Col. Watt tells hearing: It all started with e-mails from McGirk

Defend Our Marines ^ | March 20, 2008 | David Allender

[RedRover]

In an exclusive story by correspondent Nat Helms, NewsMax has revealed that it was a Time magazine reporter's unsubstantiated allegations that sparked the notorious investigation into the death of civilians on November 19, 2005 in Haditha Iraq and subjected eight Marines of Kilo Company, Third battalion, 1st Marines to years of unwarranted harassment and prosecution.

The NewsMax story does not identify the Time correspondent by name but Defend our Marines can report it was Time reporter Tim McGirk.

The wildest of McGirk's allegations were never reported in print. Neither did McGirk inform his readers about the evident problems his sources had with the truth.

In shocking testimony during pre-trial hearings in the case of Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum in Camp Pendeton, California, Army Colonel Gregory Watt recalled that he was sent to Iraq largely to investigate McGirk's allegations, made in e-mails to a military Public Affairs officer in Baghdad.

According to Col. Watt's sworn testimony, McGirk had charged that Marines dragged a man and his wife from a passing car and shot them in cold blood, left a wounded Iraqi man lying on the road for six hours until he bled to death, and forced four brothers into a closet and then shot them full of holes.

None of this was true.

It was McGirk's false allegations, based on lies fed to him by known insurgent propagandists, that caused Rep. Murtha to charge the Marines had committed cold-blooded murder and led the government to launch a multi-million dollar investigation that resulted in various charges against the Haditha Marines--many of which have since been dropped.

Thanks to NewsMax which from the very beginning has reported the real Haditha story, it is now clear that the real assault was upon the Truth.

And it was the mainstream media who wielded the hatchet.

So now the record clearly shows. The shameful harassment of eight heroic Marines that has led to court martials for two officers and two enlisted men, cost families hundreds of thousands of dollars, subjected a courageous Marine lieutenant colonel to the threat of years in prison and subjected the Marine heroes to a painful ordeal, all began with e-mails from Tim McGirk--emails filled with accusations proven to be false.

[RedRover]

[RedRover]

[pissant]

McGirk need to be hanged for treason. Along with Murtha.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for confirming what most of us knew, McGirk is a slimy SOB.

[TexGuy]

Sue, Sue, Sue ... Time-Warner has the dough! Go get some.

[brityank]

... made in e-mails to a military Public Affairs officer ...

I don't fault McGirk for asking the questions, but I do damn him to hell for his use in his reports without confirmation.

In truth, the PAO and the Military have learned nothing from Viet Nam. The exact same propaganda was used successfully to swing the MSM and Dumb Ass Public to become useful idiots for the commies. The PAO's should be personally responsible for the legal costs of all these Marines!

[RedRover]

Many people would gladly donate the rope.

[Semper Fi Mom]

And I’m the one who would GLADLY donate and PERSONALLY DELIVER the rope! After all of the evidence that these Marines are innocent and that the story by McJerk was nothing but an attempt to get his name “IN LIGHTS” why are we continuing with this persecution?

[smoothsailing]

Michael Kraft, writing in the Charlotte Conservative News on June 23,2007; wrote an excellent article exposing McGirk.Time and Haditha Lies

McGirk and Murtha, PosterBoys For Sedition and Treason.

[Chickenhawk Warmonger]

And meanwhile McTurd doesn’t testify... GO FIGURE! Wonder if a civil suit would be an appropriate fallback?

[AliVeritas]

As we knew forever...

McGirk should’ve swung long ago... in public.

[brityank]

I’d rather he were used to train our Marines. How’s about a little bayonet practice?

[brityank]

Wow; thanks for that — he really laid it out in a concrete fashion. Bookmarked.

[jazusamo]

The courageous McGirk has now refused to testify at Chessani’s Article 32 hearing where defense attorneys insist he would have been torn to pieces in cross examination.

Excellent piece by Kraft. I love these articles that point out what a weasel McGirk is, all they do is print the facts!

Thanks for the ping and link.

[freema]

A rope is too kind.

[xzins]

In the article it appears to be saying that McKirk made claims to a Baghdad PAO and that went to Murtha who then made the accusations of cold-blooded murder. Propagandists --> McKirk --> Baghdad PAO ---> Murtha ---> Nation For these soldiers to receive justice, they must know the route the allegations took from the Baghdad PAO to Murtha.

I seriously doubt that a Baghdad PAO (LTC, perhaps?) would personally call a congressman.

[Girlene]

Army Colonel Gregory Watt recalled that he was sent to Iraq largely to investigate McGirk's allegations,...

According to Col. Watt's sworn testimony, McGirk had charged that Marines dragged a man and his wife from a passing car and shot them in cold blood, left a wounded Iraqi man lying on the road for six hours until he bled to death, and forced four brothers into a closet and then shot them full of holes.

Well, I'd heard about the allegations of the 4 brothers in a closet (which was physically impossible for the closet-type), but the other two allegations are new. So, Col. Watt did this whole investigation and didn't find evidence of a massacre. NCIS was sent in, interviewed Iraqi witnesses, and tried to manufacture a massacre with their initial charges. Murtha claims it was cold-blooded murder. Muliple media types claimed it was a massacre.....

