Chessani prosecution may be over [and case against SSgt Wuterich may be soon if there's justice]

North County Times ^ | May 5, 2009 | MARK WALKER

[RedRover]

Sorry for the snips, but the NC Times is now excerpt only.

Gene Eric posted an earlier thread on this topic HERE.

[RedRover]

[jazusamo]

Thanks for posting this piece, Red. Walker wrote a good and unbiased piece.

I know it’s not over til it’s over but things are definitely looking better for both.

[RedRover]

You're welcome, jaz! There were some good details here. I hadn't realized that SSgt Wuterich's attorneys had to wait for the 60 Minutes nonsense to be resolved before they could file their petition. Also, I hadn't realized that the commandant of the Corps may be the one to decide if LtCol Chessani will be recharged.

In any event, these are positive signs that justice may be done in our lifetimes!

[dynachrome]

I hope the Marine Corps promotes each of them one grade. Just to stick it to the idiots like murtha.

[OneWingedShark]

But Murtha already said that they were guilty!

(That is obviously outside the scope of his position; his rush to judgment was a clear violation of all notions of propriety; and, further, it is obviously aiding and providing comfort (in the form of legitimacy) to the enemy. Therefore: I consider him to be treasonous. )

[Ken H]

This is very good news.

Does anyone have a guess on when we'll know Gen. Conway's decision? Do you think he will drop the case?

[RedRover]

Maybe someone with more insight than me will weigh in.

Even if Gen Conway wanted to recharge LtCol Chessani, I can't imagine how he'd overcome the logistical problems. If I have my facts straight, the court decision regarded command influence precluded the commands of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Marine Forces Central Command (MARCENT), and General James Mattis, USMC in particular. So how does Gen Conway work around those restrictions?

[RedRover]

[Marine_Uncle]

In a far distant galaxy I made a statement that SSgt Wuterich's lawyers where not wise to allow him to speak with the L/MSM, period. Now we see where the CBS interview is holding a frigen anchor around this good Marine's neck after he was tossed overboard.

But with prayerful hope we all look forward to General Conway to have the common sense and good intentions of his underlings to strongly suggest that all charges simply be dropped against this Marine in the spirit charges where dropped against the good Colonel.

This shit has gone on long enough, as some of my fellow Freepers realize moreso then I.
I will restate what I said three quarter of a year ago:
Do the dumb ass in Haditha Iraq even care how these proceedings go? I doubt it. The Sunni goons that where there and causing all kinds of civilian deaths as well as attacks on our splendid Soldiers and Marines are now either dead or moved elsewhere with those affiliated with the Sunni/Jihad/Saddamist hold out movements, or now have joined the new Iraqi model to live in peace and have a growing say in their provincial and national governments.
So the only assholes that want to see this Marine suffer more are the far left, and other imbeciles (sp?) that don't know any more about fighting an insurgency then they know about fornication.
All honor and glory to our brave military folks who serve with HONOR. I stand at attention and salute them all. Their my kind of folks without reservation.

[RedRover]

To your point, Uncle, the residents of Haditha don't even consider it a massacre.

There was terrific article by Mark Walker, who visited Haditha back in November 2008...

Any lingering animosity over the 2005 killings and the years-long military presence was not apparent.

"You guys are like brothers to us," a prominent sheik, speaking through an interpreter, told a contingent of visiting Marine officers. "The insurgents killed our people. We don't have forgiveness for them."

The sheik, Said Flayah Othman al-Jughayfi, along with the mayor of this city of 85,000 along the Euphrates River, are more interested in talking about economic development than revisiting darker periods in Haditha's history.

"Iraq was sick then," Mayor Abd al-Hakim Muhammad Rashid said. "Now, it is getting better, and I don't want to see anybody killed."

Residents here don't consider the 2005 civilian killings a "massacre." Instead, they call the slayings the "Haditha accident."

[BykrBayb]

Thanks for this photo. It should help me have pleasant dreams.

[RedRover]

Someone smarter than me just e-mailed to say that Gen Conway most likely will appoint another general, unconnected to the case, who’d decide whether to drop charges or start all over again.

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for the ping. I have a gut feeling that Conway will do the right thing and end this disgraceful fiasco.

[Lancey Howard]

Heh, I just posted a reply and noticed your post #13. I can’t imagine Conway is that gutless.
But then, a lot of these generals have disappointed me lately.

[Ken H]

Thanks for the update. I searched but wasn't able to find a deadline for the charges to be refiled. My guess would be no longer than 30 days.

[piytar]

The prosecutors involved have given aid and comfort to the enemy by their actions in pursuing these spurious charges. That’s is at least nominally treason. However, they were almost certainly discharging their duties in good faith. Therefor, they should NOT be prosecuted.

That said, they were certainly acting on orders from superiors who were/are motivated by political considerations. That is not “acting in good faith.” That is acting in self interest in a fashion that gave aid and comfort to the enemy. Thus, those who gave those orders should be prosecuted under the UCMJ. Not going to happen under zero’s regime, but that won’t last forever...

[RedRover]

Speculation, which you’re welcome to take with the proverbial grain of salt, is that LtCol Chessani will be kept on the hook until the SSgt Wuterich case is decided.

According to this reading of the tea leaves, LtCol Chessani will be recharged whether anyone thinks a successful prosecution is likely or not.

We’ll see. At the moment, I doubt Gen Conway himself knows what he wants to do yet, so speculation is only based on the kind of decisions made so far.

[Paperdoll]

Prayers going up for these two brave Marines.

[jazusamo]

That sounds like reasonable speculation with the way this fiasco has been handled from the beginning.

It’s more evident than ever this has been a PC “gotcha” thing to show the rest of the world we won’t tolerate accidental killing of non combatants.

Wait! At least seven were combatants.