[RedRover]

Related threads:

• Charges recommended to be dropped in LCpl Tatum Haditha case

• LCpl Stephen Tatum’s Statement to the Investigating Officer (As recalled by legal counsel)

• Haditha Article 32: LCpl. Stephen B. Tatum

[RedRover]

There is an interesting tidbit in the IO's report (too bad Rush wasn't on today):

Issues of unlawful command influence were raised by the defense in relation to the Honorable John Murtha, Congressman from Pennsylvania. Although I am unaware of any unlawful command influence at the Article 32 level, depositions are likely to be ordered.

To date, the Bush DOJ has blocked deposition orders for Congressman Murtha. It's time the AG's office stopped shielding Murtha and for the process of discovery to begin.

Oh, and...

[xzins]

However, to be clear, I am not recommending the charges go forward. In recommending dismissal of the charges, I am finding that LCpl Mendoza's testimony is not credible and even if all the evidentiary hurdles are cleared, that LCpl Tatum had the legal right to rely on SSgt Wuterich's actions in house 2 as positive identification. Even if SSgt Wuterich were wrong, LCpl Tatum was entitled to act on his honest and reasonable belief that SSgt Wuterich was engaging legitimate targets. On 19 November 2005, in the mere seconds LCpl Tatum had to make a decision, he acted in accord with training, to engage targets that a fellow Marine was firing at, without time to fully assess the situation and reflect on what SSgt Wuterich was doing. It is only in hindsight that we can start to question why SSgt Wuterich was firing his weapon at children and conclude that LCpl Tatum should have deemed such actions were unwarranted.

This sounds like in Ware's mind that this puts a greater burden on SSG Wutterich when he gets evaluated by LTC Ware.

The leader is always at greater jeopardy. He's protecting his own, and he's more aggressive. In combat, the best defense is a great offense.

[ticked]

Excellent job posting that. Thank you.

[freema]

Dial up friendly ping!

[spunkets]

THanks for the post. Good call.