In May 2006 antiwar Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) accused US marines of killing innocent Iraqis "in cold blood" after the former news magazine TIME published a piece of Al-Qaeda propaganda about an incident in Haditha, Iraq.
In May 2006 antiwar Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) also announced that there was a grand coverup to to stifle the story:
Notice the ABC headline: "Worse than Abu Ghraib"
Murtha was wrong.
Today Drudge reported that another one of the exonerated Haditha marines is preparing to sue John Murtha.
World Net Daily reported:
With most of the eight Marines charged in the Haditha, Iraq, incident now exonerated, the highest-ranking officer among the accused is considering a lawsuit against Democratic Rep. John Murtha, who fueled the case by declaring the men cold-blooded killers.Let Freedom Ring has more on the developments.
The lead attorney for Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, Brian Rooney, acknowledged to (Michael) Savage it's difficult to sue a sitting congressman, but he believes it can be done.
"If he leaves his realm of speaking from the congressman's point of view … then he can be sued for libel and defamation," Rooney said.
The Time magazine story, according to Rooney, was planted by an insurgent propaganda agent. Publishing of the story was soon followed by a May 17, 2006, news conference by Murtha. The congressman announced he had been told by the highest levels of the Marine Corps there was no firefight and Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood."
...Rooney acknowledged the Haditha case taken a toll on the Marine Corps.
"There's no doubt it's affected recruiting," he told Savage. "How could you have your sons or daughters join the Marine Corps when you're not sure the government will protect them?"
Rooney was asked by Savage why he thought Murtha, a former Marine himself, accused the officers and enlisted men.
"In my opinion, it's clear it was done during the election cycle, it was done to bolster himself in the party," the attorney said. "He was vying for a leadership position, and if he had to throw some Marines under the bus to do so, that was the cost of power for him."
He hopes soon politicians will weigh in on the case in support of Chessani and the others.
"I would think all politicians, especially politicians that have military records, should say something about this case," he said.
"In a horrible and very complex environment, when you have an enemy that's using women and children as shields, you should always give the benefit of the doubt to the Marine or soldier," said Rooney. "You should never bring him back and put him in front of a court martial."
SSgt. Frank D. Wuterich already filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington claiming that Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) defamed him when the congressman made public comments about the incident in 2006.
** Michelle Malkin has more on the persecution of Haditha Marine Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani.
Democracy Project says it's time for the DOD Inspector General to inspect JAG.
GWBush can yet cleanse his own record of executive abuse vs. compassionate conservatism by exhonerating ALL EIGHT Marines of all charges.
ReplyDeleteMurtha deserves the utmost contempt and to be taken to trial for his own abuses as an authoritative voice.
I'm not exactly sure how Bush can go about "exhonerating" (sic) the Marines. He sure can't grant them a pardon or clemency when they have had the charges dismissed.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, I suppose the above comment is from a not-too-bright troll of some sort with some weird motive.
Has the Marine Corps excommunicated Murtha yet? Maybe they can use his sorry a** for practice from the 500 m line.
ReplyDeleteWhen they get done with him they can start to work on the JAG who I've lost respect for since I left the Corps.
That series of linked posts about whether the IG should investigate JAG?
ReplyDeletePiffle. Pure piffle.
Look, JAGs are also soldiers/sailors/airmen/marines. They receive and obey lawful orders the same as any other servicemember. That their duties often involve telling commanders uncomfortable truths (both of a "you should" and "you should not" variety) is not a reason to suspect that the various Corps are bastions of leftist claptrap.
It's seductive to want to lay the blame at the lawyer's feet--after all--nobody likes lawyers.
But keep in mind when the bulk of the Haditha prosecutions are being dismissed: following the pretrial investigation (Article 32). Such investigation is a right of the accused and is the military equivalent of a grand jury.
That the government takes a case to trial and loses (at either the 32 or trial state) doesn't mean the case never should have been brought.
And it sure as heck doesn't mean that those bringing the case are operating in bad faith. Even a cursory examination of the investigating officer's reports from these proceedings indicate it's NOT a question of malicious prosecution.
I'm a politically conservative Pro-OIF Iraq Vet. I believe that members of 3/1 did commit prosecutable illegal acts. I also KNOW what happened on "19 Nov" was extremely rare.
ReplyDeleteThat was John Murtha's real traitorous crime, was extrapolating the events of "19 Nov" to all of our servicemen. He did so in an effort to undermine the important war effort. For that he will have to confront the devil.
However, now look, LtCol Chessani's attorney is trying to undermine our Recruiting efforts. Are you defenders of 3/1 proud of that?? Oh, but I guess however Chessani brings down my Marine Corps is ok, because at least you'll get Murtha.
Disgraceful!!
I'm proud of my continued service in Marine Corps. And I hope my son will join one day! FU Rooney!
Can one support these lawsuis against Murtha with a donation. If so I am in
ReplyDeleteBuck: The Thomas More Law Centre has a site where you can donate. They are Lt. Col Chessani's legal representatives. No, I am not connected to them or the Marines. But I have written about them. Go here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thomasmore.org/default-sb_thomasmore.html?125359460