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May 16th,
2007 - Marine Tells Why No Haditha-Case Probe |
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Marine Tells Why No Haditha-Case
Probe At hearing, legal officer cites his lack of training By Rick Rogers San Diego Union-Tribune May 16, 2007 Camp Pendleton - Marine
Capt. Randy Stone yesterday argued for his military career, and freedom, at
the climax of a weeklong hearing into accusations that he failed to examine
the deaths of two-dozen people in Haditha, Iraq. In a Camp Pendleton
courtroom, Stone addressed the investigating officer who will recommend
whether he should face trial. Stone sought the chance to carry on a legacy of
military service that dates back to his grandfathers at Iwo Jima during World
War II. “I have faith in this
community and the military justice system to which I have devoted the past
four years,” said Stone, who was a legal officer for the 3rd Battalion, 1st
Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton at the time of the killings. Stone and three other
officers are accused of dereliction of duty for allegedly not investigating
the Nov. 19, 2005, incident in Haditha. In addition, three enlisted
Marines face charges of murder for allegedly killing the Iraqis after a
roadside bomb claimed one of their own. The defendants' attorneys have said
the deaths were an unavoidable part of combat against suspected insurgents. If Stone does proceed to
court-martial and is convicted, he would face two years in prison, dismissal
from the service and almost-certain disbarment. During his 25-minute
statement, Stone explained his decision not to investigate the Haditha
killings by members of the battalion's Kilo Company. At the time, he was
responsible for handling investigations and training Marines in the
military's laws of war. Stone said he received
almost zero training for his job before joining the battalion in Iraq in
September 2005. “Investigations were not
required for Iraqi civilian deaths that resulted from bona fide
troops-in-contact situations where U.S. forces were engaged by insurgent
forces,” said Stone, 34. Stone said that he had no
information suggesting a criminal act had taken place and that senior Marines
didn't ask questions about the incident. “I have wondered on so many
occasions how this went so wrong when I always had the best of intentions,”
Stone said. “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's comments came before
closing arguments by defense attorney Charles Gittins and Marine prosecutor
Lt. Col. Paul Atterbury. Atterbury argued that Stone
knew or had reason to believe the deaths of women and children in Haditha
were potential violations of the military's rules of engagement. “The evidence suggests that
Captain Stone did not do anything in response,” Atterbury said. Gittins described the
prosecution's case as an “illusion of the truth.” He went on to assert how
several higher-ranking commanders were more responsible for not investigating
the Haditha incident versus Stone. “The whole thing stinks,”
Gittins said. “You are going to pick the least experienced guy and hold him
responsible?” External link: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20070516-9999-1mi16haditha.html |