Sharratt family continues to hold John Murtha accountable

It has been a privilege to get to know the Sharratt family. They have been treated so unfairly, by people who should know better. Who could blame them for wanting to hold John Murtha accountable? Not me.

Exonerated Marine to sue Rep. Murtha

One of the Marines cleared in the killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad.

Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005.

Charges were later dropped against all but one of the Marines, with a military prosecutor calling allegations against Mr. Sharratt “incredible.”

Noah Geary, a Washington County lawyer representing Mr. Sharratt, said his client will file suit today in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh accusing Mr. Murtha of violating his constitutional rights as well as slander for statements about the Haditha incident. A 1:30 p.m. news conference has been planned to announce the suit.

“He just held innumerable press conferences, just repeatedly kept saying this was cold-blooded murder,” Mr. Geary said of the congressman.

Pundit Review Radio was the first show to interview exonerated Haditha Marine Justin Sharratt,

We also spoke to Justin’s father Darryl on several occassions, inlcuding after he spoke to Congressman Murtha. You see, Congressman Murtha, who convicted these Marines in the press, is the Sharratt’s congressmen. Can you imagine. Even worse, it took the Sharratt family more than fifty phone calls before Murtha gave them the time of day.

In a second interview, we talked to Darryl about the stress this incident has put on his family,

All of our Haditha coverage can be found here.

Haditha dad Darryl Sharratt has a message for John Murtha

Darryl Sharratt takes John Murtha to the woodshed in this ad. This November, Murtha faces some serious competition from Lt. Col. Bill Russell. Here’s Blackfive’s description,

He’s an Army vet, 9/11 survivor, and small business owner who is challenging smear merchant/corruptocrat Rep. John Murtha. I saw Russell at the fantastic Pennsylvania Leadership Conference last month (where the photo above was snapped). He is a staunch conservative, a true American patriot, and he deserves your support. If there were ever a time for the grass-roots to come together and help an underdog Republican candidate make a difference, this is it.

We were fortunate enough to get to know both Darryl, and his son Justin, one of the six Haditha Marines exonerated so far.

Haditha Marine Justin Sharratt,

We also spoke to Justin’s father Darryl on several occassions, inlcuding after he spoke to Congressman Murtha. You see, Congressman Murtha, who convicted these Marines in the press, is the Sharratt’s congressmen. Can you imagine. Even worse, it took the Sharratt family more than fifty phone calls before Murtha gave them the time of day.

In a second interview, we talked to Darryl about the stress this incident has put on his family,

All of our Haditha coverage can be found here.

Murtha now 0 for 6 in his Haditha Marine Convictions

Yes, another Haditha Marine has been charged, investigated and fully exonerated. Yes, you’ve heard that before. Six Marines have gone through the process and all six have been acquitted.

Pundit Review Radio was the first show to interview exonerated Haditha Marine Justin Sharratt,

We also spoke to Justin’s father Darryl on several occassions, inlcuding after he spoke to Congressman Murtha. You see, Congressman Murtha, who convicted these Marines in the press, is the Sharratt’s congressmen. Can you imagine. Even worse, it took the Sharratt family more than fifty phone calls before Murtha gave them the time of day.

In a second interview, we talked to Darryl about the stress this incident has put on his family,

All of our Haditha coverage can be found here.

You’ll also want to see Gary Gross’ coverage of Murtha and Haditha at Let Freedom Ring, which can be found here.

UPDATE: Gateway Pundit reminds us that Obama didn’t have a problem with Congressman Murtha actions,

Obama sided with his fellow antiwar Democratic colleague:

Colmes: Did Murtha say that in the right way?
Obama: You know, I don’t have the exact quotes in front of me. What I know is here is a guy who served our country. I would never second guess John Murtha… I think he’s somebody who knows of which he speaks.

Wrong!
Isn’t Barack Obama a lawyer?
Certainly he should know about the presumption of innocence?… You’d think so, anyway.
Or, maybe this is just the typical Far Left stance on opposing the US military and might?

Obama owes the Haditha Marines an apology!

A lot of poeple do.

Congressman Murtha screws the entire country, not just Haditha Marines

Is there a more loathsome member of Congress?

It’s nice to see this kind of report on CBS News, but it would have better if they brought themselves to utter the word D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T. Just the latest installment in guess the party.

Another Haditha Marine Cleared of All Charges; Murtha still in good standing with Dem colleagues

Charges dropped against Marine in Haditha case

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Charges against a US Marine involved in the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha were dropped on Friday, just moments before the start of the soldier’s court martial.

Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum had been due to face a military trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault over his role in the killings in November 2005.

