It is now 9 years since the start of the Iraq War, and over 6 years since HADITHA happened.
Hulu will be showcasing the film as part of this 9 year anniversary.
http://blog.hulu.com/2012/03/19/interview-nick-broomfield-director-of-battle-for-haditha/
Sentencing Sgt Wuterich to 3 months imprisonment for dereliction of duty, after murdering 24 innocent people, mainly women and children, is an insult to the Iraqi people and to any belief we might have in American justice.
Congressman John Murtha was totally accurate in calling it a cold blooded massacre and a revenge killing for one of the Marines. Statements from the Bargewell and NCIS report from fellow marines cleary indicate that Wuterich himself executed 5 innocent men kneeling on the ground with their hands in the air. Wuterich falsely claimed they were trying to run away. Wuterich lied when he said they received incoming gun fire, justifying his actions to clear the surrounding houses. His words to his men were 'shoot first, ask questions later.'
According to statements from Tatum, Mendoza, and Salinas, they knowingly killed unarmed women and children, shooting them at point blank range.
This is a sad day for American Justice, and any claim it might have to believe in and follow the rule of law.
Supporting the survivors of the Massacre
On 19th November 2005, a four-vehicle Marine convoy was travelling down route Chestnut, Haditha on a regular logistics mission. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded under the fourth vehicle killing LCpl Terrazas and injuring a number of other Marines.
In the immediate aftermath the Marines killed the occupants of a passing taxi and the residents of three nearby houses. 24 innocent Iraqi civilians in total were killed. Among the victims were 10 women and children and an elderly man in a wheelchair. Five innocent men travelling by taxi (students coming home) were lined up and shot. A great deal of controversy has surrounded the events of this day, which is why we have included the statements of various of the Marines, admitting to knowingly killing unarmed women and children. A selection of these statements taken from the US Government NCIS report, are included
A report on the incident by Time Magazine prompted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) to launch an investigation concluding that there was evidence supporting “accusations that US Marines deliberately shot civilians, including unarmed women and children.
This website has been created to raise awareness on the Haditha massacre, and to advocate for justice. The Marines initially offered each family $2,500 which was rejected as completely inadequate. We are appealing for funds to support the victim’s families who have had their livelihoods destroyed as well as to lodge civil lawsuit in the US courts to achieve a more satisfactory resolution to the events of that day.
Nick Broomfield's reconstruction of the Haditha massacre drew cries of ‘unpatriotic' from US marines at a Los Angeles screening of the film. Photograph: Channel 4