Haditha Killings

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com --- 14 days ago
A former Marine lance corporal exonerated in the investigation into the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, has filed a slander suit against Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) for allegedly saying that the Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Lawyers for Justin Sharratt, 24, filed the lawsuit today in federal court in Pittsburgh. Sharratt's family lives in Murtha's district. Murtha, a former Marine and vocal opponent of the Iraq war, made his comments at a news conference in 2006, before Sharratt and seven other Marines were charged for the November 2005 Killings. After a preliminary hearing at Camp Pendleton, charges against Sharratt were dismissed in August 2007. In an unsworn statement at the hearing, Sharratt said he opened fire on three Iraqi brothers after being confronted by a man pointing an AK-47 at him. A suit has also been filed against Murtha by Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich. That suit is on hold while charges are still pending against Wuterich. Of the eight Marines initially charged in the case, charges have been dismissed against seven. Wuterich's court-martial is delayed by legal wrangling over his interview on CBS' "60 Minutes." Also, prosecutors are appealing a judge's ruling that charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani should be dismissed. Murtha's spokesman told a Pittsburgh television station that the 17-term congressman would have no comment on Sharratt's lawsuit. --Tony Perry in San Diego Photo: L ...

Source: www.cbsnews.com --- 46 days ago
Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich was charged with killing 18 Iraqi civilians in Haditha. Wuterich tells 60 Minutes that while he's sorry about the death of the civilians, including women and children, he'd make the same decisions again. ...

Source: www.sanluisobispo.com --- 73 days ago
Prosecutors appealed a judge's dismissal of charges against a Marine officer accused of failing to investigate the Killings of 24 Iraqis, a defense attorney said Tuesday. Military prosecutors filed the appeal on Monday seeking to reinstate charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, civilian defense attorney Brian Rooney told The Associated Press. A military judge last month dismissed charges against Chessani after finding that a four-star general overseeing the case was improperly influenced by an investigator probing the Nov. 19, 2005, Killings in Haditha, Iraq. ...

Source: www.myantiwar.org --- 79 days ago
When 47 victims are worth 43 words Bad Form In his classic work, Obedience to Authority, psychologist Stanley Milgram observed: "There is always some element of bad form in objecting to the destructive course of events, or indeed, in making it a topic of conversation. Thus, in Nazi Germany, even among those most closely identified with the ‘final solution’, it was considered an act of discourtesy to talk about the Killings." (Milgram, Obedience to Authority, Pinter & Martin, 1974, p.204) The same "bad form" is very much discouraged in our own society. One would hardly guess from media reporting that Britain and America are responsible for killing anyone in Iraq and Afghanistan, where violence is typically blamed on "insurgents" and "sectarian conflict". International "coalition" forces are depicted as peacekeepers using minimum violence as a last resort. In reporting the November 2005 Haditha massacre, in which 24 Iraqi civilians were murdered by US troops, Newsweek suggested that the scale of the tragedy "should not be exaggerated". Why? "America still fields what is arguably the most disciplined, humane military force in history, a model of restraint compared with ancient armies that wallowed in the spoils of war or even more-modern armies that heedlessly killed civilians and prisoners." (Evan Thomas and Scott Johnson, ‘Probing Bloodbath,’ Newsweek, June 12, 2006; http://www.newsweek.com/id/52312/page/1) The truth was revealed ...

Source: atlanticfreepress.com --- 58 days ago
by Media Lens In his classic work, Obedience to Authority, psychologist Stanley Milgram observed: “There is always some element of bad form in objecting to the destructive course of events, or indeed, in making it a topic of conversation. Thus, in Nazi Germany, even among those most closely identified with the ‘final solution’, it was considered an act of discourtesy to talk about the Killings.” (Milgram, Obedience to Authority, Pinter & Martin, 1974, p.204) The same “bad form” is very much discouraged in our own society. One would hardly guess from media reporting that Britain and America are responsible for killing anyone in Iraq and Afghanistan, where violence is typically blamed on “insurgents“ and “sectarian conflict“. International “coalition” forces are depicted as peacekeepers using minimum violence as a last resort. In reporting the November 2005 Haditha massacre, in which 24 Iraqi civilians were murdered by US troops, Newsweek suggested that the scale of the tragedy “should not be exaggerated”. Why? “America still fields what is arguably the most disciplined, humane military force in history, a model of restraint compared with ancient armies that wallowed in the spoils of war or even more-modern armies that heedlessly killed civilians and prisoners.” ( Evan Thomas and Scott Johnson, ‘Probing Bloodbath,’ Newsweek, June 12, 2006 ) The truth was revealed in a single moment of unthinking honesty by a senior US Army commander ...

