A lot of lawyers will tell you that sometimes, the best strategy when you are being accused, is to sue your accuser in order to intimidate him.  (In fact, people often do this in daily life — in order to avoid guilt, they lay accusations at others).

That’s exactly what is going on here:

A Marine Corps staff sergeant who led the squad accused of killing two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq, will file a lawsuit today in federal court in Washington claiming that Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) defamed him when the congressman made public comments about the incident earlier this year.

Attorneys for Frank D. Wuterich, 26, argue in court papers that Murtha tarnished the Marine’s reputation by telling news organizations in May that the Marine unit cracked after a roadside bomb killed one of its members and that the troops “killed innocent civilians in cold blood.” Murtha also said repeatedly that the incident was covered up.

The problem is that if you accuse your accuser, you better make sure that you’re clean:

Source: Haditha evidence implicates Marines

Investigators reportedly finish initial review in deaths of 24 civilians

WASHINGTON – Evidence collected on the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha supports accusations that U.S. Marines deliberately shot the civilians, including unarmed women and children, a Pentagon official said Wednesday.

Agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service have completed their initial work on the incident last November, but may be asked to probe further as Marine Corps and Navy prosecutors review the evidence and determine whether to recommend criminal charges, according to two Pentagon officials who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity.

… A parallel investigation is examining whether officers in the Marines’ chain of command tried to cover up the events.

Ooops.