The Front Line - 070508
July 5, 2008
Join me tonight for The Front Line, your weekly radio stop for military news and views on the war. 6 pm PST, 9 pm EST on Blog Talk Radio!
VICTORY: All Charges Dismissed Against Lt Col Jeffrey Chessani
June 17, 2008
Col. Steven Folsom just made the list of my favorite people of all time.
ANN ARBOR, MI – Military Judge Colonel Steven Folsom, USMC, this morning dismissed all charges against Lt Colonel Jeffrey Chessani on the grounds of unlawful command influence. He blistered the prosecution’s case in an opinion he read from the bench that lasted an hour. The ruling was without prejudice. Colonel Folsom gave prosecutors 72 hours in which to notify him whether they would appeal.
The ruling was greeted with tears of joy from Chessani’s wife and several spectators in the courtroom.
The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, represents LtCol Chessani alongside his detailed military attorneys. The two Law Center attorneys assigned to his case are former Marine officers themselves. Robert Muise served in the First Persian Gulf war as an infantry officer, and Brian Rooney was a Judge Advocate officer who served two tours of duty in Iraq. Lt Colonel John Shelburne, USMC, and Captain Jeff King, USMC , the detailed military defense counsel, make up the rest of Chessani’s defense team.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, commenting on the judge’s decision had this to say, “We are all grateful for the judge’s ruling today. He truly was the “last sentinel” to guard against unlawful command influence.”
“Tragically, our own government eliminated one of its most effective combat commanders. The insurgents are laughing in their caves,” said Thompson.
We finally have a chance to show the undue command influence in the Hutchins case as well. Thank you, Col. Folsom!
Landmark Decision in Chessani Case Tuesday
June 17, 2008
ANN ARBOR, MI – Military Judge Colonel Steven Folsom, USMC, will issue his ruling on the crucial Unlawful Command Influence motion brought by LtCol Jeffrey Chessani’s defense counsel in a Camp Pendleton, California, courtroom on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at 9:00am PST.
Col Folsom had originally scheduled hearings in Chessani’s case to last for three days, June 16–18. However, in an announcement that might prove to be significant to the Chessani case, Col Folson indicated late last week that he will announce his decision on the defense motion to dismiss on June 17 in a hearing that should last approximately one hour.
In May 2008, Col Folsom ruled that he found evidence of unlawful command influence (UCI). Courts consider UCI the mortal enemy of military justice. The judge’s finding was based upon the evidence that Generals Mattis and Helland, who controlled the disposition of LtCol Chessani’s case, were impermissibly influenced by Marine lawyer Col John Ewers, one of the initial investigators of the Haditha. Col Ewers was permitted to attend at least and up to 25 closed-session meetings in which LtCol Chessani’s case was discussed.
Start praying, folks. If these charges are dismissed, then the door is open for us to bring Sgt Larry Hutchins’ case up as the next undue command influence example.
Donahue Denies Conversation with Lt Gen Helland in Hutchins Case…And Still Gets Caught
June 12, 2008
A retired Marine officer has denied charges that he spoke with Hutchins case convening authority Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland regarding the disposition of Sgt Larry Hutchins.
In an email to me that was copied to several other parties, Major Herbert W. (Bill) Donahue, Jr., vehemently denied any involvement with Gen. Helland, and threatened legal action against me for “libel/slander and defamation of character.”
Donahue did not stop there, however, and went on to accuse me of “impugning the integrity of several ethical attorneys,” among other things. The email basically degenerated into a personal attack, including several false accusations that are easily disproved if I can be bothered to go back two years in email and post the truth–which by the way, I would have already done if I wasn’t moving to Washington State tomorrow. Donahue wrapped up with yet another legal threat–certain, I’m sure, that I would cower in fear and immediately retract everything I’ve posted. Maybe weak-minded men with no honor do that sort of thing, but I don’t.
While Donahue’s threat is far from the first I’ve received, it rivals the ones I get from the Pakistani Islamics for its sheer humor potential–and the Pakistanis threaten me with photos of Freddy Krueger and Batman captioned by broken English, so that should give you an idea of where I put the good Major’s bluffy whining. Not only am I completely comfortable with the idea of being sued for this, I welcome a lawsuit. It will open the door for Tim Harrington, me, and others to talk about Larry Hutchins’ case freely in open court, including the way it’s been engineered by the Marine Corps leadership since day one–something, by the way, that not even Sgt Hutchins has been able to do yet. Sadly, however, I fear that the lawsuit isn’t going to be coming anytime soon.
