MILITARY: Marine Corps appealing dismissal ruling for Chessani

North County Times ^ | June 18, 2008 | MARK WALKER

[Lancey Howard]

Wow. That is one interesting press release. (I do remember seeing that quote by Lt. Grayson before, but I don’t believe it was in its entirety like this.) No doubt it was the unethical shenanigans of that pathetic loser Sullivan that caused Folsom to basically spit on him this week.

Red, I think this does deserve a thread of its own.

[4woodenboats]

Whoa! I don't remember this part;

"I was forced to relieve my military defense counsel, Major Woodard, due to a conflict of interest created by the prosecution. In June, the Marine Corps discharged me. After my civilian defense counsel notified the government that I was no longer on active duty, the prosecution threatened to launch an investigation against Major Woodard for not alerting them that I was no longer on active duty. This threat and pressure unfortunately created an irreparable conflict of interest,” stated Lt. Grayson.

The prosecution threatend Lt. Grayson's defense attorney!?!?

Keelhaul the scurvy bastards before they infect the whole ship!!

[Girlene]

If Major Woodward had told the prosecutors this info, wouldn’t this have violated attorney client privilege?

[4woodenboats]

Probably not. They could have just left a recording saying Lt. Grayson was unavailable as he was no longer in the Corps, that there was no new number, and to have a nice day!

That's what I would have done :~)

[RedRover]

I had to post the press release to link it as a thread. Just getting everything lined up now.

[4woodenboats]

Looks like the same sentiments manifested in our keyboards simultaneously.

Scary. I don't know about you, but I'm keeping an eye on mine for awhile. :)

[RedRover]

Stop the wedding. We could maybe make a bigger deal of this. Got a query out regarding the possibility of a complaint against Sullivan to his state board. Could be interesting.

[Lancey Howard]

Sullivan has had so much fun dreaming about his name in the history books as the man who brought the infamous mass murderers of the "Haditha Massacre" to justice that it's about time his fun turned into abject misery, and his career in politics destroyed before it begins. I hope the lawyers go after that assclown Sullivan as relentlessly and mercilessly as he went after our heroic Marines.

"Hey, Sullivan, you pathetic loser....."

[MindBender26]

JAG is funny. Has it’s own chain of command, as well as the regular one. Chaplains are the same way, as are doctors assigned to line units, ships at sea, etc.

[delacoert]

Ping to this excellent analysis.

This is an excellent find RR, probably even worth its own thread. This part is especially pertinent:

The prosecution’s zeal may be tied to the same grounds for dismissal -- undue command influence -- of the charges against the remaining Haditha defendant, SSgt Wuterich.
Although a different judge is assigned to Wuterich's case, his attorneys have a similar motion pending.

"We believe the same defect exists in our case as in Chessani's case," Wuterich attorney Neal Puckett said.

[Girlene]

Are you referring specifically to his actions alleged in Casas press release? Would the state board have any say-so over any possible ethics violation under the military law system?

[RedRover]

There was talk about a complaint to a state board, but I’m not close enough to know the details. Hoping I can get them and write a new piece around that.

The press release from Sept 12 07 will have more impact tied to a new story.

[Gondring]

With respect, I'm fed up and out of patience with excuses for President Bush's constant failures of command and leadership.

You ain't the only one.

[Girlene]

There was talk about a complaint to a state board, but I’m not close enough to know the details. Hoping I can get them and write a new piece around that.

Interesting. There are shades of disturbing actions with the Mendoza testimony (transfer to reserves out of Chicago and immigration issues) along with trying to get Dinsmore's testimony (as noted in the NewsMax article here) to ponder, with Lt. Col. Sean Sullivan

[RedRover]

Definitely. And guys such as Sullivan have so much power, it’s only right to bring abuses of power to light.

[billmor]

Why,why,why didn’t Col Folsom, the presiding military judge dismiss the charges against Lt Col Chessani WITH prejudice that would have prevented the prosecution from refiling charges against the Lt Col ?...

Too late for that now, just hope Brian Rooney is right that the judge was right on the money and his decision is nearly appeal proof....

This is just too ridiculous...

[billmor]

Nice...That makes Pres Bush look like a twit- if Murtha were to strip money out of the appropriations bills, why can’t Pres Bush just veto the bills and blame the Democrats for their nasty work and specifically pin the blame on Murtha and Pelosi, and Reid since this is a compromise House/Senate

Which reminds me—the new compromise G.I. Bill and Approporiations bills also states at the end that the USA cannot build any permanent military bases in Iraq and that in the future the military can only assist the Iraqi’s if the President seeks the advice and consent of the Senate (Title X,Sections 10007 and 10008 of H.R. 2642,The Supplemental Appropriations Act 2008,per The Library of Congress-Thomas).....Bush should veto this bill and make them rewrite it without those conditions...This lousy do nothing Congress wants to micromanage the war and everything the President does..They should all be thrown out of office....Here’s a link explaining more..

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02642:@@@D&summ2=m&;

[billmor]

Found a page with a short list of the JAG chain of command..Lists only the top JAG officers and the different sections..

http://federationspace-rpg.net/wiki/index.php?title=JAG_Chain_of_Command

[jazusamo]

Thanks, Bill. Probably get more satisfaction and support for these Marines from those JAG’s. lol

[billmor]

Thanks Jaz...and Girlene and RedRover for your posts...The more we read the more questions we have about the JAG officers participating in this case, and about the political issues involved...

Just remembered, this is all so reminiscent of a great book by Phil Caputo called a “Rumor of War”...same situation, different time...