War of Wits

“The magnitude of a lie always contains a certain factor of credibility.” - Adolph Hitler - Mein Kampf

The vicious slander against the Marines of 3/1 Kilo Co. brought forth by Pennsylvania Democrat John Murtha continues to receive the blessing of  the US Marine Corps leadership who seem quite content sacrificing these 4 men atop the altar of political correctness.

For over two years, the dubious allegations that 4 US Marines massacred 24 civilians “in cold blood” and 4 others helped them cover it up have been stinking up this country somethin’ fierce.  Completely unsupported by the facts, undenounced by President Bush, ignored by Congress and aided-and-abetted by a violence-obsessed media that is itself (ironically) vehemently anti-military, the myth has survived.

Last week, it was reported that the judge presiding over the trial of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani will allow that slander to continue unchallenged, ruling that a deposition of Murtha would not be allowed as evidence. Not at all surprising, considering the tainted history of this case.

Eight Marines were charged.

Three Marines have been completely exonerated of any wrongdoing. After their stories were finally told, their actions that day were determined to have been justified.

Another was granted immunity in return for his testimony, the credibility of which was seriously undermined by the evidence and his failure of a polygraph. The deal given to Sgt. DeLaCruz was the same tactic used in the trials of the Marines of 3/5 Kilo Co. who were accused of killing an Iraqi civilian in Hamdaniya, Iraq. It worked there, but backfired miserably against SSgt. Frank Wuterich.

The February PBS Documentary Frontline: Rules of Engagement containing combat footage, Predator Drone video and public statements by Marines who were in Haditha that day cast serious doubt on Murtha’s fantastic assertions that nobody fired on these Marines; that they somehow overreacted to the pressures of extended deployments and other fallacies.

Despite all of the leaks and prosecutorial missteps; despite the testimony of Haditha residents crumbling under the weight of the evidence; despite the dismissals of all charges against so many of the supposed key players in this massacre; the prosecution of four others (two of whom weren’t even present during the killings) continues to move forward aided immeasurably by John Murtha’s comments which have been allowed to remain unchallenged thus far.

Long before there were any trials; indeed long before there were even any Article 32 hearings or evidence made public,  Murtha –brimming with angst to single-handedly bring about an end to the Iraq war– said on television that Iraqi civilians had been killed in cold blood and that he had been briefed by the highest echelons of the Marine Corps leadership that the incident had been covered up. It seems only logical that if the Marine Corps officers judging these cases wished to obtain the unvarnished truth, they would depose Murtha and allow those comments to be subject to scrutiny.

First and foremost, this could actually help determine whether there was in fact a cover up.  Young men’s lives and reputations hinge on whether there was an attempt to cover up these killings and we owe it to them as well as the Iraqis who were used as human shields that day to seek the full truth.

Second, it would help the defense determine where the incessant leaks were coming from. The cases of every Haditha Marine have been prejudiced from the onset by more leaks than the New Orleans levee system during Hurricane Katrina and no one has been held accountable.

If there has been undue command influence to prosecute these men, as is now being alleged by multiple Haditha defendants, John Murtha’s explanation of who told him what and when would help answer those questions. Chessani’s attorney, Brian Rooney plans on asking the judge to reconsider his ruling and if that fails, to appeal it. In civilian courts, judges err on the side of caution to ensure the rights of the accused every day. One wonders why combat veterans aren’t extended the same treatment as felons.

Unfortunately for the US Marine Corps, the prosecution of these Marines for their actions in and around Haditha that day does nothing to uphold their core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment - and in fact, besmirches them. By virtue of their tactics, the Marine Corps is more interested in winning than seeking justice.

John Murtha, together with his cronies Peter Pace, Michael Hagee and James Mattis decided as soon as this went public that they would rather sanction the figurative “fratricide” of the Haditha Marines than forfeit their commissary privileges, health benefits or retiree officers pay.