[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H5585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SUPPORTING THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE FOR ACCUSED MARINES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, only those who have been to 
war can truly understand the hell of war. I have not been to war, but I 
know enough to understand that when our men and women are in harm's 
way, we should be respectful of the extreme dangers they encounter. 
Most of us cannot imagine the stress that those in uniform undergo when 
they have to make a split-second decision as to whether to fire or be 
fired upon, to kill or be killed.
  Recently in Afghanistan, the vehicle convoy of U.S. Special 
Operations marines stationed at Camp Lejeune was struck by a suicide 
bomber during an ambush. After the incident, why I do not know, an Army 
official felt compelled to speak out in the press. Whether 
intentionally or not, this Army officer implicated the marines in the 
killing of Afghanistan civilians by stating, ``Americans have killed 
and wounded innocent Afghan people.''
  His comments were irresponsible and without respect for his fellow 
comrades. The four branches of the military are a family. No one in the 
military family should be in the newspapers criticizing a fellow member 
of that family who has been faced with death. And, because of his 
comments to the press, these marines have been publicly indicted as 
indiscriminate killers.
  Mr. Speaker, President Theodore Roosevelt once said, ``A man who is 
good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be 
given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled, and 
less than that no man shall have.''
  To ensure due process for these marines, all military officials 
should refrain from making public comments or expressing their opinions 
about the incident until the investigation is complete and all the 
facts are verified. Mr. Speaker, our military servicemembers, the 
military family, and certainly these marines deserve no less.




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