Posted on 12/09/2009 12:34:38 PM PST by Gene Eric
We certainly know enough not to put it past those vermin. The stench of desperation reeks to high heaven.
“Thats one General that needs to be retired.”
Sounds like that to me too.
Also sounds like the typical “peace time” type personality that gets raised up the ranks when things are slack.
All that’s needed in slack times are reports in on time, report data massaged to show whatever trend “higher” wants to see, kissing the right “higher” butt at social events.
Extended peace times create bureaucratic nimrods in positions of command.
The hypocrisy of that is obviously any death associated with fire support: artillery or air attack.
They hold ground troops to a different standard, and that standard is a threat to the life of every infantryman. Do you remember the positive ID of target nonsense during some of the hearings? A good way to get yourself killed.
That is also a post-Haditha opinion, because it simply wasn't the standard at that time. And it should not EVER be the standard. The politically correct, like this general, will spout this. You have to wonder what happens to these people once some of them pin on those stars.
Thanks for the pings, jaz, and good comments, xzins. It seems the USMC couldn’t find LtCol Chessani guilty on the original charges without trying to stack the deck (UCI), so now they have a new and creative way to “stack the deck”: a Board of Inqiry.
I wonder how many more ways the military is going to try to convince their fighting forces not to fight? The USMC had their shot at finding Chessani guilty of something and failed. Maybe the USMC can fool the general population if they decide to punish Lt Col Chessani with a demotion. But, the message to the fighting forces will be clear, and I do not see an upside of that message. This “do-over” is an obvious attempt to punish Lt Col Chessani in spite of their original mishandling of the charges.
Maybe the generals who decided to continue this railroading should look in the mirror when it comes to charges of dereliction of duty.
Excellent comments by the both of you.
The Marine Corps and JAG Corps must have decided in the very beginning to make an example of at least some of these Marines, probably due to pressure brought about by the SECNAV?, Murtha? or others indirectly.
It’s a shame the high up Marine brass didn’t have the intestinal fortitude to stand for what’s right and their men. I believe this fiasco will hurt not only the Corps but all branches of the military due to the all volunteer status. It’s a shame!
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