In the complete absence of media interest, the Corps may think the public is indifferent. I know that is not the case.
So I have a request.
Please leave comments on this thread regarding your feelings about leaks in the Haditha case. My hope is to gather extra ammunition in communications with Corps Powers-That-Be regarding the media and these leaks.
In their attempt to make this a Me Lie the Rats can’t find enough Liars.
Pray for W and Our Marines
I was with the 101st in Nam when all of the stuff came out about My Lai, Lt. Cally, and Capt. Medina, etc. It really put all of us at a disadvantage, not only with the Vietnamese people, but our own families/friends back home. I had to become defensive about my service to my country because some jackleg reporters painted all of us as baby killers, low-rents, and derelicts one step above squat. I resented it then, and I sure as hell resent these guys being painted with that same brush now in the media. Fair is fair, but it looks like the Corp isn’t looking out for its’ own, and these guys are being railroaded by their leaders. Tell the general in charge to get off his ass and dismiss these charges now, or prosecute whoever is doing the leaking to the media. One way or another, it must stop, and stop now!
The Haditha Marines were extremely well trained before shipping out to Iraq. Their offficers were experienced. These men did what they were trained to do with what, I am convinced, was excessive provocation. These men acted according to their extensive training by risking life and limb under fire. That our government has incarcerated them because of accusations against them by the enemy, and that the President has not pardoned them, is diabolic. May God watch over this unfair situation, and bring it to a justifiable solution soon, so these men can, at last, rejoin their families. And may He bless them all in every way.
According to Lt. Col. Sean Gibson (spokesman at Marine Corps Central Command in Florida) such information "is part of an ongoing investigation, and as such is neither releasable nor would it be appropriate for me to comment on it."
A "senior defense official" told the Associated Press that his previous leaks were correct,A leaker identified as "someone involved in the case who declined to be identified because the documents are not public", A "Marine official and a lawyer involved in the case",and unnamed "Pentagon sources" are described as sources of the unauthorized disclosures.
A breach of trust has taken place, perhaps even undue command influence considering those named as "senior defense official" and "Pentagon source."
The right to a fair and impartial hearing has been seriously compromised, perhaps beyond repair.
If Lt. Gen. Mattis is a man who truly understands honor and duty, he must protect the Marines in his charge. It is imperative that the leakers are publicly exposed and they are dealt with severely, this too is Mattis' responsibility. Until he has accomplished this, no hearings should proceed. In his judgement, he may even decide to drop all charges because of the taint and damage these leaks have caused.
Capt. Jay Delarosa, a spokesman for Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, said on January 29, 2007 that the service’s Inspector General’s (IG) office had received a request from Lt. Gen. James Mattis to find the source of the leak. But then Capt. Jay DelaRosa says it wasn’t immediately clear when the investigation would start.
If the leaker happens to be in the military, “that person could be subject to a court martial for obstruction of justice or impeding a trial.” If it’s not military, the IG could only ASK, not force the leaker to talk to investigators. If it’s civilian, the only risk the leaker runs is if the IG’s office refers the case to the US Attorney office and they can then decide if they want to pursue a case.
It’s now been almost 3 MONTHS: no results reported, but the leaks are starting again. These Marines deserve some answers.
1. Has the investigation started?
2. If the leaker is military, have any charges been preferred?
3. If it’s a civilian leaker(s), such as the NCIS, has a request been made to the US Attorney’s office?
4. Will this latest leak of Gen. Bargewell’s 100 + page document be added to the investigation?
5. How does a 10,000 page document or file simply walk out of the prosecuting JAG’s or NCIS offices?
The prosecuting JAG’s had lots of extra time in January to go for a visit to Iraq for several weeks to shore up (or maybe just try to establish) their case. I’m sure they’ve had time to answer a few questions to the IG’s office. Ditto to the NCIS; they’ve had plenty of time to answer a few questions. BTW, who are the NCIS Special Agents involved with the Haditha investigation?
Every leak does nothing but solidify the belief in the public that the Marines are guilty. While there are some that will always believe the worst no matter what the Courts say, there are many Americans that don’t have the benefit of FreeRepublic and Defend our Marines to get the whole story.
Instead of trying this case in a court of law, this case has been tried in the media and as far as the media is concerned, the Marines are guilty. Shame on the media and all the enablers & leakers that have treated the Marines and their families in this way.
In spring of 2006 came the infamous press conference. On May 17, 2006,(Cong.John) Murtha said, "There was no fire fight. There was no IED that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."
Courtesy of the Murtha File
Lt Gen Mattis should be willing to “brawl” for the Haditha Marines and sink the leak.
My son patrolled the streets of Haditha. The 1/23 Marines lost a number of guys there in 2004/2005. Likewise, the 3/25 Marines suffered terribly in 2005. The 3/1, seasoned veterans, took over. Anyone have a clue as to how many Marines and Soldiers we’ve lost in the tri-cities area of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana? I had to stop counting. It’s a runner-up to Fallujah and Ramadi.
Does anyone on our own government on this side of the pond even care about these young men? It would seem not. The news and the leaks of information all seem to me that people want political attention and personal gain, at the expense of those front-line warriors who are risking their lives every day. These young men are not seasoned mercenaries, they are our children. Or they would be children but for the fact that they have been asked to deal with death, uncertainty and treachery all too soon, the latter from their own countrymen.
I am beginning to get sick of this country and its inhabitants, present company excepted. There is honor about us, but we just can’t see it because of the bastards who surround us.
Semper Fidelis,
They will not be caught.
Fight back with leaks of their own, press conferences condemning whatever politicians they can, let as much evidence in their defense out as possible, if not all of it.
It worked for the Duke players, they hit back hard, and took a trial to the public, could it work here?
As a retired Marine, I cannot believe the actions against the very men that are making the Corps great. The leaks must stop, and the leakers given the punishment they deserve. Crap like this is one of the reasons my son got out, and I’m sure others are seeing how they will be protected from false charges brought by the very leaders who are charged with their care. Semper Fidelis should mean the same , regardless of the rank.