Just When You Thought it Couldn’t Get Worse

After the revelation Friday that the Marine Corps would not allow these men to face their accusers (among other things), we thought it couldn’t possibly go any worse than it already was. If you don’t think it’s bad, check out the case timeline.

It has gotten far worse.

21JUL07: Government notifies defense of: (a) additional prosecutors (LTCOL John Baker, Senior Trial Counsel; Major Don Plowman, Major Daren Erickson, and Captain Nick Gannon - in addition to LTCOL Sean Sullivan and Captain Timothy Garrison);

They’ve replaced their lead prosecutor. Why? They’ve added more prosecutors. Why? John Jodka Sr., father of one of the accused, asks, “Was he not ‘towing the line’? Was he setting justice first and political correctness second? What does this tell us in addition to the lack of a case; cracks appearing in the prosecution team?”

(b) its intent to go forward with an Article 32 on 01AUG06 at 0900;

Right now, the defense has nothing it needs from the prosecution to do its job. No ballistic reports, no autopsy, no witness reports, no one to cross-examine–all because the procesutors refuse to turn it over to them, saying it’s “not complete.” So we are one week away from the beginning of an Article 32 hearing and there is no defense.

(c) its intent to call PFC Jodka as a witness to testify against his squad mates - and vice versa; and

What is this? First they put these men through interrogation techniques that aren’t allowed at Guantanamo, they get at least two innocent men to sign false statements, and now they plan to pit them against each other when each other is all they have. This is beyond the pale, truly.

(d) that key witnesses will not return from Iraq until “mid to late August 2006?

Do you know what this means? The defense not only isn’t allowed to have the evidence, but they’re not going to have any witnesses, since they’ll still be deployed in Iraq and the Corps has no intention of bringing them home.

What is going on here?

Some have asked me if the Marines are setting these men up to be convicted, or if they’re planning to simply hold an Article 32 in front of the world’s cameras so they can save face with the Iraqis and the press, then just dismiss the charges on a technicality and let the men go with a “Semper Fi” and no “thank you for taking one for the team.” In fact, one person even told me that perhaps we should stand down as citizens calling for justice and “let the system work…the Marines know what they’re doing.”

Oh really?

So they put them and their families through the media circus and shame of an Article 32 and possibly a court-martial as well, and then dismiss the charges. Does that make it right?

What about the fact that these men were denied basic rights that are afforded to all Americans? What about the fact that these men will have the accusations hanging over them for the rest of their lives–no matter what happens? What about the wasted millions of dollars spent on this fiasco–your taxes, I might add? What about the smeared honor of the Marine Corps, and even the American military as a whole? Or does none of that matter? The end justifies the means? “It’s okay to ruin the lives of eight men and their families as long as we look good to the rest of the world, and especially our enemies?”

This is shameful. I am flat-out appalled, I am angry, and I will not accept this. It is unconscionable to think that this situation could occur in our country. Where are the human rights groups? Where is the ACLU? Where are the regular citizens that these men were defending? Stand up and do something!

You can start by contacting the REMFs at Camp Pendleton.

MG Natonski (CG of 1st MARDIV)
Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base
Camp Pendleton, CA 92055

When you’re done with him, go to this guy.

LtGen Sattler (CG MEF)
Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base
Camp Pendleton, CA 92055

Let them know that our boys deserve better than to be treated worse than the animals trying to kill us. Demand that they look into this and do their duty. Demand that they take care of their Marines instead of throwing them under the bus to be crushed by the political games that everyone wants to play.

One closing thought: Israel is moving heaven and earth to get a few soldiers back. We’re railroading ours and treating them like terrorists. Think about that.

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