The charges against Lieutenant Colonel Chessani were incited by an inflammatory Time magazine headline accusing Marine enlisted men of "massacring innocent civilians." The story was planted by a known terrorist propaganda operative—since discredited. Anti-war Congressman John Murtha, with influence over military appropriations, in an unprecedented action, publicly accused Marine officers of a "cover-up" even before the investigation of the incident was completed. The subsequent investigation specifically found no "cover-up" at any level of command.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel for the Law Center ^, explained the decision to take the case. “The outcome of this case is vital to the security of our nation and to the military personnel we place in harms way. As tragic as these civilian deaths are, it’s essential that we not shackle our combat commanders’ ability to make decisions by placing them in fear of criminal prosecution every time there are civilian casualties as a result of combat action.”Thomas Moore news article from Tue, Mar 6, 2007. [Opens in new window].
Thompson further stated, “Lieutenant Colonel Chessani never retained an attorney during the year-long investigation leading up to these criminal charges and voluntarily answered all questions posed by investigators. He knew he had done nothing wrong and trusted he would be cleared. Despite the charges against him, he still believes in that last line of the military Code of Conduct—‘I will trust in God and in the United States of America.’”
And I will trust the Marines on the ground before any REMF no matter what title they possess!
Perhaps that was because this top rated commander, one of the best counterinsurgency officers we have, recognized that there was no "incident" to report to his superiors.
Maybe these idiots should start looking at the obvious. Marines were killed. They chased the enemy and came under fire. They returned fire. In the fire fight, insurgents and civilians were killed.
War is hell. Best to prosecute it with extreme prejudice upon our enemies and those who support or harbor them so they want to quit...no, so they absoultely sue and beg for us to allow them to unconditionally surrender to us so it will end.
Excellent press release, thanks for posting.
Hopefully Richard Thompson is correct in his above statement.
And the Democrats are laughing in their cloakrooms.
“The story was planted by a known terrorist propaganda operative—since discredited.”
I relish this being placed on the record with sworn testimony. THIS is the reason McGirk and his comrade Aphraim Ghosh need to be “compelled” to tesify.
“We are eating our own, and the terrorists are laughing in their caves. Because of them one of the most effective Marine combat commanders in Iraq has been eliminated by his own government. The testimony we will elicit at the Article 32 hearing, which begins on May 30th, will show just how ridiculous and politically motivated these charges are.”
Paging commander in chief, paging commander in chief....
BTTT
I have to wonder just what kind of officer he was....