Semper Fi, Part Three

Investors Business Daily ^ | April 26, 2007 | INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

[TBP]

The case against the Haditha Marines unravels as murder charges are dropped against one and the court hearing of two others is postponed. Will we soon be hearing John Murtha's apology?

The seemingly forgotten incident began as a Marine convoy of the Camp Pendleton-based Kilo Company, Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, was passing through the town of Haditha in the contested Iraqi province of Anbar on Nov. 19, 2005. A roadside improvised explosive device (IED) went off, killing Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, 20, of El Paso, Texas, who was on his second tour of duty.

After the initial attack, the Marines took small arms fire from nearby houses. They returned fire and went house to house searching for their attackers. For their efforts in responding to an insurgent ambush, four Marines were charged with murder, accused of engaging in a rampage of revenge for their fallen comrade.

[TBP]

We subject our own troops to the worst treatment we can for doing their jobs, but we indulge terrorists. What kind of way is that to run a war?

[stylin19a]

at least we didn’t put panties on their heads

</s off>

Semper Fi

[irish guard]

My father-in-law was a Marine (flew F4Us in WWII), and I am in the middle of Flags of our Fathers. Murtha can go suck on a rock. Reading about Iwo Jima makes me proud of any man who is or has been a Marine.

[Joe 6-pack]

"at least we didn’t put panties on their heads"

That's because they were wedged in the crack of Murtha's fat a$$.

[WildcatClan]

right, or a country for that matter. Since most of the evidence against them seemed to involve individuals who were not even eyewitnesses, it all seemed suspect to me from the start. This is the kind of idiocy that can get soldiers killed when they start handling the enemy with kid gloves to avoid being charged with murder or some war atrocity.

[glennshepard]

Quite frankly this is the correct way to wage a counterinsurgency in theory. Although I hate to say it - and believe me I realize that liberals’ insistence on punishing the Marines is derived from its anti-military bias and in no way related to a knowledge of counterinsurgency - U.S. commanders cannot tolerate these actions. The biggest reason the United States has not been successful in counterinsurgency is that it does not rely on the minimum force necessary.

[Aria]

This is what Michael Savage has been saying since day 1 - that they were just doing their jobs and the soldiers were set up by the enemy. Actually, Savage was also right about the Duke lacross accuser - aka Durham Dirtbag. As much as he ticks me off at times I have to give him credit.

[Mrs.Liberty]

Flags of Our Fathers is a great book. Off topic..have you read Bradley’s “Flyboys”?

[Mrs.Liberty]

Will we soon be hearing John Murtha's apology?

My answer: No.

[RedRover]

Ping!

[processing please hold]

We subject our own troops to the worst treatment we can for doing their jobs, but we indulge terrorists. What kind of way is that to run a war?

That we do. They get zero respect from most of our 'leaders'. God bless them.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for posting, TBP and the ping, Red.

If you would like to help with the civilian lawyer’s legal fees for the
Haditha Marines you can do so by going to these sites.

Defend Our Marines

Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt

SSgt. Frank Wuterich

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani

Marine Defense Fund

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I read “Flyboys”. A great book.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Can you link me to whatever specifications for the original charges against de la Cruz might have been published?

[smoothsailing]

While the matter was still under investigation, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., decided it would be sentence first and trial later when he proclaimed that the Marines had "killed innocent civilians in cold blood."

...............

According to those who've seen the evidence, it clearly demonstrates that the incident was part of a planned ambush by insurgent forces, that they used the tragically killed civilians as human shields and that, despite the claims of Rep. Murtha, this was not murder but the tragic result of an ongoing firefight in which U.S. Marines were honorably defending themselves.

Murtha is unfit to breathe the same air as Marines.

[jazusamo]

I believe this is what you're asking for. It's the press release for the original charges. Dela Cruz is second on list.

[kellynla]

I emailed this Newsmax article to all the U.S. congressmen/women and all the U.S. senators.

“Rush to Judgment Against Haditha Marines”
http://www.newsmax.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/4/24/164012.shtml?s=lh

Glad to see this miscarriage of justice against these Marines is being exposed!

As I predicted, I expect all of these Marines will be vindicated.

No autopsy, no case.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Thanks. I wanted to see them with a view toward Rule 604 Withdrawal of charges (on pg II-54 here):
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/law/mcm.pdf

Here is what caught my attention re above, it is at pg II-25 and 26, same link:

I n d e t e r m i n i n g w h a t l e v e l o f d i s p o s i t i o n i s a p p r o p r i a t e , s e e
R.C.M. 306(b) and (c). When charges are brought against two or
more accused with a view to a joint or common trial, see R.C.M.
307(c)(5); 601(e)(3). If it appears that the accused may lack
mental capacity to stand trial or may not have been mentally
responsible at the times of the offenses, see R.C.M. 706; 909;
916(k).

[skimask]

I have read both...great books.

[irish guard]

Have not..I’ve read everything Ambrose has ever written on war....have read a lot of other European theater WWII books and Hampton Sides Bataan Death March book.....makes me want to hate the Japanese....or at least the WWII Japanese. Have read a lot of Civil War stuff and if you haven’t read U.S. Grant’s biography, pick it up. He was an amazing guy.