UPDATED: Another Haditha Marine Has Charges Dismissed - Murtha Still Silent

Great News from Camp Pendleton today. All charges have been dropped against Capt. Lucas McConnell in the Haditha incident.

Charges against Capt. Lucas M. McConnell stemming from the command response to the death of Iraqi civilians in Haditha, Iraq on Nov. 19, 2005, were dismissed on Sept. 12, 2007. A Grant of Immunity and Order to Cooperate with All Parties were issued to McConnell in order to further the fact finding process into the incident.

McConnell was charged Dec. 21, 2006 with dereliction of duty for allegedly failing to ensure the incident was reported accurately to higher headquarters and for failing to ensure the incident was immediately investigated.

McConnell was the Commanding Officer of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, at the time of the incident.

Lt. Gen. James Mattis, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command and the Consolidated Disposition Authority for cases related to the Haditha incident, ordered the dismissal of the charges.

Lt. Gen. Mattis determined that administrative measures are the appropriate response for any errors or omissions allegedly committed by McConnell. This determination is based upon a thorough consideration of information developed from rigorous investigations by Marine, Army, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigators, as well as evidence produced in previous Article 32 hearings relating to the Haditha incident.

Meanwhile Murtha cuts and runs from someone asking if he was going to apologize. First he lies and says the hearings are still going on. Then he asks the young man if he has ever served prior to launching into his own military credentials.




Four Marines have charges dismissed or have been exonerated. One has a recommendation from the IO for dismissal of charges. One hearing is pending after the Marine refused to take a fall. One hearing recommendation is pending and one is pending recommendation from General Mattis.

So far JAG and NCIS are batting 0.00 and Murtha is still a lying ass.

UPDATE 9/20/07:
My good friend Jonn over at This Ain't Hell has one of the best smackdowns of Murtha that I have yet to read. Here's a snip...

John Murtha is no Marine. He climbs over the bodies of fallen marines to call attention to himself - for the anti-war movement. He has learned that the anti-war movement insulates him from Congressional investigations for his double and dirty-dealings in his district which enrich him and his family. A real Marine wouldn’t use a fallen or troubled comrade to improve his own condition. Real Marines jump on grenades to shield their friends from the blast.

Go Get 'Em Jonn!