http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/haditha/ en-us Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:46:37 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2419483/posts I understand the Board of Inquiry (BOI) results are mixed and the recommendation is that LtCol Jeff Chessani is permitted to retire with his rank intact. I am truly happy that General Carparotto and his other two board members submitted that recommendation. I am very concerned, however, that this small crumb is a political accommodation to cover the possible administrative, political deception and trickery yet to come. DefendOurMarines.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2419483/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:46:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2407472/posts Loss for Government As Board of Inquiry Rules LtCol Chessani Not Guilty of Misconduct December 14, 2009 ANN ARBOR, MI – Late last Friday afternoon (Eastern Standard Time), after three hours of deliberation, the military Board of Inquiry ruled LtCol Chessani was not guilty of misconduct and should not be demoted.  Nevertheless, the Board’s ruling produced a mixed result.  It ruled Chessani must now retire because he displayed “substandard performance” by failing to conduct a more detailed investigation of the civilians killed as a result of the house clearing actions of four Marines after they were ambushed in Haditha, Iraq... Thomas More Law Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2407472/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:50:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406367/posts Panel faults Marine for response to Iraq killings By ELLIOT SPAGAT (AP) – 2 hours ago SAN DIEGO — A military panel found that a Marine officer displayed substandard performance in his response to the deaths of 24 Iraqis but said he should maintain his rank. *snip* Last year, a military judge dismissed a criminal charge of dereliction of duty against Chessani because of improper conduct involving two other people, the general overseeing the case and an investigator. Chessani was relieved of his command in 2006. *snip* "The only thing we're disappointed in is that we still don't believe, after... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406367/posts#comment Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:12:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405914/posts The highest-ranked Marine accused of bungling the military's response to the slayings of two dozen Iraqi civilians after a lethal 2005 roadside bombing displayed substandard performance, but he should not be demoted, a three-member Board of Inquiry ruled Friday. The military board said it will recommend to the secretary of the Navy that Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, with 22 years of service and three tours of duty in Iraq, be allowed to retain his rank and not be demoted to major. "It's been a long four years, but it hasn't been a miserable four years," Chessani told the North County... NC Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405914/posts#comment Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:09:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2405733/posts e-mail Closing Arguments This Morning In LtCol Chessani Board of Inquiry December 11, 2009 ANN ARBOR, MI – This morning, at approximately 9:00am Pacific Standard Time, Thomas More Law Center attorney Robert Muise will make closing arguments to the Board of Inquiry on behalf of Marine LtCol Jeffrey Chessani.  This is the final opportunity for Muise, a former Marine Infantry officer himself, to thwart the efforts of the government to destroy the 22-year career of Marine LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, one of America’s most effective combat commanders in Iraq. It is expected the Board will render its decision today, as well. One... Thomas More Law Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2405733/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:19:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2405664/posts e-mail “Grunt Civilian” Gives Account of LtCol. Chessani's many Character Witnesses December 10, 2009 Email post (#2) by H. Hamilton – A report written by a concerned CA citizen attending the Board of Inquiry for LtCol Jeffrey Chessani.  IF the Board of Inquiry doesn't find Lt Col. Chessani INNOCENT of all charges, accusations, and wrong doing, it won't be the fault of Thomas More Law Center!  Lead by Col. Shelburne and Robert Muse, this is one of the BEST, nothing gets by, DEFENSE TEAMS this court observer has ever witnessed.    A finding other than "DROP THESE RIDICULOUS CHARGES BECAUSE CHESSANI IS ACTUALLY SUPERMAN!" would... Thomas More Law Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2405664/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:30:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2404902/posts Lieutenant General Natonski (USMC Forces Command) was there... He said EVERY civilian kill, every time, should be investigated -- pretty funny when the Defense asked him if that went for the 2nd Battle for Fallujah and he had to say "No" -- he added that all civilians had been asked to leave so they were "pretty sure" all kills were insurgents Folks, the dictionary will tell you that doctrine is something that is taught; it is a principle or a body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief. Please take my word for it when I... DefendOurMarines.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2404902/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:10:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2404856/posts LtCol Chessani’s Board of Inquiry Continues ─ “Stand Up” Marine Officers Substantiate LtCol Chessani’s Innocence December 10, 2009 ANN ARBOR, MI – There was some good news in yesterday’s Board of Inquiry hearing taking place at Camp Pendleton, California.  Despite the obvious bias of their high command, “stand-up” Marine officers, Majors Jeffrey Dinsmore and Luke McConnell, in strong and unequivocal testimony, substantiated LtCol Chessani’s innocence. Today, a long line of “stand up” field grade officers and enlisted men who served with LtCol Chessani are expected to testify as to his outstanding military character. Major Jeffrey Dinsmore was LtCol Chessani’s... Thomas More Law Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2404856/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:08:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2403969/posts email Direct from the Pendleton Battlefront, A Self Described “Grunt Civilian” gives First Hand Account of Chessani Board Of Inquiry (BOI)... December 09, 2009 Email post by H. Hamilton – The report from a concerned CA citizen attending the Board of Inquiry for LtCol Jeffrey Chessani.   