others, even Rumsfeld if I remember correctly).
In both cases, the grief drives everything. The sad thing and bottom line, to use that overworked term, is that sometimes grief is simply a debilitating emotion that turns into anger. Very sad unless it helps the grieving along their path of recovery or something related. Doubt there is ever complete healing. And, the article is another example of what a fast train to nowhere is Afghanistan. (Just today, over 50 killed by suicide bombers)-A mess. The battle of Wanat (subject of article) was a disaster in which nine soldiers were killed and the blame has to go to the generals who sit back and make these inane strategy decisions like young LTs who hardly know what end is up sitting down with what we would call “village chiefs” who are probably involved with the enemy anyway. It is idiocy at the highest levels. Hurts my heart. The command structure above expected way too much, gave them inadequate support, and simply ignored some of the basic survival rules of war.
In the final analysis, after the battalion commander and company commander were reprimanded (signed off on by guys like Petraeus), the special investigator, in the face of enormous opposition, reversed the findings with a partial analysis which I totally agree with: in combat, anything can happen and Monday morning quarterbacking can never measure up to what a firefight truly means.
Court Martialing the Wrong Person
Staff SGT Wuterich, a U.S. Marine, went on trial last week at Camp Pendleton in California for the deaths of twenty-four unarmed civilians in Iraq. Wuterich was the squad leader in Haditha, Iraq in 2005 when a roadside bomb killed one Marine and injured two. He ordered the raid of three houses in search of suspects which resulted in the deaths of twenty-four men, women, and children. He is the eighth Marine to go on trial. The charges against six were dismissed and one was found not guilty. Wuterich faces more charges than the others.)
SSG Wuterich's court martial is an example to me of a lack of leadership on the part of someone way above the good Sergeant in the chain of command. No one that I know would condone the killing of innocent civilians. It is sad beyond words. SSG Wuterich and his squad were in about as terrible a situation as could happen in the worst kind of environment: urban warfare. The facts from what I've read bear out the fact that it was the "fog of war": confusion, split decisions, adrenalin pumping. Sad that maybe innocents were killed.
Now, we have second guessing on the part of the squad and of the Squad Leader's leadership. What is going to happen to SSG Wuterich now. The court martial will probably find him guilty. It is what military court martials do. By their very nature, it is "Bring the guilty bastard in." A thorough article 32 investigation which to civilians is a grand jury looks at facts? Mostly interpreted in black and white.
No real "combat soldier" would convict this young Marine. However, probably all of the jury and investigators have probably been to war but it does not necessarily mean "combat vets." All combat is not equal. SSG Wuterich's and his squad is not like someone sitting back at some camp in Iraq, working on his computer or calling home when he or she is off duty. The Sergeant and his squad are on the front lines. Make no mistake about it, this is the "fog of war" and I don't care who says so, the squad can't be second guessing. Removed from the moment, SSG's squad might see it differently but I believe him. He did what he had to do. It is the FOG of WAR. In this fog of war, he is going to die or his men are. And, politics that might intrude need to be put aside. I hate this has gotten to this point. Some commander somewhere who has the authority should have said, "enough." That not happening, the pure cold facts will probably convict him. But, in this case, in my view, the facts are only a slight bit of the story. And, I might go with the idea that Staff Sergeant Wuterich is a scapegoat of this sorry ass f..king Iraqi misadventure. We ought to be putting those who got us into Iraq in jail not SSG Wuterich who was trying to protect his men.
GITMO
Very early on, I grasped through experience that prisons bring out the worst in people (I started off my military career as an officer involved in the stockade, which military prisons were called in the day). An axiom exists, passed along by my brother, who for a long time, worked in a state prison system. He said that in six months, it was hard to tell who the guards were and who the prisoners were. I think GITMO has brought out the worst in us. And, this doesn’t even include the young soldiers, the military police, who have had the task of guarding or doing whatever their duties have been at GITMO. I can assure anybody this: it has taken its toll on these young emotionally unsophisticated troops.
What amazes me is the lack of cry that has ensued. What the f..k? Are most Americans asleep at the wheel. I think so. Let me relate this story. Too long, other than to give my biased salient points. The U.S. arrests this guy in Bosnia. Bosnia's Supreme Court investigates and says there's no evidence this guy is a terrorist or involved in anything related. The Americans still take him to Guantanamo (I don't know how they could do this). There, he is treated awful, remains in custody seven years. Missed his kids birthdays, gets no mail. Treated so un-American, it makes me ashamed. The Supreme Court finally does the right thing and frees him. The guy's life is ruined. And, those who decided all this bullshit in what they perceived in their own war on terror are impervious to any harm they have caused these people who never got their day in court. Nobody ever apologizes or says they fucked up. Read the story: nytimes.com/opinion
Short Insider Essays About The Military Page 4