Iraq: US Marine says he urinated on dead Iraqi

[NNN0LHI]

http://somalinet.com/news/world/World/10267

Fri. May 11, 2007 06:43 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. - Send this news article

(SomaliNet) A US marine testified on Thursday he urinated on one of the 24 dead Iraqi civilians killed by his unit in Haditha, angered that a beloved member of his squad had been killed in an explosion.

According to Sergeant Sanick Dela Cruz, who has immunity from prosecution after murder charges against him were dismissed, also said he watched his squad leader shoot down five Iraqi civilians who were trying to surrender.

Dela Cruz described his bitterness after a roadside bomb ripped Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, known as T.J., into two bloody pieces, in dramatic testimony in a pre-trial hearing for one of the seven Marines charged in the November 2005 Haditha killings and alleged cover-up.

“I know it was a bad thing what I’ve done, but I done it because I was angry T.J. was dead and I pissed on one Iraqi’s head,” said an unemotional Dela Cruz in a military courtroom in Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, California.

Dela Cruz also said he watched squad leader Sgt. Frank Wuterich shoot five men whose hands were tied up near a car. Dela Cruz said he also shot the five men as they laid on the ground.

[bryant69]

1. Reuters story originally

His testimony is very depressing but not surprising.

I will go out on a limb and say pissing on a dead Iraqi is not quite as bad as gunning down five live Iraqis trying to surrender.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[leftchick]

2. support the troops

blech.

[AndyA]

3. Is there any wonder why the Iraqi people hate us so?

I know these guys were angry that one of their fellow servicemen had been killed, but what they did just makes it worse. And why kill civilians, especially if they were surrendering?

Other people see this happening, and hear stories about it, and it just fuels the fire, IMO. Is it any wonder that the insurgency is growing so quickly? Repeat this story over and over again, and I can certainly understand why.

We need to get out of Iraq, NOW.