Lessons from Haditha's Quiet Denouement

American Thinker ^ | January 30, 2012 | Jonathan F. Keiler

[jazusamo]

Six years ago, in Haditha, Iraq, in the wake of a deadly insurgent attack on their convoy, a Marine quick reaction force raided several houses from which they were taking fire. At the conclusion of the action it became clear that a number of Iraqi civilians had been killed, which was duly reported up the Marine Corps chain of command. The command determined that while the deaths were unfortunate, the engaged Marines had not violated the laws of war.

Then, early in 2006, a reporter from Time Magazine got wind of the incident, and all hell broke loose. An Army report condemned the Marines, Democrat Congressman John Murtha announced that Marines had killed Iraqi civilians in "cold blood," and the press in general had a field day. Under this new assault, the Marine Corps changed its tune and preferred court-martial charges against eight Marines, from enlisted men to battalion commander. These unfortunate men were accused of everything from obstruction of justice to murder.

Over the next two years the Haditha cases fell apart. One after another, the eight accused Marines were exonerated in Article 32 hearings, saw charges dropped in return for immunity, or were acquitted at trial. By 2008, only a single remaining Marine, Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, stood accused of unpremeditated murder in the case. His case lingered until last week, when it too died with a whimper. Wuterich pled guilty to a much-reduced charge of dereliction of duty. What did the military justice system finally determine was Wuterich's crime? He told his men to "shoot first and ask questions later." After all, his men were Marines, not policemen.

Wuterich received no jail time and no loss of pay,

[a fool in paradise]

The clip has been on Youtube at times. The Frontline episode is available streaming online from PBS.

[Grimmy]

If we were a culture/society at all interested in long term survival, every one of those individuals involved in pushing the enemy propaganda in order to purposely erode our war-fighter’s morale and confidence would have been arrested, tried, convicted and hanged for treason.

It’s become rather obvious that as a culture/society, we are no longer much interested in long term survival.

[Gene Eric]

I agree; a straight forward delivery of fact.

On the other hand, we have the merchants of the persecutory tripe that believe they’re inoculating themselves from the grim consequences of the war and combat they tacitly support, or refuse to condemn. Their cover is the indignation they ceremoniously parade on the front pages, throughout the chambers of Congress, and in the courtrooms. We never bought into the hysterical smokescreens, and finally they’ve been proven to be the frauds we observed from the beginning. The casualties presented an opportunity for these jackwagons.

[goat granny]

I remember that program and thats when I said journalists are scum sucking bastards....There were quite a few journalist on the panel being questions by someone (I don’t remember who)

[marine86297]

Well put! See my tagline for my feelings on Somalia!