And what have been the results after two years? A question about the ROE's at the time, families with the hardship and heartbreak of defending their Marines, but no massacre.

Yes. I think McGirk needs to be questioned about the damage he caused to the familes, the military, and the truth. I think Marine leadership needs to really question themselves about how this snowballed so out of control and how they prevent this mess in the future. And I really think these Iraqi witnesses need to be cross-examined in a trial. The remaining Marines who face trial deserve to face their accusers. Period.

[Lancey Howard]

I believe Murtha claimed he first learned of the “Haditha massacre” when he read about it in McGuirk’s shoddy TIME article.

[xzins]

Yep. But he also claimed he was told by some Pentagon source that that it was cold-blooded murder.

[jazusamo]

And I really think these Iraqi witnesses need to be cross-examined in a trial. The remaining Marines who face trial deserve to face their accusers. Period.

Absolutely!! And the jury panel derserves to see these lying witnesses in person, that's a whole lot different than watching a tape.

[Lancey Howard]

When the last of these Marines is cleared, I sure hope some energetic lawyer helps them get payback by suing the eyeballs out of sick scumbags like McGuirk and Murtha. Unfortunately, I doubt much can be done about those other sick scumbags, the military commanders and their civilian bosses who aided and abetted this repugnant lynching of our heroic fighting men in the first place.

[Girlene]

Lancey I believe Murtha claimed he first learned of the “Haditha massacre” when he read about it in McGuirk’s shoddy TIME article.

xzins - Yep. But he also claimed he was told by some Pentagon source that that it was cold-blooded murder.

I think McGirk was probably the Pentagon's source. So whether Murtha got it from the Times article or the Pentagon.....their "information" was pretty much the same.

[Girlene]

Absolutely!! And the jury panel derserves to see these lying witnesses in person, that's a whole lot different than watching a tape.

I think it's very important. The Afghani "witnesses" in the special inquiry of the MARSOC incident really put the investigation of those Marines into perspective. They weren't even close to believable. We should not be able to convict our military personnel based on some statement/tape of an Iraqi "witness" without the benefit of cross examination. In military trials, the jury panel is allowed to cross-exzmine witnesses (I think). They should have this opportunity. If the Iraqis refuse to be crossed, their testimony should be denied.

[xzins]

It is important to know that Murtha said that a general clued him in that it WAS cold-blooded murder. I think he insinuated it was the Marine Chief. If so, that would constitute undue command influence.

[jazusamo]

You’re correct...Military panels can question witnesses. That’s why I’ve questioned a few people before about how they can allow taped testimony even though defense attorneys are there to cross, I haven’t gotten an answer as yet.

[Marine_Uncle]

I agree with your analysis. Our military brass are as much at fault in this matter along with the inept NCIS as this bozo McGirk.
And for that matter Gates should have early generated a public statement that Blurtha was totally out of line. This ill conceived kangaroo court is a black spot on our military justice system as far as I am concerned. When are truly patriotic American military in high places going to start taking some action to call this whole Haditha affair for what it is, a witch hunt where no witches are found.

[Marine_Uncle]

I must re-echo pissant's comment:
McGirk need to be hanged for treason. Along with Murtha.
It would be the only honest decent thing to do at this point. But alas we know to well such actions are not permitted, for free speech under our Republic is permitted.
So we vent. But we have the equal right under our system of laws to freely make as many others aware of what has happened not only in this case but in growing numbers of cases.
If Americans, friends, family, friends, people we work with, people we interface on the fly with at work and elsewhere, do not have the common sense to understand what a travesty and dishonorable thing is taking place, then so be it. All we can do is get the word out in our little ways, and sometimes bigger ways, and attempt to help these families under the gun, when financially able to. The bottom line is the Lord God Almighty knows all the time frames in trillionths of a second that occurred that day. And by all indications HE knows our Marines did what they had to do.
As for our brass running our courts of military justice. Sure looks like we got one hell of a big number of pantsy asses in control. So obvious to us just like the case regarding the Marine unit in afghanistan, the frigen powers that be somehow sought some avenue to appease some assholes in Heaven only knows what quarters. I do hope word is getting out this *hit cannot continue. And new cases that may come to light had better be investigated with far better methods of investigation. These circuses are causing so much grieve and pain on those that have served in combat with honor and righteous cause. Enough, I have to hit the rack soon. Take care all.

[RedRover]

Night, Uncle.

[pissant]

Free speech does not include enemy propaganda. Purposeful and deliberate. Hang ‘em.

[4woodenboats]

A rope is too kind

How bout one tied to a small anchor? Should my country ask me for one, I'm sure I could oblige. (what's that, Lassie, Timmy fell into a lagoon and the tide is coming up but you forgot where it was and you want to play frisbee?)

At least that way he'd get a chance to dwell on his situation - I'd sure as heck hate to deprive him of that.

[fatima]

Thanks for the ping,here’s a bump.We prayed on the air on Tuesday.

[RedRover]

Thanks and God bless, fatima!