Haditha case seen as losing strength: Evidence against Marines called weak

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | July 12, 2007 | Alex Roth and Rick Rogers

[4woodenboats]

So here we learn that the U.S. pays up to $2500 to the family of Iraqi civvies killed in a military action.

The true figure was $10,000. It sounds less significant, less a reason for insurgents to lie, if the reporter arbitrarily divides the total amount by the number of insurgents killed.

Sharratt IO Report

page 11

[Girlene]

Purchased testimony can and likely will be half-truths, quarter-truths or no truths at all.

As smoothsailing pointed out in the excerpt from post #16, the families of the four men killed in the house were paid $10,000 shortly after they provided their statements to NCIS. A sum valued at 4 times an annual salary in Haditha. They had nothing to lose, here, except the money. Wonder if the military will be asking for that money back now that Sharratt's charges are recommended for dismissal?

Also from the IO report, the Ahmed family stated to Special Agent Mannle that they would rather forgive the Americans than allow the bodies to be exhumed and examined. Give me a break. I wonder why this wasn't part of the requirements for Solatia payments?

[4woodenboats]

Looks like you were already on it, Smooth!

I emailed the author of this article and asked him for his source on President Bush "expressing concern". The context - and paragraph - in which that was dropped would seem to indicate Bush had the same concerns Murda did.

I am deeply dissappointed in the decision to court martial Lt Col Chessani, but feel certain he will prevail. I can only surmise that, as the next step up the ladder are the generals he reported to, the buck stops with him.

I wonder how many of them would have ventured out the night of the ambushes.

[smoothsailing]

I am deeply dissappointed in the decision to court martial Lt Col Chessani, but feel certain he will prevail. I can only surmise that, as the next step up the ladder are the generals he reported to, the buck stops with him.

That's been my main concern about this case. To satisfy the media, an officer of field or flag rank has to be thrown under the bus. It appears the flags have offered up Chessani.

I don't think it will work.

[Paperdoll]

Exactly why has the government allowed this to happen to eight of our finest? If it allows it to happen to them, what will it allow to happen to American civilians? Think about it.

Uh, Mr. President, please exonerate and apologize in every way possible to the Haditha eight. File charges against Murtha and Co. for it’s unpardonable roll in this debacle. Raise the pay to all armed forces personnel. Remove political correctness and rules of engagement from the American vocabulary.

[gardencatz]

I don't know, the language is still pretty charged. They spent quite a bit of time explaining why the prosecution was losing...NOT necessarily because they were wrong but problems with witnesses, memories, evidence, etc. and then this gem, Even though prosecutors in the Haditha case face those obstacles, they succeeded on one front yesterday. Are they truly hoping the prosecutors SUCCEED? Despite OBSTACLES? What obstacles, like the truth? How about promoting the notion that the defense, THE MARINES, the ones who not only fought for their country but now are being accused of murder for doing the job America asked them to, are the ones SUCCEEDING! The MSM just can't bring themselves to support the ones who keep them free.

Cindie

[jazusamo]

Yes, I know what you mean, I noticed that too. It’s a reflection of the writers having preconceived ideas about the guilt or innocence of these Marines but they at least are having to report the facts, which don't seem to fit their ideas of the case.

[Enchante]

This “case” has always been a sack of Murtha....... Has it been dragged out intentionally to try to increase the pressure on one or more defendants to “roll” for the prosecutors in exchange for a lesser sentence, when there is no case at all? Why hasn’t this all been rolled up and stuffed down John al-Murtha’s lying throat by now?

[JeeperFreeper]

This is a Nifong like prosecution by rogue JAGs and NCIS investigators. These prosecutor JAGs are reprehensible and should be disbarred like Nifong. JAGs are a cancer in the military. Go to the Captain’s Quarters blog to reveal how the JAGs and rules of engagement are killing Americans. Combat decisions are being vetted by JAGs so the Marines and Soldiers don’t wind up like these poor Marines. In the meantime, Americans die or are hurt. And, naturally, none of these JAGs ever have to actually engage the enemy; they just second guess the warriors from an well guarded outposts and air conditioned offices.

[JeeperFreeper]

My mistake, the website is:

www.captainsjournal.com

[4woodenboats]

" Combat decisions are being vetted by JAGs so the Marines and Soldiers don’t wind up like these poor Marines"

Captain Stone is the company lawyer and he still got charged.

Lt. Col Chessani, the battalion commander who was directing defensive operations on multiple simultaneous ambushes such as the on 3/1 was hit with, battles that raged all day, is now facing a court martial for not going back to the scene of this one ambush That Night to investigate whether the 3/1 played nice enough.

General (?) Chirelli ordered an investigation by the Army, which backed up what 3/1 reported, and was promptly ignored.

Captain Jeffrey Dinsmore, Intelligence Officer for 3/1, listened to and watched the entire event via UAV and radio, testified that this witchunt (my word) was political in nature, and that the 3/1 responded appropriately, yet the train keeps on rolling.

There's a big fat code pink loving ABSCAM & nepotism dealing anti war activist Senate Appropriations head POS driving that train, and he cares little how many Marines he puts away on his way to riches and stinky pink things.

[freema]

Thank you.

[RedRover]

Great points! There's also an assumption that the Marines are guilty, but the problem is proving it!

I haven't seen anything yet in the MSM that suggests that the prosecution might be having problems because the Marines are INNOCENT!

[RedRover]

Yes, the endless postponements in this case really do make you think the prosecution believes someone will snap and start confessing. Ain’t going to happen!

The lesson in the Haditha case for all Marines is this. If NCIS comes calling, do not forget your training. The thing that got you through fields of fire together was trust. Stay close to your brothers, tell the truth, and do not believe a word that an NCIS agent tells you—especially when he wants you to lie about a brother.

Broken bonds will haunt a Marine the rest of his life.

[Vision]

Tom Marr on wcbm radio is directing his listeners to call Murtha and ask if he will be offering an apology.

A listener just reported that Murtha’s staff has resorted to yelling “NO NO NO”.

http://www.wcbm.com

[RedRover]

Thanks for the tip, Vision! Somebody really needs to get a Murtha staffer on tape!

[lilycicero]

Do we have a “somebody” to do that?

[RedRover]

Volunteers needed!

[jazusamo]

Excellent news, Vision, I’ll be joining the callers.

Thanks for the ping, Red.

[lilycicero]

Do you have the ‘how to’ idea?