Posted on 06/18/2008 4:30:15 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
Yet another U.S. Marine, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, had charges dropped Tuesday in the so-called Haditha massacre — bringing the total number of Marines who’ve been cleared or won case dismissals in the Iraq-war incident to seven. “Undue command influence” on the prosecution led to the outcome in Chessani’s case. Bottom line: That’s zero for seven for military prosecutors, with one trial left to go.
I repeat: Haditha prosecution goes 0-7. But you won’t see that headline in the same Armageddon-sized font the New York Times used repeatedly when the story first broke.
The Times, Rep. John Murtha (D., Pa.), and the rest of the antiwar drum-pounders who fueled the smear campaign against the troops two years ago should hang their hands in shame. They won’t, of course. Perpetuating the “cold-blooded Marines” narrative means never having to say you’re sorry.
It means never having to look Lt. Col. Chessani (charges dismissed), Lt. Andrew Grayson (acquitted), Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum (charges dismissed), Capt. Lucas McConnell (charges dismissed), Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt (charges dismissed), Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz (charges dismissed), Sgt. Frank Wuterich (awaiting trial), and their families in the eyes and apologize for the preemptive character assassination they all faced at the hands of the hyperventilating, noose-hanging press.
(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...
While Murtha certainly deserves censure, as a Congressman, he can do nothing, and close scrutiny needs to be paid to civilian officials in the Department of Defense who a. have direct control and authority over the military, and b. need to suck up to Murtha to get money from HIS appropriations committee. This one is on Bush as much as on the Democrats.
Sadly this is not making its way into the main stream media for every one to hear like when Rep. John Murtha did his smear act. Murtha should be brought up on some sort of charges!
IMO, Murtha should be sued for slander for comments he made which were clearly outside of his standing as a public servant.
It is very very simple. Murtha is a congressman and has no executive power. The prosecution of the marines was done within the Military Justice system, which is completely and entirely under the civilian control of Bush and his political appointees. They are the ones who had the authority to go forward with the prosecutions or not. Murtha can scream and yell and slander all he wants. He cannot bring a prosecution. Only the Commander in Chief and his duly commissioned officials and officers can do that.
Lt. Colonel William Russell is a decorated combat veteran who has served in Desert Storm, the Iraq War, and the Pentagon on 9/11.
http://www.williamrussellforcongress.com/
General James Mattis might be one the finest Marine Corps field commanders of my generation, but he is front and center in the trial judge's finding of "undue command influence" upon the decisions to bring the Haditha accusations to trial -- and perhaps even upon the conduct of its prosecution. To date, Gen Mattis has not given sworn testimony except to the prosecution. To protect the honor and integrity of the Marine Corps, Gen Mattis should be put under oath and forced to testify regarding every aspect of his deliberations and his conversations with JAG officers, other commanders, politicians and media.
General Michael Hagee retired last year after serving four years as Commandant of the Marine Corps. Congressman Murtha has publicly stated that Gen Hagee told him about the charges and assured him of the Marines' guilt. If it is true that a sitting Commandant prejudged such an important case and blabbed about it to an anti-war congressman, Gen Hagee will have brought dishonor upon himself and the Marine Corps. The Secretary of the Navy should call Gen Hagee out of retirement, place him under oath, and force him to testify fully about his conversations with Congressman Murtha and with any and all JAG officers, subordinate Marine commanders, politicians and media.
It is clear that junior Marines were railroaded. While it is fortunate that they have finally been cleared, these men have suffered a grave injustice that cannot be undone. Justice demands that the obvious conspiracy to steamroll these Marines must be revealed and dealt with. The honor of the Marine Corps also demands it.
Thanks for the reply. I now understand your comment.
The Secretary of the Navy should be forced into retirement himself.
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