Source: rednecktexan.blogspot.com --- 14 days ago
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - One of the Marines cleared in the Killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad. Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005. Charges were later dropped against all but one of the Marines, with a military prosecutor calling allegations against Mr. Sharratt "incredible." Noah Geary, a Washington County lawyer representing Mr. Sharratt, said his client will file suit today in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh accusing Mr. Murtha of violating his constitutional rights as well as slander for statements about the Haditha incident. A 1:30 p.m. news conference has been planned to announce the suit. "He just held innumerable press conferences, just repeatedly kept saying this was cold-blooded murder," Mr. Geary said of the congressman. While Mr. Sharratt killed three insurgents, Mr. Geary said, he followed the rules of engagement for combat. The Haditha incident remains a political flash point in the Iraq War, with critics saying Mr. Murtha, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, defamed American troops. Mr. Murtha could not be reached last night and a spokesman did not respond to a m ...

Source: twana.vox.com --- 12 days ago
Thursday, September 25, 2008 By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette One of the Marines cleared in the Killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other membe... Read and post comments | Send to a friend ...

Source: sharoncobb.blogspot.com --- 47 days ago
From CBS: Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008 THE Killings IN Haditha - Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich speaks publicly for the first time about the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha, Iraq, resulting in murder charges against him and three other soldiers. Scott Pelley reports.(This is a double-length segment.) THE WRONG MEDICINE - Dennis Quaid's newborn twins nearly died when they were mistakenly given a drug overdose. The actor and his wife share their story for the first time on television to draw attention to hospital mistakes that kill as many as 100,000 Americans a year. Steve Kroft reports. ...

Source: longislandgirl.vox.com --- 63 days ago
Please consider a donation to Lt Col Jeffrey Chessani defense fund!!! The battle continues!!! The govt has filed their appeal and the Chessani's have a limited amount of time to raise money for the defense. The continued prosecution of this courageous and loyal Marine is an outrage! Donate to the defense fund at Thomas More Law Center here , every bit helps!     MILITARY: Marine Corps seeks to reinstate Haditha charges By MARK WALKER - Staff Writer   August 5, 2008 CAMP PENDLETON ---- A judge abused his power when he dismissed dereliction of duty charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani in the 2005 slaying of two dozen Iraqi civilians, according to an appeal filed on behalf of the Marine Corps. Navy Lt. Timothy Delgado argues the charges against Chessani should stand because the judge erred in declaring that Marine Gen. James Mattis was illegally influenced in his handling of the case. At issue is whether Mattis was guilty of "unlawful command influence" because he allowed his top legal aide, Col. John Ewers, to sit in on meetings with prosecutors. Ewers investigated the Killings in the city of Haditha and is a potential prosecution witness. In his June 17 decision, the judge, Marine Col. Steven Folsom, ruled that Mattis was unduly influenced. The ruling has called into question all seven other Haditha cases and has implications in the only other remaining prosecution, that against Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich. "The military judge's findin ...

Source: extremecentre.org --- 13 days ago
Rep. John P. Murtha qui avait déclaré que les Marines qui avaient participé à la bataille de Haditha étaient des ” cold-blooded murderers”, est poursuivi en justice pour diffamation par un des Marines qui a été exonéré. Exonerated Marine to sue Rep. Murtha Thursday, September 25, 2008 By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette One of the Marines cleared in the Killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad. Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005. Charges were later dropped against all but one of the Marines, with a military prosecutor calling allegations against Mr. Sharratt “incredible.” Noah Geary, a Washington County lawyer representing Mr. Sharratt, said his client will file suit today in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh accusing Mr. Murtha of violating his constitutional rights as well as slander for statements about the Haditha incident. A 1:30 p.m. news conference has been planned to announce the suit. “He just held innumerable press conferences, just repeatedly kept saying this was cold-blooded murder,” Mr. Geary said of the congressman. While Mr. Sharratt killed three insurgents, Mr. ...

