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Government tries to take down US Marine

This is Marine Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. For more than 20 years, the Colonel has had your back. He's had your back three different times in Iraq including the second battle of Fallujah; once in the first Persian Gulf War and has also served in Panama.

It has been said by his superiors that Col Chessani has unlimited potential and value to the Marine Corps. That he has demonstrated moral courage and that he is a superb leader.

And now on December 1, 2009 he is facing a Military Board of Inquiry (BOI) to figure out if he is guilty of misconduct and should be demoted in rank. All this because of the "Haditha Massacre" - a "massacre" that quite literally never happened.

The question must be asked. Why is the Government going after this fine Marine Officer? Someone who represents the very best America has to offer? And why are they doing it on a trumped up charge? What is the purpose of trying to destroy this truly great American hero?

Let's take a step back first. Almost four years ago to the day (November 19, 2005) a Marine convoy was moving through Haditha in Iraq - a terrorist stronghold. A roadside bomb exploded and the convoy took casualties. One United States Marine dead and two more seriously injured when the bomb went off under a Humvee. Gunfire directed at the Marines started immediately from the ambushing insurgents who were holed up in nearby civilian-occupied home.

The officer at the scene ordered four Marines - at great risk to themselves - to storm those homes from where the terrorists were firing. What happened next was a house-by-house, room-by-room battle in which nine terrorists were killed. There were also 15 civilian casualties who might have been shot by the Marines or the terrorists or a combination of the two. Obviously the death of civilians is always terrible - but not as common an occurrence as some people might think.

The bottom line here is that the colonel IMMEDIATELY reported those 15 deaths to his superiors. In fact the Pentagon had his battlefront report within 24 hours. NOT A SINGLE superior officer - including generals - thought it unusual. NOT ONE OF THEM suggested an investigation. In fact those officers went so far as to commend Lt Col Chessani for a job well done.

Then along came Time Magazine. MASSACRE they screamed. John Murtha jumped on the bandwagon accusing the Marines of cold blooded murder - even saying there was no firefight! He said the Marines were stressed from being in country for too long.

The Liberals went nuts. Our brave military were torturers; murderers; rapists - and of course, responsible for the "Massacre at Haditha" - that has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

The largest investigation in the history of the NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Services) .........

Take that in again!!! - The largest investigation in the history of the NCIS including 65 full time agents went on a year-long, multi-million Dollar digging trip - targeting the Colonel and his four enlisted men.

The Government has LOST at every stage of the criminal process. The four marines have been cleared. At one point they were charging Lt Col Chessani criminally. The Government's case? He did not file the proper paperwork. Had he been convicted he would have faced two and a half years in prison!!

One of the military judges who heard testimony in the case, had the following to say about the Government's evidence and pursuit of this national hero.

"To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary and sets a dangerous precedent that, in my opinion, may encourage others to bear false witness against Marines as a tactic to erode public support of the Marine Corps and mission in Iraq. Even more dangerous is the potential that a Marine may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy..." - Military Judge, LtCol Paul Ware, USMC

So now he faces this BOI. There are no rules of evidence as we understand them. No cross examination; no subpoena of witnesses. The Government merely has to prove misconduct by a preponderance of the evidence - not beyond a reasonable doubt. The Board could demote him or force him to retire. He could lose his retirement and health benefits for himself and his family.

And at the end of the day, the Government is charging him with failing to report a criminal incident which EVERYONE now understands DID NOT TAKE PLACE!

On Monday of this week Brian Rooney - one of the owners of the Pitsburg Steelers and a Marine Reserve Major himself - was my guest while I was filling in on 540 WFLA. It's a fascinating interview and you can here it BY CLICKING HERE - the top of Hour Two on 10/26/09.

Brian is one of the attorneys representing this Marine through the non-profit Thomas More Law Center. They are doing it for free. They will examine thousands of pages of reports; personally interview witnesses and travel the 2,000 miles to the BOI in California - an event that is expected to last for weeks.

Please check out their website and see if you can help. They are all that is standing between this Marine and Governmental crucifixion! - http://www.thomasmore.org/

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!!

