Posted on 08/11/2007 10:26:06 AM PDT by smoothsailing
"Innocent" at Haditha
By Ben Johnson
FrontPageMagazine.com | 8/10/2007
IT’S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE JOHN MURTHA charged that U.S. Marines “killed innocent civilians in cold blood” in Haditha. Yesterday, a military commander lifted Murtha’s preemptive conviction.
Last May, John Murtha held a press conference accusing our soldiers of slaughtering 24 Iraqis – including women and children – in the town of Haditha in late November 2005. He guaranteed an investigation would determine “[o]ur troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood.” His words ricocheted around the Arab world, as Al Jazeera dutifully quoted him. This “pressure,” Murtha said, could be ended by bringing troops home. The government eventually charged four men with “unpremeditated murder.”
On August 9th, the military dismissed all charges against one of the remaining three Marines accused of murder.[1] Indeed, Lt. Gen. James Mattis went further than finding Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt not guilty; he called the 22-year-old “innocent.” He concluded his statement by noting Sharratt “has always remained cloaked in the presumption of innocence, with this dismissal of charges, he remains in the eyes of the law – and in my eyes – innocent.”
All the accused have claimed they engaged in a battle with terrorists, who hid inside a home, and the civilian deaths were unintentional. Mattis verified this claim, adding a fact that seems to elude Murtha: “our nation is fighting a shadowy enemy who hides among the innocent people, does not comply with any aspect of the law of war, and routinely targets and intentionally draws fire toward civilians.”
The ruling is merely the latest indication that the government’s case against the three is crumbling. In June, Lt. Col. Paul Ware told the prosecution flatly, “The account you want me to believe does not support unpremeditated murder. Your theories don’t match the reason you say we should go to trial.” Relatives would not allow doctors to autopsy the bodies, and the house in question had been freshly repaired and painted before investigators could retrieve additional evidence. (Ware also doubted Iraqi witnesses would travel stateside to testify.) However, photographs of the scene revealed the curtains and walls were riddled with bullet holes – indicating a firefight had taken place.
In April, the government dropped charges against Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz in exchange for his testimony and provided immunity for several others. A defense attorney states Dela Cruz has already changed his story five times.
Two others remain charged with murder: Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum and Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich. Tatum’s Article 32 hearing – a military-style Grand Jury, which determines if the case proceeds to a court martial trial – wrapped up late last month. Prosecutors accuse Tatum of not following the Rules of Engagement, which state the Marine must identify that each specific target has hostile intent before firing. Which sounds like a terrific way to end up in the Memorial Day eulogy rather than the Veterans Day parade.
Tatum nearly broke down into tears when he recounted that he may have killed a child; yet he maintains after an explosion, he heard someone rack an AK-47 and could not clearly see the targets through the smoke. The prosecution’s star witness, Lance Cpl. Humberto Mendoza, testified Tatum ordered him to murder the innocents, then Tatum did it himself when he refused.
There are, however, significant reasons to question Mendoza’s veracity. While Tatum passed his lie detector test, Mendoza failed his. Mendoza admitted shooting two unarmed people, and confessed to lying and withholding evidence for more than a year. His testimony conflicts with that of every other witness, and with itself. Oh, and “Mendoza is trying to get his application for U.S. citizenship released by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which is holding up his papers.” Mattis has yet to rule in this case.
Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich has yet to have his Article 32 hearing.
If Murtha genuinely cared about the troops, he would have protested the conditions of their interrogations. Investigators refused to provide attorneys to those who asked, questioned the men for 12 hours at a time, and did not give them bathroom breaks. (The men had to relieve themselves into bottles.) Had this treatment taken place at Guantanamo Bay, Congress would have already held a dozen hearings on the issue. When this treatment is accorded to enlisted men instead of terrorist murderers, the Democratic Left’s outrage seems to wane.
The media, too, lost interest when the proceedings no longer portrayed the enlisted men as brutal babykillers. True to form, Murtha’s blood libel made front page headlines. The proceedings were largely passed over – except when Mendoza testified. News of the exoneration has yet to make a ripple. Murtha demonized Sharratt and the others in front of the entire world. Tatum and Wuterich may yet prove guilty, but if they are acquitted, they may well join Sharratt in asking, “Where do I go to get my reputation back?”
Sharratt’s good name was the first casualty of Jack Murtha’s Iraq policy. If the Left succeeds in following all his advice, future casualties will not be figurative.
ENDNOTES: 1. He also threw out separate charges against another GI in the Haditha incident.
Murtha must be held to account. Not only did he slander our troops in the most vicious, unprincipled way, but he threw the basis for our entire criminal justice system - the presumption of innocence - out the window in his mad rush to fake a “we must surrender” scenario. He’s a disgrace to the Marines, the good citizens of Pennsylvania, and the American people. And he’s the poster boy for this disgraceful Congress, with its 3% approval rating on the war. Disgusting.
To be added to the Murtha Watch ping list please notify myself or RedRover.
I called Murtha’s office yesterday:
I made a comment about it on a related thread at Hot Air
I just called.
I asked “Will the Congressman be apologizing to the Marines who have been cleared in the investigation after calling them killers”
The guy who answered said “Well there’s still an on-going investigation”
So I said “So when the investigation is over, is the Congressman going to apologize”
So he says “I’m not going to speculate”
So I said “Well he should”
It seems Murtha has been hiding under his desk when it comes to commenting on the remarks he started making in May of 2006 about these Marines involved in the Haditha incident.
