NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2008
The Killings In Haditha
Marine Tells 60 Minutes He's Sorry Iraqi Civilians Were Killed, But Insists He Made Right Decision
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Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich speaks publicly about the Haditha killings for the first time with 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley. (CBS)
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Interactive Iraq: 5 Years At War Five years after the U.S.-led invasion, the war wears on.
He says he couldn't see where the fire was coming from, but a house to the south caught his eye.
"This building was right in the line of sight of this explosion here," Wuterich says.
"You did not see fire coming from the house, correct?" asks Pelley.
"I did not see muzzle flashes coming from the house, correct," Wuterich replies.
If he didn’t hear rounds coming from the house, how did he identify the house as a threat?
"Because that was the only logical place that the fire could come through seeing the environment there."
When Wuterich’s superior, Lt. William Kallop arrived, Kallop gave his okay to assault the house.
At this point it’s important to know that even though Wuterich had never cleared houses in combat, two of his men had, and it had been a bitter experience. It was about a year before in Falluja. The residents had been ordered out of the city and the Marines were told anyone left behind was hostile. Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, one of Wuterich’s men, was in that fatal Falluja house clearing.
In the incident, Marines tossed a grenade past the door and rush in. But the enemy returns fire. One Marine is killed and eight are wounded. Another veteran of Falluja was Lance Corporal Steve Tatum.
Now a year later, Sharratt and Tatum would be charged with murder for what they were about to do in Haditha. Tatum, Wuterich and two others ran from the road at the top, down the ravine to assault the first house -- Wuterich telling the Marines shoot first, ask questions later.
After hearing noises behind a closed door, they kicked in the door and threw in the grenade. "First man enters the room and engages the people in the room," Wuterich remembers.
He says he didn't fire any rounds in the house.
"Frank, help me understand. You're in a residence, how do you crack a door open and roll a grenade into a room?" Pelley asks.
"At that point, you can’t hesitate to make a decision. Hesitation equals being killed, either yourself or your men," he says.
"But when you roll a grenade in a room through the crack in the door, that’s not positive identification, that’s taking a chance on anything that could be behind that door," Pelley says.
"Well that’s what we do. That’s how our training goes," he says.
Next, Wuterich says he glanced into the room and he saw bodies.
"…I remember there may have been women in there, may have been children in there," he says. "My responsibility as a squad leader is to make sure that none of the rest of my guys died ... and at that point we were still on the assault, so no, I don't believe [I should have stopped the attack], he tells Pelley.
Wuterich says the back door of the house was open. He hadn’t seen the gunman, but he assumed the gunman fled next door. So the Marines hit the next house.
He says, "We went through that house much the same, prepping the room with grenades, going in there, and eliminating the threat and engaging the targets…There probably wasn’t [a threat], now that I look back on it. But there, in that time, yes, I believed there was a threat."
Produced by Shawn Efran and Solly Granatstein
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 411 CommentsThis young man, a volunteer, is a United States Marine, who defended his men, and his country, exactly as he was trained. That innocents die in war is always tragic, but sadly expected, to some degree. The innocent Iraqi victims, in this case, were not lined up and executed in cold blood. They were in a zone that was supposed to have been evacuated, where suspected terrorists had just been running from the site of an IED explosion that killed and injured Marines. The Marines pursued and neutralized the threat, per their training.
Sgt. Wuterich, I thank you for your service, and sacrifice, and I am glad to know that you made it home safely. I hope that you survive this ordeal, too. Please continue to hold your head high.
As far as I am concerned, 60 Minutes, and Scott Pelley in particular, you are fired.
It is not Scott Pelley or 60 Minute''s job to tell us what your personal opinion is... it is your job to report it responsibly and comprehensively and allow us to make our own decisions.
Mr. Pelley treated a soldier of war, who had risked his life at the direction of our elected officials, with disrespect, aggression and hostility.
This is a conflict were the enemy is invisible and you must assume the worst - knocking first is not an option.