Make sure Lt Col Chessani understands just how much we Patriots get it!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Simon Conway is the two-time winner of the FIVE STAR Best in Client Satisfaction for Real Estate Agents in the Orlando area.

Please give me a call if you have questions about the Central Florida real estate market. You can reach me on 407 876 8200. Also visit my web site at www.simonconway.net or www.move2orlando.net

Posted by Simon Conway on 10/29/2009 02:51 PM

Comments (45)

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45 Comments on Government tries to take down US Marine

OCT

Murtha has waged a campaign against the US military for some time. If I recall he is a retired Marine himself who has forgotten about service to country and replaced it with service to special interests. Of my 20 years of US Navy medical service I spent 7 years with the US Marines and never served with one who was not a true patriot. Shame on the politicians!

Gary - I know that. I simply cannot believe that the Government continues to pursue this fine officer on a trumped up paperwork charge!

Simon - I cannot stand politically motivated actions to cover up a politically mismanaged war. Murtha has refused to retract his statements regarding those that were cleared. They are looking to scapegoat someone and Col. Chessani appears to be the only one left.

Simon,

It is all sickening

Liberal politicians just dont get it, the military holds itself to such high standards they dont need poiticos butting in. obama is not fit to carry Col. Chessani's bags through a airport~!

Simon - Where are all the liberals outraged by these actions of this president and his administration?

Congratulations this post is now featured in Silent Majority group of Active Rain.

The military is not always fair or just and I know this being a military spouse for years. You take a risk when you sign on the dotted line. If he makes it through this, and I hope he does, he should retire. He is now working for a man out to destroy America as we know it and I for one would not want him as my employer.

Can there be a mass resignation of the entire military officers? I don't know if this is legal but they should do this in protest to help a brother soldier in need.

Nicholas,

I do not think I like your idea of all of the officers in the military resigning their commission. That would scare me more than anything that has happened before or could happen in the future. I trust the military way more than the Federal Government and if there were no leaders left in the military I shudder to think how the Federal Government would jump on that.

Ross - All they have to do is threaten, you see how fast Holbrook wanted to hide the fact that the diplomat to Afghanistan Hoh resigned and immediately was offered a job on his staff to cover it up.

I never thought I would feel this way but it may be time for the Marines and all the armed forces to march on Washington. Anything would be better than Obama, Pelosi and Reid

You know what? I am really shocked that some of my friends who don't share my political views, have simply ignored this post. This is not about left and right. This is about justice for a national hero. A national hero that the Government is trying to take down.

Simon,

It is about left and right and that is what is so wrong with the left because outrage about this travesty is the correct American response no matter the political view as you stated.

It's tough to win a war when you prosecute your own soldiers for defending themselves.

Simon,

Why I am not surprised. What is surprising though is that there are still people willing to put their life when the only thing they see is discouragement

Simon this kind of stuff makes me sick. the left in this country has gone too far. People are figuring it out their day is coming.

OCT

Simon, I am re blogging to help spread the word about his atrocity. We must stand with our Great Men and Women who serve our Country so bravely.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention!

The silence of the left is deafening, no longer can they defend the actions of this president and his administration.

Simon,

They just took you post gave it a liberal spin and put it up in Dissent

Interesting "they" won't debate it here.

Not just this President. It started under President Bush - when the Democrat Congress got the whole thing rolling. Certainly this President and this Congress could stop it though.

Saw it - its a cut and paste (with points! *lol*) from an old item. This is up to date, but at least the other one appeals for funds!

Have you ever seen the movie "History of the World? It is a funny Mel Brooks movie that does a brief sceanrio about important times in history. Of course it makes fun of lots of stuff. One of my favorites is when the King of France is playing chess outdoors on a huge chessboard. He has to pee so he calls the pissboy over. The pissboy must hold the bucket while the king pees into it. In my humble opinion, our President and this fool Murtha are only qualified to hold the piss bucket. Nothing more.

Officially reblogged.