“But he sounds serious!” you say. Yes, he does. Of course, he also sounded serious when he threatened fellow Marine Tim Harrington with the same type of lawsuit only a little over a month ago. What, pray tell, could he have wanted to sue Tim over? Let’s take a peek at an email written by Donahue to Harrington on April 23.
“It is now obvious that you have called me a liar and other things, behind my back,” writes Donahue. “From what I was told, you told at least one person that I was a liar, that I was not in touch with senior officers – especially LtGen Helland – and some other things, things that question my integrity, honesty and personal reputation. [...] I am going to pursue filing a civil case against you for defamation of character (slander).”
Yes, you read that right. He threatened to sue Tim Harrington because Tim didn’t buy Donahue’s story about being buddies with General Helland.
In my response to the Major’s “festering, pungent missive (longtime ER readers will recognize that inside joke),” I pointed out the apparent Catch-22 situation Donahue now finds himself in–with a small amount of glee, I admit.
“Here’s the thing, Major. You have to pick one. Either the conversation happened, and then you can sue Tim for calling you a liar, or it didn’t happen, and you can sue me for believing your lies about it. Kind of sticky, isn’t it? I’m just curious…which version of the story did you give to Kevin McDermott? How about the Hutchins family? Most importantly, what did you feed to Larry himself?”
Oddly enough, I haven’t seen another answer from Major Donahue or even something from Kevin McDermott, although I’ve been checking my email quite often. I was certain Donahue would have a perfectly logical explanation for the contradictory stories, so when I didn’t see anything in my inbox, I also checked my spam folder and even the trash. For some reason, my email is more silent than a church mouse at noon. I just don’t get it.
Captain Don Greenlaw and others will sit at home this Saturday, barred from visiting Sgt Hutchins on his last weekend in Camp Pendleton, by email order of Hutchins’ attorney and Major Donahue–even though their contributions to Sgt Hutchins’ well-being and that of his family go far beyond anyone’s idea of “duty.” Meanwhile, those of us who have been here fighting the information battle for two years will remain. Tim Harrington, Walt Fitzpatrick, and the rest of us have been threatened with far worse than a lawsuit, and by far more worthy adversaries than a retired Marine officer who fancies himself to be a high roller. So we will keep doing what we do, until the fight is done.
Hard Copy Proof of Manipulations in Hutchins Case
June 11, 2008
Retired Major Herbert W. “Bill” Donahue, Jr., head of an organization called United American Patriots, had at least one private, off-the-record conversation with Helland regarding the general’s then-pending decision on Hutchins’ case. In this behind-the-scenes and highly unethical conversation about the case, Donahue advised Helland that he “already had” three potential attorneys lined up for an appeal. Their names–Culp, McDermott, and Applegate–were given to the general at least two weeks prior to Helland making a decision as to how much, if any, prison time Sgt Hutchins would serve. Helland, armed with the knowledge that there was an appeal waiting to begin, simply reduced Hutchins’ sentence by a few years and washed his hands of the affair.
However, this is not where the machinations end.
Major Donahue then retained attorney Kevin McDermott for the “appeal” of Hutchins’ case. The retired officer claimed that he would, through monies he says his organization can raise, fund Hutchins’ appeal. However, there were a few caveats.
“[I]f I…do not get copies of each and every email anyone sends out on Larry’s case, I have no option other than to tell my Board that we should drop Larry’s case,” wrote the major in an email to McDermott, members of Hutchins’ family and a few supporters on June 9.
