Will Marine Show Trials End?

NewsMax ^ | March 30, 2008 | Nathaniel R. Helms

[MizSterious]

I think it’s more than that. Heaven help us, but it honestly seems as though our own government wants to prosecute someone. Why? I keep asking that, but one reason might be to “prove” to the Iraqis that we’re somehow even-handed and fair. If that’s the case, it speaks badly of a government who will sacrifice its own heroes for political (not talking about our own election here, but Iraq) gain.

[Girlene]

There is something inherently wrong with the military justice system when Marines can be accused of a massacre in world-wide media, yet be provided no public defense of their character/actions in the public eye. Military and political officials will indicate the troops are "innocent until proven guilty", yet always add on some disclaimer like, "these accused troops don't represent the larger number of our fighting forces", or "if found guilty, they will be punished". The public is left with the perception that maybe these accusations are true. Otherwise wouldn't these officials totally decry the allegations?

Then the military prosecution can spend untold money trying to prove their allegations without offering a similar benefit to the accused. Coercion of enlisted "witnesses" is simple when you control their employment and future. If this is an attempt by the military to show the world how honorable they are by holding their own to unreasonably high standards in this complicated WOT, they are failing. The enemy has learned how to play the system. The net result from these very public prosecutions can only hurt moral of the fighting men and further weaken their effectiveness.

Somebody with some comman sense in military leadership needs to understand the devestating effect of these cases and make changes in the UCMJ system.

[deuteronlmy232]

Welcome to FR.
Thank you.

Did you join for the sole purpose of swelling the frothing at the mouth BDS contingent here?
If I knew what a BDS is I might answer that question.

[Just A Nobody]

Bush Derangement Syndrome

[Just A Nobody]

The enemy has learned how to play the system.

BINGO!!! And they are doing a fine job with the aid and comfort of our government.

[deuteronlmy232]

Did you join for the sole purpose of swelling the frothing at the mouth BDS contingent here?

No!

I had no part in making him a coward, and I do not believe it possible to prove me wrong by his actions when it comes to the troops. Can you show me one time where he has stood up to those who have committed treason by working to undermine the saftey and morale of the troops? Can you show me even one time where he stood up for one of the men falsely accused?

Would you want to work and fight for a man who never took your side against those who publicly lied about you, attacked you, and brought false charges against you?

[MizSterious]

You might have a point. The other day I was watching one of the many talking head shows for a few minutes, and the topic was why so much hatred for this President. The psychologist suggested that in part, it’s actually because he so seldom stands up for himself, and often has to be prodded to stand up for his policies. According to her, nobody really likes a victim all that much (which is why in the schoolyard, kids pick on the kids who won’t fight back), and the less willing people are to speak up for themsleves, the less people like them.

The interviewer asked the psychologist what part his “taking the high road” might play—and she said, there is a way to be gracious AND stand up for yourself.

Pop pscyhology, I’m sure, but part of it did make sense.

[RDTF]

“Without explanation Helland dismissed the criminal charges against Tatum just hours before he was to face a general court-martial”

torture!

[gibsosa]

bump for later

[Lancey Howard]

That is a frightening piece by Nat. I am very concerned about the Marine Corps right now.
A fish rots from the head down. Nice job, Commander-in Chief George W. Bush.

[smoothsailing]

Nat Helms expresses the situation well. The Corps is supposed to be a quick action blunt force instrument. Using them as if they were US Army units is to ignore their proud tradition.

If the military hadn't been dowsized by 40% in the 90's, some of what is going on could probably have been avoided.

[DPMD]

Amen to that. This BS prosecution of soldiers, along with the equally BS prosecution and imprisonment of Border Patrol Agents, will, in my eyes, be Bush’s legacy more than anything else he has done with the economy, the Supreme Court, or whatever.

Send them to Iraq to face a potential death penalty, and when they survive, bring them back to face another death penalty here. Appeasement of the left, and servitude to Mexico. Welcome to Bushworld.

[USMC Brat]

"The continued efforts to railroad someone for a non-crime is further proof to me that our “leadership” is not interested in a real victory in Iraq or Afghanistan, but a show."

I couldn't agree more, or said it better.

In the meantime they are destroying honorable men's careers, thinning ranks, trashing morale, and feeding the radical anti-war leftists.

When our Marines have to second guess life and death action in combat because of how it may be perceived sometime later by armchair generals, lives will be lost. It seems like they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

[deuteronlmy232]

If he wants to allow them to kick him in the teeth, that's fine. BUT, he is obligated, as Commander in Chief, to defend and protect his men. He has the power to charge traitors with treason, any member of the US Congress that works to give a morale boast to the enemy while tearing down the morale of the US Military is a traitor.

[brityank]

In the interim morale plummeted, the Marine Corps rewrote the manual on how it fights, and the Pentagon wants shorter leashes on its frontline troops.

I know a lot of this can trace back to Johnson and McNamarara, and the micro-managing of the troops in VietNam. I heard (and firmly believe) during one of our insertions below DaNang with a full on amphib group that the Admiral could not get approval to unmask batteries to shell inland. I'm certain many unneeded deaths happened because of that, and coloured my thinking to where I got out after six and a half years instead of staying in and going to OCS.

This is an outstanding synopsis from Nat Helms, and should be plastered on every desk and bulletin board in the White House and Pentagon.

Thank you both, Nat and RedRover.

[jazusamo]

Another excellent piece by Nat.

He states brilliantly how this has and will effect the morale of the Corps should this PC element continue to persecute warriors for following their training, which is second to none, when called to action.

Winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people (or Afghani’s for that matter) is all well and good but if those same Iraqi’s harbor insurgents that kill our warriors those Iraqi’s should expect the same treatment as the insurgents.

The military commanders and civilians overseeing our military seem to expect the warrior on the ground to be able to separate the two, an impossible task, IMO.

[gardencatz]

I always thought I’d be more afraid of my son being in a war zone than I would of his leadership. I have a lot more thoughts floating through my mind but I have to calm down first before I attempt to share. Given the direction the Marine Corps is going, they’d probably try to court martial my son because of something I said.

Cindie

[RedRover]

Very, very well said.

[Mr. Lucky]

Ironic, isn’t it, that the Bush administration has done more harm to the reputation and morale of he United States Marine Corps than all of the despots or world history combined.

[TheBattman]

Why did the following letters begin flashing in my mind while reading your post?

M U R T H A

And found this too: