[Lancey Howard]

Murtha was one of a reported handful of lawmakers briefed in confidence on the incident by then Marine Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee earlier that month.

Is this true? Was it Hagee who put the bug in Murtha's ear?

[smoothsailing]

No, that has been disproven. Hagee himself said murtha wasn't briefed until a week after he slandered the Marines.

[EDINVA]

I saw smoothsailing’s correction of the chronology, but why would you think Hagee would have put a bug in Murtha’s ear? Murtha is perfectly capable of distorting facts all by himself. The man’s remaining brain cells are addled. His newly acquired viciousness seems to stem from a need for attention (which the press is lavishing upon him) and also his need to please his friends Nancy and The Left.

[xzins]

Murtha was one of a reported handful of lawmakers briefed in confidence on the incident by then Marine Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee earlier that month.

Since Gen Hagee IS in the direct chain of command of these soldiers, then his failure to entrust this information with reliable people, and the subsequent damage this has caused to their right to a fair trial, means that unlawful command influence has tainted this trial.

Unlawful Command influence INCLUDES the perception that the accused cannot receive a fair trial.

I will never believe that any of these soldiers, from Col Chessani on down, has done a single thing wrong. If convicted of any of these politically motivated charges, then it is at this point MORE RATIONAL to conclude that they are political victims than that they have actually committed any crimes.