Kline apologizes to Marines over Haditha statements

Mpls (Red) Star-Tribune ^ | 8/14/2006

[markomalley]

WASHINGTON - Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., apologized Monday to the Marines under investigation in the killings of two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq, last November, saying that statements he made about the case were taken out of context and that he did not mean to imply the Marines were guilty of wrongdoing. Kline issued the apology as part of an agreement with lawyers for Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, who alleged Kline had damaged Wuterich's reputation. Wuterich has denied any wrongdoing in the Haditha case. None of the Marines involved has been charged.

Wuterich took the unusual step earlier this month of filing a federal lawsuit against Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., alleging statements Murtha made about the Haditha deaths were libelous. Murtha said after the lawsuit was filed that he did not mean to prejudge Wuterich, but he has not responded to a settlement offer that seeks a similar public apology, according to Wuterich's attorneys, Mark Zaid and Neal Puckett. They set last Friday as a deadline for Murtha's apology.

[markomalley]

I wonder if the headline should be: "Kline apologizes to Marines while he still has a chance to get re-elected"?

[coconutt2000]

None of the Marines involved has been charged.

Our representatives should learn the value of the words, "No comment."

[EagleUSA]

Once a treasonous POS, always a treasonous POS.

[CindyDawg]

Good for the Marine. Hopefully he's a leader.

[markomalley]

In addition to these unfounded, unproven accusations against these Marines, Fat Jack Murtha has shown himself to be consistently pro-pork and anti-military for years.

Jack Murtha was one of two people who voted for Charlie Rangel's Draft Bill (H.R. 163, introduced Jan 7, 2003), back in 2004. Please look at Roll Call Vote 494, held on 5 Oct 2004. Only he and Pete Stark voted for it. The bill sponsor (Rangel) and the remainder of the co-sponsors (incl. Conyers, Jackson-Lee, etc.) did not vote for the bill they sponsored!

We mustn't let his constituents forget this little fact: the local rhetoric has little or no resemblence to the reality of his inside-the-beltway politics.

[TimesDomain]

ALL Marines are leaders.

[Spruce]

While he may be a politician, and apt to flap his gums too much, John Kline is NO TRAITOR. I suggest you look into his background.

[CindyDawg]

Well in this case I hope he has some followers.

[CindyDawg]

He apolgized.

[phoenix0468]

He's a Marine Staff Sergeant, so he's definitely a leader.

[hsalaw]

This seems to be one case in which "taken out of context" is a valid argument:

Kline responded to a settlement request within an hour of its arrival Aug. 4. Kline wrote that news outlets used incomplete statements that gave the false impression that he had concluded the Marines broke the law.

[EagleUSA]

John Kline is NO TRAITOR.
------
We have a difference of opinion, when it comes to ANYONE bad-mouthing our fighting men and women. Period. And Murtha was not a traitor in many people's eyes, until he became a power-mad socialist running for a high position in Congress, all on the backs of our fighting forces.

These people need to support our services, not talk them down. They are careless idiots and they have no place in America, especially in what is left of a once great government.

[CindyDawg]

Ok, ok. Yall are all leaders. Uncle:') I just meant I hope the other guys follow and file against him too.

[phoenix0468]

Yeah, that would be nice. But the only file I want to see are charges of Treason against Murtha for being a Traitorous bastard.

[Just A Nobody]

Kline, a former Marine colonel and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, .....

Whoa! I thought there were only TWO (2) members of CONgress that were military...Murthawi and jFk.

On a serious note, if the lawsuit was filed for the sole purpose of getting an "apology" and a few bucks, I may have to rethink this.

[RJL]

if the lawsuit was filed for the sole purpose of getting an "apology" and a few bucks, I may have to rethink this.

There's little else to get from a lawsuit, except an apology and a few bucks.

[Marine_Uncle]

This case has gotten totally out of hand from the very start.
Meanwhile Marines must stay in solitary confinement, and have few priveleges most humans take for granted.
The only good thing is they will be free once the facts are fully established. Now will they want to even go back to their unit if required to do so?

[Dubya]

The only good thing is they will be free once the facts are fully established

I sure hope you are right.

Dub

SGT USMC

[Marine_Uncle]

Semper Fi. Thank you for serving. Gotta try to get some sleep.