thedrifter
09-06-07, 07:17 AM
US Marines seeking to determine if Haditha deaths violated rules
By ELLIOT SPAGAT, The Associated Press
2007-09-06 11:21:23.0
Current rank: # 2,433 of 5,822
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -
Marine Corps officials are seeking to determine if Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich's actions in the deaths of 17 civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha were consistent with his training and with combat rules in place at the time.
That question is set to be taken up on Thursday at an ongoing military hearing into whether Wuterich should stand trial for unpremeditated murder in the civilians' deaths.
In all, 24 civilians were killed by Wuterich's squad in the aftermath of the bomb blast on Nov. 19, 2005. Among the dead were women and children who were killed in their homes as Marines went on a house-to-house sweep.
Wuterich has said he was following rules of engagement that were then in place and that he attacked the houses because he thought gunfire was coming from them.
During Wednesday's court session, a captain whom Wuterich reported to for about two years before the killings told Lt. Col. Paul Ware, the investigating officer overseeing the Haditha case, that Marines were not given a "schoolbook answer" to the question of how to confront mixed crowds of enemies and civilians.
In later testimony, Capt. Alfonso Capers, a government witness, said troops did not have license to kill indiscriminately.
"Shoot first, ask questions later means everyone's expendable," Capers said. "You can't do that."
Wuterich is also charged with making a false official statement and telling another Marine to do the same. He faces a possible life sentence and dishonorable discharge if court-martialed.
At the end of the hearing, investigating officer Ware is slated to make a recommendation about whether Wuterich should stand trial. Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the general overseeing the case, will make the final decision.
Ware has already recommended that charges be dismissed against two other Marines who had been charged with murder in the incident.
Also on Wednesday, the Marine Corps announced that a major general and two senior officers have been disciplined for their roles in investigating the deaths of the civilians' deaths.
Maj. Gen. Richard A. Huck, former commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division, received a letter of censure from the secretary of the Navy for the "actions he took and failed to take" in response to the killings.
Col. Stephen W. Davis and Col. Robert G. Sokoloski also received letters of censure.
Davis was cited for failure to take action when informed of the slayings. Sokoloski was cited for unsatisfactory performance of his duties.
Phone messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment from the three officers were not immediately returned.
Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Johnson, former commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, was fully exonerated, the Marine Corps statement said.
Having the censure on their records would make it difficult for the three officers to receive future promotions and could result in a reduction in rank for the purpose of calculating retirement benefits.
There is no appeal to a letter of censure, but the three can write rebuttal statements that also will be put into their records. The officers have five days to acknowledge the notification and then 15 days to submit any rebuttal statement.
---
Associated Press Writer Pauline Jelinek in Washington contributed to this story.
Ellie
By ELLIOT SPAGAT, The Associated Press
2007-09-06 11:21:23.0
Current rank: # 2,433 of 5,822
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -
Marine Corps officials are seeking to determine if Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich's actions in the deaths of 17 civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha were consistent with his training and with combat rules in place at the time.
That question is set to be taken up on Thursday at an ongoing military hearing into whether Wuterich should stand trial for unpremeditated murder in the civilians' deaths.
In all, 24 civilians were killed by Wuterich's squad in the aftermath of the bomb blast on Nov. 19, 2005. Among the dead were women and children who were killed in their homes as Marines went on a house-to-house sweep.
Wuterich has said he was following rules of engagement that were then in place and that he attacked the houses because he thought gunfire was coming from them.
During Wednesday's court session, a captain whom Wuterich reported to for about two years before the killings told Lt. Col. Paul Ware, the investigating officer overseeing the Haditha case, that Marines were not given a "schoolbook answer" to the question of how to confront mixed crowds of enemies and civilians.
In later testimony, Capt. Alfonso Capers, a government witness, said troops did not have license to kill indiscriminately.
"Shoot first, ask questions later means everyone's expendable," Capers said. "You can't do that."
Wuterich is also charged with making a false official statement and telling another Marine to do the same. He faces a possible life sentence and dishonorable discharge if court-martialed.
At the end of the hearing, investigating officer Ware is slated to make a recommendation about whether Wuterich should stand trial. Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the general overseeing the case, will make the final decision.
Ware has already recommended that charges be dismissed against two other Marines who had been charged with murder in the incident.
Also on Wednesday, the Marine Corps announced that a major general and two senior officers have been disciplined for their roles in investigating the deaths of the civilians' deaths.
Maj. Gen. Richard A. Huck, former commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division, received a letter of censure from the secretary of the Navy for the "actions he took and failed to take" in response to the killings.
Col. Stephen W. Davis and Col. Robert G. Sokoloski also received letters of censure.
Davis was cited for failure to take action when informed of the slayings. Sokoloski was cited for unsatisfactory performance of his duties.
Phone messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment from the three officers were not immediately returned.
Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Johnson, former commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, was fully exonerated, the Marine Corps statement said.
Having the censure on their records would make it difficult for the three officers to receive future promotions and could result in a reduction in rank for the purpose of calculating retirement benefits.
There is no appeal to a letter of censure, but the three can write rebuttal statements that also will be put into their records. The officers have five days to acknowledge the notification and then 15 days to submit any rebuttal statement.
---
Associated Press Writer Pauline Jelinek in Washington contributed to this story.
Ellie