http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/haditha/ en-us Thu, 9 Oct 2008 16:47:11 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2101455/posts MURTHA STICKS TO HADITHA SLANDER, DENIES FACTS IN EXONERATIONSCredits self as caring and wiseCongressman John Murtha (D-PA) sat down with the editors of the Uniontown Herald-Standard yesterday and was asked about the defamation lawsuit filed against by former Marine lance corporal, Justin Sharratt. In Haditha, Sharratt and SSgt Frank Wuterich faced armed insurgents in a dwelling labeled house 4 by investigators. The dead Iraqis in house 4 were all military-aged males. AK-47s along with Jordanian passports were recovered from the room. Forensic evidence disputed allegations that the four dead men had be executed. Sharratt had been falsely accused, and was... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2101455/posts#comment Thu, 9 Oct 2008 16:47:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099640/posts Road to Victory Rally Saturday October 11th in Johnstown, PA Please join Governor Sarah Palin for a Road to Victory Rally in Johnstown, PA on Saturday October 11th. McCain/Palin http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2099640/posts#comment Tue, 7 Oct 2008 16:05:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2095615/posts Watch the interview at the source: Fox News (while it's up). Or see it now in Windows Media or as a Flash file (these are large files: they will take a couple-few minutes to load). Interview transcript:MEGYN KELLY: It has been one of the most talked about stories of the Iraq War: the so-called Haditha Massacre. Two dozen Iraqis killed by US Marines. After the news first broke, Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha, a former Marine himself, was quick to condemn the accused Marines, saying they quote “murdered these Iraqis in cold blood”. Take a look at this exchange from MSNBC...... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2095615/posts#comment Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:42:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2093413/posts ...Rep. John Murtha, who represents the 12th District, and 5th District Rep. John Peterson voted in support of the [bailout] plan. Congressman Bill Shuster, of the 9th District, voted against it. In a written statement, Shuster said his "primary responsibility has always been to protect the interests of the people who entrust me to represent them in Congress..." Murtha did not immediately issue a statement and said he would not do so until "we figure out what's going on right now." WJAC-TV http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2093413/posts#comment Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:36:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2093276/posts Justin Sharratt and his attorney, Noah Geary, kicked off their media tour this morning on KDKA Radio. The two are publicizing the slander lawsuit against Congressman Murtha. (For more, see HERE.) The morning show on KDKA, with host Marty Griffin received an appalling number of calls from slander-lovers who stuck up for Murtha, the Slime Thing. Justin and Noah are scheduled to be on the Steve Malzberg show at 4:45 (though that can change with breaking news). Click HERE for more information Steve's show. Please consider calling the show at 1-800-321-8828 and let Justin and Noah know that real Americans... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2093276/posts#comment Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:03:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091257/posts Sharratt suit seeks 'justice' By Michael Jones, Staff writermjones@observer-reporter.com PITTSBURGH - Hours after filing a federal slander lawsuit against Congressman John Murtha, 24-year-old Justin Sharratt coolly described in one word what he wants from the man who said he and his fellow Marines killed "innocent civilians in cold blood." "Justice," Sharratt said without flinching. "Basically, just showing America that a congressman can't get on TV and say anything he wants." Sharratt, of Canonsburg, was charged in 2006 with three counts of unpremeditated murder after a battle on Nov. 19, 2005, in Haditha that left 24 Iraqis dead. The charges were... Washington Observer-Reporter http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091257/posts#comment Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:31:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091540/posts Last modified: Friday, September 26, 2008 6:02 AM EDT In this photo taken from his official Web site, Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, waits for his trial to begin. He is suing U.S. Rep. John Murtha for slander, saying the Johnstown congressman presumed him guilty before he had his day in court. (Submitted photo) Marine sues Murtha for slander By MICHELLE GANASSIDaily American Staff WriterA Marine exonerated on murder charges in the Haditha encounter is suing U.S. Rep. John Murtha for convicting him in the media before his day in court. Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt,... The Daily American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091540/posts#comment Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:14:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090839/posts OUR JOURNEY—Not Quite Ended When our son, L/Cpl Justin Sharratt, was exonerated of murder charges involving a firefight in Haditha,Iraq our family was finally able to sleep. We set out to piece together our lives and make some sense as to what happened to us. Bringing Justin home seemed to be the medication our family needed. With Gods help and the support of thousands we made it through this dark period in our lives. Our family can now enjoy today, look ahead to tomorrow and plan for the future. The golf matches between father and son. An occasional fishing trip... