They Eat Their Own Young, Don't They?

What's Amazing to Me Is, Of All Places, The NY Times Is Talking About It....


Check out this NY Times article about a federal judge that actually has a little intellectual ability:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a defamation case against Rep. John P. Murtha and ordered the Pennsylvania Democrat to give a sworn deposition in the case.

A Marine Corps sergeant is suing the 18-term congressman for alleging ''cold-blooded murder and war crimes'' by unnamed soldiers in connection with the deaths of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha.

The deaths became prominent in May 2006 when Murtha, who opposes the Iraq war, said at a Capitol Hill news conference that a Pentagon war crimes investigation will show Marines killed dozens of innocent Iraqi civilians in the town in 2005.

''You're writing a very wide road for members of Congress to go to their home districts and say anything they choose about private persons and be able to do so without any liability. Are you sure you want to do that?'' Collyer said, adding later, ''How far can a congressman go and still be protected?''

Collyer said she was troubled by the idea the lawmakers are immune from lawsuits regardless of what they say to advance their political careers.

Of course giving this story a little ink and newsprint is a simple play for the Times, particularly since Murtha isn't running for anything this year and no one outside the state of Pennsylvania pays much attention to anything he says or does.

Still, I'm surprised that the Times is covering the story, considering how they usually participate in circling the troops and ignoring things like this in favor of the "Bush Lied, soldiers died" rhetoric delivered on a day by day basis.

Heh...About Time...

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