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A panel of legal scholars has suggested that Congress remove sodomy as a crime punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a recommendation that could boost efforts to end a ban on gays serving openly in the U.S. military. The Commission on Military Justice recommended that Article 125, which deals with sodomy, be repealed, arguing that “most acts of consensual sodomy committed by consenting military personnel are not prosecuted, creating a perception that prosecution of this sexual behavior is arbitrary.” In its report — dated October 2009 — the commission suggested several changes be made to the UCMJ, including...

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...

On the May 10 Sunday ABC News program "This Week," host George Stephanopoulos aggressively questioned President Barack's National Security Advisor James Jones on the issue of homosexuals in the military. Following news of congressional and military resistance to Obama's position on the issue, Stephanopoulos suggested that Obama should try to circumvent the law by suspending enforcement. Elaine Donnelly, President of the Center for Military Readiness issued a statement in response, "Any presidential order or Defense Department directive disregarding the law, handed down for reasons of political expediency, would constitute a serious, perhaps irreparable breach of faith with men and women...

Protesters lined a footbridge Thursday in support of Dan Choi, an openly gay Iraq War veteran from Tustin whose job is on the line because he violated the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The gathering of about 25 people marched overlooking Campus Drive, a few feet from a U.S. Army recruitment office, while Choi waited in New York for a television taping. He was set to appear Thursday night on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show," where last month he publicly outed himself. Days ago, Choi received a letter stating he would be discharged from the Army National Guard for...

President Barack Obama sent a hand-written note in response to a Chicago-area lesbian's plea for him to change the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian servicemembers. She sent her letter to Obama just six days after his inauguration, and it was published in the Feb. 11 Windy City Times as a cover story. 2nd Lt. Sandy Tsao photo by Donna Tsao said she is “very hopeful” after receiving the letter May 5. “I believe he is a man of his word. … My heart is bounding with joy.” The timing is bittersweet: Tsao's last day in the service will...

With the nation engaged in two wars and facing a number of potential adversaries, this is no time to weaken our military. Yet if gay rights activists and their allies have their way, grave harm will soon be inflicted on our all-volunteer force. The administration and some in Congress have pledged to repeal Section 654 of U.S. Code Title 10, which states that homosexuals are not eligible for military service. Often confused with the "don't ask, don't tell" regulations issued by President Clinton, this statute establishes several reasons that homosexuality is incompatible with military service. Section 654 recognizes that the...

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A military jury has acquitted an Illinois Marine sergeant on charges of murdering an unarmed detainee during battle in Fallujah, Iraq. The jury of eight Marines who served in Iraq or Afghanistan also acquitted Sgt. Ryan Weemer on Thursday of dereliction of duty in the November 2004 death.

CAMP PENDLETON ---- A Marine Corps hero showered praise Monday on a comrade who is on trial for killing an unarmed prisoner of war. Navy Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Brad Kasal said the accused Marine, Sgt. Ryan Weemer, was a skilled warrior who always displayed "excellent" military characteristics. Kasal was given the Navy Cross, the second-highest award a Marine can receive, for saving fellow Marines despite suffering severe wounds during the "Hell House" battle in Fallujah, Iraq, on Nov. 13, 2004. Both Kasal, now head of a five-state recruiting region based in Des Moines, Iowa, and Weemer were injured that...

WASHINGTON — Congress’ leading opponent of the military’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy on Monday reintroduced legislation to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the armed forces. Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., backed a similar measure last year. In a statement Monday, she said the policy has "failed our country and military for 15 years" and hurt readiness by preventing qualified citizens from joining the ranks. The legislation would remove the current rules preventing homosexuals from serving openly in the military and allow anyone discharged under the policy to apply for reinstatement, though details must be worked out. More than 12,500...

Should a Soldier serve if he doesn't believe the president is legitimate? Yes, a Soldier takes an oath to serve the nation and President Obama was duly elected. 1st Lt. Easterling is just trying to get publicity and he should be court martialed. If a Soldier in good conscience does not believe the president is constitutionally eligible to serve, he should not execute his duties and is right to protest the president's orders. Easterling should continue to honor the dignity of his men by executing his orders as given. He should pursue other avenues to challenge the legitimacy of the...

In a comment on Leo Donofrio’s stite Morgan Ward published that what probably will proof the most effective way to getting the Usurper out of The Whitehouse. During a great show on Plains Radio Network , co-hosted by Wish, he further expanded on the concept convincing many of us, and myself in particular, of the effectiveness his approach. In the coming day’s this blog will further update you on details and developments. By Morgan Ward Leo, I am a retired US Army SFC. Few people in the military are familiar with an article 138 Investigation of the UCMJ. While on...

