines will reveal what transpired Thursday afternoon to make SSgt Wuterich change his mind.
It is safe to say that Wuterich is once again displaying innate moral courage. No doubt cynics will scoff and pundits will proclaim that duty, honor and country is no longer operable in the age of every man for himself. There must be another reason, they will no doubt say.
The fighting Marine’s brave stand proves them wrong.
The late William Safire, once the speech writer for disgraced former US Attorney General Spiro Agnew, wrote the perfect reply in the turbulent Sixties: "In the United States today, we have more than our share of nattering nabobs of negativism. They have formed their own 4-H club -- the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history."
The more things change the more they remain the same.
Prayers up for SSgt Wuterich and his family. And prayers up that justice, if justice can truly be done after this long ordeal, will prevail.
This SSgt rates another medal for courage. Fix bayonets and “Huzzah!”
I cannot imagine Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Wuterich remaining on active duty after this is all over, but I am proud that he refused administrative separation. He needs to be exonerated in court, not for his own life but for the sake of the Corps. Then he can leave the service that failed him but leave with his reputation intact. Even though portions of the USMC leadership have not been faithful under this “Commander”-in-Chief, honor matters, and Wuterich appears to understand that and to have that level of honor. I pray for him daily, and I hope God still considers America worthy of His grace, despite what parts of our country have become.
They should go up and down his chain of command with a flamethrower.
Won’t happen though. More’s the pity.
He better deserves to have a ship named after him than Murtha.
Prayers continuing.
I’m glad he made this choice. Had he chosen the separation, he would have enabled the politicians and bullies to do this again. He is guilty of NOTHING and therefore shouldn’t agree to a lesser charge just to make this go away. This should go away but only with complete exoneration.
Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!
prayer bump
“The prosecution’s eyewitness was so befuddled by defense attorney Haytham Faraj’s cross-examination when it slammed to a halt, he had just admitted he wasn’t sure what happened the day the entire Marine Corps was stood on its ear.”
I think Wutterich’s attorney convinced him this is another winnable case and to not to give up.
Prayer to Obtain a Favor Though the Intercession of the Servant of God Father Vincent Capodanno (The Grunt Padre)
Father in heaven,
you give us every blessing
and shower us with your grace
through our savior Jesus Christ,
and the working of the Holy Spirit.
If it be according to your will,
glorify your servant Vincent Capodanno
by granting the favor I now request
through his prayerful intercession:
For the exoneration of SSGT Wuterich
I make this prayer confidently
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
I always thought that was written by Pat Buchanan?
.
Pretty sure it was Safire, as chief speechwriter in the Nixon White House. But I’d be happy to be corrected.
Prayers up.
Justice will prevail and SSgt Wuterich will be completely exonerated.
Semper Fi, Frank.
Oops..
Hmm... I'm probably missing a joke in here somewhere, but everybody knowss Agnew was Nixon's Vice President, right?
Anyway, I am extremely happy about Wuterich's decision to fight for full and unconditional exoneration.
By the way, yes, it was Safire who penned the phrase “nattering nabobs of negativity” for then-VP Spiro Agnew.
LA Times reporting now....
................
The court martial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich in the killing of 24 civilian Iraqis resumed Friday morning after negotiations between prosecutors and defense attorneys apparently failed to reach a settlement.
....
The judge, Lt. Col. David Jones, cautioned jurors not to speculate on why the trial had been recessed since Wednesday afternoon. He said he’ll explain once the trial is completed.
The trial resumed with cross-examination of Sgt. Humberto Mendoza, a prosecution witness.
Joining in with prayers up for this man who wins hearts with his honor and integrity.
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