Source: blogfromonhigh.blogspot.com --- 13 days ago
Here's something I didn't know. One of those Marines that Congressman John Murtha defamed during the Haditha mediafest a few years ago is a Murtha constituent! Exonerated Marine to sue Rep. Murtha By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette One of the Marines cleared in the Killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad. Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005. Charges were later dropped against all but one of the Marines, with a military prosecutor calling allegations against Mr. Sharratt "incredible." Noah Geary, a Washington County lawyer representing Mr. Sharratt, said his client will file suit today in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh accusing Mr. Murtha of violating his constitutional rights as well as slander for statements about the Haditha incident. A 1:30 p.m. news conference has been planned to announce the suit. "He just held innumerable press conferences, just repeatedly kept saying this was cold-blooded murder," Mr. Geary said of the congressman. ( link ) I think we were all shocked by how venomous Murtha was when he attacked those Marines who were involved in the Haditha incident ...

Source: andyoubrutus.blogspot.com --- 14 days ago
Thursday, September 25, 2008 By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette One of the Marines cleared in the Killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad. Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005. Charges were later dropped against all but one of the Marines, with a military prosecutor calling allegations against Mr. Sharratt "incredible." Noah Geary, a Washington County lawyer representing Mr. Sharratt, said his client will file suit today in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh accusing Mr. Murtha of violating his constitutional rights as well as slander for statements about the Haditha incident. A 1:30 p.m. news conference has been planned to announce the suit. "He just held innumerable press conferences, just repeatedly kept saying this was cold-blooded murder," Mr. Geary said of the congressman. While Mr. Sharratt killed three insurgents, Mr. Geary said, he followed the rules of engagement for combat. The Haditha incident remains a political flash point in the Iraq War, with critics saying Mr. Murtha, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, defamed American troops. Mr. Murtha could not be reached las ...

Source: popdefectradio.blogspot.com --- 58 days ago
Download Haditha Mix mp3 10.44 MB (7:36) One of the worst an most known massacres of Iraqi civilians by U.S. troops in Iraq. It makes me think about the many many other unreported incidents like this that have happend. So far 6 soldiers have been acquitted for the Killings of 24 unarmed civilians and Sgt. Frank Wuterich had his charges dropped to manslaughter and awaiting trial, recently prosecutors appealed a judge's dismissal of charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani after finding that a four-star general overseeing the case was improperly influenced by an investigator probing the Nov. 19, 2005, Killings in Haditha, Iraq. Chessani was the highest-ranking officer to face a combat-related court-martial since the Vietnam War. And some people still wonder why Americans are so hated. Hearts and minds what happened to hearts and minds? Unarmed dead Iraqi's the soldiers first victims in the Haditha massacre. Audio samples from Battle for Haditha (film) various media Frontline,BBC, 60min Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, Aljazeera and others. Music bed track: "Black Market" from Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST Watch Battle for Haditha online (flash video) ...

Source: viewonthenews.blogspot.com --- 37 days ago
William Russell, the Republican candidate seeking the congressional seat now held by Rep. Jack Murtha, is running an ad on the O-R Web site in which he says he wants to "set the record straight" and accuses Murtha of being "wrong about Haditha." Russell, shown at left, asserts that "we now know Murtha was factually wrong." No, we don't. The focus here, and the focus of Russell's campaign, is the 2005 Killings of two dozen civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha and Murtha's comments on the matter. In May 2006, Murtha said people at the highest levels of the Marine Corps advised him that Marines in Haditha "killed innocent people in cold blood." Investigators said the dead included women and children. Well after the fact, charges were brought against eight enlisted Marines and officers. Russell, a retired military officer, notes in his ad that charges have since been dropped against seven of the Marines, while one "awaits justice." But decisions by a Marine Corps general to drop charges does not equal a finding of innocence after a trial in a court of law, and that does not make Murtha "wrong about Haditha." The Marine still awaiting trial, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, was the squad leader in Haditha and faces voluntary manslaughter charges. In an earlier hearing for Wuterich, one of his own squad members told the court that shortly before the Haditha incident, Wuterich told him "If we ever get hit again, we should kill everyone in that vic ...

