Haditha Marines you can do so by going to these sites.
Posted on 08/09/2007 12:17:06 PM PDT by RedRover
LOS ANGELES – All charges were dropped against a captain accused of failing to investigate the deaths of 24 civilians in Haditha, the Marine Corps announced Thursday. Also, all charges were dropped against Marine Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt, who had been accused of killing three Iraqi brothers in response to a roadside bomb attack in Haditha in 2005.
Capt. Randy W. Stone, 35, a battalion lawyer from Dunkirk, Md., was one of four officers charged with failing to adequately probe the killings.
"It is clear to me that any error of omission or commission by Capt. Stone does not warrant action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice," Lt. Gen. James Mattis wrote.
Earlier Thursday, the Marine Corps announced that charges had been dismissed against Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, who was accused of murdering three brothers in the assault.
"The evidence does not support a referral to a court-martial," Lt. Gen. James Mattis wrote in his written decision in the Sharratt case. Under military law, a commanding general has total jurisdiction over a case.
Sharratt, 22, of Canonsburg, Pa., had been charged with murder in the deaths of three of those killed after the bomb attack on Nov. 19, 2005.
The decision to drop the charges followed an earlier recommendation from a hearing officer who listened to evidence in the case.
In his recommendation, Lt. Col. Paul Ware said murder charges brought against Sharratt were based on unreliable witness accounts, insupportable forensic evidence and questionable legal theories.
"The government version is unsupported by independent evidence," Ware wrote in an 18-page report. "To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary."
Prosecutors alleged Sharratt and other members of his battalion engaged in a revenge-motivated assault on Iraqi civilians after a roadside bomb killed a fellow Marine. Sharratt contended the Iraqi men he confronted were insurgents and at least one was holding an AK-47 rifle when he fired at them.
Ware said prosecution of Sharratt could set a "dangerous precedent that ... may encourage others to bear false witness against Marines as a tactic to erode public support of the Marine Corps and its mission in Iraq."
"Even more dangerous is the potential that a Marine may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy," Ware said.
Mattis said he made his decision after looking at all the evidence presented at the Article 32 evidence hearing, much like a preliminary hearing in criminal courts.
"You have served as a Marine infantryman in Iraq where our nation is fighting a shadowy enemy who hides among the innocent people, does not comply with any aspect of the law of war, and routinely targets and intentionally draws fire toward civilians," Mattis wrote.
"Operational, moral and legal imperatives demand that we Marines stay true to our own standards and maintain compliance with the law of war in this morally bruising environment," he said.
"With the dismissal of these charges, you may fairly conclude that you did your best to live up to the standards ... in the face of life or death decisions made by you in a matter of seconds in combat."
Besides Sharratt, two other enlisted men were charged with murder. Four officers were accused of failing to investigate the deaths.
Don’t forget Time’s role—http://www.americanthinker.com/2006/06/haditha_is_mcgirk_the_new_mary.html Time for them to go out of business.
See post #21
I continue to stand behind that post. Murtha is a liar and a traitor.
Hallelujah! Great news!!!
God bless our military and their families for the sacrifices they make to help protect the rest of us.
"Murtha's Miserable! Moan! Moan!"
Looks like a Patton type (and walks the walk)! Probably cost him any possibility of a 4th star (too which he would probably say... "f*ck it")!
GEN MATTIS BUMP!
I’ll REALLY enjoy updating that graphic tonight!
Wonderful news RedRover.
Three Free, All Free!
The only questions Turda needs to answer are, Blindfold? Cigarette??
Pray for W and Our Marines
why not make him one? He might like knowing he has the respect of the people he serves better than a fourth star. Maybe, IMHO.
APOLOGIZE?? MY ROYAL BUTT!! This bastard needs to be removed. NOTHING else will suffice!!
Thank you SO much for all your thoughtfulness and, most importantly, your prayers!
Your welcome,many prayed with us:)
I don't blame you. Hopefully you'll be putting Charges Dropped on more of them soon.
“these people were murdered”
Can’t these Marines sue murtha for that statement?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.