thedrifter
06-13-06, 07:23 AM
Editorial: Marines deserve the benefit of the doubt
DelcoTimes
The news that several U.S. Marines are under investigation for a November 2005 incident in Haditha, Iraq, that left 24 civilians dead is not good. But a bad situation has been made worse by some people who have been all too willing to jump to conclusions about their guilt.
One of those jumpers is U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was quick to compare the deaths to the My Lai massacre in Vietnam.
"Was this My Lai?" Murtha was asked on a recent cable TV talk show. The host then added, "When you say cold blood, congressman, a lot of people think you’re basically saying you’ve got some civilians sitting in a room or out in a field and they’re executed on purpose."
Murtha’s response: "That’s exactly what happened."
With all due respect to the congressman, he doesn’t know that. In fact, there is ample evidence to the contrary.
The picture being painted by some is that U.S. Marines saw one of their own killed and went on a revenge killing spree, then attempted to cover it up.
Nor surprisingly, the Marines involved tell a different story. While on routine patrol an IED exploded, killing one Marine and injuring two others. While the soldiers scrambled to help the injured they took fire from the direction a single home. The Marines fired back and went on the offensive.
What happened after that is the subject of some dispute. Eyewitnesses have indicated one thing in some media reports. The Marines involved tell a different story.
One, Sgt. Frank Wuterich, says his troops when after insurgents who were firing at them from inside a house. Through his lawyer, he says, innocent civilians were killed but it was in the context of them being used by insurgents as essentially human shields.
Marines are supposed to do a better job distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants even in the middle of a chaotic battle scene in close quarters.
But if Wuterich is telling anything close to the truth, this is a far cry from the scenario of Marines run amok described by Murtha.
The matter is still under investigation and three Marine commanders have been relieved pending the outcome.
In any case, Murtha should know better than to assert things he doesn’t know to be fact.
On "The Chris Matthews Show" he said, "First they (the Marines) tried to say it was an IED, there was no IED involved in this. This was troops, they were so stressed out, they went into houses and killed children, women and children."
By most accounts, there was an IED involved in this. And comparisons to My Lai, the worst atrocity committed by American troops in U.S. history, are at best premature.
Murtha, being a highly decorated Marine himself, ought to know better.
If, when all the facts are investigated, a preponderance of the evidence shows these men acted improperly, violated the Corps rules of engagement and intentionally killed innocent civilians including children, they deserve to be dealt with accordingly.
However, Wuterich’s lawyer says, "It will forever be his position that everything they did that day was following their rules of engagement and to protect the lives of Marines."
Of his client, he says, "He’s really upset that people believe that he and his Marines are even capable of intentionally killing innocent civilians."
Until proven otherwise, Wuterich and his men deserve the benefit of the doubt.
And politicians, like Murtha, ought to refrain from rushing to judgment or encouraging others to do the same.
Ellie
DelcoTimes
The news that several U.S. Marines are under investigation for a November 2005 incident in Haditha, Iraq, that left 24 civilians dead is not good. But a bad situation has been made worse by some people who have been all too willing to jump to conclusions about their guilt.
One of those jumpers is U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was quick to compare the deaths to the My Lai massacre in Vietnam.
"Was this My Lai?" Murtha was asked on a recent cable TV talk show. The host then added, "When you say cold blood, congressman, a lot of people think you’re basically saying you’ve got some civilians sitting in a room or out in a field and they’re executed on purpose."
Murtha’s response: "That’s exactly what happened."
With all due respect to the congressman, he doesn’t know that. In fact, there is ample evidence to the contrary.
The picture being painted by some is that U.S. Marines saw one of their own killed and went on a revenge killing spree, then attempted to cover it up.
Nor surprisingly, the Marines involved tell a different story. While on routine patrol an IED exploded, killing one Marine and injuring two others. While the soldiers scrambled to help the injured they took fire from the direction a single home. The Marines fired back and went on the offensive.
What happened after that is the subject of some dispute. Eyewitnesses have indicated one thing in some media reports. The Marines involved tell a different story.
One, Sgt. Frank Wuterich, says his troops when after insurgents who were firing at them from inside a house. Through his lawyer, he says, innocent civilians were killed but it was in the context of them being used by insurgents as essentially human shields.
Marines are supposed to do a better job distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants even in the middle of a chaotic battle scene in close quarters.
But if Wuterich is telling anything close to the truth, this is a far cry from the scenario of Marines run amok described by Murtha.
The matter is still under investigation and three Marine commanders have been relieved pending the outcome.
In any case, Murtha should know better than to assert things he doesn’t know to be fact.
On "The Chris Matthews Show" he said, "First they (the Marines) tried to say it was an IED, there was no IED involved in this. This was troops, they were so stressed out, they went into houses and killed children, women and children."
By most accounts, there was an IED involved in this. And comparisons to My Lai, the worst atrocity committed by American troops in U.S. history, are at best premature.
Murtha, being a highly decorated Marine himself, ought to know better.
If, when all the facts are investigated, a preponderance of the evidence shows these men acted improperly, violated the Corps rules of engagement and intentionally killed innocent civilians including children, they deserve to be dealt with accordingly.
However, Wuterich’s lawyer says, "It will forever be his position that everything they did that day was following their rules of engagement and to protect the lives of Marines."
Of his client, he says, "He’s really upset that people believe that he and his Marines are even capable of intentionally killing innocent civilians."
Until proven otherwise, Wuterich and his men deserve the benefit of the doubt.
And politicians, like Murtha, ought to refrain from rushing to judgment or encouraging others to do the same.
Ellie