In addition, Donahue listed a “crowd” of people that he demanded cease all work on the case–including contact with Hutchins. Who are the people that Donahue claimed will “seriously jeopardize Larry’s chances at appeal,” and what have they been doing? While their names aren’t important, what they have done over the last two years is. These “dangerous” people, according to Major Donahue, include:
- A retired Marine captain named Don Greenlaw, who located and furnished an apartment for Larry’s wife and child, (including co-signing the first six months of the lease), found and purchased a vehicle for her (he was reimbursed for that purchase by other members of the “crowd”), and ensured that Sgt Hutchins had visitors every week. He also served as an on-base advocate for all the men of the Pendleton 8, going to bat for them with brig leadership over issues such as making sure they received necessary health care, medication, and were able to call their families. He even arranged for accommodations for Hutchins’ family when they flew to California to visit their son. In addition, Greenlaw ensures that Sgt Hutchins is kept up to date on all matters relating to his case, including the work that I and many others are doing to help.
- A man named Skip Franklin, who has visited Sgt Hutchins faithfully every single week for a very long time, helping to keep his spirits up and offering friendship.
- A fellow Marine named Tim Harrington who, on his own time and to his own personal and financial detriment, has put aside much of his business to investigate both the Haditha and Pendleton 8 cases. He has taken Hutchins’ cause all the way to Congress, and has become a literal encyclopedia on both cases–and the Hutchins case specifically. In his possession are thousands of pages of plain, exculpatory evidence never allowed at trial.
- A military blogger who raised over $17,000 by herself for all eight of the men’s families–money that went to things like diapers, groceries, and phone bills while they struggled to pay for lawyers who milked them dry. She, together with others, has worked on the Pendleton 8 case since the beginning–and worked similar cases for almost 4 years. Her work has been published in numerous online and print media, and she was instrumental in helping to vindicate another Marine charged with two counts of murder in 2005.
I know the men listed above–good, honorable men who have given their all to help Sgt Hutchins and his squad, and as you’ve probably figured out, the last person Donahue listed is me. The four of us, according to Major Donahue, “can only hurt” the appeal.
Kevin McDermott, the attorney Donahue chose out of the three names he provided to Lt. Gen. Helland, agreed with Donahue, sending a very pointed email to Major Donahue on June 9 as well about the Marine captain who has done so much for Hutchins’ family.
“I agree with you 100%,” writes McDermott. “I am not sure who Greenlaw is but if he isn’t picking up 100% of my legal tab, please have some one [sic] tell him to shut the hell up and keep his nose out of the picture. If the family and Sgt. Hutchins don’t throw a blanket over this guy, I am not interested in carrying this appeal through. I will not be a ringleader at a circus. Make sure Greenlaw under stands [sic] that.”
For the first time in nearly two years, and due to the demands of Major Donahue and Kevin McDermott, Hutchins will have no visitors this weekend–his last at Camp Pendleton before being moved to Fort Leavenworth, KS soon after. As Captain Greenlaw so gracefully stated to Kevin McDermott, albeit under heavy protest, “Per your request and Major Donahue’s request, it is all your show, as of now.”
McDermott has more to say in another email, and writes that “one of the main reasons [SSGT Frank] Wuderich [sic] hasn’t been extricated from the Hadithah [sic] mess” is that “he had a pair of clowns who let him talk to 60 Minutes.” The two “clowns” that McDermott refers to are Neal A. Puckett and Mark A. Zaid, the very capable attorneys for SSGT Wuterich who have Rep. John Murtha on the run after filing a lawsuit against him for his remarks made against the Haditha Marines in the early days of the case. McDermott does not mention whether the other Haditha attorneys, who have to date seen charges dismissed almost all of the Marines involved, are also “clowns.” He also fails to say whether the Thomas More Law Center, which has been the first defense team to get undue command influence ruled on by a judge, are made up of a crowd of “clowns.”
Meanwhile, Major Donahue issued one last edict in his new position as self-appointed king of defense.
“If Larry is going to NOT listen and follow his attorney’s advice,” he writes in the June 9 email, “then my organization and I will have no recourse other than to cease the financial aid.”
The major goes on to tell all and sundry that Kevin McDermott and this appeal is “Larry’s last hope for vindication.” However, what Donahue fails to mention in his email to the family and others is the downside of the appeal process. Of course, those of us in the “crowd” that are so “dangerous” to Hutchins and his appeal process have no problem with speaking the truth, so I will show you the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about.
The following is from a transcript, available online, of a background briefing by a senior military attorney. In it, he explains the military “justice” system, and spends a moment on the appellate process.
