The Haditha Marines-The Squad Leader-A Final Chapter (SSgt Wuterich-Master Thread)

1-2-2012

[smoothsailing]

January 2, 2012

The Haditha Marines-The Squad Leader-A Final Chapter

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:

"My Marines responded to the threats they faced in the manner that we all had been trained", he has steadfastly maintained. "I will bear the memory of the events of that day forever, and will always mourn the unfortunate deaths of the innocent Iraqis who were killed during our response to the attack."

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

Don’t rewrite Murtha’s legacy (Haditha Marines)

[gitmogrunt]

Muzzie Lovin’,Christian hating, American Politicians should send their own sons to fight and die, then you’ll never see a Court martial, such as this farce.

[jazusamo]

If any Marine on that panel believes Dela Cruz after his history of lying and another Marine proved him a liar at this CM I’ll start believing in the Tooth Fairy.

[xzins]

Since the court has already been told that the white cars were transport for attack insurgents, and since that white car showed up immediately upon an IED attack, and since the occupants opened the car doors and had the doors between at least some of them and the Marines, how can any panel member, given the nature of the ROE fault those Marines for taking out those probable insurgents.

I distinctly remember some article from the past talking about weapons recovered related to that white car, that those weapons disappeared, and that the would exonerate the Marines if ever found. I think I recall they were turned over to investigators.

Does anyone else remember this and/or know what became of those weapons.

[Girlene]

Yes, xzins, I remember there were possibly weapons related to the white car, but it could never be verified (at least I think that's the case).

Found this article written by LtCol. Bob Weimann which provides a reasonable defense for SSgt Wuterich's actions at the white car. The Case for a Combat Squad Leader: Ssgt Frank Wuterich in Haditha

[jazusamo]

I remember several insurgent weapons (two?) were lost or disappeared from from investigators custody, or a military vehicle, that investigators turned over for transport.

I can’t remember if those weapons were supposedly from the white vehicle or from one of the houses.

[smoothsailing]

I remember that insurgent weapons went missing after the the ambush. I can’t remember for sure if it involved the white car.

At the time and for a while afterward, the incidents surrounding the IED blast and ambush weren’t considered out of the ordinary, so “evidence” wasn’t a thought.

Here’s a link to some of the Chessani testimony where the existence and then absence of weapons is explained...

http://warchronicle.com/DefendOurMarinesExclusive/ChessaniSpeaks-28July10.htm

Red will have more insight into this...

[jazusamo]

Thanks, Smooth. That must be what I vaguely remembered.

[xzins]

Thank you all for tracking down articles mentioning the missing weapons.

Something in my memory links those weapons and the white car. It could be old age creeping up. :>)

In any case, thanks for your insights.

[Girlene]

THanks for that link, smooth. I had forgotten about this:

..........According to Chessani and Muise, a Marine Corps criminal investigator detailed to aid the defense detected a “cut out” in the front of the vehicle similar to other cars the insurgents used to videotape suicide bombers and IED events for propaganda exploitation. The cutout was an inconspicuous hole in the front of the vehicle that provided a space a hidden video camera to see out of. A few weeks before the Haditha incident a different white car was captured by Marines at a check point after videotaping a vehicle borne IED explosion in 3/1’s Area of Operations. It was equipped with a similar device.

Of course that photo is not available for us to look at.

xzins, there was some reporting (whether it was in a deposition, scuttlebut, whatever) that 1 or 2 AK-47's had been leaning against the white car at some point during that day. Now, whether these were the AK's that were picked up from House 4 and just leaned there before being take back to the base or something else....who knows.

[xzins]

Every bit of information should be made available to that panel. All it requires is a rating of certain, probable, possible, and unlikely. Let the jury sort it out; that’s what juries are for.

[jazusamo]

Sounds like Lt. Kallop's testimony helped the defense.

MILITARY: Former lieutenant defends Marines in Haditha killings

[jazusamo]

Kallop's testimony could be crucial in swaying the four officers and four enlisted men on the jury. He was Wuterich's immediate superior, and his order directed the Murrieta resident and his squad to assault the homes.

Sounds pretty clear to me and I'm sure those eight Marines on the panel understand what was said.

[RedRover]

He did indeed! Latest is posted here: LT KALLOP TESTIFIES: "MY MARINES FOLLOWED THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"

[RedRover]

Hey jaz! Please add Minnehaha NYC to the prestigious Haditha Marine Ping List!

[jazusamo]

Done.

Welcome, Minnehaha NYC!

[Girlene]

WOW, is all I can say. (and you know that’s sayin’ a lot for Girlene!).

Lt. Kallop’s testimony was all that and more.

[jazusamo]

Amen, Girlene. He laid it out plain and simple.

[RedRover]

I can’t remember a “wow” from you before—and this one was all caps, too!

Seriously,I really don’t see how the prosecution recovers from the past few days. And the defense hasn’t even presented its case yet!

[RedRover]

HADITHA MARINE PING!

Here's the news...

Former platoon lieutenant William Kallop testified today: see posts 271 and 273 above. Hard to see how the prosecution can even keep this charade going.

Court is adjourned until Tuesday, January 16th. There will be a weekend wrap on Sunday evening of the week's testimony.

BTW, LS posted about a whole other potential case: Urination Excitation! (Are the Marines Being Set Up?).

[Girlene]

The WOW is one thing.....the fact that I had nothing to add was bigger. :-)

Very impressed with Lt. Kallop’s testimony. I am feeling quite optimistic at this point for SSgt Wuterich. Isn’t this the prosecution’s phase to make their case.....or am I missing something?