ANN ARBOR, MI – Following an American military adage to “ride to the sound of the guns,” the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national, public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced today that it plans to file a brief in support of Arizona’s immigration law.

The Law Center’s announcement came just hours after Federal District Court Judge Susan Bolton, a Clinton–appointee, blocked the most important provisions of the law from taking effect.  Mexico and the ACLU intervened in the case in support of the federal government’s position.  Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has vowed a swift appeal to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, commented, “This is a matter of America’s sovereignty and security, and every patriotic American must get involved.  If we can’t defend our borders from attack by illegal immigrants, in time we will lose our country.  What confidence should we have in an Attorney General who, without even reading the law, accused Arizona of racial profiling?  Patriotic American must show they stand with Arizona in this matter.”

Continued Thompson, “Arizona has the right to protect the safety of its citizens and prevent the massive economic damage being done to its institutions by illegal immigrants who have no right to be in our country in the first place. It’s clear that the federal government is shirking its responsibilities to enforce the law for political reasons. So the legal issue becomes whether Arizona can step in and do the job with state laws consistent with federal law, or whether federal law has totally preempted the ability of Arizona to act.”

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life.  It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America.  The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities.  It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

ANN ARBOR, MI – He defended our Nation for over twenty-three years . . . often away from his wife and children . . . so that we could be home safely with ours.  All patriotic Americans owe a debt of gratitude to this American hero. 

After a protracted four and a half year legal ordeal over the “Haditha massacre” - a massacre that never happened - LtCol Jeffrey Chessani completed his final day of active duty service in the United States Marine Corps last Friday, July 16, 2010.  Thus ended the promising career of one of America’s most effective combat leaders in Iraq—a political scapegoat to appease the anti-war press and politicians.

LtCol Chessani served three combat tours in Iraq as well as serving in the First Persian Gulf War and in Panama, receiving numerous awards and honors. At the time of the Haditha incident, he was commander of the 3rd Battalion (“The Thundering Third”), 1st Marines—one of the most decorated units in the history of the Marine Corps.

This loyal Marine officer faced criminal charges as a result of a legitimate combat action taken by four of his Marines after being ambushed by insurgents in Haditha, Iraq, on November 19, 2005. He cared deeply about the young Marines entrusted to his command, and refused to “throw them under the bus” to save his own career.

On November 19, 2005, at approximately 7:15 a.m., a Marine convoy was rolling through Haditha, Iraq — a terrorist stronghold.  Suddenly, a roadside bomb went off, destroying a Marine Humvee, killing one Marine and seriously injuring two others.

The Marines immediately received fire from the ambushing insurgents, who were shooting from nearby civilian-occupied homes. A four-man fire team responded as trained: they cleared several houses occupied by the armed insurgents, and in the ensuing room-by-room, house-by-house gun battle, it was reported eight enemy were killed.

Tragically 15 civilians also died.  In urban combat, where insurgents purposefully use civilians as human shields, civilian casualties are tragic, but not uncommon.  In fact, sometimes the insurgents themselves kill civilians to achieve a propaganda victory by blaming the Americans.

LtCol Chessani immediately reported the deaths of the 15 civilian Iraqis to his superiors.   Upon hearing of the 15 civilian deaths, not one of LtCol Chessani’s superiors ─ including top generals ─ considered it unusual.  Not one ordered a further investigation.  In fact, they commended him for a job well done.

However, several months later, a known Al Qaeda propaganda operative instigated an inflammatory Time magazine news article written by reporter Tim McGirk – later proven to be false – accusing the Marines of massacring innocent civilians.   

Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha, a leading anti-war critic, saw his opportunity and jumped in.  Murtha was head of the House military appropriations subcommittee –a position with significant power over the military.  He echoed the Time magazine story.  

Murtha appeared on several major television networks and publicly accused the young enlisted Marines of “cold blooded” murder and Marine officers of a “cover-up.”  He blamed it all on the stress of being in Iraq too long.  Incredibly, these accusations were made even before the investigation was completed.

Murtha was the same person caught on tape negotiating bribes with Arab Sheiks during the FBI’s 1980 Abscam investigation – he was an un-indicted co-conspirator in that case.

