On Condition of Anonymity …
BY Herschel Smith
18 years, 3 months ago
The AP was reporting earlier in the day that:
WASHINGTON – Evidence collected on the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha supports accusations that U.S. Marines deliberately shot the civilians, including unarmed women and children, a Pentagon official said Wednesday.
Agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service have completed their initial work on the incident last November, but may be asked to probe further as Marine Corps and Navy prosecutors review the evidence and determine whether to recommend criminal charges, according to two Pentagon officials who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity.
My readers know that I have been closely following the Haditha and Hamdania stories. Note this little remark in the text of the article:
“… according to two Pentagon officials who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity.”
I have said it in prior posts and will repeat it here. “By the mouths of two or more witnesses” is the criteria, and these must be credible, reliable and consistent witnesses. See my Hamdania Marines and the Biblical Rules of Evidence (a very well-read commentary across the Globe based on Google Analytics). Things are not to be done in secret. Things are discussed openly, confessions are not coerced, and a finding of guilt must rely on sure and certain evidence from two or more witnesses. Anything else is girlish gossip. I was very disappointed to see that the Marine Corps Times picked this up and ran with it.
Here it is again: ” … on condition of anonymity.”
So who were these “Pentagon officials?” Let me be the first out of the gate to call them pusillanimous, cowardly weasels. They prejudiced the case without there having been a trial where witnesses and evidence could be heard and cross-examined.
Cowards. Who were these “officials?” These weasels can come do battle with me here at the Captain’s Journal at any time. Here at TCJ, I am not anonymous. You see my real name associated with this post. I am not a weasel. These “officials” are.
On August 2, 2006 at 6:59 pm, Republicanpundit said:
Herschel, Great article. We must do everything we can to insure that a fair trial is conducted, if there is one.
I applaud Sgt. Wuterich and hope he burns that idiot Murtha.