It has been reported recently on other threads that his spokespeople in his various offices have been hanging up on callers when they’re asked if Murtha will explain those comments.
I for one am going to keep calling and demanding answers.
John Murtha’s Contact information:
Telephone:
800-289-2642 from Western PA
814-535-2642
202-225-2065
Snail Mail:
647 Main St, Suite 401
Johnstown, PA 15901
Fax:
814-539-6229 — District
202-225-5709 — Washington
What genius lawyer who never saw a day in battle thought THIS up?
Girlene had the thought the other day that we set up a thread to collect “I called Murtha” stories. What do you all think?
I meant to get back to that to comment and forgot. I think it’s a good idea, it will help keep the pressure on murthawi.
If you folks set up a thread to collect “I called Murtha” stories, ping me to it, will ya? Please? I may have a contribution for you one of these days.
This is treason, there is no other word for it. I believe that if the administration prosecuted our enemies here with the same zeal that our Marines and Soldiers are being prosecuted, the clueless middle might understand that we are in a real war of survival.
go for it
Call and write every Congressional Rep and tell them you want them on the record about the inappropriate conduct of John Murtha...
When will the GOP Minority request his resignation.... Show us that you still got a set...
“Marine sues Marine for libel Rep. John Murtha Hit with Defamation Lawsuit! According to today’s Washington Post, Marine Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich “will file a lawsuit today in federal court in Washington, D.C. claiming that Congressman (and former Marine). John P. Murtha defamed him when the congressman made public comments about the incident earlier this year.” Wuterich led the Marines squad in the Haditha incident, which is still under investigation.
The Post’s article reports the defamation lawsuit is based on public comments Murtha made outside his scope as a congressman:
Attorneys for Frank D. Wuterich, 26, argue in court papers that Murtha tarnished the Marine’s reputation by telling news organizations in May that the Marine unit cracked after a roadside bomb killed one of its members and that the troops “killed innocent civilians in cold blood.” Murtha also said repeatedly that the incident was covered up....
... statements made by members of Congress generally are protected under the “speech or debate” clause in Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution. But legal experts said the clause grants immunity only for what lawmakers say in legislative proceedings and does not apply to news releases, speeches ....”
OK then. It’s time to get the pool going. Which happens first - Kerry signs form 180 or Murtha apologizes to the Haditha Marines and the American people? Anyone?
Kerry will never sign the SF 180. Murtha may be forced to apologize at some point.So my money is on Murtha.Of the two, he is the weaker.
A thread for “I called murtha” stories woould be great! I would like to call him a complete failure and he should be ahamed to be a congressman who must “represent” a number of our servicemen and women who are helping to protect his “right” to keep slandering them.
It’s not that he will do it willingly, he can’t. But in the end he’s a cowardly man, and he will have no choice. You’ll see.
I'm in!
If Murtha were a Republican the media would have been all over him for violating the presumption of innocence. Some would have questioned the intelligence of someone who characterizes something as both an overreaction and as “in cold blood”.
Drudge makes the point that the usual suspects in the MSM are silent.
That’s great, Ken! Do you think there’s an audio link? I’d like to capture it.
Great news and thanks for letting us know.
I think the thought of an “I called Murtha” thread is fine.
I’d love seeing us start calling the other 434 representatives across the country telling them to start an ethics complaint against Murtha.
I don’t believe for a minute that it’ll go anywhere but I’d like to have that as a weapon to use against the politicians that don’t take these ethics violations seriously.
I want a campaign weapon to use against the elitists that tell us with their actions that they know better.
Two hispanics caught lying for the prosecution - At least one seems to be an illegal alien attempting to trade his perjury for US Citizenship and for immunity from prosecution.
Who can you trust in combat now?
So much for trading US military service for American Citizenship.
I’d say from now on many will find they will not get any “backup” in the military.....
Ohhhh...that is GOOD!
Thank you!
GOOD post!
I haven’t been around much lately...not enough to keep up, anyway...
BUT...do I remember correctly in thinking that the ‘Rats want illegals
to be able to serve in our armed forces in exchange for citizenship?
As I said, I caught something like that on the fly during a recent trip.
If you know anything about it, I’d appreciate a clarification.
Yea but will anyone do anything about Murtha ...NO !
I’d hang his ass personally but politicians these days can do ANYTHING they want with no consequences.
Even Republicans in Congress think illegals in the military trading for US citizenship is great
Today it’s the “Duke”, “Tawanna”, “Haditha” BS
And the ex-JAG wimps like Lindsey Graham who insisted on putting ACLU-type attorneys on combat battlefields
And Bush let it happen
THAT sux...BIG time.
:o(
Good one! That’s right where he belongs.
Bump devolve!
BUMP what you said. Great post.
Lol, I have my own little podium now!! Is Woodstock gonna ‘doo’ on me??
.
I made up 2 “BLANKS” for buttons
It works well for .gifs too
Looks like you used a table to put it on there so exactly!!
.
I used an s.gif 500x1 ls spacer
The guitar puts it to the left
[The guitar puts it to the left]
Yes, funny how you sometimes don’t think of that when doing things. You are concentrating on the main figure and forget something extended outwards!
Looks like we may revive the thread, lol.
Quick way to cure that is to measure out from center and add TP to both sides
Then crop off an amount on the guitar side to leave a to “balance area”
Compositing it on a large TP bg will just end up with a jumping guitarist!
[end up with a jumping guitarist!]
And we don’t want that, lol.
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