The problem is a VERY thorough report WAS filed through appropriate channels (some of the details were declassified so we read them yesterday), up the chain of command. Everyone was satisfied. Because of intelligence gathered they all had knowledge we didn’t (i.e. that the guy “shopping” for a journalist was part of the insurgency, that there was a major attack planned on troops that day, that it would involve a white car, etc.) Once questions were raised there was even an investigation by an army officer who was totally uninvolved with this operation. HE came to the conclusion no investigation was warranted.
Then, TIME magazine puts out their “insurgent approved” version (along with the subsequent retractions that no one saw), Murtha gets into the act and the lives of these men and their families become a living hell. It’s pretty easy for us to say “well the system works”. These people have had to take out 2nd mortgages, cash in retirement accounts (generally people with adult children are older and close to retirement so this could be a HUGE hardship for them), etc. to pay for their legal defense. Granted, it’s a sacrifice I would gladly make if it were my son. But given what we’ve learned in the past couple of days (and what the Marines and even NCIS knew all along), this never should have been brought to trial AT ALL.
These NCIS investigators will go back to their jobs with NO repercussions, the JAG lawyers will move on to the next case as if it were just another day (because for them it will be). But what about these brave Marines? Even if they wanted to stay in the Corps, they’ll never feel the same about it again, they’d never be able to go into battle without hesitating, and there will be people who (especially with a movie coming out) will NEVER believe things happened the way they did. I can tell you, this would absolutely devastate my son. He wanted to be a Marine so bad he could taste it, he loves the Corps and wants to be a part of it for a long time.
These investigators and lawyers may have just been doing their job, but that’s really all it was to them, a job...they go home at night and leave it behind and regardless of the outcome, they’ll still have a job the next day, next week, next year. These men not only had to fight for their lives in Haditha, but for their freedom here at home. It’s kind of ironic if you think about it, they risked their lives to bring liberty to strangers thousands of miles away, only have to fight for their own freedom. Had this not been sensationalized, had it not been twisted so negatively in the press, these men and their families would never have to go through this. Had the Corps stood behind them and said there won’t be any hearings because they did nothing wrong they, like the investigators at NCIS or the lawyers at JAG, would just have gone “back to work” the next day like everyone else. It’s a tragedy. We should be embarrassed that “We the People” and our military can be manipulated this way. We both should know better.
Cindie
Thank YOU for that post.