Free The Final Haditha Marine

[Dementia_Madness]

http://www.captainsjournal.com/2012/01/18/free-the-final-haditha-marine/

This whole legal conversation is dancing on the head of a pin, with wrangling over wording, the specificity of orders in the middle of heated battle, and second thinking that could work to make their future more hazardous if they allowed it to become self-doubt.

We have covered this before, but it pays to revisit this now that Wuterich is finally at trial.  When my son entered the Marine Corps in January of 2006, he completed boot camp at Parris Island and School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, having been trained in both by recent veterans of Operation al Fajr.

When he entered the infantry as a fleet Marine, he was trained by men who were veterans of al Fajr or other similar combat.  It is impossible to overstate the influence and affect that al Fajr had on the Marine Corps infantry at that time, from culture to core beliefs about battle tactics, to necessary equipment, and finally to training.

Clearing tactics were taught to boot Marines by veterans of al Fajr, and the tactics taught were those employed in Fallujah in 2004.  So when my son deployed to Fallujah in April of 2007, he employed the same tactics and culture taught to him by veterans of combat from 2004 in Iraq.

When he and other Lance Corporals attempted to teach those same tactics and apply that same culture to their own boot Marines in 2008, they usually got into significant trouble with senior NCOs and officers.  The Marine Corps infantry culture and tactics had changed to the point that the veterans of Iraq found no home for what they knew, and most or all of them left the Marines.

If this was true of my son, who joined late in 2005, this was true in the superlative of Marines who were deployed in 2005.  Again, it is impossible to overestimate the affect of al Fajr on the Marines at that time.

The Haditha Marines were charged on the watch of General Mattis.  While Mattis has a storied history of his own in Iraq and elsewhere, I do now and have always held against him that he knew all of this and still allowed the prosecution to go ahead.  The careers of many fine Marines were ruined over this.

It is now time to put this whole ugly affair behind us.  No, not any ugliness associated with what the Marines did on that day.  The Marines didn’t wait to identify inhabitants.  In room clearing operations after Operation al Fajr, room inhabitants perished.  That’s what the Marines were taught to do.

I am talking about the ugliness of the self-hatred on display in these despicable, perverse and obscene show trials.  It’s time to free the last Haditha Marine.

[NCVol]

The tragedy is we are debating through this trial whether it's OK to go into a house full of non-combatants and kill men, women and children, whether that's an appropriate act of war.  I don't have any ill will towards any of those soldiers, just that we put them in that position where it's probably the "correct" thing to do.  It's heartbreaking, really. 

The other thought that comes to mind when I read stories like this, or those snipers urinating on the bodies, is we've destroyed the lives of so many people, both the ones dead, and also 10s or likely 100s of thousands of young U.S. soldiers who will never be the same after having to, among other things, "clear" houses, often with innocents, and kill them at close range without a second thought, as their daily job for weeks and months in many cases.  We're just not built as humans to do that. 

I won't post Twain's War Prayer since it will offend a bunch of people, but that's the most honest assessment of what war really is that I've read.  Should be required reading, or something like it, just to make it clear what "victory" for us means to those on the receiving end.  It might still be justified but it's a very high hurdle.   

[Dementia_Madness]

The real problem is that we face an enemy who have no qualms about using women and children as shields for their despicable acts, not only that but schools churches and public areas as strategic points from which to attack us. When faced is such a threat, we must acknowledge yes it is a tragedy, but what we have to do is what we have to do...sad but true. IF they attack from a home, then that home becomes e legitimate military target, regardless of who is in there, once we get past the tragedy, accept it for what it is, and who is truly responsible for putting women and children at risk, and ask do they even care, we can acknowledge we care, but also we react the way we need to to defeat the enemy. Only then can we see what has to be done IF we actually want to fight this type of enemy, anything else, we might as well capitulate and give in to them, pack up and go home. Remember for the enemy a dead baby and woman and burnt schools and churches are legitimate targets, even if they are Muslims supporting us, they are only "tragedies and atrocities" only if it is us who react and they can use the casualties to sway public opinion... the compassion and care for the innocent is mostly a show to manipulate and condemn others.

[NCVol]

I'd just point out that there isn't any one "they" as in "ask do 'they' even care..."  Most of 'them' aren't attacking U.S. soldiers, or placing roadside bombs, they're just trying to get through the day, live their lives, and the "compassion and care for the innocent" is real, and legitimate, and every time we kill a houseful of old people and children and unarmed men, it's a tragedy across the board. 

[Sasquatch]

The tragedy is we are debating through this trial whether it's OK to go into a house full of non-combatants and kill men, women and children, whether that's an appropriate act of war. 

Only if you use, and I quote Cowboy Obama, "predator drones". 

