MILITARY: Mixed ruling for Marine in civilian slayings in Iraq (LtCol Chessani)

NC Times ^ | December 11, 2009 | Mark Walker

[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.

[neodad]

Murtha is deeply saddened.

[jazusamo]

Good news for LtCol Chessani and his family.

HADITHA MARINE PING!

[jazusamo]

Amen! I hope Murtha chokes on this.

[jveritas]

God bless all our brave troops.

[ConorMacNessa]

"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!

[jazusamo]

Exactly...I honestly don’t know how these JAG prosecutors sleep at night, they’re supposed to be military officers.

[Retain Mike]

Sending money to his defense fund was the best charitable donation I made this year.

[Lancey Howard]

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?

[smoothsailing]

Great news, Jaz! I posted it right after you but got the mods to pull it. :-)

[Gene Eric]

bttt

[jazusamo]

You’re absolutely right, Lancey. Sounds like the man is trying to appease some higher ups.

[jazusamo]

It is great news, Smooth. We had it covered. :-)

[Lancey Howard]

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.

[smoothsailing]

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?

[PhilDragoo]

CHICKENS HAVE LAID AN EGG

[Lancey Howard]

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.

[Marine_Uncle]

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.

[jazusamo]

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.

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT