The "60 Minutes" episode that aired Sunday, March 18 gave me that sinking feeling in my stomach that speaks of anger, sadness, confusion - all rolled together. I have tried to be virtually silent on my blog about the war, mainly because I know of so many wonderful people whose sons and daughters are in Iraq. I pray for them constantly. However, the "60 minutes" interview from last night sent me over the edge. They interviewed Marine Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterick, who was in charge of the group of Marines at Haditha.
Let me refresh your memory. On November 19, 2005 as a small Marine convoy rolled through the streets of Haditha, an explosive device demolished one of the humvees. The Marine driver was killed immediately and others in the vehicle were wounded. Here is the story (as best we can tell) that happened next.
A white car with 4 Iraqi college students that were returning from school and a taxi driver, happened on the scene of the burning wreckage. They were ordered out of the car, but instead they took off running - they were all shot in the back and killed. A search of the car turned up no evidence of weapons or anything suspicious. Wrong place at the wrong time. Now dead.
Minutes after the explosion, the Marines thought they heard shots being fired. They hustled to the closest house off the street assuming that the shots may have come from there. Staff Sergeant Wuterick gave the command to shoot first and ask questions later. At this house, an elderly man, his wife and children were shot. The Marines were engaged in what they call, "clearing the house".
They moved to a second house because the back door was open in the first house - and they assumed someone may have run out the back. They followed the same procedure at a second house - throwing grenades into the house first, then breaking down the door, shooting whomever is inside. A family including husband, wife and 4 young children were killed in this second house. Then, they move to a third house.
They clear the third house - killing four brothers inside. One of these brothers had a rifle - the only weapon found during this whole episode. And it has not even been determined if that brother with that rifle had even fired it that day.
Total - 24 Iraqis killed that day in Haditha. I wish that the craziness ended there, but it doesn't.
That day, we are told, the Marines dropped 24 bodies, including men, women and children at the Haditha hospital and left with no explanation. The next day a Marine spokesman releases the statement that 1 US Marine and 15 Iraqi civilians were killed in a roadside blast. As the convoy was attacked after the blast, the Marines killed 8 more insurgents. NOT QUITE THE TRUTH. As a matter of fact, if photos had not been discovered almost 2 months later - with the bodies with massive gunshot wounds - this story would have never been challenged...
We later have learned that the Marines have paid families of 15 of the victims $1500-2500. It has also been speculated that fires were started in the houses and air strikes were conducted later to make it difficult to investigate what really has happened.
That is the first part of the story. An equally sad part happened last night as I listened to Marine Staff Sergeant Wuterick, the 26 year old young man, that we put in that position as he talked on "60 Minutes". He is now facing "court marshal" for 15 deaths on that day.
Listen to this carefully - Wuterick said in the interview that he was sorry for the women and children - but that is the way a "house is cleared". He stated under those conditions he would make the same decisions again. His job was to protect the rest of his fellow Marines from dying and they were just doing what it took in that situation. That he said, is the way that we have been trained......
Here is the truth...I don't ultimately blame this young man - it sounds as if he used poor judgement, and he should be held accountable - but the truth is - this is what war does. It puts people in gut wrenching life and death positions. Kill or be killed positions. It turns young men and women into fearful and angry fighters. The irony is that the "higher ups" in the military, who put Wuterick in this position, now get to sit in judgement of him.
Here is a sadder note. I feel that our country has taken this path in a multitude of ways. Whether it is political issues, economic issues, or military ones - it seems our policy now is "take out anyone who is a threat".
Let me refresh your memory. On November 19, 2005 as a small Marine convoy rolled through the streets of Haditha, an explosive device demolished one of the humvees. The Marine driver was killed immediately and others in the vehicle were wounded. Here is the story (as best we can tell) that happened next.
A white car with 4 Iraqi college students that were returning from school and a taxi driver, happened on the scene of the burning wreckage. They were ordered out of the car, but instead they took off running - they were all shot in the back and killed. A search of the car turned up no evidence of weapons or anything suspicious. Wrong place at the wrong time. Now dead.
