MARADMINS : 303/06
R 060730Z JUL 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 303/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC SJA//
SUBJ/RETENTION AND PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS CONCERNING
THE HADITHA-HAMDANIA INCIDENTS//
POC//CMC (JAM) LTCOL COLWELL//DSN 223-8909//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE ALLEGED EVENTS AT HADITHA AND
HAMDANIA HAVE GENERATED INTENSE INTEREST BOTH IN THE
MEDIA AND CONGRESS. WE CAN REASONABLY ANTICIPATE THAT
CONGRESS WILL HOLD HEARINGS REGARDING THOSE EVENTS AND
WILL REQUEST THE PRODUCTION OF RECORDS THAT PERTAIN TO THEM.
2. ALL COMMANDERS SHALL TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO
RETAIN AND PRESERVE DOCUMENTS AND E-MAILS RELATED TO THESE
INCIDENTS, THEIR PLANNING, EXECUTION AND SUBSEQUENT REPORTING
AND ANY DOCUMENTS REFERRING TO ANY ASPECT OF THEM.
3. IF HQMC RECEIVES SUCH A PRODUCTION REQUEST, DOCUMENTS
WILL BE CLEARED THROUGH THE SJA TO CMC PRIOR TO PRODUCTION.
THE SJA TO CMC HAS CREATED A REVIEW PROCESS TO ENSURE
APPROPRIATE PRIVILEGES ARE PROTECTED, AND THAT RESPONSIVE
INFORMATION IS RELEASED WITHOUT HARM TO THE MILITARY JUSTICE
PROCESS.
4. COMMANDS RECEIVING REQUESTS FROM MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS FOR
DOCUMENTS RELATED TO HADITHA OR HAMDANIA SHALL NOTIFY CMC (PAM).
IN ADDITION, COMMANDS RECEIVING ANY REQUESTS FOR DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO THESE EVENTS (TO INCLUDE MEDIA AND FOIA REQUESTS)
SHALL NOTIFY CMC (JAD).//