[RedRover]

To show support for the Haditha Marines and their families, please visit...

And let me know if you want on the Haditha Marine Ping List.

[onyx]

Thank you for this posting and for all your grand work!

God Bless Our Marines!

[SevenMinusOne]

Agree completely with the "5 lessons" regarding the NCIS....A shame what we are putting some of our brave men through....

[RedRover]

Ping!

[RaceBannon]

The bank has asked that we not send them donations directly, so, Please send any personal checks or money orders to:


Pendleton 8 Defense Fund
38 Madison Road
Dennis,Ma.02638


Donations may be mailed directly to this address. Please include the full name of the charity on the check or money order:

Pendleton 8 Defense Fund

Additional charities for these men, and information directly from their families can be found at:


Cpl. Robert Pennington
http://www.defendrob.com

PFC John Jodka
http://www.innocentmarine.com

Tyler Jackson
http://www.fightingfortyler.com

Cpl. Marshall Magincalda
http://WWW.BRINGMAGICHOME.ORG

Cpl. Trent Thomas
http://www.defensefundformyhero.com

Lance Cpl Jerry Shumate
http://friendsofjerry.blogspot.com/


Other sites supporting the men:

http://www.defendthetruth.com

http://www.warrior-fund.org

[Girlene]

Great job, RedRover!

So, this sounds like NCIS comes up with a premise, then goes about selecting the evidence that will prove this premise. IOW, they may not look at all the facts of the case, just those that fit their premise.

What about confessions? Did NCIS claim that Pantano had confessed to premeditated murder when in Iraq?

[Chickenhawk Warmonger]

Great article detailing how the NCIS does not work in the best interest of our soldiers. I can't wait to see if the Haditha residents actually testify or just have "sworn statements".

[jazusamo]

Excellent article, Red. Thanks for posting it and the ping.

[Paul Ross]

BUMP!

I have come to the conclusion that the Administration itself is willfully backing these spurious "Star Chamber" exercises ... primarily to keep the International Criminal Court, which we aren't a party to...but are "cooperating" with...OUT of our hair.

It is a temporary political expedient...appeasement of the globalist entity...

The head of the ICC even alludes to the US record of self-prosecuting so as to justify his decision to refrain from exercising their jurisdiction to commence war crime trials. That being said, good, honest men should have their rights protected in full...especially those who have pledged and sacrificed their all...and no amount of national interest in appeasing the globalists should enter into the equation at all.

This is a classic case of why I have lost a lot of respect for W and his top echelons. They really don't stand on core CONSTITUTIONAL principles. And no matter how it may temprorarily appear...I can only conclued that they aren't really looking out for us...they have other, globalist, fish to fry.

The refraining from signing the ICC was a mere temporary tactical position in my judgment. I honestly don't think that W would ever agree with Ronald Reagan, when he said in his farewell address:

Ours was the first revolution in the history of mankind that truly reversed the course of government, and with three little words: "We the people." "We the people" tell the government what to do, it doesn't tell us. "We the people" are the driver, the government is the car. And we decide where it should go, and by what route, and how fast. Almost all the world's constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a document in which "We the people" tell the government what it is allowed to do. "We the people" are free. This belief has been the underlying basis for everything I've tried to do these past eight years.

[Eagles6]

What options are open to the CIC and SecDef in these situations?

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[freema]

Lesson 1: NCIS investigators search for guilt, not for truth.

WHY?

Lesson 2: NCIS does not give a Marine the benefit of the doubt. Agents will, however, believe anything anyone says against a Marine.

WHY?

Lesson 3: NCIS reports are a one-sided story.

WHY?

Lesson 4: The NCIS is unfit to investigate Marines and evaluate their decisions in combat.

WHY?

Lesson 5: NCIS, and prosecutions based on their investigations, is not helping us win in Iraq.

WHY?

[freema]

If I have any say so in the matter, there will be a special place in heaven for you.

[StarCMC]

BTTT and pinging a few friends.

[freema]

Lesson #4

Corporal Michael Speer
Gunnery Sergeant Ronald Baum
Lance Corporal Andrew Zabrierek
Lance Corporal Brian Kelly
Lance Corporal Nicholas Morrison
Corporal Christopher Belchik
______________________________________________

2nd Lieutenant James J. Cathey
Private First Class Shane M. Cabino
Corporal Nicholas O. Cherava
Lance Corporal Jason L. Frye
Lance Corporal Patrick B. Kenny
Staff Sergeant Richard T. Pummil
Lance Corporal Andrew D. Russoli
Lance Corporal Steven W. Szwydek
Lance Corporal Kenneth J. Butler
Corporal Benny G. Cockerham III
Hospitalman 3rd Chris "Doc" Thompson
Captain Tyler B. Swisher
Sergeant Michael P. Hodshire
Lance Corporal Nicholas D. Schiavoni
Lance Corporal Tyler J. Troyer
Sergeant Sean H. Miles

[lilycicero]

Great writing, I wish it was fiction.

[verbosevet]

Nor can they (NCIS) be trusted to apply those rules fairly to us Squids, either.

They seem to operate in a very nebulous area of accountability, and have done so for a long time.

I'm not even sure who would have a true oversight role of the NCIS to hold them accountable for any abuses of authority or things like forced confessions, etc.

Unlike the JAG Corps,they are not Navy, nor are they military.

[Semper Fi Mom]

Thank you once again for a very interesting article and for keeping the Haditha Marines in the minds and hearts of all. You will never know how much all of this is appreciated. With Article 32 hearings already scheduled we need to keep up to date on all happenings.

[KeyLargo]

Sign up for this weekly news at:

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10481&Itemid=110

[KeyLargo]

Sign up for Michael Yon's dispatches. They are great reading:

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/

[xarmydog]

I have held back for quite some time about sharing an experience concerning a court martial I went through.I had been given the day off to see my wife and daughter off on their return to the states.It was unit policy as well as company policy,even to the point of bringing you from the field to say goodbye.I had what would be called a mean and vindictive Company Commander who thought it was his job to bully and terrorize the men under his command.
My Platoon leader and Platoon SGT.had given me permission to see her off.The Company Commander was livid and attempted to give me an article 15,which I denied because I knew I was in the right.The charges for the court martial amounted to six charges,any,if convicted of would have sent me to Leavenworth for the rest of my life.During the court martial in front of a 24 year old Captain,I had my 2nd.LT.,PLt.SGT.,E=7,and the entire platoon testify that I had been given the day off.
After all were dismissed,the Captain closed the door and this is what he said.I truly believe you had permission for the day of,but here is the reality of the situation.The same man who wants you court Marshalled is the same man that appointed me to be your judge,and if I do not find you guilty of something,it is my ass.I was found guilty of the less of all charges,which amounted to being five minutes late for work.The fine was one hundred dollars,recommended suspension.I had never spoken to an officer with such disrespect as I did that day.Do I think that the trials of these Marines will be fair and just?After what you have read,what do you think?They are screwed.