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The Story Behind The Iron Triangle Case, Part 2

Editor’s Note: SSG Ray Girouard is serving time at Fort Leavenworth, as are two of his men, for charges that they executed detainees they captured during combat operations near Samarra, Iraq. For those who have followed this case, the amount of corruption and falsification by the prosecution and Army leadership defies reason. Now, for the first time, the true story behind the story. Originally published at The Jaghunter, written by retired LCDR Walter Fitzpatrick III, USN. Steele's March, Part 2 The purpose of this day's posting is to begin the process of disabusing readers that there was anything lawyerly, lawful, or moral regarding the IRON TRIANGLE courts-martial...or any courts-martial if you care to know. Ray Girouard, Ray's men and others to include Marine Sergeant Lawrence Hutchins and so many more are imprisoned in Defense Department caves as innocent men. To understand why, one must comprehend and appreciate the mind of Army General Courtney or "Court" Massengale. Massengale is Anton Myrer's antagonist in the novel Once An Eagle. Court Massengail is a very dark appellation spoken in low whispers in code throughout Pentagon corridors. The disparagement laconically and instantly identifies flag officers known to embrace Massengail's evil nature. Massengail's is a severely practical and vicious mind. The power, ...

The Story Behind the Iron Triangle Case, Part I

Editor's Note: SSG Ray Girouard is serving time at Fort Leavenworth, as are two of his men, for charges that they executed detainees they captured during combat operations near Samarra, Iraq. For those who have followed this case, the amount of corruption and falsification by the prosecution and Army leadership defies reason. Now, for the first time, the true story behind the story. Originally published at The Jaghunter, written by retired LCDR Walter Fitzpatrick III, USN. Steele's March, Part I America's courts-martial scheme is burdened by a grim reputation. Experienced readers of courts-martial records become conscious always of power and design. In the series of courts-martial surrounding Operation Iron Triangle (9 May 2006), these distinctive factors quickly emerge from the shadows as a ship emerges from dense fog. Army Ranger -- Staff Sergeant Raymond L. Girouard is being punished without a jury trial for crimes he never committed. Courts-martial records are full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes. In consequence of reading yesterday some of the earliest Iron Triangle reports the diabolical government agency that acted against Ray and Ray's men took immediate shape and became coherent. JAG-knifed, Ray Girouard pays with his life for Michael Steele's avarice ...

Retired Head JAG Interferes in Plans For Lawsuit Meant to Free Marine Sergeant Hutchins

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Sgt Lawrence Hutchins III sits in the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, wrongfully convicted of manslaughter. His case is one that made worldwide headlines in 2006, and continues to set records for the amount of corruption and dishonor involved in putting this amazing Marine away for over a decade–all because he did his job. There are those who have worked to free him, and continue to do so even now, almost three years after the incident in Hamdania when seven Marines and a Navy Corpsman ended the life of a terrorist responsible for many deaths. There was to be a lawsuit filed in federal court regarding the practice of attainder (pre-trial incarceration), and addressing the Feres Doctrine (the reason the government cannot be sued by private citizens). A former Marine officer and defense attorney was to represent certain concerned parties involved with the Hutchins case. He was forced to retire by the Marine Corps after his outspoken condemnation of the treatment of the Pendleton 8, Haditha Marines, and the corruption so rampant in the military justice system. For those trying so hard to free Sgt Hutchins, the last of the Pendleton 8, the idea of a day in court was the ...

Bush Frees Drug Dealers–But Not Innocent Troops or Border Patrol Agents

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President George Bush issued 14 pardons and two commutations of sentence recently.  "Great," you may think.  "He's released Sgt Hutchins, and pardoned the rest of the Pendleton 8, and SSG Ray Girouard, and Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean."  Right? Wrong. The Center for Individual Freedom breaks it down: "bank embezzlers, tax evaders and a rapper, John E. Forte, who was convicted of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute cocaine." Meanwhile, for those still unfamiliar with the Ramos/Compean case, these are the facts: Compean and Ramos were [Border Patrol agents] convicted almost solely on the word of a known illegal alien drug smuggler who claimed that Compean and Ramos shot him in the butt while he was attempting to escape. Incidentally, this smuggler was attempting to transport 743 pounds of marijuana into the United States at the time of the incident. In exchange for his testimony, the smuggler was granted blanket immunity and allowed to come and go across the border almost at will and was actually caught attempting to transport more drugs into the United States while waiting to testify against Compean and Ramos. The court WOULD NOT allow this fact to be submitted during the trial. And, in what may be the greatest irony ...