Lawmaker Apologizes To Marines For Remarks

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401003_pf.html

Lawmaker Apologizes To Marines For Remarks

By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 15, 2006; A03

A Republican congressman apologized yesterday to the Marines under investigation in the killings of two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq, last November, saying that statements he made about the case were taken out of context and that he did not mean to imply the Marines were guilty of wrongdoing.

Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) issued the apology as part of an agreement with lawyers for Marine Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, who alleged that Kline had damaged Wuterich's reputation.

SNIP

"As a retired Colonel in the U.S. Marines, I am especially proud of the sacrifices our men and women make day in and day out, especially in combat situations," Kline wrote. "And as a Marine officer, I would never want to publicly insinuate, implicitly or explicitly, that I have prejudged what took place that day on the battlefield or afterwards."

 

It would be hard for Murtha to claim he was quoted out of context concerning his cold blooded killer remark.

I doubt we'll hear from him concerning his attacks on the Marines involved in the Haditha action. He's dug his hole far too deep. But, he could take lessons from Kline on the responsibilities of retired Marine officers.

Kline said: "And as a Marine officer, I would never want to publicly insinuate, implicitly or explicitly, that I have prejudged what took place that day on the battlefield or afterwards."