I'm with Alice....I'll reblog this as well. Freedom is not free. Protect our men and women who serve us.

another reblog. Thanks for the update, it is an outrage

An outrage is an understatement. Amen to Mr. Kevin Robinson comment

Simon - I am surprised that you would go so far as to state that it DIDN"T HAPPEN. Here are the peope who were killed in that non-incident. Iraqi people:

Deaths & injuries of Iraqis in Haditha

House #1-7 killed, 2 injured (but survived), 2 escaped

1. Abdul Hamid Hassan Ali, 76-grandfather, father and husband. Died with nine rounds in the chest and abdomen.

2. Khamisa Tuma Ali, 66-wife of Abdul Hamid Hassan Ali

3. Rashid Abdul Hamid, 30.

4. Walid Abdul Hamid Hassan, 35.

5. Jahid Abdul Hamid Hassan, middle-aged man.

6. Asma Salman Rasif, 32.

7. Abdullah Walid, 4.

Injured: Iman, 8, and Abdul Rahman, 5.

Escaped: Daughter-in-law, Hiba, escaped with 2-month-old Asia

House #2-8 killed, 1 survivor: Shot at close range and attacked with grenades

8. Younis Salim Khafif, 43-husband of Aida Yasin Ahmed, father.

9. Aida Yasin Ahmed, 41-wife of Younis Salim Khafif, killed trying to shield her youngest daughter Aisha.

10. Muhammad Younis Salim, 8-son.

11. Noor Younis Salim, 14-daughter.

12. Sabaa Younis Salim, 10-daughter.

13. Zainab Younis Salim, 5-daughter.

14. Aisha Younis Salim, 3-daughter.

15. A 1-year-old girl staying with the family.

Survived: Safa Younis Salim, 13.

House #3-4 brothers killed

16. Jamal Ahmed, 41.

17. Marwan Ahmed, 28.

18. Qahtan Ahmed, 24.

19. Chasib Ahmed, 27.

Taxi-5 killed: Passengers were students at the Technical Institute in Saqlawiyah

20. Ahmed Khidher, taxi driver.

21. Akram Hamid Flayeh.

22. Khalid Ayada al-Zawi.

23. Wajdi Ayada al-Zawi.

24. Mohammed Battal Mahmoud.

Source: United for Peace and Justice^[19]"

Most of them died from head and chest wounds, fired at close range. The rather procedural sounding reason for dismissing the initial case does not have me convinced that no wrong-doing has occured, only that the prosecution was handled badly.

I don't think that hanging this particular man out to dry makes much sense, Simon, nor do I think he should be punished in any way for not following some paper-pushing requirements, but I think we do need to stop with the inane attitude of our troups are always right. It creates more enemies for us that destroys. I fail to see how it's patriotic to support torture, humiliation, rape and the like, so long as those acts are performed by one in uniform.

So there you go, Simon. From the lonely me, on the left. But you are right, this should have nothing to do with party lines. It's a much broader issue than that.

First of all to all those of you who have re-blogged this. THANK YOU! The more the merrier. This Marine needs our help! Get the word out!

Inna - I will even say it for you again my friend. There was NO MASSACRE. There was NO CRIMINAL INCIDENT.

The Government has LOST EVERY CRIMINAL CASE. They are pursuing this hero for filing the wrong paperwork. He did EVERYTHING he was supposed to.

On your main issue - no one has said that no one died. I stated very clearly that 25 people died - one United States Marine (who is not in your list supplied by the loony left peace and justice organisation), nine terrorists and 15 civilians. There is no evidence as to who killed the civilians and I also stated it could have been the Mariens, the terrorists or a combination of the two. The FACT however is clear - the cowards were using the civilians as a shield. Were the Marines simply supposed to die to keep Time Magazine and Murtha happy?

The story as I have re-told it in the main blog is exactly what happened. I will always believe a 20 year Marine Lt Colonel vet before any organisation with a political axe to grind.

Finally and for the record - I do not support rape "and the like" or torture. I have no problem with humiliation if we are using it with an end game and not for its own sake and I'm guessing you and I have different definitions as to what constitutes torture.

I do genuinely appreciate you making your points however. I wish more with your political leaning would do the same.

Simon- Nice points.

Inna- Tonight when someone breaks into you home, i want you to do the following:

1. Ask them if they mean you any harm.

2. Ask them if they are armed.

3. Ask them if they intend to rob you.

If they answerr "yes" to all 3 questions, them you may shoot them. But if somoene else comes out of the shadows while you are shooting them, do not shoot the new person. You must ask them the same 3 questions before you can defend yourself.

