Pirate's Cove

Though it is bitter-sweet

The U.S. Marines have dismissed charges against an officer accused of failing to report accurately the U.S. killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005.

Capt. Lucas McConnell was granted immunity by Camp Pendleton’s commanding officer, Lt. Gen. James Mattis, and will cooperate in the remaining Haditha prosecutions, the Marines said in a statement.

McConnell, 30, monitored fighting in and around Haditha but was not at the scene when women and children were among those killed in two Iraqi homes after a Marine beloved by his unit was killed by a roadside bomb.

"Lt. Gen. Mattis determined that administrative measures are the appropriate response for any errors or omissions allegedly committed by McConnell," the Camp Pendleton statement said.

Of course, cooperation in the military doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing as in a civilian court. I guess the question will be, what does he know, and will it help or hurt the remaining Marines?

As to another Marine

In a hearing this month, Wuterich admitted he shot some of the victims, but in a proper response to attacks on Marines.

"Engaging was the only choice: the threat had to be neutralized," Wuterich said about an initial fatal shooting of five Iraqi men near a car.

Of course, to people like Murtha, Kennedy, and all the little liberals, the only threat that needs to be neutralized is the United States.