A lawsuit has been filed against two officers at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune Marine base for banning a civilian worker – a 25-year Marine whose son was a victim of the U.S.S. Cole attack – from publicly condemning Islamic terrorists. One of the 'offensive' bumper stickers The lawsuit was filed by the Thomas More Law Center on behalf of Jesse Nieto after base officials first ordered him to remove bumper stickers from his private vehicle then banned the vehicle from all federal installations nationwide. In a statement e-mailed to WND, base spokesman Nat Fahy said the action against Nieto was...

Jesse Nieto is a 25-year Marine veteran whose honorable service to our nation included two combat tours in Vietnam. His youngest son, Marc, and 16 of Marc’s shipmates were killed on October 12, 2000, by Islamic terrorists who bombed the USS Cole. Nieto has worked as a civilian employee at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina since 1994. Since 2001, Nieto has displayed various decals on his vehicle expressing anti-terrorist sentiments, such as “Remember the Cole, 12 Oct 2000,” “Islam=Terrorism,” and “We Died, They Rejoiced.” On July 31, 2008, two military police officers (MPs) issued Nieto a...

Soldier gets 7 months in deaths of 4 Iraqis Pretrial agreement results in reduction of court’s sentence of 40 years’ confinement VILSECK, Germany — A Germany-based soldier who testified Thursday that he pulled security while his fellow soldiers killed four Iraqi detainees and "didn’t care" at the time that they would end up dead will spend seven months in prison, for his role in the incident. He also will see his rank reduced to private and receive a dishonorable discharge. A military judge sentenced Spc. Belmor Ramos to 40 years’ confinement in the 2007 slayings after he pleaded guilty to...

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,...

Study says military justice lacks full transparency By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes European edition, Sunday, August 17, 2008 The full report ... For the full report on public access to military court proceedings, go to http://www.rcfp.org/militarydockets ARLINGTON, Va. — The military justice system is "not nearly as transparent as it should be" according to journalism professor Barbara Fought. Fought is the director of the Tully Free Speech Center at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Journalism, which conducted a recent study along with the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the press on media access to military court...

August 10, 2008 | pdf version Dearest Mitch, I recently read a tribute to First Lieutenant Andrew Grayson that was written by his uncle after charges were filed against him in the Haditha incident. I shed tears as I read it and I realized that often it is easy to allow words to go unsaid. Especially words that may be sentimental or words that may cause us more emotion than we are comfortable with. As I pondered the charges that have been made against you and again read the letter by Lieutenant Grayson’s uncle, I asked myself, “why?” I thought...

BRAGGS — Family members of one of two Oklahoma soldiers who are accused of killing an Iraqi detainee have rallied to his support and believe that he will be vindicated. The military announced Saturday that Staff Sgt. Hal M. Warner, 34, of Braggs and 1st. Lt. Michael C. Behenna, 25, of Edmond have been charged with premeditated murder in the fatal shooting of Ali Monsour Mohammed. In addition to the murder charges, both are accused of assault, making a false official statement and obstruction of justice. Warner also is charged with being an accessory after the fact. Warner was charged...

President Bush on Monday approved the execution of an Army private, administration officials said. It was the first time in over a half-century that a president has affirmed a death sentence for a member of the U.S. military.

(CNSNews.com) – House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told CNSNews.com on Wednesday that homosexuals should be allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military. Homosexual conduct is currently prohibited by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and is cause for removal from the service. Under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy instituted by President Clinton in 1993, however, the military does not ask recruits if they are homosexual, and homosexuals may serve as long as they do not talk their orientation or engage in conduct prohibited by the UCMJ. According to a February 2005 study by the Government...

While all the military services are concerned about operational security and compromising the mission, each branch has its own rules for servicemembers who want to sound off in the blogosphere. Army An April 2007 operational security policy mandated that soldier blogs get "eyes on" by a blogger’s immediate supervisor and OPSEC officer before publication. The policy also covered (but was not limited to) "letters, resumes, articles for publication, electronic mail, Web site postings, discussion in Internet information forums, discussion in Internet message boards or other forms of dissemination or documentation." The free-speech firestorm was fast and furious, and the Army...

Bloggers, such as Army Maj. Charles Ziegenfuss, a wounded combat veteran from Indiana, Pa., often see their Web posts as an exercise of their hard-won rights. "The 25-year-old sailor, who asked to remain anonymous, said the blog has influenced some positive changes in liberty policy, but he fears reprisals from the military for speaking publicly." "Ziegenfuss said he has been approached about the content of his blog site — "From My Position … On the Way!" — but refused to change or delete postings. "I will continue to exercise my freedom of speech, which I have literally given pounds of...