If the first person answers "no" to any of your questions, then you may not shoot them. You may call 911, but you must report the person only as a possible intruder. They may just be a travelling salesperson who happened upon your abode by accident. Maybe your front door was unlocked. Maybe its your kid coming through the window.

If you have shot the first person and the second person...

When our military is under fire, they do not always ask the questions that the armchair quarterbacks would ask. Being in the middle of a firefight is a bit different than sitting in a coffee house.

OCT

This is an atrocity...no doubt.

Does anyone remember in the 1970's when we wore patches on our jeans...well my favorite was "HONOR AMERICA - FREE CALLEY". Calley was a Lieutenant that was court martialed and served time in Leavenworth for a similar situation. Yes, civilians died but so did a bunch of the bad guys. When are politicians going to realize that war is hell and no matter how they try to regulate it, it will be hell!

Our military are out there defending our freedom and it is a shame that sometimes they get misused simply because someone wants to further their political career. I don't understand how some get reelected.

My dear Simon - I am not so sure I would believe any of the stories. THe marines have changed theirs a few times, as you probably know, Not much there adds up to the way you told it though. THere is a such a thing as soldiers killing people in anger, having lost on of their own. It happens in every war, Simon. Some cases are worse than others. To claim that it was all in SELF DEFENCE or to kill terrorists is very misleading.

The five people in the taxi (driver and four students) were attempting to surrender. Our marines shot them, and killed them. Then, they shot them again. Then, they urinated on them. There were not weapons found in the taxi. "Sergeant Sanick De la Cruz, who received immunity in return for testimony, testified that he watched Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich shoot five Iraqis who were attempting to surrender. Cruz further testified that both he and Wuterich fired into the bodies of the five after they were dead, and that he had urinated on one of the dead Iraqis...No weapons were found in the white taxi" I have no reaso to doubt this testimony. Do you, Simon?

As for what happened in the homes, if women and kids were shot at close range, then it would stand to reason that our marines saw what they were shooting at. The eyewitness report from a 9-year-old girl and other footage suggests that they did. It was 7 in the morning, for god's sake.

Please, refer to the source that confirms that what you wrote is the way it happend. I'd like to see that.

See Simon - someone else calls you my dear Simon, and you want me to do that in private. :)

Nick - she's (a) a woman and (b) better looking than you. She can call me "dear" all day! :) I am 100% sexist when it comes to that stuff (watch someone take the part that says "I'm 100% sexist" and use it in issolation! *lol*)

Inna - my dear hapilly married friend! Yes I always doubt testimony from anyone who has been given immunity. I don't even understand immunity in any context. You can kill someone in this country and walk away because you testify against someone else. No incentive to make stuff up at all! I did not claim self defense. I state very clearly that the Marines were attacked. That is not a smart thing to do. You piss off a Marine expect them to go on a search and destroy mission. That's why WE WANT THEM ON THE WALL!

Once again I repeat - despite this so-called testimony (clearly not believed) the Government has LOST EVERY CRIMINAL CASE. I do indeed believe 100% the version of events as given in the main blog here. The "shot up close" stuff still doesn't tell us who pulled the trigger. And for the third (and last) time I have stated that they could have been killed by the Marines, by the terrorists or by a combination of the two. Certainly no civilian would have died if the terrorist cowards would not have been using them as shields. I for one am pleased that our Marines didn't allow themselves to be killed to keep Time Magazine or John Murtha happy.

PS: Simon - by y count there were 24 Iraqi civilians killed, not 15.

Kevin - your scenario is by no means comparable. There is a procedure for sweeping houses in enemy territory. One of the team leaders followed it, and the five Iraqis there were cuffed and not a single shot was fired. (and they were men, not kids). The other was mad as hell in his first ever firefight, and he didn't and but for a few lucky enough to escape, everyone in those houses was killed. Same situation with drastically different outcomes.

