Defend the Defenders » Since When Do Soldiers Need Defending?

DefendtheDefenders.org raises money and awareness for the defense of soldiers and Marines whose actions in the heat of combat are being second-guessed.

January 13, 2010

It has taken me some time to actually write this, to admit to myself that it is time to close www.DefendTheDefenders.org.

Words cannot describe the emotional toll of having to defend our brave service members from their own government. The pain is all the more profound when it's your own son's life on the line. With each new case the government brings forward, the wounds in my heart are reopened. These are America's sons who have put their life on the line everyday, day after day, defending our country to then be charged with a crime for doing their job on the battlefield. DefendTheDefenders.org has been able to help these young people. Your generous donations have helped with the legal expenses many of our brave heroes have incurred while defending themselves in a courtroom. With your help, we have aided them during a very difficult time. We have shown these brave heroes that they and their actions are so very greatly appreciated. DefendTheDefenders.org's website has been a prototype demonstrating to others the importance of being pro-active, of utilizing the internet to inform the public, to shine light on the case, to fight to get your side of the story made public versus doing nothing and fading into the dark. All involved in these situations find it overwhelming and depressing. From first hand experience, the scars from this type of battle run deep.

In 2008, DefendTheDefenders.org was able to provide the funds for the legal defense of the heroes of the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC). All were cleared of all charges and have since gone back to their duties, grateful to the many who took the time to care and to give to their legal defense.

None of this important work would have been possible without the generosity and prayers of American patriots like you. The love of your country that beats in your heart that drives you to want to help these men and women can be put to good use. With two wars raging and unnamed actions around the world, our serving men and women are very much in harm's way. They will need your support. Whether it's criminal investigations into the CIA or the recent prosecution of US Navy SEALs, your help is needed now more than ever.

There are many fine organizations and groups aiding in the legal defense of our fighting men who have been charged with crimes for doing their job on the battlefield. One tireless defender of our defenders has been The Thomas More Law Center which has been defending Lt. Col. Chessani (USMC) over charges from the Nov. 19, 2005, attack on Marines in Haditha where a firefight killed nine insurgents and another 15 civilians who largely had been used as shields by the insurgents. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani was the highest-ranking officer charged in the Haditha incident, in which a series of original investigations found nothing wrong. Ultimately the military restarted the case with a Board of Inquiry which found that Chessani was innocent of misconduct and should not be demoted but still should retire. According to defense counselors, it was a "mixed result." Please refer to: thomasmore.org

Then there are the Navy SEALs being prosecuted by their own government and accused of mishandling a terror suspect who is thought to have orchestrated the 2004 murders of four Blackwater security guards. Please refer to: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=119003

I am thankful to God that DefendTheDefenders.org and all its supporters have been able to insure justice for so many of America's finest. We must always remember those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice—God Bless them and their families and God Bless America.

Merry Pantano
DefendTheDefenders.org