Massacre denied
The week's news at a glance.
San Diego
The deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha last November were “tragic” but not a crime, a lawyer for the Marine sergeant at the center of the incident said this week. Military investigators are reviewing whether the killings were a legitimate reaction to hostile acts, or retaliation for the death of a Marine killed in a roadside bomb attack. Lawyer Neal Puckett said Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 26, and his squad were following protocol when they opened fire inside three houses during a search for insurgents. “Everything that happened that day happened in response to the IED explosion,” Puckett said, referring to the improvised explosive device that blew up the Marines’ vehicle. “The Marines operated according to their training.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meat
The Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published