The trumped-up charge: failing to properly report and investigate the November 19, 2005 incident.  The Government did everything it could to convict LtCol Chessani.  It spent millions of taxpayer dollars, employed over 65 Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents ─ the largest investigation in that agency’s history ─ and granted immunity to scores of witnesses, all in their attempt to make Jeffrey and the “Haditha Marines” political scapegoats.

Lt. Colonel Paul Ware, USMC, an Investigating Officer who heard testimony in several cases involving the charged enlisted Marines, blasted the credibility of the government witnesses and expressed concern that the allegations were nothing but a tactic “to erode public support of the Marine Corps and mission in Iraq.” He went on to say:

 “Even more dangerous is the potential that a Marine may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy . . ..”

Retired General Thomas McInerney, former Joint Force Commander and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, called the prosecutions of the Haditha Marines “despicable.”  He warned:

 “We cannot fight a war like that . . . We’re not taking care of our people.”

Evidence of what our nation lost by the unjust prosecution of LtCol Chessani, can be garnered from a few excerpts from his official Combat Fitness Report, a required annual evaluation of a Marine officer’s performance prepared by his superiors.  It covered the period of September 2005 to February 2006 ─ which included the date of the Haditha incident:

•  “Leads Marines from front in every operation.  Demonstrates moral courage every day.  Doesn’t hesitate to report bad news fast or contest unrealistic plans/poor concepts.  Despite the complexity and size of his AO [area of operations], he always maintains a calm, cool demeanor.”
• “Always seeks advantage over complex, diverse insurgent enemy.  Truly one of the finer thinkers in this COIN [counterinsurgency] environment.”
• “One of the top 3” infantry/cavalry battalion commanders “of 13 who have served with RCT –2 [the regiment] during OIF.  A superb leader, who knows his men, knows the enemy, knows his business.  Doesn’t attract a lot of fanfare; just gets the job done to an exceedingly high standard.”
• “Long ball hitter; recommend selection for promotion to Colonel and TLS [Top Level School].”

The Reviewing Officer, Major General Huck added his comments: “Top notch officer with outstanding potential.  Promote and select for TLS [Top Level School].  Post TLS slate for Regimental command and subsequent joint tour.  Unlimited potential and value to the Marine Corps.  Capable of the most challenging assignments.”

The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and detailed military lawyers, LtCol Jon Shelburne, USMC, and Capt Jeffery King, USMC, successfully defended LtCol Chessani throughout his prosecution.  The criminal charges against Chessani were dismissed on the grounds of Unlawful Command Influence.  The government lost its appeals of that dismissal.

Not giving up its quest for a scapegoat, the government then convened a Board of Inquiry to determine allegations of misconduct.  On December 11, 2009, the Board of Inquiry ruled that LtCol Chessani was not guilty of misconduct, but stated he must retire without loss of rank.  And on June 25, 2010, the Secretary of Navy announced his acceptance of the military Board of Inquiry findings. 

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life.  It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America.  The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities.  It does not charge for its services.  The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

James Madison once said the Happy Union of these States is a wonder; their constitution a miracle; their example the hope of Liberty throughout the world.

As we celebrate America’s birthday with friends and family this weekend, please remember to thank our Nation’s defenders.  Freedom isn’t free, and it is through their sacrifices and the sacrifices of our Founding Fathers that we celebrate this great holiday.

From Lexington and Valley Forge at the birth of our nation, to Iraq and Afghanistan today, America’s soldiers have fought for Freedom and in defense our Nation.  The Fourth of July is a time to remember and honor the sacrifices of all our fighting men and women.  

I want to take this time to remember the sacrifice made by LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, USMC, who the Thomas More Law Center was privileged to defend against politically motivated criminal charges.  LtCol Chessani honorably served three tours of duty in Iraq and was considered one of our Nation’s most effective combat commanders.  Yet he was made a political scapegoat to appease those who opposed the war.

We also remember the sacrifices of Captain Michael Martino, USMC, and Major Gerald Bloomfield, USMC, who died in Iraq in defense of our country.  Their sacrifices are memorialized at the foot of the Mt. Soledad Cross, which the Law Center defended against attacks by an ACLU backed lawyer. 

