MARINES, FIGHT'S ON - MIGHT YOU ENGAGE?

MARINES, FIGHT'S ON - MIGHT YOU ENGAGE?
by Andy Weddington
Saturday, 15 February 2014

"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice." Abraham Lincoln

Marines, and Americans all, below is a summary received this morning summarizing the ongoing legal battle(s) of Sergeant Larry Hutchins, U.S. Marine Corps.

Admittedly, I'm not intimately familiar with the case though, of course, have read (during the years) what is going on.

Not a judge advocate nor lawyer of any sort, I cannot speak to law. But this case, by all standards of fairness and common sense, defies logic. And begs the question, "What is justice?"

Therefore, as received, the below update is published verbatim.

Draw your own conclusions, engage however deemed appropriate, and please pass along to your contacts (and ask likewise of them) for awareness.

Perhaps force of public opinion can rightfully end what must surely be a nightmare for Sergeant Hutchins and his family.

Thank you!





All -

Sergeant Larry Hutchins, USMC

 

On 2/13/14 Sgt Hutchins’ arraignment for unpremeditated murder charges of an “Unknown Iraqi Male” in Hamnadiya, Iraq in April 2006 took place at Camp Pendleton.  This is the third time around.  Although his case has already been overturned twice (the second time by the highest court in the military justice system, The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF), The Navy Department insists on trying Sgt Hutchins again.  The fact that it is even possible to continue this constant barrage against Sgt Hutchins and his family boggles the mind.  To attempt to explain how this is not double jeopardy to the average, reasonable American citizen, is far too complicated to address here.  The simple fact of the matter is that the prosecution is, in fact under the military justice system, able to do it.  And needless to say, they are pursuing this once again.  In my personal opinion, this is so far beyond absurd, that I have no words to describe what they are doing.  However, given my familiarity with the case, I know why they are doing it.  And I will leave it at that.

So, all of this is taking place as this administration is not only freeing known terrorists who have killed Americans in combat, but they are also taking steps to allow these killers to emigrate to the United States!  Yes, you read that correctly.  If this is not complete insanity, I don’t know what is.  The military judge’s instructions a few days ago were to have the trial begin in late August of this year.  Between now and then, there are a couple of other legal hurdles that must be addressed to ensure that Sgt Hutchins receives impartial and fair representation by his assigned Marine Corps defense attorney, and that an impartial judge (who has not in some way already been influenced by this case that has dragged on now for seven years) will be presiding.  An attempt has already been made to have the navy and army re-try this case.  Both services have refused to touch it.  There are others details that I could address at this point, but I think what has already been stated is sufficient for now.  Know also that Sgt Hutchins has spent several years in the brig at Ft. Leavenworth, MCB Camp Pendleton and MCAS Miramar.  Those closest to him on the staff at the Miramar brig nearly unanimously recommended parole and clemency for him every year that the issue was addressed, only to have the commanding officer of the brig in all but one case, forward his recommendation up the chain of command to the Secretary of the Navy recommending disapproval.  We all know that this is not how the system works, there are obviously other factors at play here.  Again, that is all I will say about it, but I am sure that you can see exactly what is happening, as can I.  Sgt Hutchins is currently on active duty at Camp Pendleton (having been released this past July after CAAF’s decision… although there was a last minute attempt by the navy to keep him incarcerated indefinitely under their interpretation of the rules of pre-trial confinement).  Were it not for the tremendous efforts of his appellate attorney, Major Babu Kaza and former Vietnam Marine, novelist and former Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration, the honorable Bing West, Sgt Hutchins would still be sitting behind bars today.  You tell me how egregious this attempt by SecNav was!  

Sgt Hutchins is a model Marine.  To his credit, after the way that he has been treated by his own government, he still is one of the most squared away, gung ho Marines you will ever meet.  His command thinks so highly of him that they have recently recommended him for the Navy Achievement Medal, as well as the Combat Action Ribbon (that he unbelievably never received).

This, again my opinion, is an absolute travesty.  And for those unaware, Sgt Hutchins' family and some others close to him have for some time now been on an Al Qaeda hit list.  There is currently an individual who was living in Alaska (who converted to Islam, as well as his wife) who has been locked up by the FBI for approximately three years for making the above mentioned threats. He will most likely be released within the next few years.

THIS THIRD RE-TRIAL OF A MARINE WHO RISKED HIS LIFE IN IRAQ BY ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, AND IS NOW BEING PUT ON TRIAL ONCE AGAIN BY THIS SAME GOVERNMENT IS TOTAL CRAP…. AND THAT IS PUTTING IT MILDLY!!  And he is not the only one.  There are other military personnel locked up in Ft. Leavenworth for up to 40 years (that the public is unaware of) for similar situations that Sgt Hutchins was involved in during combat.  At the heart of these injustices are the idiotic voluminous Rules of Engagement that our troops must abide by that puts them at great personal risk (the movie plot line of “ Lone Survivor” is another example of this)… and our enemies know these rules and use them against us.  The enemy has no rules, they simply capture and behead our troops.  THIS WHOLE THING STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN!!!  

PUBLIC OPINION IS CAPABLE OF CHANGING A LOT OF THINGS.  MANY ARE NOT AWARE OF MOST OF WHAT HAS BEEN STATED ABOVE.  NOW YOU ARE.  I WOULD URGE YOU TO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE!  FORWARD THIS MESSAGE ON TO AS MANY AMERICAN CITIZENS, CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOSTS, CONGRESSMEN, SENATORS, PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. THANKS. 

Semper Fi,

Rog