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090839/posts#comment Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:37:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090676/posts A former Marine lance corporal exonerated in the investigation into the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, has filed a slander suit against Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) for allegedly saying that the Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Lawyers for Justin Sharratt, 24, filed the lawsuit today in federal court in Pittsburgh. Sharratt's family lives in Murtha's district. Murtha, a former Marine and vocal opponent of the Iraq war, made his comments at a news conference in 2006, before Sharratt and seven other Marines were charged for the November 2005 killings. After a preliminary hearing at Camp... LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090676/posts#comment Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:52:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2090448/posts First of all, here were the accusations from Congressman Murtha: Right Werds, Korrekt Speech http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2090448/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:36:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090423/posts A Marine from Washington County today plans to sue U.S. Rep. John Murtha for publicly claiming his unit slaughtered innocent Iraqi civilians, according to the man's attorney. A lawyer for Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg on Wednesday announced plans to sue Murtha, D-Johnstown, for comments he made to news outlets concerning the November 2005 killing of about two dozen people in Haditha. Murtha repeatedly said Sharratt and seven fellow Marines "committed cold-blooded murder of innocent women and children," according to lawyer Noah Geary, who scheduled a news conference for 1:30 p.m. today to announce the lawsuit. TRIBUNE-REVIEW http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090423/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:14:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090411/posts PITTSBURGH (AP) - A Marine Corps lance corporal from Pennsylvania has sued U.S. Rep. John Murtha, saying the Democrat lawmaker slandered him by saying he and other marines killed 24 Iraqis in Haditha in "cold blood." WHPTV http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090411/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:59:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090235/posts One of the Marines cleared in the killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad. Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090235/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:26:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089841/posts Former Marine lance corporal, Justin Sharratt, files suit against Congressman John MurthaSecond defamation suit to be filed by a Marine who Murtha said "murdered innocent civilians in cold-blood". Sharratt is a constituent of Murtha in Pennsylvania's 12th District. Press conferences tomorrow. Developing. Story to follow. Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089841/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:34:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085932/posts The CBS television network battled it out with the Marine Corps Wednesday morning at the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. The fight is over outtakes from a 60 Minutes interview with a Marine sergeant accused of killing civilians in Haditha, Iraq. Lawyers representing the three sides (the Marine Corps, CBS and SSgt Frank Wuterich) told the five-judge panel why, and why not, the Marine Corps should be entitled to video recordings the news program didn’t use. The interview was conducted by correspondent Scott Pelley for the 60 Minutes investigation, "The Killings in Haditha". It... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085932/posts#comment Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:28:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2084513/posts PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Lt. Col. Bill Russell was in the Pentagon when it was attacked on September 11th. "The office I was in was actually one floor up and about 150 feet from where the cockpit ended," says Russell. That experience and his military service in Iraq shaped Russell's strong support for the Iraq war and his political challenge to long-time Democratic Congressman John Murtha. "People can disagree about whether we should be there, but the fact of the matter is that we are there -- and we have no choice but to win and achieve victory," says the Republican... KDKA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2084513/posts#comment Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:59:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2083972/posts When Pennsylvania Congressmen John Murtha charged eight Marines with “cold blooded murder” and “cover up” at Haditha more than two years ago, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld immediately formed a study group to counter the powerful Democrat’s accusations. The study group’s analysis of the political and legal situation was used to help decide what course of action to take against eight Marines accused of massacre and cover up by Murtha in the deaths of 24 Iraqis at Haditha, Iraq on November 19, 2005. The group was briefed by high ranking Marine Corps lawyers sent by Brigadier General Kevin Sandkuhler,... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2083972/posts#comment Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:59:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081902/posts In the nearly two years since eight Camp Pendleton Marines were charged with killing 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha, six of the men have been exonerated, and widespread interest in the case has waned. Still, the final chapters in the 2005 killings that reverberated around the world, affected the military's rules of engagement and played a large role in how the war was viewed have yet to be written. Appellate court hearings for the two remaining defendants over the next month will establish the outline of how Haditha's story will end. One of the defendants is the battalion commander at... