Posted on 05/30/2008 4:23:17 PM PDT by freema
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Prosecutors will call a top NATO general to address a potential conflict of interest in the case of a Marine officer charged with failing to investigate the killings of 24 Iraqi men, women and children, defense attorneys said Friday.
Defense attorneys say Marine Gen. James Mattis, currently NATO's top commander in charge of military modernization, is scheduled to take the stand Monday during a hearing to address a military judge's finding that there was evidence of unlawful command influence in the case of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani.
Rooney said the defense will ask Monday that the charges against Chessani, of Rangley, Colo., not only be dismissed but that prosecutors be barred from refiling them.
PING
I know it is unpopular to say this, but this is a shining example of how this administration has broken faith with the honorable men and women in uniform who serve this country. It just tells you how off track this administration is that they cannot tell the difference between Abu Ghraib, which was an appalling disgrace, to Haditha, where troops were in actual combat.
It is hard to be objective when you are up to your ass in alligators.
I’m not sure of your point, but you’ve made me wonder if this was indeed a legitimate investigation and prosecution...
with dead and wounded and others still engaged, some dumb ass would think there should be an investigation, too.
On the other hand, haven’t heard the alligator line in quite a while : )
That line came to me from my brother ... an Army combat commander in Vietnam ... two tours ... heavy combat ... three Bronze Stars.
It is, and, there is.
Guess he knew alligators when he saw them, eh?
Mattis may have to splain how he was “awarded” the 4th star. It was on the backs of the Innocent Haditha Marines and Sgt Lawrence Hutchins.
Don’t be surprised if the charges are dropped on Monday morning. Mattis is not likely to commit perjury and lose his retirement; and the prosecution doesn’t want him to tell the truth.
You know that means I’ll be doing the happy dance?
Or not.............................................
: )
They don’t call people without knowing what they are going to say.
I’m inclined to wait and see what happens.
As to why he agreed to prefer charges, one reason MAY have been that Murtha threatened to use his position on the Armed Services Committee to screw the marines on funding their essential needs, unless they played ball.
Not in so many words, of course, but they have their ways of passing these messages on.
No doubt in my mind.
Brian Rooney, Chessani’s attorney from TM Law Center, is on Roger Hedgcock’s show now talking about Mattis’ appearance Monday. He says the burden of proof that there was NOT undue command influence is now on the prosecution.
Prayers need to go up for Monday!
This has nothing to do with this admin. If the President, or any one of his staff had said anything, THAT would be command influence. As for General Mattis, he took the time to e-mail me twice, saying let it run out, and the hell with the media. In this situation, you’re dammed if you do, and dammed if you don’t. At the end of the trial, then you’ll know who supports the troops. IMO
For 8 years, we have heard the constand din of evilBushevilsoldiersnoWMD every single day. Every single day.
Those Marines did nothing. The American fighting men and women are heroic, not only because they stand in our stead, but also because they remain the purest physical expression of our spiritual ideals.
How many times has the prosecution dropped charges when it was getting to an uncomfortable stage?
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