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MILITARY: Mixed ruling for Marine in civilian slayings in Iraq (LtCol Chessani)
NC Times ^
| December 11, 2009
| Mark Walker
Posted on 12/11/2009 7:09:41 PM PST by jazusamo
The highest-ranked Marine accused of bungling the military's response to the slayings of two dozen Iraqi civilians after a lethal 2005 roadside bombing displayed substandard performance, but he should not be demoted, a three-member Board of Inquiry ruled Friday.
The military board said it will recommend to the secretary of the Navy that Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, with 22 years of service and three tours of duty in Iraq, be allowed to retain his rank and not be demoted to major.
"It's been a long four years, but it hasn't been a miserable four years," Chessani told the North County Times after the decision was announced inside a Camp Pendleton courtroom. "A lot of good has come out of it, and I praise God and am thankful for all the people that have stood by us."
During the administrative hearing, which began Dec. 2, the board heard witnesses describe what happened in the city of Haditha, Iraq, on Nov. 19, 2005, and how Chessani responded to the civilian deaths.
The incident drew international condemnation and prompted a harsh critique of U.S. troop conduct in the Iraq war.
The Iraqis were slain by a Camp Pendleton squad as the troops hunted for the people responsible for the bombing that killed one Marine and injured two others. Chessani and his subordinates deemed the deaths regrettable, but the result of a legitimate combat action.
Prosecutors argued that Chessani was derelict by failing to accurately report the number of deaths and not ordering an investigation after learning several women and children were among the dead.
That failure resulted in a propaganda coup for the Iraqi insurgency, Lt. Col. Sean Sullivan argued in closing statements Friday morning.
(Excerpt) Read more at nctimes.com ...
TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: boi; chessani; haditha; iraq; marines; usmc
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1
posted on
12/11/2009 7:09:42 PM PST
by
jazusamo
To: jazusamo
Murtha is deeply saddened.
2
posted on
12/11/2009 7:11:28 PM PST
by
neodad
(USS Vincennes (CG 49) "Freedom's Fortress")
To: smoothsailing; polarbear1605; RedRover; 4woodenboats; American Cabalist; AmericanYankee; ...
Good news for LtCol Chessani and his family.
HADITHA MARINE PING!
3
posted on
12/11/2009 7:12:16 PM PST
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: neodad
Amen! I hope Murtha chokes on this.
4
posted on
12/11/2009 7:13:40 PM PST
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: jazusamo
God bless all our brave troops.
5
posted on
12/11/2009 7:17:11 PM PST
by
jveritas
(God Bless our brave troops)
To: jazusamo
"The reporting of this event was the largest strategic breakdown in the history of the Iraq war," Sullivan said. "There was a willful refusal on the part of this commander because the need for an investigation was brought to him on multiple occasions."
What a hysterical, inflammatory, and irresponsible statement. This Marine has served his nation long and faithfully and deserves our thanks for that service. Another career ended at the altar of political expediency. The question I have is just who's expediency is being served by Col. Chessani's fall?
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
6
posted on
12/11/2009 7:18:41 PM PST
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines, RVN 1969. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!)
To: ConorMacNessa
Exactly...I honestly don’t know how these JAG prosecutors sleep at night, they’re supposed to be military officers.
7
posted on
12/11/2009 7:23:05 PM PST
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: jazusamo
Sending money to his defense fund was the best charitable donation I made this year.
To: jazusamo
In announcing the panel's unanimous findings, Brig. Gen. Lewis Craparota said Chessani's response to the killings was substandard because he "failed to provide as detailed and accurate a report as possible."Have you ever read anything so lame in your entire life?
To: jazusamo
Great news, Jaz! I posted it right after you but got the mods to pull it. :-)
To: jazusamo
11
posted on
12/11/2009 7:25:44 PM PST
by
Gene Eric
(Your Hope has been redistributed. Here's your Change.)
To: Lancey Howard
You’re absolutely right, Lancey. Sounds like the man is trying to appease some higher ups.
12
posted on
12/11/2009 7:30:34 PM PST
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: smoothsailing
It is great news, Smooth. We had it covered. :-)
13
posted on
12/11/2009 7:31:29 PM PST
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: jazusamo
By the way, what is this “Mixed ruling” crap in the North County Times headline?
Chessani and America won, the pantywaist Pentagon and their scumbag JAG lost.
There’s nothing “mixed” about it.
To: jazusamo; Lancey Howard
Am I correct in thinking that with a three officer board, a 2-1 vote to find no misconduct is sufficient, or did the finding have to be unanimous?
To: jazusamo; smoothsailing
CHICKENS HAVE LAID AN EGG
16
posted on
12/11/2009 7:38:03 PM PST
by
PhilDragoo
(Hussein: Islamo-Commie from Kenya)
To: Retain Mike
Sending money to his defense fund was the best charitable donation I made this year.Same here - - plus I got a bunch of "free" Newsmax issues in the mail.
To: jazusamo; Lancey Howard; smoothsailing; Gene Eric
Thanks Gene for the ping to this one. Praise unto God. Now will this honorable Marine still find a career path with meaningful assignments in the years to come.
Surely his record demonstrates he should be elevated to full Colonel. And I salute the work down by his outstanding lawyers. Without that mix he just might have gone down well before this juncture in time.
And thanks Jaz and Smooth for the updates you had provided me over this case for so long.
Getting late at my end, work comes early. Do all have a great upcoming day.
18
posted on
12/11/2009 7:41:02 PM PST
by
Marine_Uncle
(Honor must be earned....)
To: Lancey Howard
I agree, there’s no “Mixed ruling” on this but Gen. Craparota just has to put his personal feelings into it and the writer picked up on it.
19
posted on
12/11/2009 7:41:53 PM PST
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: Lancey Howard
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