Haditha Trial: Iraq Will Continue Legal Action, Official Says

BAGHDAD — Iraq will take legal action to ensure justice for the families of 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians killed in a U.S. raid in Haditha seven years ago, a government spokesman said Thursday, after the lone U.S. Marine convicted in the killings reached a deal to escape jail time.

Residents in Haditha, a former Sunni insurgent stronghold of about 85,000 people along the Euphrates River valley some 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, have expressed outrage at the American military justice system for allowing Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich to avoid prison.

"The Haditha incident was a big crime against innocent civilians," said Ali al-Moussawi, a spokesman for the Iraqi government. "We will follow up all legal procedures and judiciary measures" to seek justice in the case, he added.

Al-Moussawi did not offer specifics and the Iraqi Justice Ministry declined to comment.

Marine Corps officials said they do not comment on such announcements made by foreign governments.

Neal Puckett, Wuterich's attorney said: "We have no comment about the stated intentions of the Iraqi government. Our client's military justice case has concluded. So far as we are concerned, the matter is closed."

Wuterich was convicted of a single count of negligent dereliction of duty. He faces having his rank reduced but he will not go to jail as a part of a plea agreement that ended his long-awaited manslaughter trial.

He has apologized for the loss of life, but has said his squad did not behave badly or dishonorably. He also has defended his order to raid homes in Haditha as a necessary act and acknowledged to instructing his men to "shoot first, ask questions later" after a roadside bomb killed a fellow Marine.

Wuterich's sentence Tuesday ended a six-year prosecution that failed to win any manslaughter convictions in one of the worst attacks on Iraqi civilians by U.S. troops during nine years of war. Eight Marines were initially charged in the case. One was acquitted and six others had their cases dropped.

___

Associated Press writer Julie Watson contributed to this report from San Diego, California.

Comments

[PitBull6]

09:28 AM on 01/27/2012

The "Iraqi people" can be outraged all they want. They have no say in our justice system, least of all the military justice system. I feel for the victims on both sides, but we have a system whose job is not to make everyone feel good but to render decisions. The decision has been made.

[ExNBA]

05:22 AM on 01/28/2012

I'm sorry, I must have missed something. You said, "I feel for the victims on both sides"... so who were the Haditha victims on our side? And with all due respect, while the Iraqis don't have a say in our legal system, there are international courts of justice. Recall the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal.

[PitBull6]

06:59 AM on 01/28/2012

A Marine was killed and several wounded in the IED explosion which touched off the event.

With equal respect, there no true international courts elected by the governed or appointed by elected leaders. It's just a collection of gentlemens agreements and voluntary participation which are only as good as the nations which support them are willing to give them teeth.

[batguano]

06:57 PM on 01/26/2012

Loss of honor is irreplaceable. When war crimes take place it is the duty of the accused power to provide full and thorough justice; a justice that is no less relevant for other troops not accused of atrocities than the victims of atrocity. This incident was covered-up, stalled and swept under the rug of time to intentionally evade justice and accountability for those who killed the innocent victims, and it is our collective American honor that has been dragged through the mud and blood. When every aspect of the wars and the projected and taught nature of the "enemy" together with a racist mindset infects many very young highly malleable troops there will certainly be and have been other massacres like Haditha, to our great shame.

[addisonsteele]

02:14 PM on 01/26/2012

There is no difference whatsoever between the My Lai massacre and Haditha. It is outrageous that long prison terms were not handed down.

[PitBull6]

08:51 AM on 01/27/2012

From what I've read and heard, the difference is night and day.

[ExNBA]

05:24 AM on 01/28/2012

From what you've read? Please do share. Citation or it didn't happen. Your opinion, despite your grandiose ego, is of no scholarly value.

[lshaft]

01:09 PM on 01/26/2012

"Big Crime" against innocent civilians is being perpetuated on a daily basis in Iraq by Iraqis against Iraqis. These Marines did the job we sent them there to do - If we do not like the results then let's not send these folks into harms way where they and their comrades live with the horrors of war each and everyday!!!

[donquijoterocket]

02:28 PM on 01/26/2012

Oh BS as for the "big crime" I thought part of the deal was allowing the foundation of a government which can deal with such.. We sent the Marines there to engage enemy combatants. We did not send them there to slaughter innocent civilians on the flimsiest of pretexts. At the very least this was a serious violation of both military and personal discipline. Will agree about not sending troops where the necessity is questionable at best.

[Boduognat]

03:53 PM on 01/26/2012

"...If we do not like the results then let's not send these folks into harms way..."

I guess the 5000 dead American troops before the USA were kicked out of Iraq where perhaps not the anticipated result...

Don't worry... the Afghans will kick them out as well... just like they did with the Russians.

The only question that remains is whether the USA will this time, be smarter than in Vietnam, where it took 58.00 of them before they learned a lesson....

[lshaft]

04:26 PM on 01/26/2012

Last I checked we were not "kicked out" of Iraq - We voluntary pulled our troops out after 10 years of service in that country. Have you ever been shot at; had your buddies wounded and die before you; and, watch your comrades suffer over the loss of their comrades??? This is not some intellectual masturbation exercise one undergoes in a college classroom, this is the real deal. Leaders, like SSG Wuterich, are responsible for the health, welfare and lives of their subordinates and the dynamics of warfare do not guarantee everyone will come home alive!!!

The house was an appropriate target and Wuterich made the right decision in neutalizing that hostile location!!! Before you spew your BS you should put on a uniform and see if you have the mettle, gumption and pure courage to do what these folks do every day in combat!!!

[PitBull6]

09:43 AM on 01/27/2012

Based on 30 years of intermittent military actions, 5000 dead was not necessarily anticipated...then again, neither were the very limited casualties of the Gulf War and operations in Bosnia.

The Soviets left in pretty good order and we shall too, on a date of our own choosing. Plus when you say "the Afghans" you only mean a relatively small percentage of the population. Many more would prefer we stay later than we want to.

Comparisons to Vietnam are not wholly useless, but when speaking about casualties they aren't very useful.

[wholetruth123]

12:49 PM on 01/26/2012

As I always say
war crimes are for losers
Only losers commit war crimes
Ergo losing is a war crime.

[YankeeCanuck]

12:38 PM on 01/26/2012

"They hate us for our freedom"--to invade a country halfway around the globe and murder innocent people.

[roc-o-rama]

12:09 PM on 01/26/2012

More hard earned tax-dollars gone by the way side for "Blood Money" to the victims, I wonder how much more this war that's over is going to cost us?