I will repeat what I stated earlier though. I don't think Chessani needs to be hung out to dry here, but I think there is enough evidence pointing to Wuterich not following code. If anything, the reports filed are in conflict with evidence gathered. Politically speaking, it is more expedient of us to cover this up than to admit that our marined did something wrong, so I don't see how this case does any politican any favors. Here is a link to an article I think you all should read. An account of one marine who was there. I am not suggesting his is 100% accurate, but it's certainly drastically different from Simon's, who wasn't there.

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2008/Witness-at-Haditha/

Simon - you can call me dear any day:-)

The testimony initially came out long before any offers of immunity or that marine's knowledge that he would not be prosecuted. In fact, he tried to stick to the story as told initially and coulnd't (i.e failed the lie detector test..). Anyway, I think you should read the story linked to below. It's not Time magazine.

PS: Lastly, please tell me why you think in the houses on the one side, the people were handcuffed and unharmed, and across the street - killed... I really want to know.

When the enemy hides behind women & children.... you need to give our young/underpaid guys a little leeway

NOV

Simon, John Murtha is under investigation by the ethics committee. He has long been known as a corrupt politician. Problem is at home, he brings in the bacon and keeps getting re-elected. Perhaps not much longer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/us/politics/31ethics.html

Inna - I have no idea why one side were handcuffed and the other side was not. All I know is that our Marines were attacked in an extremely cowardly way with a bomb under a vehicle followed by shooting from civilian homes. Our Marines responded as they were trained to respond. As for the 15 - you forget that the other nine were terrorists. I did say all of this.

Tom - The Palestinians often put stone throwing children in front of AK 47 weilding terrorists. And when they are not doing that, they put their mortars in school yards or hospital parking lots. COWARDS!!!!

J - you got me. I'm sexist! :)

Bonnie - I know, but I think its an incredible low for someone in his position to call our Marines cold blooded killers.

If you were there, in the line of fire, what would you do?

If you had to choose between a US Marine and a terrorist, who would you believe?

If you had to decide between the media and a US Marine, who would you believe?

I find it hard to believe that a US Marine would go out of his/her way to kill innocent folks.

Maybe I'm naive, but I believe this from the bottom of my heart.

I have discussed this subject with many Vets and Active Duty Military, I specialize in VA loans here in TX. I work with Vets who are 100% disabled because they could not "return fire" in time.

Give us your young men and women, let us send them in to a war zone where the enemy does not play by any rule book, then we will put them on trial if they make one mistake.

Yes- any innocent killed in a war zone is a terrible mistake. I value human life. They are more than casualties to me.

NOV

One would think inna thinks she's God the way she is judging the solders! She wasn't there. She has never fought in a war. She doesn't have the first clue as to how she would react if put in this enviornment where lots of people were shooting at her and trying to kill her day and night and day and night and day and night for MONTHS.

Tell me inna, how did you get so smart as to know exactly what happened, who is telling the truth, who could see exactly what they were shooting at, or even had time to see? And then judging OUR MEN (who are protecting your right to run you mouth on subjects you have only read about) that they are the ones that did wrong???

Maybe one of these days inna will have a child who goes to war and defends themselves, then maybe she'll understand.

Very well said Melissa!

Georgia - it would be so much easier to communicate with you on here if you didn't hide behind the cloak of anonimity, but be that as it may.

No where did I say that I knew exactly what happened, simply that there were evidence, including testimony of marines who were there and video and photo footage that more than suggested that the initial reports filed by our marines made no sense. What I have a hard time with is the bizarre line of separation most of you on here seem to draw between the worth of various lives. Our men vs the Iraqi men, for example. The way I see it, someone's kids, some very very little, got killed, shot at close range with our weapons. Someone's brother or husband was shot at and then urinated upon... There is testimony that it was done in anger. Please, don't preach to me about how these brave men and women were protecting my right to speak - in Iraq - they were not. The were fighting an illegal and immoral war for the benefit of Cheney and Co - not my freedoms. Yes, i know they were just following orders, but if any of them killed those they knew to be civilians in cold blood - theere has to be an investigation.

PS: Just so you know, we paid retribution to the survovors of the families we killed, the largest to date in Iraq, as far as I know. I am sure the villagers at Haditha are thrilled.

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