BAGHDAD, May 29, 2008 – A contractor in Iraq charged under military law with stabbing another contractor was scheduled to be arraigned today in Baghdad. Alaa “Alex” Mohammad Ali, a contractor charged with aggravated assault, was scheduled to be arraigned today at Camp Victory here. The charge against Ali stems from the Feb. 23 alleged stabbing of another contractor at a combat outpost near Hit. This is the first time a civilian will be tried by court-martial under a 2006 amendment to the Uniform Code of Military Justice contained in the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act, U.S. military officials said....

BAGHDAD – A pre-trial hearing to consider the allegation of aggravated assault by Alaa “Alex” Mohammad Ali concluded April 16 at Liberty Court Room, Camp Liberty, Iraq. The charge stems from the Feb. 23 stabbing of another contractor at a combat outpost near Hit, Iraq. The contractor, a fellow translator, was stabbed during a physical altercation with Ali. The investigating officer for this case was Lt. Col. Charles E. Febus. His role was to look at the charges, weigh the evidence and make a recommendation based on his findings, said Maj. Kurt Takushi, Chief, Administrative Law, MNC-I. Once he does...

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2008 – Multinational Corps Iraq announced yesterday that a civilian contractor accompanying the force has been charged with aggravated assault under military law. Multinational Corps Iraq announced yesterday that a civilian contractor accompanying the force has been charged with aggravated assault under military law. Alaa “Alex” Mohammad Ali, an interpreter, is the first contractor to be charged under a 2006 amendment to the Uniform Code of Military Justice – Section 552 of the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2007, MNC-I officials said. Ali, who holds Canadian and Iraqi citizenship, is accused of stabbing another contractor....

The Pentagon recently issued a memorandum with the less-than-snappy title "Uniform Code of Military Justice Jurisdiction Over Department of Defense Civilian Employees, Department of Defense Contractor Personnel, and Other Persons Serving With or Accompanying the Armed Forces Overseas During Declared War and in Contingency Operations." Despite the cumbersome title, the memo, which gives military commanders authority over civilian contractors in their areas of operation, is an effort to close what many see as an accountability loophole for private military contractors. Effectively, the new rules extend the Uniform Code of Military Justice -- the same military legal code U.S. forces personnel...

The tarnished image of the Marine Corps continues to darken as more trials, more aquittals and more scandals corrode the brightly burnished steel that armors America’s premier fighting force. Defense attorneys and beleaguered Marines say their cherished Corps’ surprise decision Friday to dismiss criminal charges against a Marine infantryman accused of mass murder at Haditha, Iraq, is just another billboard announcing the troubles plaguing Marine Corps morale today. Loyalty up and down the ranks, the bedrock on which the 232-year old fighting force was built, is under attack. “First the Corps takes their innocence, and then the enemy tries to...

"What happened is less important than what you do in response to the incident." -- LtCol Christopher I. Woodbridge, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines from August 2003 through June 2005, commenting on his Operation Iraqi Freedom experience in "Law of War, Rules of Engagement, and Escalation of Force Guide". The remarkable success of the Al Qaeda engineered debacle at Haditha in December 2005 to diminish the effectiveness of its fiercest nemesis is illustrated in two documents reserved for "Official Use Only" and obtained by Defend Our Marines from flummoxed Marines. The documents detail the "new" thinking of the Marine...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2008 – The Defense Department announced today it has sworn criminal charges and is seeking the death penalty against six detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The detainees charged include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and five others charged in connection with the attacks, Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Hartmann, legal advisor to the convening authority in DoD’s Office of Military Commissions, told reporters at the Pentagon. Besides Mohammed, those charged are: Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi,...

FORT HOOD, Texas - An Army sergeant charged with fatally shooting a wounded and unarmed Iraqi insurgent has been released from jail while awaiting trial. Sgt. Leonardo Trevino is now spending his days working at Fort Hood, after a military judge ruled late Tuesday that pretrial confinement was not warranted. Trevino, 30, of San Antonio, had been held since he was charged in September, first in Kuwait and then at the Bell County Jail in Belton after his unit returned in November. "There are no words to describe how overwhelmed I am with happiness," his wife, Veronica Trevino, told the...

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) - An Army sergeant kicked and shot an Iraqi insurgent who lay bleeding from nearly two dozen gunshot wounds, then after he was dead told fellow soldiers to say the man had been armed, a private at the scene testified Tuesday. Sgt. Leonardo Trevino, 30, is charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder, assault and obstruction of justice in the suspected June incidents in Muqdadiyah, Iraq. After the Article 32 hearing, similar to a civilian grand jury, the investigating officer will decide whether there is enough evidence to support the charges and then recommend whether to refer...