Appellate courts generally look at law issues in the civilian world. They look, was the law upheld, was the law right. Our service courts have a broader capacity. They can — oh, yes, they have to look at the — was the law done, was case precedent followed and law followed, et cetera. But they can also say — they look at a case from the standpoint of beyond a reasonable doubt. They have to be convinced that the accused was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Sounds like a good deal, correct? From what has been published on this site and many others, anyone who’s paid attention to this case over the last two years knows there would have been far more than “reasonable doubt” had all the evidence been allowed in. No problem, though, because in an appeal they can bring in all the new evidence and Hutchins goes free, right? Wrong.
[Question:] They can reconsider evidence?
SR. MILITARY LAWYER: They can take the record of trial and say, you know, “Based upon this, no,” and find him not guilty.
[Question:] But you can’t add new evidence on.
SR. MILITARY LAWYER: Generally, no. No. They don’t add evidence. But they can look at the regular trial and say — and that’s their authority.
What this attorney is saying is that the appellate court will look at the original trial, at the evidence presented in the first court-martial, and make their decision based on that information only–and this is only one of several sources that explain exactly the same thing.
That also means that there will again be no mention of the fact that the original judge denied the prosecution’s motion to bring in the autopsy because they could not prove who the Marines had even killed. (If you’d like to see the autopsy report the judge hid from the trial and the motion the prosecution lost, I have it here. You’ll notice the acronym “BTB” all over it; that stands for “believed to be,” as in “we think so but we don’t know.”)
There will be no mention of the combat logs for the unit (I have those here.) There will be no mention of the “Ronin Diaries,” the detailed journal kept by Lt. Nathan Phan about the unit’s activities (yes, I have those too). There will be no mention of other “lost” evidence and the memos sent back and forth while the government tried to figure out who had it, or even how botched, falsified, and corrupt the NCIS investigation was. By the way, I have that here as well in RAR format.
None of this will see the light of day in the appeal that Donahue calls Hutchins’ “last hope.” None of the thousands more pages of exculpatory evidence that we have will make it in either. This is why those of us who McDermott and Donahue have barred Hutchins from speaking with have worked so hard the last two years. An appeal is not a chance for new evidence, or for evidence conveniently “left out” in the first trial. As an attorney well-versed in military cases (and as the one who is also handling the Jose Nazario case), Kevin McDermott knows that better than anyone. So why does an attorney take an appeal case when he knows he can’t introduce new evidence, and the first trial was rigged? I’ll let readers figure that one out on their own–you’re all smart people.
So let’s recap. Major Donahue had an under-the-table conversation with the convening authority, Lt Gen Helland, about a case Helland was about to make a final decision on. Donahue tells Helland that he has three attorneys ready to go on the appeal. Helland slices a few years off the sentence to make it look good, and walks away. Donahue chooses McDermott as the attorney, and the two of them move in. Immediately, Donahue sets himself up as “control officer” of the appeal, demanding that all correspondence go through him and that those of us who make up the support system Hutchins has had for the last two years simply go away. McDermott agrees and predicates his involvement on Hutchins’ willingness to ‘play ball,’ even though both Donahue and McDermott know that the appeal will only include evidence already presented, and none of the thousands of pages of exculpatory evidence that we hold.
Something stinks here, and it’s not the “crowd” or the “clowns.” It remains to be seen how Major Donahue or General Helland will explain a conversation about the case when Helland had no business discussing it with Donahue, or how McDermott and Donahue will explain their quick move to control all aspects of Hutchins’ life, including barring those of us who have done the most work on his case, or who have become a much-needed support system for him, from even talking to him. Perhaps most interesting will be whether the powers-that-be will actually open an investigation into what I’ve just explained. I’ve got the documentation to back up what I say. Does the government have the integrity to look into it?
I Love Ann Coulter
June 4, 2008
Coulter’s newest article says Obama was “selected, not elected.“ Where have we heard that before? Oh that’s right…back in 2000. Liberal arguments are only valid when THEY use them…just ask them.
Marine Fatally Shot While on Leave
June 1, 2008
CLEVELAND, Ohio — On leave from the violence he had survived in the war in Iraq, a young Marine was so wary of crime on the streets of his own home town that he carried only $8 to avoid becoming a robbery target.
