For those who have stopped by to comment on my post (there's also recent posts about Murhta here and here  and here )about Murtha's outrageous betrayal of the Marines in Haditha because I had the temerity to think these Marines deserve a complete investigation and to be considered innocent until proven guilty.  Isn't that supposed to be the American way? 

If you think all reports of supposed atrocities result in a guilty verdict one needs to read the story of 2LT Ilario Pantano.  People had him tried and convicted prior to his trial back in 2005.  There were supposed "eye witnesses" to this situation but once actual evidence was examined and tried 2LT Pantano was NOT GUILTY!  So, the dominent media tried and convicted a dedicated Marine officer without the benefit of trial and they were wrong.

Ilario Pantano has written a letter to the editor - Mr. Murtha's Rush to Judgement:

A year ago I was charged with two counts of premeditated murder and with other war crimes related to my service in Iraq. My wife and mother sat in a Camp Lejeune courtroom for five days while prosecutors painted me as a monster; then autopsy evidence blew their case out of the water, and the Marine Corps dropped all charges against me ["Marine Officer Cleared in Killing of Two Iraqis," news story, May 27, 2005].

So I know something about rushing to judgment, which is why I am so disturbed by the remarks of Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) regarding the Haditha incident ["Death Toll Rises in Haditha Attack, GOP Leader Says," news story, May 20]. Mr. Murtha said, "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."

In the United States, we have a civil and military court system that relies on an investigatory and judicial process to make determinations based on evidence. The system is not served by such grand pronouncements of horror and guilt without the accuser even having read the investigative report.

Mr. Murtha's position is particularly suspect when he is quoted by news services as saying that the strain of deployment "has caused them [the Marines] to crack in situations like this." Not only is he certain of the Marines' guilt but he claims to know the cause, which he conveniently attributes to a policy he opposes.

Members of the U.S. military serving in Iraq need more than Mr. Murtha's pseudo-sympathy. They need leaders to stand with them even in the hardest of times. Let the courts decide if these Marines are guilty. They haven't even been charged with a crime yet, so it is premature to presume their guilt — unless that presumption is tied to a political motive.

ILARIO PANTANO

Jacksonville, N.C.

The writer served as a Marine enlisted man in the Persian Gulf War and most recently as a platoon commander in Iraq.

For a complete history of 2LT Pantano's struggle you'll find the complete story at Euphoric Reality.  Apparently, there's a soon to be book on he and his family's ordeal.

Andi's World received an email from a Sgt Mark Russak who is a Pennsylvania resident and currently serving in the Anbar Province, Iraq.  Sgt Russak visited Rep. Murtha's office and sent Rep. Murtha a letter regarding the Haditha event.  To say that Sgt Russak is a bit steamed about Rep. Murtha's actions is an understatement.  BTW - Sgt Russak is a registered Democrat or was!