Good response from my congressman's office.
Time to call, write, email.
Feet. Fire. Repeat.
Posted on 03/27/2008 8:22:30 AM PDT by Renfield
The Thomas More Law Center has issued an extremely troubling release suggesting former SecDef Rumsfeld was involved in politically influencing the Haditha investigation:
Revelations by top Marine Generals, that former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, set up a shadow "body" composed of high-ranking administration officials to oversee the Haditha investigations, could prove to be the most damning evidence of the political motivations and influence over the ongoing prosecutions of Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani, USMC, and other combat Marines involved.
Lawyers with the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which represents Marine LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, uncovered the existence of the extraordinarily unusual oversight body.
"The hysteria and media firestorm over Abu Gharib and the Pat Tillman investigations lead to fear of a similar media reaction to the Haditha incident, causing the military's civilian bosses to set up this shadow oversight body. This extraordinary action politicized the military justice system and was a clear signal to top generals that they were expected to hold individuals criminally responsible. The investigation turned into a quest for a prosecution-not justice," commented Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center.
This extra-judicial influence would be unconscionable, if these charges are true. They deserve immediate investigation at the highest levels of the executive and legislative branches.
The release cites the following evidence:
An admission by the Director of the Naval Criminal Investigation Service ("NCIS") that over 65 investigators were assigned to the case, which in his opinion was the largest investigative effort in Department's history.
Formation of "Legal Team Charlie" composed of military lawyers reassigned from other units and reserve officers activated for the purpose of prosecuting this case-all highly unusual.
The Secretary of Navy countermanded a determination by General James Mattis, USMC, that Colonel Stephen Davis, USMC, LtCol Chessani's regimental commander, would receive a Non-Punitive Letter of Caution, which would not be part of his permanent record. Gen Mattis' decision was overridden by the Navy Secretary, who ordered a Letter of Censure, a more severe punishment, which effectively ended this fine Marine officer's career. As the consolidated convening authority in all the Haditha investigations, General Mattis' decision, under normal circumstances, would be absolute and final.
BTT
Good response from my congressman's office.
Time to call, write, email.
Feet. Fire. Repeat.
This whole thing started at the very highest level, including Rumsfeld, this generation’s McNamara.
You're damn right it did. While everyone was busy condemning the leftist pig Jack Murtha they were too busy to notice that the CiC never once uttered a word in defense of these troops, such as saying something like, "look Congressman Murtha, let's let the court martials determine guilt or innocence". He was culpably silent, and he was way too quick to have General Pace institute new PC training for the U.S. Marines, about one day after the Haditha allegations. This too indicated that Bush wanted folks to believe they were guilty before their trials began, or at least that he believed they were guilty.
I have said all along and I will say it again, the impossible political restrictions and rules of engagement that Bush placed on our military in Iraq could not help but lead to numerous Iraqi allegations of 'war crimes' by our troops. And the political correctness that permeates the Bush idiology was equally certain to see to it that courts martial of many good, brave, solid troops was inevitable from day one.
Bush is a pansy at heart, and his reactionary ideology translates into more battlefield casualties and diminished international respect for the competence of the US military.
If these allegations are proven true, and it seems almost certain that they will be, this is a positively Clintonian slur against our troops by the CINC.
Yes, investigate and prove.
Only in this generation where the effeminate is deified could a President that publicly weeps over every tragedy be considered 'more of a man' because of his tears. Though I voted for Bush twice, and under the same circumstances would do it again, I never for one moment felt that the former college cheerleader, born with a silver spoon in his mouth and pampered by his fabulously wealthy parents, was much of a man. His dad perhaps, but not W.
It would be better if there were a corroborating source.
Yes
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