Despite his caution, Lance Cpl. Robert Crutchfield, 21, was shot point-blank in the neck during a robbery at a bus stop. Feeding and breathing tubes kept him alive 4 1/2 months, until he died of an infection on May 18.
Shot in the neck by two pieces of dog #^&% who deserve to have their faces kicked in repeatedly. Here’s the worst part of the whole thing:
“They took it, turned his pockets inside out, took what he had and told him since he was a Marine and didn’t have any money he didn’t deserve to live. They put the gun to his neck and shot him,” Holt told The Associated Press.
Such a terrible story. Godspeed, Marine. May Ohio put a needle in the arms of the dogs that killed you.
Government Looks to Change Manslaughter Charges to Murder in Fallujah Marine Case
May 31, 2008
What do you do when you can’t get Marines to testify against each other, can’t get them to take a deal, and generally have no case? Why, up the ante, of course.
A federal grand jury is considering amending charges against a former Riverside police officer from manslaughter to murder for killings while he was a sergeant in Iraq, a defense attorney said.
Jose Luis Nazario Jr. is charged with voluntary manslaughter in U.S. District Court in Riverside — because he is no longer in the military. But prosecutors are now asking a grand jury in Riverside to change the charges to murder, said Kevin McDermott, one of the attorneys representing Nazario.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Behnke said he could not comment on whether the grand jury is reviewing the case or why the prosecution would ask for charges to be amended. Grand jury proceedings are closed to defense attorneys and the public.
Of course he’s not going to comment on why they would be amending the charges to read murder instead of manslaughter. What would he say? I can see the press conference now.
“Well, folks, this whole process isn’t going the same as the others. There’s an order to this whole thing. See, first we charge them all, even though we have no evidence. Then we confine them in ungodly conditions…what’s that? Oh god, no. Not like detainees. Those guys at Gitmo are living fat and happy. We’re trying to break these Marines, not coddle them. Stop asking stupid questions.
“Anyway, usually after about 18 hours of interrogations with no food, water, or bathroom breaks, a few months of shackles and solitary confinement, they’ll sign anything we ask. Yes, we’ve done it before, we know it works. But these Marines, they’re being a bit uncooperative. Nelson refused to testify even though we put him in jail over Memorial Day weekend, we had to pull him out of jail because the milblogs made a bunch of ruckus about the whole thing. Nazario’s refusing to plead guilty…it’s just ridiculous. Don’t these guys know they’re supposed to play along? Well, we’re just going to remind Nazario of what’s at stake here. He’s got a family. We’ve got Mattis on board, he’ll testify against the Marines. But anyway, the short answer to your question of why we decided to bump it up is obvious–we have to bring in the big guns. We have nothing unless we can either get them to plead guilty, or get someone to roll.”
YouTube Refuses to Take Down Terrorist Video Depicting Death of Marine
May 31, 2008
While on YouTube just now, I was browsing combat footage and came across this disgusting piece of trash. The video shows a terrorist sniper shooting a U.S. Marine in the back of the head. I flagged the video, and am asking that you do the same. Of course, YouTube isn’t removing the video, and I’m fairly sure that even with you flagging it, it still won’t be taken down. However, go flag it anyway.
The idea that YouTube allows terrorist propaganda videos is nothing new, but it’s also something that makes me so filled with rage that I literally can’t see straight.
UPDATE: The video has finally been removed and the user suspended. Good job, fellow Americans. ;)
General Mattis to Testify Against Chessani in Undue Command Influence Hearing
May 30, 2008
ANN ARBOR, MI – Military prosecutors are expected to call as their witness General James N. Mattis, a highly respected Marine officer and one of only a handful of four-star Marine generals, to testify in the court-martial hearing against LtCol Jeffrey Chessani on June 2, 2008, at Camp Pendleton, California.
Gen Mattis, recently given his fourth star, was the previous convening authority for the Haditha cases and the officer responsible for referring LtCol Chessani’s case to a general court-martial. Prosecutors are relying on him to rebut previous findings of the Military Judge that there is evidence of unlawful command influence.
So let me get this straight. When the defense asks for Mattis’ sworn deposition, they’re denied. Yet the prosecution can call him as a witness with no problems at all? And what will Mattis say? Well, of course he’ll say there was no undue command influence, and the judge will nod and say, “Oh, okay. Wow. Good thing you came on the stand and set that straight. Thanks, guys. Let’s all go get a brewski now.”
