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Lesser Charge Recommended Against Marine [Capt. Randy Stone - Haditha]
Associated Press ^ | June 20, 2007 | Thomas Watkins

Posted on 06/20/2007 3:06:06 AM PDT by RedRover

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Marines should pursue a less serious administrative charge against a captain accused of failing to probe the killings of 24 Iraqi civilians because he was "selectively singled out" for prosecution while more senior officers escaped charges, an investigating officer said.

Capt. Randy W. Stone, 34, who is a lawyer, was charged with violation of a lawful order and dereliction of duty for failing to report and investigate the 2005 deaths in the Haditha assault. He faced up to 2 years in prison if convicted of those charges at court-martial.

After reviewing evidence at a preliminary hearing last month, Maj. Thomas McCann recommended that the criminal charge be dismissed. But he also recommended that prosecutors draw up a new charge of failing to obey an order.

In a report obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, McCann wrote that Stone was "derelict in the performance of his duties," and negligently failed to inform his bosses that the way the Iraqis were killed posed a "possible use of force issue."

McCann recommended the new charge be handled administratively. Non-judicial punishments for officers can include forfeiture of pay and an official admonition.

Stone's attorney, Charles Gittens, did not return several phone calls seeking comment, but in a written response to McCann, he said the recommendation for a new charge was unfounded.

"It took the investigating officer five pages of tortured reasoning to manufacture this highly implausible theory of criminal liability," Gittens wrote.

McCann's recommendation for a new charge is nonbinding. A final decision will be made by Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the commanding general overseeing the case who will also decide whether to dismiss the other charges.

Many of those killed were women and children, who died when Marines threw hand grenades into bedrooms then opened fire with machine guns. Three enlisted Marines charged with murder in the case say they were clearing homes the way they had been trained.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: defendourmarines; haditha; iraq
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To: All
If you would like to help with the civilian lawyer’s legal fees for the
Haditha Marines you can do so by going to these sites.

Defend Our Marines

Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt

SSgt. Frank Wuterich

Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani

Military Combat Defense Fund


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21 posted on 06/20/2007 7:55:56 AM PDT by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: Chickenhawk Warmonger

As you’ll recall, Gen Mattis requested the IG investigate leaks in this case. That was six months ago and there’s been no word since.

I’ve written the IG’s office twice, hoping for an update. Nada.

Maybe I should e-mail again and pretend to be Tim McGirk. That might get some answers.


22 posted on 06/20/2007 7:57:17 AM PDT by RedRover (Defend our Marines)
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To: Girlene
~snip~
His answer was NO to all three, but, hey, I’ll come up with a new one for Mattis to consider?

This is maddening. Can he do that?

23 posted on 06/20/2007 8:15:43 AM PDT by Shelayne (I will continue to pray for President Bush and my country, as I am commanded to do by my Lord.)
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To: RedRover
"CTC is very pleased to have been selected for the critical task of supporting our nation’s special operations warriors in maintaining a technological edge on the battlefield,” said Daniel R. DeVos, President & CEO of CTC. “Work performed under this contract falls under CTC’s Force Readiness core capability area.”

DeVos is President & CEO of Ameriserve Financial (stock ASRV);

AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (the Company) is a bank holding company, organized under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law. The Company became a holding company upon acquiring all of the outstanding shares of AmeriServ Financial Bank (the Bank) on January 5, 1983. The Company's other wholly owned subsidiaries include AmeriServ Trust and Financial Services Company (the Trust Company) formed in October 1992, AmeriServ Life Insurance Company (AmeriServ Life) formed in October 1987, and AmeriServ Associates, Inc. (AmeriServ Associates), formed in January 1997.

He's in the financial business, not military hardware research.

I am curious for the reason for CTC. The DOD already has SBIR/STTR.

24 posted on 06/20/2007 8:31:20 AM PDT by 4woodenboats (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: RedRover
McCann wrote that Stone was "derelict in the performance of his duties," and negligently failed to inform his bosses that the way the Iraqis were killed posed a "possible use of force issue."

