I’m still following the CNN story about the Killings at the Canals, and this piece today about the soldier who finally broke silence and reported the murders, Jess Cunningham, included this charming tidbit:
Based on Cunningham’s information, the Army launched an investigation in January 2008.
Asked why he did not report the crime earlier, Cunningham said, “Retaliation. Fear of being alone, fear of being the only one that had a problem with it, fear of so many things that could have happened to me.”
Cunningham was among 13 soldiers at the canal. He and another sergeant were charged with conspiracy to commit premeditated murder, but the charges were dropped. Cunningham received immunity for testifying.
David Court, who is Hatley’s attorney, said Cunningham “did not come forward for any altruistic motive. He only mentioned this because he thought it would get him less punishment. He didn’t do it because he thought, ‘I’ve got to blow the whistle.’ “
Court said, “If I were Sgt. Cunningham, I’d be worried that, having broken the band of brothers, something might happen to me.”
Cunningham said that is exactly why he did not come forward earlier.
How is that not intimidating a witness? How is that legal? And maybe people unfamiliar with the military don’t get it, but for those of you who do, can you not see right away the sort of cult-like following that Hatley had in that unit? We’ve all seen this dynamic. The more I read about this company, the more dysfunctional it sounds.