jennifer wrote on Jun 1, 2007 3:48 PM:Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani is being used as a scapegoat. He did what he was ordered to do and this is the ugly part of the war, to place the blame on him when those who "fight from their cushioned armchairs" only find fault with what needed to be done and what was required of those brave men (and women).Of course those higher up the chain of command are going to cover their ... so Huck's statement comes as no surprise really, does it? It is so difficult to speak about this travesty anymore-there are just no words in the english vocabulary to condemn the actions that are being taken against these brave men who are only doing a job they were trained and sent to do--

Gee wrote on Jun 1, 2007 3:51 PM:What a shock.

VERDAD wrote on Jun 1, 2007 5:27 PM:jennifer wrote on Jun 1, 2007 3:48 PM: What are the responsibilities of a USMC BN CO in the field during a war? Brave armed men do not shoot women and children point blank in the head. Brave men and their immediate commanders do not try to hide their actions. It seems that everybody involved in this horrible affair is being used as a scape goat. The people who are responisble are the Marines in question who went able sugar. You call this a travesty. I suppose that perhaps we should blaim the deaths of the Iraqi men and women on themselves. They just jumped right out in front of the rifles in order to be slaughtered. People like you seem to prefer to give these Marines medals rather than a court masrshal. You state that Lt. Col Jeffrey Chessani did what he was ordered to do. Would you please publish his orders from the Regimental CO?

Don wrote on Jun 1, 2007 5:54 PM:You know what- Always rolls down hill. Here is a good example.

AW4cryinoutloud wrote on Jun 2, 2007 9:58 PM:No; the Iraqi's didn't just jump right out in front of the rifles, so begs to wonder if some of the dead could have ended up that way by someone other than the Marines. Even though a rifle on full automatic will spray everywhere and certainly hit people in the head IF they are innocent and too dumb to get down when they know there is a firefight. Our Marines are not psychic. They have the "absolute right to defend themselves"...quoted from General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The little girl, Youssef, said she knew the 'bomb' (IED) was going to explode. This was a way of life for these people in Haditha. They were fully aware of insurgents planning attacks on our Marines. If they felt secure enough during all the gunfire to remain standing or continuing with daily prayers perhaps someone else was there who killed some of these people. The enemy is known for removing weapons and shell casings of theirs when they flee. Why kind of Commander in the Corps would choose to believe these "alleged" innocents over our Marines? Not anyone I would want to follow.

60sMarine wrote on Jun 27, 2007 3:26 PM:I wonder what would have happened during WWII if every pilot was court martial for killing civilians when they dropped their bombs on Germany? Civilians die in every war. And who is to say that those who died were not enemies? Didn't we learn during Vietnam that not all combatants were uniforms? Even children are killing our troops.

Anna wrote on Jun 17, 2008 2:13 PM:You may be interested in the follow up on this. Also, in the satellite images that have shown the exact opposite of what the original Time article and Murtha stated. Here is the current state of Chessani's case.