Where do scumbags like McCann come from?

25 posted on 06/20/2007 8:35:20 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: RedRover
A final decision will be made by Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the commanding general overseeing the case who will also decide whether to dismiss the other charges.

Yep, we will soon see what the great Lt. Gen. Mattis is made of these days....

26 posted on 06/20/2007 8:37:43 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: RedRover

By the way did you laugh and shake your head at the way this simple mouse, Thomas Watkins, ended his AP story? The typical “women and children” clause is in there, of course, but absolutely no mention that a Marine was blown in half and another seriously wounded by insurgents and collaborators in those houses.


27 posted on 06/20/2007 8:42:46 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: 4woodenboats

Hmmmmm. Wonder if CTC has an office in Johnstown? Wonder how much they’ve contributed to Murtha’s “campaigns”?


28 posted on 06/20/2007 8:51:33 AM PDT by RedRover (Defend our Marines)
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To: RedRover

MAIN & FRANKLIN STREETS,
P.O. BOX 430, JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA


29 posted on 06/20/2007 8:58:41 AM PDT by 4woodenboats (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: 4woodenboats

Oops. That’s Ameriserve’s address, not CTC...afaik


30 posted on 06/20/2007 9:00:44 AM PDT by 4woodenboats (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: 4woodenboats; RedRover

Here’s some locations and points of contact for CTC.

Pittsburgh, PA David A. Schario (814) 269-6465
Johnstown, PA Jerry R. Hudson (814) 269-2592
Harrisburg, PA Gregory W. Hafer (717) 565-4402

Here’s the link.
http://www.ctc.com/contactctc/LocationPOCs.cfm


31 posted on 06/20/2007 9:11:17 AM PDT by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: jazusamo

Looks like primarily R&D, but pretty good sized. I’ll check into it more later, got lots to do today.


32 posted on 06/20/2007 9:30:17 AM PDT by 4woodenboats (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: Lancey Howard

This is Looneyland. So the “bosses” heard a story from Time magazine that was different than what they heard from down the chain.

Well, the LCpl Sharratt hearing exposed a major part of the Time story as BS. Forensics showed that the four men were NOT herded into a closet and executed.

So what did Capt Stone fail to report?


33 posted on 06/20/2007 9:36:49 AM PDT by RedRover (Defend our Marines)
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To: 4woodenboats

Well, what a surprise! Must be all the specialized talent CTC has access to in Johnstown. /sarc


34 posted on 06/20/2007 9:42:06 AM PDT by RedRover (Defend our Marines)
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To: 4woodenboats
I apparently was reading something old or erroneous in my original search about DeVos being CEO of Ameriserv, as he's listed as a director in at least the last 4 10Ks.

That company is tanking fast, but they do have unionized employees, and invest union steelworkers funds in projects that union members work on....probably a coincidence. At least the union will save their jobs when the bank implodes under their own weight.../s

35 posted on 06/20/2007 9:55:54 AM PDT by 4woodenboats (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: RedRover

I’ve heard all about the ringmaster, Lt. Gen. Mattis; now let’s see him hustle this circus up and fold the tent.


36 posted on 06/20/2007 10:06:12 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: jazusamo; 4woodenboats

Wonder who we might find on their board of directors?


37 posted on 06/20/2007 10:29:21 AM PDT by RedRover (Defend our Marines)
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To: jazusamo; 4woodenboats

Wonder who we might find on their board of directors?


38 posted on 06/20/2007 10:29:24 AM PDT by RedRover (Defend our Marines)
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To: RedRover

There’s an echo in here.


39 posted on 06/20/2007 10:29:52 AM PDT by RedRover (Defend our Marines)
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To: RedRover

Sometimes those echoes just pop up. :-)

I’m sure there wouldn’t be any relatives, friends, drinking buddies or campaign donors of al-murthawi on the board. Nah, there couldn’t be! /s


40 posted on 06/20/2007 10:44:56 AM PDT by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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