The Bush administration is pushing to take control of the promotions of military lawyers, escalating a conflict over the independence of uniformed attorneys who have repeatedly raised objections to the White House's policies toward prisoners in the war on terrorism. The administration has proposed a regulation requiring "coordination" with politically appointed Pentagon lawyers before any member of the Judge Advocate General corps - the military's 4,000-member uniformed legal force - can be promoted. A Pentagon spokeswoman did not respond to questions.... But the requirement of coordination - which many former JAGs say would give the administration veto power over any...

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 29 (OneWorld) - U.S. war veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have announced they're planning to descend on Washington, DC this March to testify about war crimes they committed or personally witnessed in Iraq. "The war in Iraq is not covered to its potential because of how dangerous it is for reporters to cover it," said Liam Madden, a former Marine and member of the group Iraq Veterans Against the War. "That's left a lot of misconceptions in the minds of the American public about what the true nature of military occupation looks like." Iraq Veterans Against the...

Pentagon officials suggested yesterday that U.S. civilian security contractors in Iraq fall under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice and could be prosecuted in military courts for offenses against Iraqis. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters that while U.S. civilians working in Iraq under Department of Defense contracts were not subject to Iraqi law, they could be held accountable under U.S. law. Iraqi officials have complained of their inability to prosecute civilian contractors, some of whom have been accused of shooting indiscriminately into crowds and killing innocent civilians. Questions have been raised whether the contractors are subject to any law...

Chaplain sentenced after harassing mistress By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Saturday, September 22, 2007 CAMP ZAMA, Japan — A married Army chaplain who was involved in an affair with an Arizona woman pleaded guilty Thursday to adultery, unbecoming conduct and four counts of cyberstalking at his court-martial. Capt. Mike Myers was sentenced to six months in prison after entering his plea in the courtroom of this Army post near Tokyo. The former chaplain for the 441st Military Intelligence Battalion, 500th Military Intelligence Brigade also will be dismissed from the Army and receive a reprimand stemming from his...

FReep This Poll! Actual poll question: Do you support the murder conviction of squad leader Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins in the Hamdania case? Yes No, too strong No, too lenient Go to the North County Times/The Californian link provided on this FR post. Scroll down a bit and look for the poll on the right hand side. Vote your choice.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is probing allegation that eight unarmed Iraqi men were murdered at Fallujah, Iraq in November, 2004. They allegedly died at the hands of Marines once in the same platoon as two Marines already under investigation for murdering 24 civilians in Haditha 18 months ago. The alleged murders were revealed last year by former Corporal Ryan Weemer, once a Marine rifleman from 3rd Platoon, Kilo Company, Third Battalion, 1st Marines. Weemer fought valiantly at the Hell House during the Fallujah battle in November 2004 and sustained three gunshot wounds. He was a fire team leader in...

Washington June 8, 2007 - CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr reported this evening that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Peter Pace's departure from that post may be linked to his recent comments regarding lesbian and gay military personnel. According to Starr's report, Pace's comments, along with his role in planning the war in Iraq and his support for convicted Vice Presidential advisor I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, played key roles in Congressional opposition to Pace's re-nomination. "His recent statements that he believed homosexual statements are immoral" presented a "significant problem" for Pace according to Starr. "Congressional leaders, in warning Secretary...

The Bush administration sought to avert a political fight with such Senate Democrats as Hillary Rodham Clinton and Carl Levin over Iraq and homosexuals in the military by not renominating Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace to a second term as Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman. "The administration view was that this would not be helpful to protect America's security," said a defense official close to the debate. "People viewed a bruising Senate fight as not helpful in terms of public opinion, or in preparing for the interim report" expected in September from the top commander in Iraq, Gen. David H....

three-member board of the Marine Corps Mobilization Command has recommended an immediate discharge under general conditions for Cpl. Adam Kokesh. The recommendation is less severe than the “other than honorable” discharge sought by Corps officials against Kokesh, who was accused of disrespecting an officer and wearing a uniform to an Iraq War protest. The recommendation now goes to the commanding general of the command for a final decision, expected within the next two weeks.

The media has a new anti-war hero - Adam Kokesh the Iraq war veteran who is facing a June 4th hearing for violations of the UCMJ regarding wearing the uniform while protesting and disrespect to an officer. The headlines scream out for sympathy for Kokesh and outrage for the Marine Corps. "Iraq Vet Faces Penalty for War Protest" was the headline on CBS News online. The Daily Breeze says "Discharged Veteran May be Punished for Protesting". The Socialist Worker calls it "Marines Eating Their Own". All are couching this hearing in terms of free speech and punishing an anti-war...