Our dearly bought liberty is now in danger from enemies within our gates as well as from abroad.  Today, America stands alone as the last great hope for Western Civilization.  This is a time for Patriotic Americans to take action. Best wishes for a safe and happy Independence Day.

May God continue to bless America.

Sincerely yours,

Richard Thompson
President and Chief Counsel
Thomas More Law Center

Listen and Watch Tim McGraw's tribute to America's Fallen Heroes..."If You're Reading This."

Dear TMLC Friends and Supporters:

From Lexington and Valley Forge, to Normandy, Korea, and Vietnam and now to Iraq and Afghanistan, America’s military forces have bravely fought for Freedom and in defense of our Nation.  Memorial Day is a time to remember our brave fighting men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation with their very lives.

 "So to the indifferent inquirer who asks why Memorial Day is still kept up we may answer, it celebrates and solemnly reaffirms from year to year a national act of enthusiasm and faith. It embodies in the most impressive form our belief that to act with enthusiasm and faith is the condition of acting greatly. To fight out a war, you must believe something and want something with all your might. So must you do to carry anything else to an end worth reaching." [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. at an address delivered for Memorial Day, May 30, 1884, at Keene, NH]

 

Let us not only take the time to remember the heroic sacrifices of our military throughout our nation’s history, but also to remember the heroic sacrifices our combat men and women are making in Iraq and Afghanistan today. 

Let us take this time to pray for our troops who have died in battle, and for their loved ones who still mourn their great loss. 

Let us also pray for our troops who are in harms way today.  This Memorial Day I close with a poem which reminds us of the true price of freedom. 

Freedom Is Not Free

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
He'd stand out in a crowd.
I thought how many men like him
had fallen through the years.
How many had died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom is not free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
when everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
with interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington...
No, freedom is not free.

Author Unknown

May God continue to bless America.
 
Sincerely yours,

Richard Thompson
President and Chief Counsel
Thomas More Law Center

ANN ARBOR, MI – Despite objections from military commanders, a vote to repeal the ban on homosexuals serving in the military is planned for this Thursday, May 27th, in both the Senate and the House. 

The planned vote violates a commitment Congress made to the Armed Forces that a study would be completed before any vote was taken to repeal the long-standing ban on homosexuals serving in the military.  The broken commitment is the result of immense pressure placed on the Washington politicians by homosexual advocacy groups.

However, today the four Services Chiefs, in separate letters, voiced their opinion that tomorrow’s planned vote was breaking a commitment to the men and women of the Armed Forces that their voices would be heard before any change on the statutory ban.

The letter of General George W. Casey, the Army Chief of Staff, was typical of the sentiments of all four Service Chiefs.

“I remain convinced that it is critically important to get a better understanding of where our Soldiers and Families are on this issue, and what impacts on readiness and unit cohesion might be so that I can provide informed military advice to the President and Congress.

I also believe that repealing the law before completion of the review will be seen by the men and women of the Army as a reversal of our commitment to hear their views before moving forward.”

 See all four letters by clicking below.

• General Casey (USA) Letter
• General Conway (USMC) Letter
• Admiral Roughead (USN) Letter
• General Schwartz (USAF) Letter

The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is encouraging responsible members of Congress not to vote for any bill, regardless of its language, that has as its aim the ultimate repeal the ban.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, commented, “Repeal of the ban on homosexuals serving in the military has nothing to do with making our Armed Forces more effective.  It is already the best military force in the world.  Repeal of the ban is nothing but a political payoff to homosexual advocacy groups for their campaign support.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life.  It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America.  The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities.  It does not charge for its services.  The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

Additional links:

http://cmrlink.org/CMRDocuments/Casey ltr to McCain DADT.pdf
http://cmrlink.org/CMRDocuments/Conway ltr to McCain DADT.pdf
http://cmrlink.org/CMRDocuments/Roughead Letter to McKeon DADT.pdf
http://cmrlink.org/CMRDocuments/Schwartz Letter to McKeon DADT.pdf