Thanks, Red. I didn’t understand that but it makes sense now.
PUCKETT TO GEN DUNSFORD, 13 JAN 11
It is bound to lead to conspiracy theories, not just because of the involvement of Alan West. Puckett says some mysterious things below (especially in light of subsequent events)...
...as a retired Marine Officer (and possible TBS classmate of yours in 1977), I feel an obligation to brief you on issues that extend far beyond the court-martial and the interests of my client. There are serious concerns I have about what the world (read: Al Jazeera) and the country will learn about what did not happen as well as what did, with the investigation and prosecution if this case must go to trial. (Ironically and coincidentally, Al Jazeera called me 10 minutes ago to ask about the scheduling of the case). We have discovered, as a result of the passage of time and our own investigation, chilling facts about the case that will never be briefed by the prosecution team but which ought, in the best interests of the Marine Corps, to be considered at your level.
I want to assure you that since you are no longer the convening authority, but even if you were, there is nothing inappropriate about you speaking with me and my law partner and co-counsel, Retired Marine Major Haytham Faraj, about the wider implications of this case. We will not be bringing you a "deal" or any recommended courses of action. We're only interested in informing you about the results of our investigation and previously undiscovered facts and evidence that will be a necessary part of the trial. These, by the way, are facts that had they been discovered at the time, should have resulted in a completely different approach to the entire incident at Haditha. But then again we Marines have always been about "lessons learned."