Marine Acquitted in Haditha Killing Cover-Up

[MountainLaurel]

A military jury acquitted a Marine intelligence officer Wednesday of charges that he tried to help cover up the killings of 24 Iraqis.

Cheers erupted as the seven-officer panel cleared 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson, who was the first of three Marines to be tried in the biggest U.S. criminal case involving Iraqi deaths linked to the war. The verdict came just five hours after deliberations began.

The judge, Maj. Brian E. Kasprzyk, admonished the noisy courtroom, saying: "There will be no more of that."

Grayson, who has always maintained he did nothing wrong, was not at the scene of the killings of men, women and children on Nov. 19, 2005, in Haditha. He was accused of telling a sergeant to delete photographs of the dead from a digital camera and laptop computer.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/04/AR2008060402359_2.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[KSCFAN]

1. The ones that put them in that situation should be on trial.

You can't order people into impossible situations and then compalin when they can't do the impossible.

[TooBigaTent]

2. Your support and condoning the murder of innocent civilians by YOUR military is not

the position a liberal should take.

Of course, the political leaders who created the situation should ALSO be tried, but to excuse cold-blooded murder simply because the killers wear a uniform is disgusting.

Every killer in uniform has a choice - to act humanely or to act like a republican. I guess we know what side you land on.

[atreides1]

3. To Be Fair

This particular officer wasn't directly involved in the murders, he became involved when he ordered a subordinate to get rid of evidence and then lied about it.

But we all know that the military takes pride in its integrity and sense of honor, the same way the Waffen SS did!!!!

[MountainLaurel]

4. Good point

:applause:

[unauno]

5. Killer in uniform?

I don't think you have the job of monitoring the 'positions a liberal should take.'
I have been married to a military man for 19 years, and he is not a "killer."

[TooBigaTent]

7. Perhaps I mis-phrased... IMO, a liberal should not support the cold-blooded murder of innocents.

Is that better?

Now, you can have a different opinion - that being that said murder should be condoned because our brave defenders of liberty are the perps. I happen to disagree.

[unauno]

8. From good ol wikipedia

Charges dropped
On April 17, 2007, the Marine Corps dropped all charges against Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz in exchange for his testimony. Seven other Marines involved in the incident have also been granted immunity.<47>

On August 9, 2007, all charges against Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt and Capt. Randy Stone were dropped.<35> On October 19th, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt's commanding officer decided the charges should be lowered to involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault..<11>

On September 18, 2007, all charges against Captain Lucas McConnell were dropped in exchange for immunity and his cooperation with the investigation. <48>

On March 28, 2008, all charges against LCpl. Stephen Tatum were dropped. <49>

Six have now had charges against them dropped, while charges of murder against squad leader Frank Wuterich were changed to the lesser offense of manslaughter. Wuterich faces trial later this year, along with Colonel Jeffrey Chessani, the highest ranking officer accused over the incident who has been charged with dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order. Edited to add more from wikipedia.

[KSCFAN]

6. You assume that being in a war zone doesn't affect a mental state?

Take a perfectly peaceful law abiding person and put them under extraordinary conditions and you may not like the result. Not everyone can handle that kind of stress. We excuse kids that are abused when they do terrible things and we take compassion on them. I feel the same for the troops we put over there. The mental stress should not be underestimated.

[RethugAssKicker]

9. so do you excuse the Iraqis who killl US soldiers?....aren't

they under even more stress than trained, well-equipped, well-fed US soldiers?