The Few, The Shamed

How can this be?  Haw-Haw Murtha mastered the art of mind-control?:

The Marine Corps is appealing a military judge’s decision to dismiss criminal charges against Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani in the killing of twenty-four Iraqis in Haditha in November 2005…

“This case has turned into the persecution of one of the Marines’ finest combat commanders,” said Richard Thompson, chief counsel of the Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center, which is representing Chessani.

Chessani, 44, is charged with dereliction of duty and failure to obey a direct order for not launching a war-crimes investigation into the killings…

In its filing with the appeals court, the prosecution did not cite any basis for its appeal. Folsom had given prosecutors three days to appeal his ruling. He also permitted the Marine Corps to refile the charges although he ruled that the refiling would have to be done by a new convening authority not connected to the Camp Pendleton-based Marine Forces Central Command.

A little context on Lieutenant Colonel Chessani:

Lieutenant Colonel Chessani’s official 2006 Combat Fitness Report, which includes the time frame in which he is facing criminal charges, declared him “a superb leader, who knows his men, knows the enemy, knows his business,” and recommended him for promotion. The reviewing Major General added, Lieutenant Colonel Chessani has “unlimited potential and value to the Marine Corps,” and also recommended him for promotion.

Could that perhaps be why he didn't reflexively launch a "war crimes" investigation?  Because the legendary Corps buckled to the bellicose seditions of a corrupt congresscritter instead of standing by one of their own, while Colonel Chessani refused to sacrifice his honor by dutifully and cravenly falling on his sword to appease Jack Murtha's scalp-quest?  Must have been pretty obvious for the charges to be summarily dismissed as they were.  And now the Marine JAGs are actually appealing this ruling?  For what Earthly purpose?  To curry anti-war favor?  To beg Haw-Haw to stop a witchhunt that has already fizzled spectacularly?  Could the dismissal actually be reversed?

Disgusting.  And inexplicable.  But at least it's unlikely this persecuted hero will be retried.  Time will have to tell whether he still considers a country that would betray so decorated and honorable a warrior worth continuing to put his life and those of the soldiers under his command on the line for.

That that supposition is so highly likely rhetorical speaks volumes - about everybody involved in the Haditha witch trials.