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081902/posts#comment Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:24:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080743/posts Defend Our Marines main page  Who’s Behind the Government’s Delay in Bringing the Haditha Case to a Close? Defend Our Marines | Rusty Howell and David Allender [pdf] September 11, 2008 -- It’s fitting that the last remaining defendant in the Haditha case is the squad leader, SSgt Frank Wuterich. Real leaders take responsibility, and SSgt Wuterich has taken full responsibility for the actions of his squad in Haditha. He has also expressed deep remorse for any civilians who were killed as a result of those actions. Over the past 18 months, Wuterich, still waiting to clear his name,... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080743/posts#comment Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:44:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080269/posts No matter how proud their tradition, every military organization has its embarrassments. The U.S. Marine Corps has John Murtha – currently a Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania. During Vietnam, Murtha gave signs of being quite patriotic. However, something has changed him and many who once respected him wonder if Murtha’s ambitions for leadership in a political party that has a 40 year tradition of trashing the military led to his incredible behavior. Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., slandered those along with whom he claimed to have fought in Vietnam in a hate-filled tirade before a Senate committee in which he compared U.S.... NewsMax.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080269/posts#comment Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:00:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074444/posts **MANAGER’S UPDATE** Great news. Your response to Bill’s $200,000 by 9.11.08 appeal has been incredible! We’re still counting, but by Monday afternoon, we had raised just over $100,000 - over half way to our goal. Thank you. If you haven’t seen the TV spot, “Defend our Heroes,” watch it here As you might expect, since the acquittal of the majority of the Haditha Marines, there has been little or no mainstream coverage. Mr. Murtha’s original “cold blooded killer” characterization still stands in the minds of many in the public. Will you help Bill set the record straight? Will you help... Bill Russell for Congress http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074444/posts#comment Thu, 4 Sep 2008 13:03:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2067162/posts In June 2006, straight-talking Joe Biden went on Meet the Press and demanded accountability from the administration for the so-called Haditha massacre. Biden spoke about the incident as if the accused marines were guilty (before a trial) and called on the administration to proceed — and to be treated — as if there were a cover-up at the highest levels of government. Well, it turned out Biden was wrong about Haditha. Eight of the Marines charged for the “massacre” and “coverup” have already been exonerated. (One case is still pending.) RUSSERT: Let me ask you a last question on Iraq... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2067162/posts#comment Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:21:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067187/posts In June 2006, straight-talking Joe Biden went on Meet the Press and demanded accountability from the administration for the so-called Haditha massacre. Biden spoke about the incident as if the accused marines were guilty (before a trial) and called on the administration to proceed — and to be treated — as if there were a cover-up at the highest levels of government. Well, it turned out Biden was wrong about Haditha. Eight of the Marines charged for the “massacre” and “coverup” have already been exonerated. (One case is still pending.) RUSSERT: Let me ask you a last question on... David Harsanyi's Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067187/posts#comment Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:23:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065563/posts Reinstating or restarting charges against a Marine officer over the military firefight in Haditha, Iraq, in which two dozen Iraqis died could do serious damage to the public's confidence in the military system of justice, according to lawyers for the officer. "Unlawful command influence is 'the mortal enemy of military justice.' It is the acid that erodes an accused's right to receive a fair trial and the public's confidence in the fairness of the system," says a legal brief filed by lawyers working on behalf of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. "Remarkably, throughout the court-martial proceedings in the case, the government... World Net Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065563/posts#comment Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:54:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065217/posts Thomas More Law Center Answers Prosecutor's Appeal in LtCol Chessani Case ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national, public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, yesterday filed its answer brief in response to the prosecution's appeal of the Military Judge's ruling, dismissing the case against LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, USMC based on unlawful command influence.  In its brief, the Law Center responded to the prosecution's arguments, noting, "Unlawful command influence is 'the mortal enemy of military justice.'  It is the acid that erodes an accused's right to receive a fair trial and the public's... Email http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065217/posts#comment Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:46:47 GMT