Today (12-08-09) started with LtCol Kevin Gonzalez who was GREAT AND 3-4 HOURS!   Brigadier General Lewis Craparotta (Board member) and the Defense stopped the ongoing, ad nauseum questioning of witnesses since Board already has testimony...   Lieutenant Colonel Brian Christmas (under Colonel Stephen Davis who says Davis is his hero) was great and another Chessani... Thomas More Law Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2403969/posts#comment Wed, 9 Dec 2009 20:34:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401604/posts Sins of the General’s Part 5: Political Equivocation at the BOI http://warchronicle.com/DefendOurMarines/Weimann/SinsOfGenerals_PartFive.htm “Moreover, defense attempts to disqualify Brig. Gen. Lewis Craparotta, the President and senior member of the Board, who during pre-hearing questioning expressed a personal view that investigating every civilian death is the right approach because “that’s the way to protect Marines,” also failed. Defense attorney LtCol Shelburne had challenged the fact that he was sitting on the Board of Inquiry with a pre-existing opinion of what to do in a similar situation as LtCol Chessani.” Folks, if the defense wanted to disqualify General Craparotta at LtCol. Chessani’s BOI,... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401604/posts#comment Sun, 6 Dec 2009 18:43:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400452/posts email LtCol ChessaniÂ’s Board of Inquiry Begins ─ Battle-Hardened Marine Veterans View Proceedings With Dismay December 04, 2009 ANN ARBOR, MI – On Wednesday, December 2nd, in a military courtroom at Camp Pendleton, California, the government began its case against an American warrior. They know this is their last chance to disgrace and destroy the 22 - year career of Marine LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, and itÂ’s evident they are pulling out all the stops. Many of the spectators in the small courtroom were battle-hardened Marine veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Some were veterans of the Korean Chosin... Thomas Moore Law Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400452/posts#comment Fri, 4 Dec 2009 20:27:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2398066/posts e-mail ANN ARBOR, MI – Four years after the so-called “Haditha Massacre, ” a massacre the government now knows never happened, the final chapter in the tragic persecution of LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, USMC, will begin when he faces a Board of Inquiry (BOI) starting on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 9 AM in a military courtroom located at the Marine base at Camp Pendleton, California.  LtCol Chessani served his nation for over 20 years, including three combat tours in Iraq as well as duty in the first Persian Gulf war.  He is one of America’s finest combat commanders.  His official fitness... Thomas More Law Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2398066/posts#comment Wed, 2 Dec 2009 01:35:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397148/posts An inquiry board will convene Wednesday morning at Camp Pendleton to decide if a Marine Corps officer should be demoted for his actions after the shooting deaths of 24 Iraqi men, women and children four years ago. At issue is whether Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, who commanded the Camp Pendleton unit that carried out the slayings, engaged in misconduct in handling the incident. The inquiry board is the final step in Chessani's case; prosecutors earlier this year dropped two counts of criminal dereliction of duty. If the board finds there was no misconduct, the case will be closed. If it... N C TIMES http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397148/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:57:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396339/posts A report that three Navy SEALs will face courts-martial for allegedly abusing a long-sought Iraqi terror suspect during or after his capture has produced quite a bit of outrage and controversy. While it is too early in the process to make a judgment as to the commandos' guilt or innocence, there is good reason to suspect that the military has overreacted in pressing criminal charges.  In recent years, the military has been quick to press charges when dealing with servicemembers who, in attempting to do their duty in difficult circumstances, run afoul of overly detailed regulations and rules of... American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396339/posts#comment Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:14:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395650/posts War On Terror: As Khalid Sheikh Mohammed receives the benefits of U.S. justice, three Navy SEALs face court-martial for allegedly punching a captured terrorist who hanged Americans from a bridge in Fallujah. Apparently our efforts to impress the world about the marvels of our criminal justice system require us to give foreign terrorists such as Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the man who invented the manned cruise missiles that flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and plowed into a Pennsylvania field on its way to the Capitol Building, the full rights and protections of the American citizens he conspired... Investor's Business Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395650/posts#comment Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:09:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377624/posts The Marine Corps said Monday that a brigadier general and two colonels will preside over a Board of Inquiry deciding the fate of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, the highest-ranking officer accused of wrongdoing after two dozen Iraqis were slain in the city of Haditha following a 2004 roadside bombing. But a Marine Corps spokesman said the identities of the officers will not be disclosed. "We're treating it like they are part of a jury pool and not releasing their names," said the spokesman, Lt. Col. Roger Galbraith. "We don't want people trying to contact them ahead of time. We don't... NC Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377624/posts#comment Tue, 3 Nov 2009 19:53:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2339383/posts Joe Wilson can apologize if he feels he should, but in my opinion, he should do so only after Rep. John Murtha apologizes to the Marines he accused of killing Marines in cold blood and the attempting to cover up the murders. In the middle of a war, where are Marines are trying to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people, John Murtha went on television and was adamant about the guilt of these Marines. More than once he said there was no doubt in his mind. His words were replayed across the Arab world. Since then, all... All American Blogger http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2339383/posts#comment Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:52:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2333305/posts “So is this justice? Not really. Having promised a full and open inquiry, the Corps held many hearings in secret session, held the findings secret, and released its decision on the disposition of the case on the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day, the perfect time to bury such news in a long holiday weekend. The Corps wanted this to just go away because of the embarrassment it caused and the doubts it cast on the fledgling Marine Corps Special Operations Command. Now, there are also lingering doubts over whether justice was indeed done, and worse, open questions about the credibility,... