Marine considers suing Murtha over Haditha accusation

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, USMC: American hero, devout Christian, husband, and dad of six home schooled children

American Marines. Doing their jobs ... or cold-blooded killers? Democrat Rep. John Murtha and some media outlets were too quick to declare wrong-doing when they charged that the men had killed "in cold blood."

World Net Daily reported:

With most of the eight Marines charged in the Haditha, Iraq, incident now exonerated, the highest-ranking officer among the accused is considering a lawsuit against Democratic Rep. John Murtha, who fueled the case by declaring the men cold-blooded killers.

Their names have been dragged through the mud in a country that declares criminals are "innocent until proven guilty." Yet the same consideration was not given our Marines fighting to protect our freedoms ... their own freedoms were compromised.

World Net Daily goes on to write:

In an interview with nationally syndicated radio talk host Michael Savage, the lead attorney for Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani said he and his client will look into suing Murtha and the Time magazine reporter, Tim McGuirk, who first published the accusations by Iraqi insurgents.

But the attorney, Brian Rooney, said nothing will happen immediately because he wants Chessani, described as a devout Christian and the father of six home schooled children, completely "out of the woods" legally before any action is taken. The government, through Lt. Col. S.M. Sullivan, today filed a notice that it would appeal the case to the next judicial level.

Not only has the case been hard on the Marines involved but on the entire Marine Corps:

... the Haditha case has taken a toll on the Marine Corps.

"There's no doubt it's affected recruiting," he told Savage. "How could you have your sons or daughters join the Marine Corps when you're not sure the government will protect them?"

Rooney was asked by Savage why he thought Murtha, a former Marine himself, accused the officers and enlisted men.

"In my opinion, it's clear it was done during the election cycle, it was done to bolster himself in the party," the attorney said. "He was vying for a leadership position, and if he had to throw some Marines under the bus to do so, that was the cost of power for him."

He hopes soon politicians will weigh in on the case in support of Chessani and the others. "I would think all politicians, especially politicians that have military records, should say something about this case," he said.

"In a horrible and very complex environment, when you have an enemy that's using women and children as shields, you should always give the benefit of the doubt to the Marine or soldier," said Rooney. "You should never bring him back and put him in front of a court martial."

That should be emphasized: You should always give the benefit of the doubt to the Marine or soldier.