Minutes after the explosion, the Marines thought they heard shots being fired. They hustled to the closest house off the street assuming that the shots may have come from there. Staff Sergeant Wuterick gave the command to shoot first and ask questions later. At this house, an elderly man, his wife and children were shot. The Marines were engaged in what they call, "clearing the house".
They moved to a second house because the back door was open in the first house - and they assumed someone may have run out the back. They followed the same procedure at a second house - throwing grenades into the house first, then breaking down the door, shooting whomever is inside. A family including husband, wife and 4 young children were killed in this second house. Then, they move to a third house.
They clear the third house - killing four brothers inside. One of these brothers had a rifle - the only weapon found during this whole episode. And it has not even been determined if that brother with that rifle had even fired it that day.
Total - 24 Iraqis killed that day in Haditha. I wish that the craziness ended there, but it doesn't.
That day, we are told, the Marines dropped 24 bodies, including men, women and children at the Haditha hospital and left with no explanation. The next day a Marine spokesman releases the statement that 1 US Marine and 15 Iraqi civilians were killed in a roadside blast. As the convoy was attacked after the blast, the Marines killed 8 more insurgents. NOT QUITE THE TRUTH. As a matter of fact, if photos had not been discovered almost 2 months later - with the bodies with massive gunshot wounds - this story would have never been challenged...
We later have learned that the Marines have paid families of 15 of the victims $1500-2500. It has also been speculated that fires were started in the houses and air strikes were conducted later to make it difficult to investigate what really has happened.
That is the first part of the story. An equally sad part happened last night as I listened to Marine Staff Sergeant Wuterick, the 26 year old young man, that we put in that position as he talked on "60 Minutes". He is now facing "court marshal" for 15 deaths on that day.
Listen to this carefully - Wuterick said in the interview that he was sorry for the women and children - but that is the way a "house is cleared". He stated under those conditions he would make the same decisions again. His job was to protect the rest of his fellow Marines from dying and they were just doing what it took in that situation. That he said, is the way that we have been trained......
Here is the truth...I don't ultimately blame this young man - it sounds as if he used poor judgement, and he should be held accountable - but the truth is - this is what war does. It puts people in gut wrenching life and death positions. Kill or be killed positions. It turns young men and women into fearful and angry fighters. The irony is that the "higher ups" in the military, who put Wuterick in this position, now get to sit in judgement of him.
Here is a sadder note. I feel that our country has taken this path in a multitude of ways. Whether it is political issues, economic issues, or military ones - it seems our policy now is "take out anyone who is a threat".
3 comments:
That is sad and ugly. Thanks for bringing that story to light. It's too easy to tune out the constant birage of news about the war. I believe that they are better off without Hussien, but this is not a good alternative.
It's pretty easy for us/you/non-combatants to sit back in your comfy houses, protected by the actions of our military and second guess what they do in a combat situation. If you wern't there, you don't know and you don't understand. These "kids" are put in harms way every day, they are shot at, killed and mamed by "IED's" and we have the gall to question their tactics, or training! based on video provided by the enemy... Makes me sick! Americans want to believe that war is a picture perfecte thing, and that soldiers should use "judgement", and "decide" who is the enemy or not! That is not how it works, we can not have soldiers walking around questioning orders or making desicions based on what they "think" is right. Local/innocent casualies of war suck... really bad, but that's what happens when you live in a war zone, or refuse to leave a war zone, or harbor the enemy... Plese get over yourself, and spend a little more time supporting the troops... hate your congressman, prostest the war, second guess our involvement, but don not question the people who provide you the freedom to right bullshit blogs like this....
JP
JP - I think you made my point exactly. War is an ugly thing that puts people (many young 18-19 year olds) into impossible situations where life and death decisions have to be made. And in the situation that I wrote about, it turns out badly for everyone. That was all I was trying to say. Your rant appears to show that you didn't read my blog carefully enough. As I said in my post, I pray for these young men and young women constantly. Blessings.
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