2 Haditha Marines Will Face Court-Martial - But Not For Murder
So now that “Cold Blooded Murder” is not even being charged in this case, I would say it way overdue for Murtha to issue an official, public apology.
LOS ANGELES- A Marine will be court-martialed on reduced charges in the killings of 24 Iraqi men, women and children in the town of Haditha in 2005, the Marine Corps announced Monday.
Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 27, of Meriden, Conn., will stand trial on charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice. No trial date was set.
More serious charges of unpremeditated murder were dismissed by the Marine Corps.
Wuterich’s prosecution is part of the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths to come out of the Iraq war.
Four enlisted Marines were initially charged with murder in the case, and four officers were charged with failing to investigate the deaths. Charges against several of the men have been dropped, and none will face murder charges.
Also Monday, the Marine Corps announced that 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson would face court-martial on charges of making false official statements, obstruction of justice and attempting to fraudulently separate from the Marine Corps.
The killings occurred after a roadside bomb hit a Marine convoy, killing the driver of a Humvee and wounding two other Marines. Wuterich’s squad allegedly shot five men by a car at the scene. Wuterich then ordered his men into several houses, where they cleared rooms with grenades and gunfire, killing unarmed civilians in the process.
At his preliminary hearing, Wuterich said that he regretted the loss of civilian life but that he believed he was coming under fire from the homes and was operating within the rules of engagement when he ordered his men to assault the buildings.
Wuterich’s lawyers did not immediately return calls. Grayson’s attorney had no immediate comment.
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Just a reminder . . . Check out site for Bill Russell running against John Murtha . . . please support him even if you are not in his district in Pennsylvania because that fuck wad Murtha has to go!
December 31st, 2007 at 1:41 pmFrom the first report of this I have felt the Marines were
December 31st, 2007 at 2:05 pmset up!!After reading House to House and Falluja where the
enemy had our weapons, ammo ect.what a better way to point
a nasty finger at our troops,they open fire using American
weapons and ammo and split whats left? 223 shell casings and
a bunch of dead folks…Sure the Marines are going to react
what in hell would most of us do???al-Qaeda has a PR wing
that was second to none, un like our AP…We have their
number now and crap like that shouldn’t happen again…”BUT”
these Marines are getting the shaft and to cover some perfume Officers A$$…
http://www.williamrussellforcongress.com/
December 31st, 2007 at 2:08 pmI still to this day stand by initial assesment that it was a text book assault.
I am still shocked that my own Brothers would even try to push this to save their own careers!
This is nothing more than “Political Correctness” gone wrong!!!
December 31st, 2007 at 3:07 pmI would have to say that anybody who votes for Murtha is either seriously anti-American to their core or mentally defective.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:28 pmI hope you and all your readers will offer whatever support you can to Murtha’s opponent, Lt. Col. Bill Russell. You can do so by going to his web site at: www.williamrussellforcongress.com. I write regularly about the Russell-Murtha race. Thanks to all supporters of the “Haditha Marines.”
steve maloney
December 31st, 2007 at 7:32 pmhttp://camp2008victorya.blogspot.com