I have a friend running for office in Virginia. He serves in the United States Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander. He has used pictures of himself in uniform in some of his campaign literature, because he is proud of his service to our country. But a local blogger is claiming that doing so violates the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He has never appeared in uniform for any campaign activity -- everybody acknowledges that. It's also clear a person who is retired from the military can use pictures of themselves in military uniforms -- we have ample evidence of...

WUERZBURG, Germany -- A U.S. Army medic who refused to return to Iraq because he believes war is morally wrong was convicted of desertion Tuesday and sentenced to an eight-month prison term -- far short of the maximum seven-year sentence. Specialist Agustin Aguayo, 35, and his attorneys turned to each other and smiled after Judge Col. R. Peter Masterton read out the sentence. Aguayo, a U.S. citizen born in Guadalajara, Mexico, had been jailed for 161 days awaiting trial and his attorney, David Court, said he did not expect him to serve more than about six more weeks. "We're grateful...

CAMP PENDLETON ---- The attorney for a Marine corporal who pleaded guilty last month to murder in the 2006 shooting death of an Iraqi man now wants his client to withdraw that plea and proceed to trial. Victor Kelley, the attorney for Cpl. Trent Thomas, told a military judge Thursday morning that he now believes that his client was "acting under the color of lawful authority." The defense move came on what was to be the third day of a sentencing hearing for the 25-year-old St. Louis native, who pleaded guilty on Jan. 18 to murder, assault, kidnapping and related...

The U.S. Marines accused of murder and other charges in the case of the Haditha killings in Iraq cannot get a fair trial, says retired Air Force Lt. General Thomas McInerney.Commenting on Rep. John Murtha's outrageous charges that the Marines of Kilo Company had committed cold-blooded murder of civilians in Haditha on November 19, 2005, McInerney said that the Pennsylvania Democrat's declaration "has certainly prejudiced the case."In an exclusive interview with NewsMax.com, the general who served 35 years in the United States Air Force as a pilot, commander, and Joint Force Commander and retired from military service as Assistant Vice...

WASHINGTON -- A small number of active military troops will take part in Saturday's rally in Washington against the Iraq war, co-founders of an active-duty protest group say. One of the founders of Appeal for Redress, Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto, said he planned to speak at the protest on the National Mall. Hutto is a sailor aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, currently at Norfolk, Va. United For Peace and Justice, an anti-war coalition of 1,400 organizations, said the protest could draw tens of thousands of demonstrators in all. Hutto and Liam Madden, a Marine sergeant who received...

Vocal opposition to President’s Bush’s strategy of sending more than 20,000 additional troops to help secure Iraq has grown to include some of the troops themselves. A group of more than 50 active-duty military officers will deliver a petition to Congress on Tuesday signed by about 1,000 troops calling for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. “Any troop increase over here will just produce more sitting ducks, more targets,” said Sergeant Ronn Cantu, who is serving in Iraq. Under the 1988 Military Whistleblower Protection Act, active duty military, National Guard, and Reservists may communicate with any member of...

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A sailor pleaded guilty Monday to abducting and killing a Marine corporal he thought had been involved in a gang rape. The rape turned out to be a lie, but the truth surfaced too late. Petty Officer 3rd Class Cooper Jackson, 23, pleaded guilty Monday to premeditated murder, kidnapping, impersonating a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent and obstruction of justice in connection with the death of Cpl. Justin L. Huff, 23. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to spare him a possible death sentence. Federal agents had testified at his Article 32 hearing, the...

Has anybody figured out yet that McCain's bill means we have to now read detainees their Miranda rights? He wants to give them full UCMJ rights, including the ability to lawyer up IMMEDIATELY, even IN COMBAT. I fell asleep thinking of this and had a dream... or nightmare... that I was back in my tour of Afghanistan exactly where I was in 2002-2003... except this time, in the version McCain wants. So it was really John McCain's dream, except that I was unlucky enough to be in it...which made it my nightmare. ACT I AFGHANISTAN is bleak and dusty, in...

CAMP PENDLETON ---- A refusal by the Marine Corps to waive pretrial hearings for four of eight Camp Pendleton men accused in the April 26 slaying of an Iraqi has created uncertainty over when the first court sessions will begin. In his order denying the waiver request issued Tuesday, Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis said attorneys should be prepared for the first of those hearings to start Monday or to request a continuance to a later date. The hearing will be the first time that the government's case against the men will have been aired since they were charged June...