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The Haditha Marines-The Squad Leader-A Final Chapter (SSgt Wuterich-Master Thread)
1-2-2012

Posted on 01/02/2012 10:28:48 AM PST by 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)


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Extended News; Free Republic; News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: defendourmarines; haditha; wuterich
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To: smoothsailing

Bump.


41 posted on 01/05/2012 10:50:46 AM PST by jazusamo (If you don't like growing older, don't worry. You may not be growing older much longer: T. Sowell)
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To: Lancey Howard; smoothsailing

Is the “My Rifle” creed required reading for Marines?


42 posted on 01/05/2012 12:01:07 PM PST by xzins (Pray for Our Troops Remaining in Afghanistan, now that Iran Can Focus on Injuring Only Them)
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To: jazusamo; smoothsailing; RedRover; Lancey Howard; Girlene
@puckettfaraj puckettfaraj Ladies and Gentlemen, Jan 4, 2012 at the last general court-martial, the truth about Haditha will be revealed. http://fb.me/1imTEcKfG 15 Dec via Facebook

The above from 15 Dec and from the twitter acct of the Faraj Puckett (counsel?) is intriguing.

I'm betting one prong of his attack will be to go after the "Status of Forces" angle made evident by Murtha's old aide, John Hugya. Hugya's words can easily demonstrate that a much higher level was messing in Wuterich's case.

Wuterich needs to be exhonerated, promoted, and given a medal and back pay.

43 posted on 01/05/2012 12:14:52 PM PST by xzins (Pray for Our Troops Remaining in Afghanistan, now that Iran Can Focus on Injuring Only Them)
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To: xzins
Is the “My Rifle” creed required reading for Marines?

I don't recall having to memorize it (like "General Orders", for example) but we were definitely made very familiar with it in boot camp.

44 posted on 01/05/2012 12:19:25 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Lancey Howard; jazusamo; P-Marlowe; Girlene; smoothsailing; RedRover
I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...

As I understand the real charge against Staff Sergeant Wuterich, he, in the mind of liberals, sent his troops on a killing spree by giving the "shoot first, ask questions later" instructions.

If every Marine is indoctrinated with the above creed "I must shoot him before he shoots me.", and since the ROEs at the time did NOT require positive ID but only a feeling of endangerment, then I see no way he can be convicted on any of the true charges.

There's always the possibility they're trying to salvage face by secretly targeting the "did not clean under his fingernails prior to dress mess" law. Just so they can say, "convicted on one charge....in the killing of 24 innocent civilians".

And you know they'll do it. It's not what's true in their mind; it's what they can spin that matters.

45 posted on 01/05/2012 12:30:18 PM PST by xzins (Pray for Our Troops Remaining in Afghanistan, now that Iran Can Focus on Injuring Only Them)
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To: Lancey Howard

” (It was an M16A1, actually, with the “forward assist”.)”

I remember it well!

http://www.armyproperty.com/Equipment-Info/M16A1.htm


46 posted on 01/05/2012 12:55:32 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: xzins; jazusamo; lilycicero; smoothsailing; RedRover; bigheadfred; 4woodenboats; Lancey Howard
Looks like I picked a good time to get back online......just in time for the last Haditha Marine trial (and eventual exhoneration).

A good piece from Michelle Malkin: Remember SSgt Frank D. Wuterich: The last Haditha Marine goes on trial
47 posted on 01/05/2012 1:01:30 PM PST by Girlene
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To: Girlene

Hey Girlene! Long Time No Lookie!!! :)


48 posted on 01/05/2012 1:10:25 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: Girlene

Hiya, Girl.

Happy you’ll be here for the final round and Frank’s exoneration, that was a good piece by Malkin.


49 posted on 01/05/2012 1:16:35 PM PST by jazusamo (If you don't like growing older, don't worry. You may not be growing older much longer: T. Sowell)
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To: jazusamo; smoothsailing
Hiya, back, guys. Since I've been out of the loop for awhile, didn't know if you'd seen this snarky piece from the NY Times, Junkyard Gives Up Secret Accounts of Massacre in Iraq
50 posted on 01/05/2012 1:33:58 PM PST by Girlene
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To: Girlene; jazusamo

Yeah, we saw it.

Nat Helms at Defend Our Marines wrote an excellent rebuttal to that NY Times garbage...

http://warchronicle.com/DefendOurMarinesExclusive/Trial_of_SSgt_Wuterich/The_Never_Ending_Battle_112.htm


51 posted on 01/05/2012 1:50:57 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing; jazusamo; Girlene

Glad to hear from you, girl. Hopefully the nightmare(s) are for to be over.


52 posted on 01/05/2012 2:36:16 PM PST by bigheadfred
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To: smoothsailing

Thanks for the link - cool site.


53 posted on 01/05/2012 3:42:06 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Lancey Howard

They Sucked, M-14 mo better.


54 posted on 01/05/2012 4:03:08 PM PST by Little Bill (Sorry)
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To: Lancey Howard; smoothsailing; jazusamo; Girlene; lilycicero
Hey, Lancey (and everybody)! Great to see you again! You might be interested in Bob Weimann's latest analysis here. Just posted it now!
55 posted on 01/05/2012 5:32:14 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: RedRover; Lancey Howard; smoothsailing; Girlene; lilycicero

Great piece, Red and just finished reading it, he stated it perfectly!


56 posted on 01/05/2012 5:36:20 PM PST by jazusamo (If you don't like growing older, don't worry. You may not be growing older much longer: T. Sowell)
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To: smoothsailing; jazusamo; Girlene; lilycicero; Semper Fi Mom

Hope to have a story on Day One in an hour or so. I’m standing by.


57 posted on 01/05/2012 5:39:04 PM PST by RedRover (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: RedRover; jazusamo; Girlene; lilycicero; Semper Fi Mom
Hope to have a story on Day One in an hour or so. I’m standing by.

OK! I'm Ready!

58 posted on 01/05/2012 5:46:17 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: jazusamo; RedRover; Lancey Howard; Girlene; lilycicero
The last Haditha Marine: Wuterich trial update-By Michelle Malkin • January 5, 2012 06:19 PM
59 posted on 01/05/2012 5:57:24 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

Thanks smooth. I’ve been off this site until a few minutes ago. Looks like this is going to be a real nail biter. I did notice as of this morning, four charges where already dropped.


60 posted on 01/05/2012 6:03:17 PM PST by Marine_Uncle (Honor must be earned.)
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