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Haditha Bombshell: Pentagon Had Secret Committee
NewsMax ^ | March 26, 2008 | Philip V. Brennan

Posted on 03/26/2008 2:00:03 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

A shadow legal body was set up by the Defense Department to manipulate the prosecutions of U.S. Marines accused of massacring Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005.

That’s the bombshell disclosure from the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm that is representing one of the accused Marines, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani.

And it could prove to be the most damning piece of evidence showing the political motivations behind the ongoing prosecutions of the Haditha Marines.

“The hysteria and media firestorm over Abu Ghraib and the Pat Tillman investigations led to fear of a similar media reaction to the Haditha incident, causing the military’s civilian bosses to set up this shadow oversight body,” Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Law Center, told Newsmax. “This extraordinary action politicized the military justice system and was a clear signal to top generals that they were expected to hold individuals criminally responsible. The investigation turned into a quest for a prosecution — not justice.”

The shadow legal body, called “Legal Team Charlie,” was composed of military lawyers reassigned from other units and reserve officers activated to prosecute the Haditha case, a move the Law Center termed “highly unusual.”

According to the Law Center, the director of the Naval Criminal Investigation Service admitted that more than 65 investigators were assigned, which in his opinion was the largest investigative effort in the department’s history.

“I am deeply troubled by the fact that the desire to appease the liberal anti-war press and politicians has led to the prosecution of innocent Marines for purely political purposes,” Thompson told Newsmax.

He went on to say, “These prosecutions will become a scandal of historic proportions unless terminated by independently minded and virtuous military judges.”

As Newsmax has been reporting almost from the outset, Marines of Kilo Company are being prosecuted for their house-to-house battle to flush out ambushing insurgents on Nov. 19, 2005.

In the firefight, 15 civilians were killed. Details of the battle and the civilian deaths were dutifully reported throughout the chain of command, including top generals, and all concluded that although this was a tragic and unfortunate consequence of urban warfare, the Marines were justified in their actions.

Months later, however, a Time magazine article — later proven to be erroneous — called the deaths of the civilians a “massacre,” setting off a media firestorm and leading the military to initiate investigations.

The secretary of the Navy countermanded a determination by then Marine Lt. Gen. James Mattis that Col. Stephen Davis, Chessani’s regimental commander, “would receive a 'Non-Punitive Letter of Caution,' which would not be part of his permanent record,” according to the Law Center.

“Mattis’ decision was overridden by the Navy secretary, who ordered a 'Letter of Censure,' a more severe punishment, which effectively ended this fine Marine officer’s career. As the consolidated convening authority in all the Haditha investigations, General Mattis’ decision, under normal circumstances, would be absolute and final.”

Chessani was not personally present at the scene of the ambush in Haditha, but the Marines responding were in his battalion. Chessani is charged with “dereliction of duty” and “orders” violations.

The 20-year Marine veteran and father of six faces a maximum of three years in prison, dismissal (an officer’s equivalent of a dishonorable discharge), and the loss of his retirement benefits.

An Undue Command Influence motion has already been filed on behalf of the two combat Marines facing charges over the Haditha battle. The Law Center said it intends to file its own Undue Command Influence motion on behalf of Chessani, and promised that further startling events will be revealed at that time.

In other developments, the court-martial of one of the combat Marines, Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, will commence Friday, March 28. Newsmax’s Nat Helms is in California to cover the trial at Camp Pendleton.

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Editor’s Note: The Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center does not charge for its services and is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Center can be reached at www.thomasmore.org.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; US: California; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; camppendleton; congress; courtmartials; defensedepartment; gatheringofeagles; georgebush; goe; gwot; haditha; iraq; johnkerry; johnmurtha; maf; marinecorps; marines; moonbats; moveamericaforward; murtha; navy; peacecreeps; pentagon; presidentbush; railroaded; robertgates; secretaryofthenavy; starchamber; tedkennedy; thomasmore; trials; usmarines; usmc; wot
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Unbelievable!
1 posted on 03/26/2008 2:00:05 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Again, political expediency - just like when we abandoned the POWs in Viet Nam.


2 posted on 03/26/2008 2:02:41 PM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m left speechless.


