Comments on: The Killings In Haditha

Marine Tells 60 Minutes He's Sorry Iraqi Civilians Were Killed, But Insists He Made Right Decision

[jph70710]

I am proud of that marine who is accused of murder. What do you think war is? Should we ask if we can kill you before we do it? I do not know the name of the reporter but I would like to put him in the same situation. How would he react? Maybe he is one of those folks who beleives he is too good to carry a gun or serve in the military. If this marine is convicted of any crime it will show just how crooked our justice system really is. He is to be honored.

[lb551]

This is one of the most disgusting interviews I have ever seen. What ever happen to journalists being neutral to the subject of their interview? This Scott Pelley showed exactly what kind of junior reporter he is. He is obviously never to be taken seriously about anything he reports on because he is incapable of being unbiased while reporting on a subject. I wonder how many battles he has been in? We as a nation put these young people in this position, we should support them. I will make every effort to avoid watching CBS and 60 Minutes again. It is very clear to me that this network has a political agenda and this is the caliber of repoters they employee.

[rebloom]

Scott Pelley is the worst bleeding heart liberalist i have seen in years. He scowled at Frank wuterich thru the intire interview. H created courtroom, not an interview. Frank is paying a high price already.
disgusted in MT.

[book173]

Scott Pelly and 60 Minutes displayed the worst of modern media exploitation in the interview with Staff Sgt. Wuterich. The histeronics displayed by Pelley only served to demonstrate his insensitivity to the realities of war and the men who are thrust into making life or death decisions to protect themselves and their comrades. The interview was not impartial journalism but rather a stage for Pelley to display his acting ability in an effort to win more awards for his reporting. This is war and the Marines have every duty to protect themselves in hostile territory.

[wgilcoine]

War is a horrific nightmare! How many people were killed by the cluster bombs sent by the President? Why isn%u2019t the President held accountable? Why are we crucifying ground soldier that only want to return home to their families?! Is the Air Force exempt from their collateral damage while ground soldiers are not? In the past Navy battle ships have shot guns that have a rage of 20 miles yet the sailors are not responsible for the damage! Hand to hand combat should be decorated not prosecuted. Those that do not agree should volunteer and take the point in battle. Until you live the battle you cannot understand. Suit up and go volunteer for the marines. If you cannot join because you are not acceptable then visit a maimed soldier! Thank goodness for those who can and do!

[wmhnov]

I just saw a segement of 60 minutes that made me more angry with the media and the uninformed civilians who have never been in harms way.
The Marine (Sgt Wuterich) did exactly as I would have done under the same circumstances. I am a Viet Nam veteran ( 9 years enlisted and 15 years as an officer) who told my Marines in Viet Nam if they saw anything that looked suspicous, shoot it. We will check later. There are many Mothers and Wives who will agree with that concept because their son/husband came home alive. I am so tired of all the non-combatents who make moral judgements on our combat men and women. Split second decisions must be made by our front line leaders (mostly enlisted Non-commistioned officers). Under no circunstances can a person who has never been in harms way judge who is to live and who is to die, including local civilians who are hostile toward our troops. Rules of engagement have cost Military lives. I have witnessed women, children and old people that would kill you if given the chance. My job is not to play God- my job is to make sure my Marines and I stay alive.
Semper Fi
William Hemlepp Sr
Major USMC (Ret)

[redd1971]

On 8/24/08 I watched, for a second time, Scott Pelley''s interview with Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich. I feel it is inappropriate for Scott Pelly to have inferred or passed judgement on someone who was in combat when I seriously doubt if Scott Pelley has ever been in combat himself or had to deal with the ramifications of such. If Scott Pelly and 60 Minutes wants to infer or pass judgement on someone let it be President George W. Bush and his administration for their shortsightedness.

[jmckee38]

I think it is terrible that 60 Minutes interviewed Staff Sgt Wuterich like a criminal. How dare you challenge him and his men as to their approach and handling of a vicious enviorment. Are you hurting so bad for ratings that you will do anything for news? I turned it off. 60 Minutes has lost its appeal for good news and programing.

[b01411]

I am a Canadian. The politics of war is the mindless part of war that insults us all. How dare people who have not experienced the fear and horror of war comment on a soldier making a critical decision. We teach them to hate, to kill, and then expect them to make rational, reasoned decisions under unimaginable conditions, and then have the arrogance to think you can judge them. If someone is trying to kill you, I hope you take a reasonable, calm approach, thinking only of the other person,not yourself. That''s what you expected Sgt. Wuterich to do. Think of the enemy, instead of his men and himself. I thought Americans thought more of their young men and had learned from Vietnam about not disrespecting their military men.

[thr2-2009]

As the father of a son who spent 2005 with the Army in Baghdad and Fallujah my sympathy is with Sgt Wuterich. What do we expect our military to do? Die? They just lost a fellow soldier who was killed and were taking more fire. Put yourself is his position. He did what he was susposed to do, protect the soldiers under his leadership. It''s war and that''s what happens.
If justice demands someone pay for these deaths, and it should, then it demands the Bush administration stand trial for leading us to Iraq with what is now known to be nothing but a pack of lies.

[sheridad]

Its a sad commentary when an American journalist makes every effort to destroy the reputation of one of our soldiers. I tend to believe the story wouldn''t lean so far to the left had it been broadcast on FOX.

I have to wonder what would have been said about our soldiers in WWI and WWII had to media been so rampantly disrespectful of what our soldiers had to do, to stay alive back in those days. Ever wonder what you would do in a similar situation? Bet it wouldn''t be the reaction you''d hope for.

A very judgemental episode. First time I''ve ever been ashamed of 60 Minutes in the 30+ years I''ve been watching.

[dottymckee2]

I think it''s terrible that Staff Sgt. Wuterich and his men were even charged with murder. Sgt. Wuterich was doing what WE sent him there for and trained him to do. He was looking out for his men as he was trained to do. How many civillians do you think died in the earlier wars? That''s when it was "all fair"? So I don''t believe we should send our trained officers over to Iraq and to have in the back of their minds that after they do their "jobs" they may be accused of murder. What the heck is up with that!!!