Was it murder? Was Haditha a massacre? A military jury will decide. But, there’s no question that Haditha is symbolic of a war that leaves American troops with terrible choices. The Marine making those choices in Haditha was a 25-year-old sergeant named Frank Wuterich. He’s charged with 18 murders, the most by far, and he's accused of lying on the day it happened.
The Hypocrisy Of The Iraq War.
60 Minutes interviewed Frank Wuterich about the 2 family massacre in Haditha, plus the killing of 6 men trying to run away from their van, who were shot in the back. Scott Pelley did the interview.
Wuterich headed a squad of young soldiers who were driving their convoy through Haditha, when a bomb (IED) blew up the middle vehicle instantly killing one of the Marines who was likable and loved by the rest of his squad. Wuterich described his body like this.
"…basically a pile of flesh, in essence. That may be a sight I’ll never forget. He was missing one of his arms. His legs were completely severed from his body, but they were still attached because for some reason his Cami’s didn’t rip completely."
War is ugly. Death of loved ones can make many people act impulsively in ways they wouldn't act otherwise. Whose to blame? The blame goes to those who put young people in stress and near-death situations. How can we crucify a man who kills 20 in a fit of action, when a bomb causes hundreds of dead children, women, old folks? There is no such thing as "smart bombs."
Flowers won't bring back a loved one.
