Haditha: ‘Quest for Prosecution — Not Justice’

While I’ve been following the investigation and prosecution of the so-called “Haditha Marines” for more than a year now, the case became more interesting after it was revealed that an “extraordinarily unusual oversight body” composed of high-ranking administration officials had been set up by former Secretary of Defense Donald R. Rumsfeld to oversee the Haditha investigations of Marine Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani and other combat Marines.

Yesterday, officials with the nonprofit Thomas More Law Center, who are representing Colonel Chessani, revealed the existence of the shadow body. Among the observations made was this one:

“The hysteria and media firestorm over Abu Gharib and the Pat Tillman investigations lead to fear of a similar media reaction to the Haditha incident, causing the military’s civilian bosses to set up this shadow oversight body. 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,” commented Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center.

After you read the entire news release, I think you’ll agree with me: If Colonel Chessani and any of the other Marines are convicted — on any counts! — for their efforts in combat, those convictions will become fodder for the anti-war, anti-military crowd who seem driven to make the job of military recruiters more difficult and more challenging than ever before.

-- Bob McCarty Writes