Exonerated Haditha Marine Justin Sharratt on Pundit Review Radio
Having been accused of “cold blooded murder” by his own congressman, John Murtha, Justin Sharratt joined us to describe what this ordeal has been like for him and his family,

Darryl Sharatt, Justin’s father, joined us to describe the pain this has caused his family. He also told us an incredible story about Murtha. Mr Sharratt made 53 phone calls over 18 months, before getting a return call from Murtha! Can you imagine? A congressman, YOUR congressman, accusing your son of “cold blooded murder of innocent women and children” and not having the dignity to return a phone call for eighteen months! Talk about outrageous.

The Haditha incident was a tragedy for all involved, Marines and Iraqi’s alike. There is no question about that. Finally, we are getting to a point of consensus around the incident itself, it was NOT as it was widely reported, a “massacre”.

Let’s never forget what John Murtha did to the Haditha Marines! Gary Gross at Let Freedom Ring has a timeline of Murtha’s travesty that is a must read.
Here is a visual reminder,

The fact that this guy, Murtha, is a member in good standing in the Democratic Party is a disgrace. The fact that he is in a leadership position in the House, after trying to become Speaker on the backs of these innocent Haditha marines, is inexcusable.

PBS Frontline gets it right on Haditha

Full Disclosure: I didn’t get to watch the PBS Frontline report on the so-called Haditha incident. However, two people whose opinions on such matters I greatly respect say that PBS got it right.

Jules Crittenden, “Rules of Engagement” remains a worthwhile and balanced look at the situation.

Uncle Jimbo, aka James Hanson, Retired Special Operations Master Sergeant, “In a shocking turn of events the PBS documentary on Haditha was overwhelmingly even-handed and convinced me they should face no punishment. The show was fair and I have no complaints about bias or slant. This is what PBS ought to do all the time.”

For a detailed look at the Haditha incident, don’t miss Uncle Jimbo’s analysis at Pajamas Media.

Pundit Review has been on the front lines, so to speak, covering the Haditha incident through the eyes of the family of exonerated Haditha Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt. We had the first radio interview with Justin after he was cleared of all charges,

“With the dismissal of these charges LCpl Sharratt may fairly conclude that he did his best to live up to the standards, followed by U.S. Fighting men throughout our many wars, in the face of life or death decisions made in a matter of seconds in combat. And as he has always remained cloaked in the presumption of innocence, with this dismissal of charges, he remains in the eyes of the law - and in my eyes - innocent.”

Having been accused of “cold blooded murder” by his own congressman, John Murtha, Justin Sharratt joined us to describe what this ordeal has been like for him and his family,

Darryl Sharatt, Justin’s father, joined us to describe the pain this has caused his family. He also told us an incredible story about Murtha. Mr Sharrattmade 53 phone calls over 18 months, before getting a return call from Murtha! Can you imagine? A congressman, YOUR congressman, accusing your son of “cold blooded murder of innocent women and children” and not having the dignity to return a phone call for eighteen months! Talk about outrageous.

John Murtha should have been censured by Congress for his shameless exploitation of the Hadita Marines. Murtha disgraced himself and tarnished the reputations of dozens of young men who were half a world away fighting and dying for their country. The true travesty of the Haditha incident is how it was handeled by the media, and self-promoting political scum like John Murtha.

Darryl Sharratt got emotional talking about how his son’s desire to be a career Marine had been ruined. He wants Murtha to be held accountable but he’s realistic about the chances of an official reprimand from Congress (ed. note: that he so richly deserves). His frustration is understandable,

Bruce McQuain from QandO was also with us. Bruce, a Vietnam veteran, spent 28 years in the Army and added some great perspective and observations.

The Haditha incident was a tragedy for all involved, Marines and Iraqi’s alike. There is no question about that. Finally, we are getting to a point of consensus around the incident itself, it was NOT as it was widely reported, a “massacre”.

John Murtha: a multi dimensional disgrace

John Murtha’s disgraceful use and abuse of the Haditha Marines was certainly the low point in congressional behavior during the war on terror.

Now, Murtha (D-PA) is trying to add another title to his list of accomplishments, this time, as the Biggest Porker in Congress.

Good for the New York Times for reporting this,

Mr. Murtha led all House members this year, securing $162 million in district favors, according to the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense. In all, eager members in both houses enacted 11,144 earmarks, worth $15 billion. Taxpayers may be inured to $113,000 for rodent control in Alaska or a million for Idaho’s weed management. Mr. Murtha’s universe is a far more complicated and costly creation of interlocking contractors who continue to feed at the public trough despite reviews questioning their performance…

… Every one of the 26 beneficiaries of Mr. Murtha’s earmarks in last year’s defense budget made contributions to his campaign kitty, a total of $413,250, according to the newspaper Roll Call.