Am I the only one who thinks this fish smells worse than a two-dollar hooker? As it turns out, I’m not.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, the national public interest law firm defending LtCol Chessani, commented, “This case is dripping with double standards and political intrigue as the Pentagon attempts to appease Washington’s political establishment and press…”
[I must point out here that those of us fighting for these and other Marines like SGT Lawrence Hutchins have repeatedly tried to get Thomas More Law Center involved, but were rebuffed. Now suddenly it appears they've seen the light, sort of like the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. We're just happy they caught up.]
And here’s a little factoid you may not have known about:
“…Gen Mattis was investigated for ordering a ground and air assault of an Iraqi ‘wedding party’ in 2004 that resulted in the deaths of 40 men, women, and children. At a press conference shortly after the incident, he defended his actions by retorting, ‘I don’t have to apologize for the conduct of my Marines.’ What is puzzling is that even though Mattis rightfully was never charged with any criminal wrongdoing in that case, he did not give LtCol Chessani the same consideration.”
Did you catch that? “I don’t have to apologize for the conduct of my Marines.” Brilliantly said, and yet here we are, with Mattis at the forefront of a witch hunt against the very men he claims to love and respect so deeply, in almost the same type of situation. Then again, when it comes to the Marine Corps leadership, it’s not about fairness, justice, or even honor–as we’ve seen time and time again in case after case.
What makes me so curious is how Mattis will explain away roughly 25 closed-session meetings where one of the investigators was allowed to attend and discuss the case with the officers controlling the disposition of the case. That’s like a homicide investigator meeting with the judges in a civilian case. In other words, not right.
Chessani’s attorneys will be able to cross-examine the general on the stand, but if past track record is any indication of how that will go, the prosecutor will object, the judge will sustain, and Mattis will not be exposed for the dishonorable man that he is. We shall see if the judge has the personal integrity and fortitude to make his decision based on facts instead
[Note: I am well aware, dear readers, that my freedom to call Mattis dishonorable was given to me in part by Mattis himself. However, it was also paid for by Jeffrey Chessani and Larry Hutchins, so you'll forgive me if my loyalty lies with them instead of the one who ruined their careers and traded their freedoms for his fourth star.]
As disgusting as these cases continue to be, and as much of a cesspool as the military “justice” system has become, each mistake, each over-the-top action that they take is one more arrow in our quiver. It is one more piece of proof of innocence for all of these Marines, one more way we can show how badly these cases are conducted. That means one step closer to freedom for SGT Larry Hutchins.
So hang in there, Larry. If the NCIS, the JAG, and the Marine Corps leadership show their backsides any more, we’ll have caught them with their pants down completely–which is exactly what I, and others like me, intend to do.
Marines Accused of Proselytizing in Fallujah
May 29, 2008
This article literally sickens me. God forbid the Marines who are laying down their lives for these people get thanks. Instead, they get articles like these, written in a tone of hatred and disdain. Disgusting.
FALLUJAH, Iraq — At the western entrance to the Iraqi city of Fallujah on Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand.
Out of fear, he accepted it, Anad said. When he was inside the city, the college student said, he looked at one side of the coin. “Where will you spend eternity?” it asked.
He flipped it over, and on the other side it read, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.”
“They are trying to convert us to Christianity,” said Anad, a Sunni Muslim like most residents of this city in Anbar province. At home, he told his story, and his relatives echoed their disapproval: They’d been given the coins, too, he said.
“Iraq is investigating a report that U.S. military personnel in Fallujah handed-out material that is religious and evangelical in nature,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, a U.S. military spokesman, in a statement e-mailed to McClatchy Newspapers. “Local commanders are investigating since the military prohibits proselytizing any religion, faith or practices.”
Fallujah, the scene of a bloody U.S. offensive against Sunni insurgents in 2004, has calmed and grown less hostile to U.S. troops since residents turned against al-Qaida in Iraq.
Now residents of the city are abuzz that some Americans who they consider occupiers are also acting as Christian missionaries. Residents said some Marines at the western entrance to their city have been passing out the coins for two days in what they call a “humiliating” attempt to convert them to Christianity.
