Posted on 11/03/2009 11:53:15 AM PST by jazusamo
The Marine Corps said Monday that a brigadier general and two colonels will preside over a Board of Inquiry deciding the fate of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, the highest-ranking officer accused of wrongdoing after two dozen Iraqis were slain in the city of Haditha following a 2004 roadside bombing.
But a Marine Corps spokesman said the identities of the officers will not be disclosed.
"We're treating it like they are part of a jury pool and not releasing their names," said the spokesman, Lt. Col. Roger Galbraith. "We don't want people trying to contact them ahead of time. We don't want to taint them."
The Board of Inquiry is being conducted to recommend to the Secretary of the Navy if Chessani's conduct in the wake of the killings warrants ordering him to retire and if so, at what rank.
Chessani originally was charged with dereliction of duty for what prosecutors said was his failure to order a full-scale probe of the incident.
Chessani maintains he reported the killings up the chain of command and had no direction to launch a formal inquiry.
Charges against him were dropped earlier this year after the Marine Corps decided not to appeal a finding that his case was tainted by unlawful command influence involving a legal adviser to a general overseeing the case.
(Excerpt) Read more at nctimes.com ...
There should never be a full-scale probe of any such incident until there is a pattern of reports of such incidents to probe.
When you have a pattern then you have a case. When you have a *single incident* all you have is second guessing and finger pointing. Which is a useless waste of time in a war.
THE LTCOL CHESSANI CASE: GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS... MOSTLY BAD
Sheesh. This thing still going on. No matter what the damage is done. I think that the dems really did a job on this one. Did real damage to these guys and the President.
This is pathetic. They couldn’t get LtCol Chessani on criminal charges in a court-martial so they’re falling back on a Board of Inquiry to try to get a piece of him.
Thanks for the link to the LTC Weimann article. Chessani appears to be seriously hosed here unless he gets officers on that board with a high level integrity and appropriate command experience. It also wouldn’t hurt if those officers were already considering retirement so they could do the right thing.
I thought this was over. I can’t believe it’s going forward. Prayers up for Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. What strength he has needed to get through this. My prayers for his mother (and wife, if there is one). They have taken every blow with him. My heart is so sad.
Absolutely...If these officers have combat command experience I’d bet they’ll understand just exactly what took place.
Thanks for the ping jazusamo.Here’s a bump.
How can I send a protest letter to Lt. Gen. Flynn? Do you know his address by chance? Thanks. The treatment of this Marine really does suck, and I think they should know it.
Thank you, both. :)
As CIC of the U.S. armed forces at the time all this was going on, GW Bush could’ve, should’ve, but failed to put a halt to this whole poltically correct, monkey show trial & proceedings. That is a major reason why I detest GW Bush, for NEVER stepping in to stop the political witch hunts & trials against our military men & women, who literally have a split second to make a decision, and then are hounded & persecuted for it afterwards. Thank you once again, you big dumb incompetent doofus & panderer to left-wing socialists, GW Bush!!!!
I’m betting that it’s only the public who doesn’t know who the officers on the panel are.
And that means that every single one of LtCol Chessani’s high-ranking military and civilian persecutors will know.
I’m hoping Thomas More Challenges this secrecy.
Can you imagine a civil court trial in which those hearing your case are kept secret???
How in the world is this not unconstitutional?
The most disturbing is the length of time it has taken to get to this point. He will get a letter of repremand and dismissal from the service but no jail time....I am not sure if he has over 20 years...if he does he might be able to retire quietly if this board finds anything. The reason I sound negative is like you said they could not get criminal so they are going administrative and that is easier to convict and believe me they don’t want a complete “non punishment” afterall the time and money went into this. He is the sacraficial lamb it appears. Good luck to him!!!!
I’m betting you’re right, xzins. I’m hoping his lawyers at Thomas More lays into them on this.
Amen to that! He does have the years to retire when this is over.
That's why the whole matter should be thrown out, not only judicially, but adminstratively as well.
What's occuring now is nothing less than a vindictive abomination on the part of his persecutors.
If the General and two Colonels are worth one ounce of their collective brass, they will kill this sham Board of Inquiry, completely vindicate Chesanni; and present publicly a scathing denunciation of the perpetrators of this rancid process.
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