I give thanks to and pray for Sgt Wuderick and all of our soldiers of war - past and present. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, this is not a conservative or liberal issue, this is not a pro-war or anti-war issue.
God bless this young man and other soldiers like him - they risk their lives and endure what most of us cannot even imagine - they should come home to welcoming, grateful and compassionate nation... regardless of our personal politics.
How dare that man sit with his manicured fingernails pointed at a soldier and refer to him as a murderer. How dare he judge the actions of men in combat while he hides behind his microphone.
I have never faced combat, never served my country. But I surely have a better understanding of kill or be killed than what your experienced reporter obviously has. I absolutely have more respect than Mr. Pelley for the ''job'' that those men and women do everyday, and for far less compensation and gratitude than what Mr. Pelley enjoys on a daily basis.
CBS, you have hit a new low in allowing such an interview to be aired. It was shameful, unAmerican, unpatriotic and simply, border-lined traitor-ship.
Unless Scott Pelley is released from his contract with 60 minutes and removed from the news team(s) of CBS after a public apology, I will never view another CBS news program. Nor will I purchase any type of merchandise advertised during the episodes. Know why? Because Marines like that are out there fighting to ensure my RIGHT TO CHOOSE!
I hope that Mr. Pelley loses as much sleep over his deplorable interview as our young men and women will. I doubt it, after all, what life threatening decision has he made in the last year? Whether he should use the elevator or stairs?
Frank Wuterich, if your reading these, In Texas you have a huge fan who thanks you for your service and especially thanks you for bringing yourself and others alive. Good Job!
be real! until you''re in their boots, you had no right to interview this young man under scrutiny! i agree with all the negative commens that was presented on this issue.it was indeed a terrible tradegy, these young men have to live with this for the rest of their lives. especially the people who voted to call up our armed forces to fight in the middle east and who are not held accountable for putting our armed forces and innocent people in harms way. put part of the scrutiny on these guys,. but no way this will ever happen! wherever there are arms and suicide bombers, there is a fine line when split second decisions about survival have to be made. the lives of these soldiers are ruined no matter what the outcome may be. what does this do to the moral of our armed forces? just take a chance to be slaughtered by an unseen enemy! i pray that everyone can get on with their lives. i want to thank the men and women in the armed forces for their sacrifice!
Your investigation should be directed at the instigator Bush - The Arabs own Bush and the Iraq war represent the Arabs control of Bush using our troops to destroy Iraq - the Marines being ambushed and killed in Iraq are the result - and
that should be the direction of your investigation and war crimes accusations.
the instigator Bush should be subjected to your questions - Bush is an Arab arbitrator and administrator - owned by the Saudis - therefore the
questions asked should not be directed at Marines being ambushed - but at the benedict arnold bush that thinks he is a royal arab S O B.
the instigator Bush should be subjected to your questions - Bush is an Arab arbitrator and administrator - owned by the Saudis - therefore the
questions asked should not be directed at Marines being ambushed - but at the benedict arnold bush that thinks he is a royal arab S O B.
the instigator Bush should be subjected to your questions - Bush is an Arab arbitrator and administrator - owned by the Saudis - therefore the
questions asked should not be directed at Marines being ambushed - but at the benedict arnold bush that thinks he is a royal arab S O B.
In the current INSURGENCY (misnamed "Iraq War")legitimate civilian authority is absent
Two things.
1. it''s a resistance movement - not an insurgency. There''s a big difference.
2. the reason there is no civilian authority is because the US illegally invaded an overthrew their government.
US troops should be withdrawn immediately - within six months of Obama''s election I hope. Then murdering thugs like Sgt. Wuterich will have to go back to video games instead of playing out their urge to kill on real live people.
And Scott Pelley - you rock as far as I''m concerned. When interviewing a heartless killer - one should look sickened - as Mr. Pelley did. Good job 60 Minutes.
