I just got to that part, and took it to mean that the judge can't step beyond the bounds of the case; that his ruling of UCI didn't neccesarily apply to all comers - it's not immunity against the entire Joint Forces Command, just pretty much everyone of record so far.
I think to further pursue Lt. Col Chessani, everyone involved in the investigations/prosecutions would have to recuse themselves as they never got rid of the taint.
Stretching things out a little farther, what evidence and which prosecuters are they going to use on Ssgt Wuterich?
Ewers tainted both the evidence and anyone he discussed it with, and that asshole went on TV.
I agree with your assessment, 4wb. I don't believe Col. Ewers interrogated SSGT Wuterich, but he was involved in writing up the investigation findings for the Bargewell report, hanging out with Gen. Mattis and the other SJA's, yada, yada, yada. Read this letter,
An open letter regarding Haditha to General Peter W. Chiarelli, for an interesting perspective on the Watt/Bargewell reports.
Ewer's statements on TV, in the Frontline documentary,
Rules of Engagement, :
"I think that our Marines were appropriately trained for the mission that we were trying to accomplish. The idea that because we're a blunt force instrument that we're not-we're ill-prepared to do that is a cop-out. The point is, is that we're Marines. We're the-we're the toughest guys on the block. We know how to defend ourselves. We know how to-we know how to aggressively take people down. And to suggest that we can't do the shades of gray in between is a cop-out, and I think it sells Marines short."
He dared to be called out for UCI with his fingers (inappropiately) in every piece of the whole Haditha case....and he got busted for it.