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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (208254)	6/10/2007 11:18:20 AM
From: D. Long	Respond to of 793955

The Haditha case is falling apart. forbes.com Officer Advises Dropping Haditha Charges By ALLISON HOFFMAN 06.09.07, 5:00 PM ET An investigating officer has recommended dismissing charges against a Marine officer accused of failing to probe the killings of 24 Iraqis in the town of Haditha, the defense attorney said Saturday. Capt. Randy W. Stone, 34, is one of four officers accused of failing to report and investigate the deaths of the men, women and children in a deadly sweep on a chaotic day of battle in the village. His attorney, Charles Gittins, said investigating officer Maj. Thomas McCann concluded in a report to the commanding general overseeing the case that Stone should not face trial and the matter should be handled administratively. At Stone's preliminary hearing last month at Camp Pendleton, he argued that he never ordered an investigation into the killings because he believed the deaths resulted from lawful combat. "I have never lied and have worked at all times to assist as best I could to shed light on what I knew and when I knew it," Stone said at his hearing. The investigator's recommendation is nonbinding. A final decision will be made by Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the commanding general overseeing the case. If convicted, Stone faces up to 2 1/2 years in prison and dismissal. Camp Pendleton spokesman Lt. Col. Sean Gibson declined to comment until Mattis issues his decision. Also Saturday, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani made an unsworn statement in preliminary hearings to determine whether he should face trial on charges of dereliction of duty and violating a lawful order for failing to investigate the deaths in Haditha. Chessani said he believes he broke no laws. "Hindsight is 20/20," he said. "I did not believe that my actions and my decisions were criminal." Chessani, 43, is the most senior Marine of seven charged in the case, and the highest-ranking Marine officer charged since the start of the Iraq war. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted. His statement came during his Article 32 hearing, a preliminary proceeding that is expected to conclude on Monday. Chessani and Stone are among four officers charged with dereliction of duty. Three enlisted Marines are charged with murder. All belonged to the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.

To: LindyBill who wrote (208254)	6/10/2007 12:30:44 PM
From: Lazarus_Long	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793955

Lieberman Favors Military Strike on Iran Published: June 10, 2007 Filed at 12:01 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Joseph Lieberman said Sunday the United States should consider a military strike against Iran because of Tehran's involvement in Iraq. 'I think we've got to be prepared to take aggressive military action against the Iranians to stop them from killing Americans in Iraq,' Lieberman said. 'And to me, that would include a strike over the border into Iran, where we have good evidence that they have a base at which they are training these people coming back into Iraq to kill our soldiers.' The U.S. accuses Iran of fostering terrorism and Tehran's nuclear ambitions have brought about international reproach. Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000 who now represents Connecticut as an independent, spoke of Iranians' role in the continued violence in Iraq. 'By some estimates, they have killed as many as 200 American soldiers,' he said. 'Well, we can tell them we want them to stop that. But if there's any hope of the Iranians living according to the international rule of law and stopping, for instance, their nuclear weapons development, we can't just talk to them. 'If they don't play by the rules, we've got to use our force, and to me, that would include taking military action to stop them from doing what they're doing.' Lieberman said much of the action could probably be done by air, although he would leave the strategy to the generals in charge. 'But they can't believe that they have immunity for training and equipping people to come in and kill Americans,' he said. 'We cannot let them get away with it. If we do, they'll take that as a sign of weakness on our part and we will pay for it in Iraq and throughout the region and ultimately right here at home.' Lieberman spoke on 'Face the Nation' on CBS. nytimes.com And the Democrat's deserted this guy? He could have or could win!