In the markets, people crowded around men with the coins, passing them to each other and asking in surprise: “Have you seen this?”
The head of the Sunni endowment in Fallujah, the organization that oversees Sunni places of worship and other religious establishments, demanded the Marines stop.
“We say to the occupiers to stop this,” said Sheikh Mohammed Amin Abdel Hadi. “This can cause strife between the Iraqis and especially between Muslim and Christians. … Please stop these things and leave our homes because we are Muslims and we live in our homes in peace with other religions.”
In interviews, residents of Fallujah repeated two words — “humiliation” and “weakness.”
“Because we are weak this is happening,” said a shop owner who gave his name as Abu Abdullah. “Passing Christianity this way is disrespectful.”
“The occupier is repeatedly trespassing on God and his religion,” said Omar Delli, 23. “Now the occupier is planting seeds of strife between the Muslims and Christians. We demand the government in Fallujah have a new demonstration to let the occupier know that these things are humiliating Islam and the Quran.”
The controversy over the coins comes on the heels of a tempest triggered by a U.S. sniper who used the Quran, Islam’s holy book, for target practice. The sniper was pulled out of Iraq after tribal leaders on May 9 found a Quran with 14 bullet holes and graffiti on the pages.
In Islam, the holy book is never to touch the floor, let alone be defaced. Iraqi leaders condemned the actions, U.S. generals apologized and President Bush offered a personal apology to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
In Fallujah, Mohammed Jaber saw one of the coins and said he thought of the bullets lodged in the Quran, the torture of Iraqi men at the Abu Ghraib prison in 2004 and the rape of a 14-year-old girl and her murder, and that of her family in Mahmoudiya.
“Now we have this missionary way by these coins,” he said. “We feel the Muslims are weak and we hope that we will reach a point when we are strong to let them know what is wrong and what is right.”
Marines Accused of Proselytizing in Fallujah
May 29, 2008
This article literally sickens me. God forbid the Marines who are laying down their lives for these people get thanks. Instead, they get articles like these, written in a tone of hatred and disdain. Disgusting.
FALLUJAH, Iraq — At the western entrance to the Iraqi city of Fallujah on Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand.
Out of fear, he accepted it, Anad said. When he was inside the city, the college student said, he looked at one side of the coin. “Where will you spend eternity?” it asked.
He flipped it over, and on the other side it read, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.”
“They are trying to convert us to Christianity,” said Anad, a Sunni Muslim like most residents of this city in Anbar province. At home, he told his story, and his relatives echoed their disapproval: They’d been given the coins, too, he said.
“Iraq is investigating a report that U.S. military personnel in Fallujah handed-out material that is religious and evangelical in nature,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, a U.S. military spokesman, in a statement e-mailed to McClatchy Newspapers. “Local commanders are investigating since the military prohibits proselytizing any religion, faith or practices.”
Fallujah, the scene of a bloody U.S. offensive against Sunni insurgents in 2004, has calmed and grown less hostile to U.S. troops since residents turned against al-Qaida in Iraq.
Now residents of the city are abuzz that some Americans who they consider occupiers are also acting as Christian missionaries. Residents said some Marines at the western entrance to their city have been passing out the coins for two days in what they call a “humiliating” attempt to convert them to Christianity.
In the markets, people crowded around men with the coins, passing them to each other and asking in surprise: “Have you seen this?”
The head of the Sunni endowment in Fallujah, the organization that oversees Sunni places of worship and other religious establishments, demanded the Marines stop.
“We say to the occupiers to stop this,” said Sheikh Mohammed Amin Abdel Hadi. “This can cause strife between the Iraqis and especially between Muslim and Christians. … Please stop these things and leave our homes because we are Muslims and we live in our homes in peace with other religions.”
In interviews, residents of Fallujah repeated two words — “humiliation” and “weakness.”
“Because we are weak this is happening,” said a shop owner who gave his name as Abu Abdullah. “Passing Christianity this way is disrespectful.”
“The occupier is repeatedly trespassing on God and his religion,” said Omar Delli, 23. “Now the occupier is planting seeds of strife between the Muslims and Christians. We demand the government in Fallujah have a new demonstration to let the occupier know that these