Haditha marine 'watched superior kill surrendering civilians'

[babylonsister]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2076586,00.html

Haditha marine 'watched superior kill surrendering civilians'

Mark Oliver and agencies
Thursday May 10, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

snip//

Yesterday, at a pre-trial hearing ahead of the trial of one of the accused, Sgt Dela Cruz gave evidence at a courtroom in Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, California.

He said he watched how his squad leader, Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, shot five Iraqis who were trying to surrender and then told his men to lie about the killings.

"They were just standing, looking around, had hands up," Sgt Dela Cruz said. "Then I saw one of them drop in the middle. I didn't know what was going on, sir. Looked to my left, saw Staff Sergeant Wuterich shooting."

The Iraqi civilians had been standing by a white car with their hands interlocked behind their heads when they were shot, Sgt Dela Cruz says.

"He told me that if anybody asked, they were running away and the Iraqi army shot them," Sgt Dela Cruz said.

more...

[Monkeyman]

1. K&R

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. My-lai redux. Massacre plus coverup, again.

[rhiannon55]

3. again

and again and again...

When will we ever learn? :cry:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Albert Einstein said..

"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder." Albert Einstein

A sentiment I wholeheartedly share.

[Morgana LaFey]

6. He also said

peace will never be won by those who hate war, but by those who love peace more. (paraphrased somewhat, only because I don't have the exact quote written down anywhere)

[Ron Green]

4. Freedom must be on the march.

[nam78_two]

7. K&R/nt

[RiDuvessa]

8. I wish he could have stopped the killings.

But I am glad he has the courage to step up to the plate and tell what he saw. This is the type of soldier and marine that we need. Ones with consciences who know right from wrong.

[Decruiter]

9. And now, I'm getting off du, I'm am ill again for what we as a nation

are responsible for. "we the people", "we the people" have let us perpetuate this horror.

We've lost our "democracy". It is gone.

www.reclaimdemocracy.org

[formercia]

10. Do they still have red-line brigs?

Life in one of those would be fitting punishment for that assh0le.

[Rose Siding]

11. Let the punishment be harsh and well publicized

because Karma's a bitch and she knows where we live.

-upon conviction, of course (not death -I oppose that in all instances- but in the interests of our nation and justice, this sgt must be harshly sentenced)