A little background on what this article is about. Frank Kearney had charges brought against two Special Forces, previously discussed in this FR thread
Green Berets Face Hearing On Killing of Suspect in Afghan Village. Captain Staffel and Sergeant Anderson were charged with premeditated murder after Anderson shot a known terrorist who was on a kill or capture list in October, 2006. The CID, the Army's investigative service, reviewed the incident and cleared it as an appropriate kill. But Kearney ordered charges brought anyway.
More info here. The case was dismissed after an Article 32 hearing finally
see here but not until the men had to hire their own lawyers, be accused of murder, the whole ball of wax.
But Kearney is also involved in another high profile incident that occurred in Afghanistan. After a VBIED was exploded in an Afghan village, return fire from a MARSOC unit, several Afghans were killed. In response to the aftermath, Kearney had the first Marines Special Force company that was deployed in theatre, removed from country and started another investigation. The Marine Corps Times has some of the history of this
here and
here.
It appears this is not the first letter that Congressman Jones has sent about the MSOC investigation. According to the
Army Times,
...Jones sent a letter to acting Army Secretary Pete Geren on May 14, asking for an apology after an Army colonel made a public apology to Afghan families affected by the incident.
The colonel called the shootout a “terrible, terrible mistake” and made condolence payments to the families.
I'd say the Congressman's concerns are warranted about Frank Kearney, who, by the way, was promoted in the midst of these investigations.