Soldier Enters No Plea on Treason Charges

Reuters from Seattle, Washington ^ | 25 June 2004

[dufekin]

A National Guard soldier captured on videotape telling undercover agents posing as Muslim extremists how to cripple U.S. battle tanks declined to enter a plea at his arraignment on treason charges on Friday, the Army said.

Specialist Ryan Anderson, a 26-year-old Muslim convert and gun rights advocate who was arrested last February as his unit prepared to ship out to Iraq, faces a court-martial beginning Aug. 16 at Ft. Lewis near Tacoma, Washington, where his unit is based.

[dufekin]

Still waiting for a far more famous traitor to pay the price for giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

But it's nice to see that at least the military takes treason, sedition, and crimes against America seriously. If only our civilian courts did so too.

The treason charge won't fly because he didn't give aid and comfort to an actual enemy--insofar as I can tell. But this is a deadly serious problem.

[Poohbah]

Soldier Enters No Plea on Treason Charges

Looking forward to the guy dancing Danny Deever...

[Poohbah]

The treason charge won't fly because he didn't give aid and comfort to an actual enemy--insofar as I can tell. But this is a deadly serious problem.

He sought to make war on the United States. That's close enough for government work.

[ICX]

Specialist Ryan Anderson, a 26-year-old Muslim convert

GET THESE F*CKERS OUT OF THE MILITARY!

[proudmilitarymrs]

"The treason charge won't fly because he didn't give aid and comfort to an actual enemy--insofar as I can tell. But this is a deadly serious problem."

Just when does AlQ become a "real" enemy?

[proudmilitarymrs]

sorry, that should read "actual"

[xm177e2]

I think we don't actually want to give death sentences in these cases because we want to constrast our mercy with our enemy's chopping off of heads. It's much easier politically just to throw them in jail for a very long time.

[kcvl]

"I wish to desert from the U.S. Army. I wish to defect from the United States. I wish to join al-Qaeda, train its members and conduct terrorist attacks."

National Guardsman Ryan Anderson, on an FBI sting videotape

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Another Tim McVeigh.

[dufekin]

He tried to give aid and comfort to the enemy, but it wasn't the real enemy. He only gave aid and comfort to undercover agents posing as the real enemy. Were he shown to have given aid and comfort to any real bona fide members of al-Qaida, he would be a traitor, provided two witnesses could testify to the same overt act. Did he do so? Probably; there's certainly enough targets of opportunity to be found. Can it be proven? Not likely, from what the article tells us, which in the interests of national security, might be appropriate. It's a minor semantic difference, but he's still guilty (okay, innocent until proven guilty) of conspiracy to wage war against the United States.

[dufekin]

Hopefully, we will have the "testicular fortitude" to keep this likely traitor behind bars as long as he shall live and therefore prevented from participating in terrorist acts.

[proudmilitarymrs]

okay,in peace time, legally, yes. But arent' circumstances different when we are at war? Please forgive my ignorance. I'm just trying to understand this. We arent' "playing" at this, we ARE at war.

[dufekin]

As for treason, peacetime or wartime is irrelevant. The Constitution states clearly in Article III, Section 3:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

A good explanation of the treason section can be found at:

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/article03/24.html

Basically, my understanding of the Constitution is that it requires an actual overt act in adhering to a real Enemy, not just an operative posing as an enemy. That doesn't mean that this goon isn't guilty of grave crimes against the United States. There's just no evidence in this article that supports treason. He is very dangerous for America and should never live as a free man; perhaps long-term solitary confinement is in order.

[proudmilitarymrs]

Thanks, I do appreciate it. Much more to ponder on this. So when is a "sting" not a "sting"?

[VeniVidiVici]

... a 26-year-old Muslim convert and gun rights advocate...

This is an interesting descriptive phrase. I don't think I've ever seen this before.

I think it would've been more apt if they had said "... a 26-year-old Muslim convert and terrorist wannabe".

[Tailback]

Specialist Ryan Anderson, a 26-year-old Muslim convert and gun rights advocate

Exactly, I consider myself a 2nd amendment supporter but McVeigh and this goofball give myself and other 2nd amendment supporters a bad name.