In the current INSURGENCY (misnamed "Iraq War")legitimate civilian authority is absent, hostiles are not in uniform, and indistinguishable from the civilian population.
Scott Pelley and CBS deserve to be censured for their emotional handling of the SSgt Weuterich interview.
If fault is to be found, lay it on Washington for placing our young men in this situation.
In the current INSURGENCY (misnamed "Iraq War")legitimate civilian authority is absent, hostiles are not in uniform, and indistinguishable from the civilian population.
Scott Pelley and CBS deserve to be censured for their emotional handling of the SSgt Weuterich interview.
If fault is to be found, lay it on Washington for placing our young men in this situation.
Maj Luther
Camp Fallujah, Iraq
There is a fog of war, and this war is very foggy. The enemy is not clearly identified and may be anybody...dressed as a civilian, wearing street clothes, intent on doing harm and then disappearing into the urban environment. In hindsight I''m sure everyone is sorry that innocent persons were killed, including SSgt Wuterich. But don''t put our young men in harms way and then try to second guess them on their decisions under duress. I have faith that the US Marine Corps will fully investigate the allegations against SSgt Wuterich and, taking all factors into account, make an unbiased judgement on his actions in this matter. But make no mistake, you and I and everyone in this country are just as responsible for what happens in this war. So don''t ask SSgt Wuterich what he dreams about at night. Ask yourself.
Sincerely,
JOHN D KESSLER
Ex- Petty Officer, USCG
Ex- Captain, USAF
Dear Mr. Pelley,
I am so upset, I hardly know where to start. I cannot determine from your interview with SSgt. Wuterich whether you are an "actor" or a news reporter. I do not have to do a bio on you to know that you have never been placed in a similar situation or forced to make similar decisions.
The emotional spin you tried to place on this interview and incident is something we can all do without. Bottom line , he was there and you were not. Next bottom line; we ( and this includes you) put young men like him in harms way through the actions of our government and expect him to make the best decisions and take the best action that, through his experience and training, he knows how. We are all of us responsible, internalize it. Last bottom line; I am sure that , in harms way, he did the the best that we demanded of him, and he of himself.
JOHN D KESSLER
EX-Petty Officer, USCG
EX-Captain, USAF
Your interview with SSGT. Frank Wuterich sounded more like you had already decided he was guilty, than an interview.
I want to commend that young man for keeping his cool and not falling for your discusting tricks.
What really urks me is these young men risk their lives on a daily basis for our freedom and then ignorant people like you Scott judge them on civilian terms. Everyone forgets these soldiers after they come home. They don''t get the respect they deserve, nor the medical help or transitional help after they come home. If he was your son you wouldn''t be so quick to judge him.
Yes they are trained killers, what else do you expect them to be. The Marines are taught to kill and make split second life or death decisions. This young man followed his training and orders to the T.
You have no right to judge his actions. I don''t see you out there risking your neck for our freedom. These charges are rediculous.
I pray he gets off and that Americans will wake up and give our young men and women the respect and any help they may need when they come home from war.
Shame on you Scott Pelley and 60 minutes for your unfair and biased so called interview!
Your interview with SSGT. Frank Wuterich sounded more like you had already decided he was guilty, than an interview.
I want to commend that young man for keeping his cool and not falling for your discusting tricks.
What really urks me is these young men risk their lives on a daily basis for our freedom and then ignorant people like you Scott judge them on civilian terms. Everyone forgets these soldiers after they come home. They don''t get the respect they deserve, nor the medical help or transitional help after they come home. If he was your son you wouldn''t be so quick to judge him.
Yes they are trained killers, what else do you expect them to be. The Marines are taught to kill and make split second life or death decisions. This young man followed his training and orders to the T.
You have no right to judge his actions. I don''t see you out there risking your neck for our freedom. These charges are rediculous.
I pray he gets off and that Americans will wake up and give our young men and women the respect and any help they may need when they come home from war.
Shame on you Scott Pelley and 60 minutes for your unfair and biased so called interview!
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