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.

[Brimack34]

I heard Kline here on the radio, I was pissed. He was not taken out of context. He said there is a big cover up. He is running against a moonbat commie so he will win, but I am pissed at him.

[Valin]

You really think Coleen Rowley has an icecubes pray in hell of beating him? If you do I've got a bridge in NY I can sell you cheap.

[Just A Nobody]

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


Ummmm No! If you are going to sue someone follow through. I want to watch the trial. I want to see and hear John Murtha on the witness stand squirming. I want to see him sweat...profusely. I want to hear him support his comments .....

"There was no firefight. 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," Murtha said. (Watch Murtha level accusations against the Marines -- 1:58)
"They actually went into the houses and killed women and children," the congressman said.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/18/murtha.marines/index.html

An apology??? Another Turban Durbinesque apology? What is it with this apology crap? Say any old thing that you pull out of the dark recesses of your bodily parts, slander others, ruin their lives and careers and then simply say, "Oh my bad, sorry about that Marine." Gimme a break. An apology and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee, in some places anyway.

[RaceBannon]

Scumbag made a generous deposit in the defense fund too, I'll bet.

or at least hope so.

[W04Man]

Ping!

[jmaroneps37]

Kline claims he was misquoted. He may have been. He is an otherwise good man. He apologized immediately when this came to light. Okay now what about surrender murtha? Nothing of the kind from him.

Now think about this: The actions of Kline and the inaction of surrender will make surrender look even worse and help Irey. So since the young Marine GOT his apology from Kline this puts more pressure on surrender murtha. Not bad.

[jmaroneps37]

Kline claims he was misquoted. He may have been. He is an otherwise good man. He apologized immediately when this came to light. Okay now what about surrender murtha? Nothing of the kind from him.

Now think about this: The actions of Kline and the inaction of surrender will make surrender look even worse and help Irey. So since the young Marine GOT his apology from Kline this puts more presure on surrender murtha. Not bad.

[Coop]

Better late than never, I suppose. Just a darned shame it took the threat of a lawsuit to straighten Kline out. I'm definitely disappointed in the man.

[StarCMC]

Sort of sucks when people are forced to admit they are wrong. Not the same as when they just admit it because it's the right thing to do. Blech!

[pissant]

The Haditha Marines are not even under arrest, as far as I know.

[Shelayne]

Better late than never, I suppose. Just a darned shame it took the threat of a lawsuit to straighten Kline out. I'm definitely disappointed in the man.

I am too. On our new FM radio talk format, WTLK, his soundbite about there being a cover-up was used to advertise one of the afternoon talk shows. I would hear it every day, and it sounded like a completed statement to me. I wish I could recall the exact wording, but it would make me so mad, I often turned the dial when it came on. I was/am extremely disappointed in him.

[GoBucks2002]

Okay now what about surrender murtha? Nothing of the kind from him.

John Murtha is a Democrat. As such, he never has to bear any sort of responsibility for anything he ever says or does. You can kill a young woman, you can lie about our soldiers with impunity, you can join the KKK, and still get elected and re-elected. If you are a Democrat, that is.

If you are a Republican, you will find yourself making public apologies for things you did not say, being invesitgated by the IRS for money you did not make, and generally have every thing you ever do or say scrutinized. You even have to watch your back within your own party, lest someone try to gain positive media exposure by making up lies about you.

[ritewingwarrior]

Lets hope Murtha doesn't have the guts to apologize and loses the libel case. I would love to see him try to weasel out of it. That scumbag Murtha should be shot.

[RaceBannon]

Charity for the Pendleton 8. Click here. Paypal Available!! For every donation of $20, the doner will receive a free T-shirt to help spread the news of these brave Americans. Be sure to include your size of MEdium, Large, X-Large or XX-Large. Click on the T-shirts for a direct link to PAYPAL.

PAYPAL VERIFIED ACCOUNT

[Marine_Uncle]

"The Haditha Marines are not even under arrest, as far as I know.
Well they would not walking around in leg irons in their tiny cells if they are free men. The military confinement they are under must be congruant or equal to what we would consider being under arrest in the civilian judicial system.
Perhaps one of our more judicially estute Freepers could elaborate on what their official status is from a military standpoint.

[Marine_Uncle]

To your credit Marine. The willingness to help in this cause in behalf of these Marines.

[eyespysomething]

Great! Thanks for the link for that.

[pissant]

People have consitently been mixing up the Hamdania Marines (a travesty how they are being treated) and the Haditha group.

[Marine_Uncle]

"People have consitently been mixing up the Hamdania Marines (a travesty how they are being treated) and the Haditha group."
Whooops! Your so right. My brain has been a bit fried of lately. Thanks for the needed correction. As indicated, the Hadith Marine case, the guys are not even charged with anything official. They most probably will return to their unit once they are cleared of any alleged charges.