3 posted on 03/26/2008 2:04:55 PM PDT by Proud_USA_Republican (We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I want the top orchestrator publicly unmasked, stripped, shaved, flogged, and crucified upside down in a splayed posture with a two-handed broadsword at the High-Noon position.

Preferrably on the White House lawn.

THIS is how traitors to Justice need to be treated.

THEN — only THEN — will this kind of bullshit stop.


4 posted on 03/26/2008 2:05:53 PM PDT by HKMk23 (Only The Tribulation is a crucible sufficient to the emergence of a Bride pure enough for He Who IS.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

What did Jack Murtha know about this and when did he know it?

Seems he must have known something. Otherwise, why would he be so quick to condemn these soldiers with the harshest of language...???


5 posted on 03/26/2008 2:06:09 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (Carry Daily. Apply Sparingly.)
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To: RedRover

ping. If you aren’t aware of this.


6 posted on 03/26/2008 2:06:18 PM PDT by dynachrome (Immigration without assimilation means the death of this nation~Captainpaintball)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Despicable. Heads should roll.


7 posted on 03/26/2008 2:06:35 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Who Would Montgomery Brewster Choose?)
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To: Proud_USA_Republican

And all of this under our fearless Bush. It makes reason stare.


8 posted on 03/26/2008 2:07:28 PM PDT by Goreknowshowtocheat
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To: dynachrome; RaceBannon

Doesn’t racebannon follow this closely too?


9 posted on 03/26/2008 2:08:47 PM PDT by tsmith130
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To: alexsmithers; beaversmom; BellStar; b4its2late; BigTom85; BikerJoe; Brad's Gramma; BradtotheBone; ..

Ping to the SAVAGE list.


10 posted on 03/26/2008 2:08:54 PM PDT by dynachrome (Immigration without assimilation means the death of this nation~Captainpaintball)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Wonder if Murtha knew about this? Could this be why he was so sure that our Marines were “murderers”?


11 posted on 03/26/2008 2:08:56 PM PDT by ctyankee00
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
“The hysteria and media firestorm over Abu Ghraib and the Pat Tillman investigations led to fear of a similar media reaction to the Haditha incident, causing the military’s civilian bosses to set up this shadow oversight body,” Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Law Center, told Newsmax.

They are not appeasing just the press. These actions are consistent with an oligarchy bent on subduing the populace to authority. It is imperative to subordinated the military leadership to the Oligarchy as they hold the most power to remove the Oligarchy. Bush is every bit at fault along with the Democrats. He's part of the Oligarchy.

12 posted on 03/26/2008 2:09:20 PM PDT by LoneRangerMassachusetts
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To: dynachrome
Great article but sad that you wont hear a peep on the MSN.
Michael Savage's hunch was right!
13 posted on 03/26/2008 2:10:14 PM PDT by Minutemen ("It's a Religion of Peace")
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To: ctyankee00

GMTA

See my post #5


14 posted on 03/26/2008 2:10:30 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (Carry Daily. Apply Sparingly.)
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To: Goreknowshowtocheat

My son wants to be a marine. If they do anything like this again. You can bet your butt that nobody will go in to that branch of the military. Talk about making it even harder to get good people to volunteer


15 posted on 03/26/2008 2:10:33 PM PDT by Pattie (Reagan is the MAN!)
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To: tsmith130; RedRover

RedRover has been the man on this one. I follow it, too, but depend on Red to ferret out the info on the various cases.


16 posted on 03/26/2008 2:11:14 PM PDT by dynachrome (Immigration without assimilation means the death of this nation~Captainpaintball)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Political correctness is going to destroy America!


17 posted on 03/26/2008 2:11:16 PM PDT by Shery (in APO Land)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If this is true I am going to be very very very upset. Someone needs to hang if so.


18 posted on 03/26/2008 2:12:01 PM PDT by big'ol_freeper ("Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words". ~ St. Francis of Assisi)
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To: Minutemen

Hope the Doc will be live and speaking about this today.


19 posted on 03/26/2008 2:12:09 PM PDT by dynachrome (Immigration without assimilation means the death of this nation~Captainpaintball)
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To: dynachrome
dynachrome, Savage will be on it- and I will bet at FULL THROTTLE!
GO SAVAGE!
20 posted on 03/26/2008 2:14:34 PM PDT by Minutemen ("It's a Religion of Peace")
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