Posted on 04/25/2007 12:52:41 PM PDT by TBP
Attorneys for the highest-ranking man charged with wrongdoing arising out of the slaying of 24 Iraqi civilians in 2005 are asking Navy Secretary Donald Winter to conduct an investigation of how his agents treated Marine witnesses and suspects.
"There are disturbing reports that American servicemen were treated like POWs by their own government," said Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center, a Michigan group defending Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. "This entire investigation has been nothing but a political witch hunt instigated by insurgent propaganda operatives, anti-war media and anti-war politicians."
Chessani is charged with dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order for how he handled the initial investigation and reporting of the deaths that occurred in the city of Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005.
Three other officers face similar allegations and three enlisted men face murder charges in connection with the deaths. All the accused are from Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
The complaint contends that Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents engaged in what Chessani's attorneys say were improper and unconstitutional interrogation methods.
Some of the interview and interrogation sessions that took place in Iraq in early 2006 lasted as long as 18 hours, during which the men being questioned were not allowed anything to eat, drink or use the bathroom, according to the complaint.
A spokesman for the criminal investigative service in Washington was reviewing the complaint and had no immediate response.
Brian Rooney, an attorney for Chessani, said a letter was sent to Winter today asking for the investigation.
The way the civilian law enforcement agents conducted the probe was like "having the verdict first and the trial second," Rooney said during a telephone interview Tuesday morning.
Leaks and investigative documents throughout the Haditha probe combined with the tactics of investigators pose significant hurdles for attorneys, he added.
"The defense of any of the clients is very difficult and it doesn't help when the interrogation techniques used by NCIS are not proper," Rooney said during a telephone interview. "I was always told by NCIS that they didn't take sides but that's not what happened in this case."
Chessani's attorneys, they say that many of the witnesses said the questioning was accusatorial, confrontational and insulting.
"One officer stated that agents yelled and threw things at him during his questioning," a release from the Thomas More Law Center states. "Witnesses believed that the agents had already concluded that there was wrongdoing and were not interested in information that would tend to exonerate the Marines."
Last week, the Marine Corps dropped murder charges against a sergeant who also had been charged, saying the value of his testimony outweighed his involvement in the incident.
A 1st lieutenant who responded to reports that a roadside bomb had destroyed a Humvee killing a lance corporal and triggering the events that led to the civilian deaths also has been granted immunity, as have as many as six other Marines, according to numerous sources.
A hearing for Chessani to determine if the charges against him move forward to court-martial will take place at Camp Pendleton next month. All the accused maintain they are innocent.
Good to know where you stand, spunkets.
What specifically is the treatment alleged? If the Col is complaining through his atty's, that he was yelled at and had things thrown at him, he is a disgrace.
The Corps alleges that the Col essentially failed to know what the hell went on. It was his duty to know what went on. The Col offered nothing, but excuses for his failure to know what went on. Now his atty's are whinning that he was yelled at and "had things thrown at him". NICS investigators and Jags aren't running this show the USMC was and still is.
"They appeared to just have been trying to force some “testimony” to fit their preconceived ideas."
Ridiculous.
"Our Marines do deserve more respect than insurgents/terrorists or whatever we’re calling the enemy this week. They are Americans."
Irrelevant. The matter involves the Marine Corp's and the DOD's demands that the commander's intent is carried out w/o violating the rules of engagment, or the Laws of War. The Corps expects it's battalion commanders to know what the hell's going on and stay on top of things. They expect that when reasonable evidence arises that a problem exists, that the situation be investigated and the matter documented to the fulleest extent. The Col failed to do that.
No it wouldn't be. The Col's also not a 19 y/o boy.
You don't know where I stand.
You seem to like that word, “Ridiculous” on this thread. If I remember correctly from some previous postings by you, the word of the day was “Whatever”.
Part of my posting said, “Our Marines do deserve more respect than insurgents/terrorists or whatever we’re calling the enemy this week. They are Americans.”
Your answer was, “Irrelevant”. Hmmmm. What’s your beef with all of this? Please feel free to make your point and state your case. I’m curious what it is.
I just heard the other shoe drop. (or boot which ever you like)
Marines are Marines, and the Marines are handling this matter. The Marines are not being tortured, nor is any of this unjust. The accusations are based on the actions taken, the reults, and testimony of Marine’s. Everything else is irrelevant. I find the claims that these Marine’s were tortured highly amusing, especially the Col’s atty’s claim that he was yelled at, and “had things thrown at him”. The idea that any of the Marines were denied water and head access is ridiculous.
I am the same way!
I don't like the idea that anyone gets any benefit, in accusing our military of anything wrong...........without absolute proof.
Then again....I'm not sure I would believe it then either.
To: freema "Making light of the way men -who put their lives and limbs on the line for us- are treated by their country is piss poor."
Ridiculous. 39 posted on 04/25/2007 6:14:09 PM EDT by spunkets
If you would like to clarify your stance, if you didn't mean for your remarks to come off as such, by all means, please clarify.
Well I have to agree with one part of your statement, “Marines are Marines,”.
The Marines never claimed they were tortured, a poster made a statement about being tortured. I disagree with “nor is any of this unjust” part of your statement. We may just have different opinions on that matter. That’s fine.
I find words like “amusing”, “irrelevant”, and “ridiculous” in matters relating to the defense of Marines who face possible life in prison for trying to do their jobs in Haditha somewhat flippant. But, that’s just me. They fought for us, my duty as an American is to stand up for them. Even if it’s fairly inconsequential on a FR thread.
I appreciate you making your case. Thankyou.
The claims that any of the Marines involved were mistreated is ridiculous. See #47, this matter is being handled by the Corps.
Apparently you missed the part about NCIS, a civilian agency.
I hope they defecated on the desk!
The NCIS is "the primary law enforcement and counterintelligence arm of the United States Department of the Navy." do you think their investigators and forensic specialists are somehow dishonorable, or a disgrace to the Navy, the Corps, or the US?
Don't forget the explosion aboard the USS IOWA . NIS, (the same clowns as NCIS), tried to blame it on a sailor, Clayton Hartwig. They said he was a jilted homosexual and deliberately killed himself along with 46 other crew members.
They were full of it then and are full of it now.
Hartwig's sister, Kathy Kubicina, had to fight the Navy to clear her brother's name.
This is an idea of the f***wads that the Marines are up against.
No, I think the USMC is a dishonorable disgrace. /sarc
—LOL! Are you saying they tortured the Col?—
How? Did they call him a Macaca?
Thanks for the ping.
I would say an 18-hr interrogation with no foor or head breaks was torture. Maybe you don’t think so, or maybe you think all US servicemen should be treated that way. You may think it’s funny, but that just proves what you are.
They forced this the Col?
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