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2333305/posts#comment Sun, 6 Sep 2009 12:40:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2330251/posts Nearly four years after the so-called "Haditha Massacre," which was cited by U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., when he publicly accused U.S. Marines of being cold-blooded killers, and after being cleared by multiple levels of military courts, a Marine officer is facing a new round of allegations stemming from the firefight in Iraq. According to some members of his legal team, the attorneys at the Thomas More Law Center, the original investigation that failed to produce evidence for a conviction took more than 65 investigators and cost millions of dollars. After an lengthy process in which prosecutors lost at every... wnd.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2330251/posts#comment Wed, 2 Sep 2009 13:11:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2329160/posts ANN ARBOR, MI – Nearly four years after the so-called “Haditha Massacre,” an investigation conducted by over 65 NCIS agents (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) ─ the largest investigation in that agencyÂ’s history ─ with the expenditure of millions of taxpayer dollars, and prosecution losses at every stage of the criminal process, the government has decided to give up on the criminal prosecution against Marine LtCol Jeffrey Chessani.  Nonetheless, the battle for this loyal Marine officer continues. On Friday, August 28, 2009,  the new general in charge of LtCol ChessaniÂ’s case, Marine LtGen George Flynn, Commanding General of the Marine Corps... Thomas More Law Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2329160/posts#comment Tue, 1 Sep 2009 03:48:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2326900/posts The Marine Corps has decided not to seek to reinstate criminal charges against a former battalion commander at Camp Pendleton for a 2005 incident in which his troops killed 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq. Chessani Instead, the Marine Corps will convene a Board of Inquiry to hear testimony and recommend whether Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani should be demoted to major for purposes of retirement. Even if such a recommendation is made and then accepted by the Secretary of the Navy, Chessani's retirement pay would still be based on being a lieutenant colonel. The Marine Corps had sought to try Chessani... LA Times blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2326900/posts#comment Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:53:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2287761/posts Richard Ianieri, the defense contractor charged today with accepting $200,000 in kickbacks from a subcontractor, was president of a company that gave more money to Rep. John Murtha than any other lawmaker. That company, Coherent Systems International, received millions of dollars in earmarks from Murtha, and continued giving money to the Pennsylvania Democrat after Ianieri left Coherent and Argon ST bought it. The criminal complaint filed yesterday reportedly did not name the subcontractor, according to Roll Call. In total, the employees of Coherent, and employees and political action committees of Argon and its subsidiaries, have given $81,950 to Murtha's campaign... Hawaii Free Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2287761/posts#comment Wed, 8 Jul 2009 02:21:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281417/posts Professionals that cannot change themselves from within, cannot respond to the needs of their constituencies while also inspiring the admiration and loyalty of their own members are in trouble.--"Tarnished Brass: Is the US Military Profession in Decline?" by Richard H. Kohn, World Affairs, Spring 2009 When General Conway took over as the Marine Corps Commandant, he went on the speech circuit talking about the “long war”. One speech was made at the Marines’ Memorial Association and World Affairs Council, in San Francisco, California on July 10, 2007. In that speech, General Conway stated, “we have a couple of incidents in... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281417/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:17:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2278741/posts <p>ANN ARBOR, MI – Nearly four years after the so-called “Haditha Massacre,” an investigation conducted by over 65 NCIS agents (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) ─ the largest investigation in that agency’s history ─ with the expenditure of millions of taxpayer dollars, and prosecution losses at every stage of the criminal process, the government is still pursuing legal action against  Marine LtCol Jeffrey Chessani.</p> Thomas More Law Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2278741/posts#comment Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:15:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272678/posts The commandant of the Marine Corps has appointed one of his deputies to decide the next step in the case against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, who was charged with dereliction of duty after 24 Iraqi civilians were slain in the city of Haditha in 2005. Lt. Gen. George Flynn, deputy commandant for combat development and integration, was named the new convening authority over the Chessani matter last week, a Marine Corps spokesman said Monday. Flynn was given the task by Gen. James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps. Conway was handed the Chessani case last month after a military judge... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272678/posts#comment Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:15:50 GMT