Source: grandpajohn.blogspot.com --- 12 days ago
Hold 'em Accountable I'm glad to see this : By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 25, 2008 One of the Marines cleared in the Killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad. Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005. Charges were later dropped against all but one of the Marines, with a military prosecutor calling allegations against Mr. Sharratt "incredible." How unfair! Democrats are not supposed to be accountable! It's Bush's fault! I also hope that U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha becomes former U.S. Rep. John Murtha after November's election. ...

Source: streetalker-guests.blogspot.com --- 73 days ago
sent in by: kddove JULY 22, 2008 SOME MATTER MORE - WHEN 47 VICTIMS ARE WORTH 43 WORDS Bad Form In his classic work, Obedience to Authority, psychologist Stanley Milgram observed: "There is always some element of bad form in objecting to the destructive course of events, or indeed, in making it a topic of conversation. Thus, in Nazi Germany, even among those most closely identified with the 'final solution', it was considered an act of discourtesy to talk about the Killings." (Milgram, Obedience to Authority, Pinter & Martin, 1974, p.204) The same "bad form" is very much discouraged in our own society. One would hardly guess from media reporting that Britain and America are responsible for killing anyone in Iraq and Afghanistan, where violence is typically blamed on "insurgents" and "sectarian conflict". International "coalition" forces are depicted as peacekeepers using minimum violence as a last resort. In reporting the November 2005 Haditha massacre, in which 24 Iraqi civilians were murdered by US troops, Newsweek suggested that the scale of the tragedy "should not be exaggerated". Why? "America still fields what is arguably the most disciplined, humane military force in history, a model of restraint compared with ancient armies that wallowed in the spoils of war or even more-modern armies that heedlessly killed civilians and prisoners." (Evan Thomas and Scott Johnson, 'Probing Bloodbath,' Newsweek, June 12, 2006; http://www.newsweek ...

Source: elmtreeforge.blogspot.com --- 12 days ago
At least I can hope so : One of the Marines cleared in the Killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad. Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005. Charges were later dropped against all but one of the Marines, with a military prosecutor calling allegations against Mr. Sharratt "incredible." Let the roasting begin! ...

Source: normulator.vox.com --- 4 days ago
Marine Sues Congressman for Slander Over Haditha Comments Thursday , September 25, 2008 ADVERTISEMENT PITTSBURGH —  A former U.S. Marine sued a congressman for slander on Thursday, saying he damaged his reputation by saying he and his comrades killed women and children "in cold blood" in Haditha, Iraq, in November 2005. Former Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt filed the federal lawsuit against Rep. John Murtha in Pittsburgh. Sharratt claims the comments by the high-ranking Pennsylvania Democrat made on news shows in May 2006 also violated his constitutional rights to due process and presumption of innocence. Sharratt, 24, was initially charged with three counts of premeditated murder but was exonerated after a full investigation and a hearing. He was honorably discharged last year. "Sharratt, in being labeled repeatedly by Murtha as a 'cold-blooded murderer,' and by Murtha outrageously claiming that the Haditha incident was comparable to the infamous (My Lai) massacre of Vietnam, has suffered permanent, irreversible damage to his reputation," the lawsuit states. Military prosecutors have said two dozen Iraqis, including women and children, were killed in Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005, after one Marine died and two others were wounded by a roadside bomb. Murtha, a former Marine and decorated Vietnam War veteran, spoke out about the Killings, saying that troops in Iraq were being put under too much pressure. Sharratt said he has received hate e-mail ...