IRAQ: Haditha prosecutions under fire

With the court martial of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani (pictured) approaching, the prosecution of eight Marines in the death of 24 Iraqis in Haditha is getting a lot of comment. Six of the eight have been kicked loose, including Lt. Andrew Grayson, who was found not guilty by a jury of seven officers last week at Camp Pendleton.

This from Andrew Lubin, reporter, journalism professor, author of "A Marine Artillery Battery in Iraq," and now embedded with Marines in Afghanistan:

"There was never any justification for bringing any of these spurious charges. This was rammed through by the Army in order to deflect attention from Abu Ghraib."

And from Gary Solis, former Marine, law of war expert and law professor at Georgetown, after the Grayson acquittal:

"Haditha has had a strange history. It was initially a very aggressive charging by the Marine Corps. Then it became a media-driven prosecution and finally it's become a media-driven case of honorable warriors done wrong by their too-eager-to-charge leadership. Perhaps we're merely seeing the military justice system reach the correct results."

Chessani, the battalion commander, is charged with dereliction of duty for not launching a more thorough investigation into the actions of his Marines on Nov. 19, 2005. Solis believes this is the first time since the prosecution of Army Capt. Ernest Medina for the My Lai massacre in Vietnam that a top officer has been criminally prosecuted for alleged offenses committed by subordinates.

Chessani's trial is set for July, unless a defense motion succeeds in getting the case thrown out because of undue command influence. The trial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, the squad leader, is on hold pending an appeals court decision on discovery matters.

Solis continues: "If Wuterich and Chessani are convicted, they will be remembered as the 'Haditha case' and the acquittals will probably fade from public memory. If both are acquitted, an ever greater possibility, it will be interesting to see what the media makes of the case."

-- Tony Perry, in San Diego

Photo: Marine Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Mike]

I agree with Shawn, the Feds need to take over these prosecutions and should look at some of the past dismissals without a trial such as that Marine Lt who shot his prisioners. The military and specifically the Marine Corps has demonstrated a poor record of holding people accountable. 99.99% of our troops serve honorably but the ones that violate the Geneva Conventions and US law need to be held accountable. The military has too much of an interest is seeing these cases end in dismissal.

[J. Janiszewski]

Reading all this craziness really saddens my heart. How easy it is to judge when you are not in the same situation. Just like raising children, war does not come with a hand book.

The men/women wearing our US uniform are doing a job. A very good job. War is a job done by the military...not the press. Isn't it bad enough the press messed up Viet Nam. Stop brain washing...oh yea...that doesn't sell newspaper does it.

Let the military do what they are trained for. Politicians and news media support their efforts. Stay the heck out of it unless you take up arms, head to the front, and are in the same situation.

Do you actually want anyone to believe if you were being attacked, you would check with someone else to see if you could defend yourself... be real.

You know you are dealing with a weird mob. Just like in Korea, women would strap bombs to their children and walk them into the army groups. Iraqi's are no different. They don't have the same belief on life as the free world does. The sooner you realize that the better.

Leave wars to the people who fight wars. And thank your lucky stars for the men and women who fought with everything they had and believed in so all of us could be free.

They fought so you could have the freedom to print this craziness. If you were an Iraqi you couldn't print it.

Thank God for these Marines. Lt. Col Chessani and SSgt. Wuterich my prayers are you.

[Jill]

Shawn, has it ever occurred to you those investigated and exonerated WERE innocent? Why is it only those in military uniform are presumed guilty until proven innocent?

God help us and our nation's freedom if our troops must second guess themselves while taking fire in a combat zone. This is a media driven event with Murtha as the catalyst. Please walk a mile in the shoes of a young man fighting for his nation and his life before making judgments.

Thanks to all of your who serve.

[Shawn Fassett]

Maybe its time to bring these show trials into the federal court system. Too often the military investigates and finds itself innocent.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1417423198?bctid=1584805268

[Go USA!]

This was a prosecution spurred on by Jack Murtha who is driving the agenda in order to get re-elected. Murtha is a disgrace to the uniform he once wore and the district he now represents.

Col. Chessani and SSgt. Wuterich, our prayers are with you. May this nightmare soon be over.