[Dementia_Madness]

"They" exist whether you want to believe it or not..."They" are the ones attacking us and yes we can define them as the Islamic extremist fascists who support Jihad and commit it, "They" are attacking us, "They" are the enemy, "they" are the ones killing innocent Muslims who do not support them and help us...despite your attempts to blur the line, yes "they" can hide with and even pass themselves off as and among the peaceful Muslims....but there is a difference between those that do want and support peace, and stability, and those who only want war and to kill, and this is their end goal. The ones who care about the innocents are the ones used by "THEY" who do not care about them... they manipulate them and use them, they forge public opinion of those good people who have compassion and care about innocent lives...you know Ncvol the ones who will strap bombs to their own children, women, and mentally handicapped adults and send them out to blow themselves up..."THEY" exist and they are the backbone and mind and soul behind this terrorism and jihad. YOU try to lump them all together, to make it seem like we are at war with them all, and that the people I call "them" are all Muslims...(NO it's Islamic extremist who answer the call to jihad and kill anyone or subjugate them if they disagree with them) you are wrong and it only outlines YOUR prejudice and ignorance when you do so. THOSE people who care nothing for the innocent people they hide behind don't see it as a tragedy, they see it as an opportunity to use to their advantage...I doubt there is many tears shed by people who have no problems strapping bombs to their children or wives...or no qualms at blowing up mosques and schools full of children when it suites their agenda.

[NCVol]

"They" exist whether you want to believe it or not..."They" are the ones attacking us and yes we can define them as the Islamic extremist fascists who support Jihad and commit it, "They" are attacking us, "They" are the enemy, "they" are the ones killing innocent Muslims who do not support them and help us...despite your attempts to blur the line, yes "they" can hide with and even pass themselves off as and among the peaceful Muslims....but there is a difference between those that do want and support peace, and stability, and those who only want war and to kill, and this is their end goal. The ones who care about the innocents are the ones used by "THEY" who do not care about them... they manipulate them and use them, they forge public opinion of those good people who have compassion and care about innocent lives...you know Ncvol the ones who will strap bombs to their own children, women, and mentally handicapped adults and send them out to blow themselves up..."THEY" exist and they are the backbone and mind and soul behind this terrorism and jihad. YOU try to lump them all together, to make it seem like we are at war with them all, and that the people I call "them" are all Muslims...(NO it's Islamic extremist who answer the call to jihad and kill anyone or subjugate them if they disagree with them) you are wrong and it only outlines YOUR prejudice and ignorance when you do so. THOSE people who care nothing for the innocent people they hide behind don't see it as a tragedy, they see it as an opportunity to use to their advantage...I doubt there is many tears shed by people who have no problems strapping bombs to their children or wives...or no qualms at blowing up mosques and schools full of children when it suites their agenda.

Yes, I know that a ruthless enemy exists, which is why I said that it was probably the right thing to do to clear that house without restraint.  If I thought there was no enemy worth fighting, and that the enemy didn't use civilian structures for places to stage attacks, clearing a house like that would be simply mass murder, a form of genocide, and the soldiers, or at least those who ordered the killing, tried then hung or jailed for life for a war crime. 

The only point was referring to a "they" is often unclear.  You've cleared it up.  Great.  So we agree. 

[Dementia_Madness]

http://michellemalkin.com/2012/01/23/the-trial-of-the-last-haditha-marine-ssgt-wuterich-takes-plea-deal/

    Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich agreed to plead guilty Monday to one count of negligent dereliction of duty, ending his trial on manslaughter and related charges for his role in the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in 2005.

    “This was his decision and his decision alone,” Neal Puckett, Wuterich’s lead defense attorney, told the North County Times. “Staff Sergeant Wuterich believed this was the right and honorable thing to do.”

    Negligent dereliction of duty is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 90 days in custody and a reduction or forfeiture of pay. It was not immediately known when a sentencing decision would be announced.

    The deal was announced in court early Monday morning. After the announcement, Wuterich shook hands and hugged his parents, who have been watching the courtroom proceedings since the trial began.

    The agreement has been approved by Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser.

    The plea deal ends the six-year saga of eight Camp Pendleton Marines charged with criminal wrongdoing in the incident that took place in the city of Haditha at the height of the war.

    Outrage came from around the world and from Washington, D.C., where the late Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha said he believed the Marines might have “killed in cold blood” and went on to say U.S. troops were overstressed.

    The result was eight Marines being charged with crimes at Haditha, including four officers and four enlisted men.

    Seven of those eight saw their cases resolved, some with the withdrawal of charges in exchange for their testimony, one acquitted at trial and others having charges dropped entirely.

    Wuterich, a 31-year-old Murrieta single father of three girls, had pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecutors appeared ready to strike a plea deal last week after a series of their own witnesses gave testimony largely beneficial to Wuterich’s position that he believed he and his men were under attack and responded in keeping with their training.

    Puckett said his client continues to believe his actions were lawful, despite the civilians deaths, which Wuterich has repeatedly said he regrets.

    “He has always taken responsibility for his and his squad’s actions that day,” Puckett said. “Today’s agreement is completely consistent with everything he has said, which is that the decisions he made that day led to an outcome that was tragic and regrettable, but they were not criminal.”

In the end the comment that who "they" are being "unclear" is also totally at the fault of the enemy, this is in fact how they want it, so they can cause as much mahem confusion and destruction in their fight....putting civilians at risk and endangering innocent women and children, They could form a legitimate Army, dawn uniforms and fight udner a banner of solidarity if they wish, but they do not, they hide amongst children and women and innocents, they perpetuate the confusion and even use it to their advantage, and in the end they are the ones who own that little nugget as well...our boys and girls stand out like a sore thumb, even the Iraqis who help us wear a uniform, in fact the only time the enemy wears a uniform and takes on the appearance of soldiers is when they use them to attack us from within....barbarians.