Robert Dean Stethem, American Hero, RIP
Posted on 12/20/2005 5:48:16 AM PST by SJackson
In June, we wrote about the 20th anniversary of hijacking of TWA flight 847 and murder of Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem by Hezbollah terrorists.
Stethem was a true American hero. Only 23 years old, he was tortured, beaten, and trampled to death by the Hezbollah terrorists for the crimes of being an American, a U.S. serviceman, and refusing--to his last breath--to denounce America.
We're sad to report that yet another prediction of ours has now come true. We predicted in June that Mohammad Ali Hamadi, one of the Hezbollah terrorists who murdered Stethem, would be released by the German government.
On Friday, the Stethem Family informed us that our worst fears have been realized and that Hamadi will not face justice for his brutal act of terrorism. Germany secretly released Hamadi to freedom in Lebanon.
Robert Dean Stethem, American Hero, RIP
The German government captured Hamadi in 1987. (Stethem's other three murderers--Imad Fayez Mugniyeh, Hasan Izz-Al-Din, Ali Atwa--remain free, and are believed to be in Lebanon, Iran, or Syria.) Hamadi was carrying explosives that were the same kind use in previous terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, Hamadi--who remains under indictment in the U.S.--was tried by the German government, not our. He was given life in prison without the possibility of parole. But there was always an understanding that Hamadi would be extradited to the U.S. to face justice, if the Germans ever released him.
Germany kept none of its promises and showed the world that it really has no resolve in fighting terrorism. The Stethem family learned Friday that Hamadi was released to freedom. Despite life without parole, Hamadi was up for parole twice and served only 16 years in prison. And unlike all other extraditions sought by the U.S. under an extradition treaty with Germany, Germany violated the extradition treaty and Hamadi's extradition was not granted. Reportedly, Germany did this for two reasons 1) to gain the release of a female German hostage, Susanne Osthoff (a German convert to Islam), from terrorists in Iraq (apparently, the Germans do negotiate with terrorists, and they trade terrorists for hostages); and Hezbollah has a strong connection with the ones in Iraq); and 2) in retribution for reported CIA terrorist camps in Europe. This is an outrage.
What's worse is that Germany released Hamadi clandestinely and provided armed security to escort him to freedom in Lebanon, where his two brothers and other family members are high-ranking Hezbollah officers. Hezbollah-dominated and Syrian-controlled Lebanon--where Hamadi is a hero for murdering Stethem--will never extradite Hamadi to the U.S. to face justice.
The Stethem family is very upset. And all of us should be, too.
Germany is supposed to be our ally in the War on Terror. But actions like freeing Hamadi clearly demonstrate otherwise. The fact that the U.S. government is not making a big deal out of this also speaks volumes.
Before 9/11, Hezbollah murdered more Americans than any other terrorist group. Both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times have confirmed that Hezbollah is a component of the Al-Qaeda network and is training Al-Qaeda terrorists at camps in Lebanon. Both have also reported that Hezbollah is training insurgents who murder our troops in Iraq. British Prime Minister Tony Blair recently reported that Qaeda explosives used in Iraq bear the trademarks of Hezbollah "craftsmanship." But instead of publicly denouncing the actions of the Hezbollah and the German government in allowing a Hezbollah terrorist and murderer go free, our government is making nice with the enemy.
Top ranking federal officials--U.S. Attorney Stephen Murphy III, FBI Special Agent in Charge for Michigan Daniel Roberts, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Special Agent in Charge for Michigan and Ohio Brian Moskowitz, Citizenship and Immigration Services official Carol Jenifer--recently broke pita at the Detroit-area mosque of one of Hezbollah's and Iran's top agents in the United States. They laughed with him about Hezbollah being on the State Department terrorist list, seeming to scratch their heads as to why it's on the list. They clapped enthusiastically when he described what's going on in Southern Lebanon as "resistance, not terrorism."
It's not rocket science to make correct predictions like we make on this site--that Hamadi would be set free or that Islamic Jihad frontman Sami Al-Arian would be acquitted. Clueless, spineless appeasers like Murphy, Roberts, Moskowitz, and Jenifer, and the German government are running the show--and that makes the prospect of terrorists going free very predictable.
Robert Stethem must be looking down from Heaven and trying to make sense of what is happening here on mortal earth. He was an American patriot and for that, faced a brutal, early death. He would have been around 43, today. Around the same age, Murphy, Roberts, Moskowitz et al are patriotic only to themselves and their aggressive ambitions--and each continues to be promoted. When President Bush said, "You are either on our side or the terrorists' side," his own federal officials who oversee these three must not have been listening. (Moskowitz' boss, ICE Director of Investigations Marcy Forman-Friedman, reportedly told other ICE officials that she's glad Moskowitz "smoothed things over with the Islamic community of Detroit." That, not catching terrorists, is the priority at ICE.)
A lot has changed in 20 years since Robert Stethem gave his life in service to America. And not for the better. There is only one thing that hasn't changed: Robert Stethem and his family deserve justice.
And they have yet to get it.
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UPDATE:
BREAKING SCHLUSSEL EXCLUSIVE: Germany Trades Terrorist Murderer of U.S.' Stethem for Hostage in Iraq
By Debbie Schlussel
Reuters reporter Philip Blenkinsop asks, "What did Germany do to free Susanne Osthoff and will the nation's first Iraqi hostage even come home?"
Answer: Germany traded the freedom of Hezbollah terrorist Mohammad Ali Hamadi, who tortured and murdered Navy Diver Robert Dean Stethem, for Osthoff (a convert to Islam).
Within three days of Hamadi's release, Osthoff was released. As the French might say, "Quelle coincidence!" (What a coincidence!)
And it's yet more proof that Hezbollah is working with Al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq. As Shia and Sunni extremists, respectively, the groups may hate each other, but they hate us more and long ago buried the hatchet to join forces, according to The New York Times.
Also, consider the fact that a German diplomat told Reuters several weeks ago that "the Geman diplomat's comment that told Reuters several weeks ago that "Osthoff's kidnappers likely wanted a ransom and that the government would not hesitate to pay."
So Germany does, in fact, negotiate with terrorists and denies justice in order to trade for hostages. Nauseating. See more below
Posted by Debbie at December 19, 2005 08:01 PM
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I spit on Germany. There is no honor in their government.
"So Germany does, in fact, negotiate with terrorists and denies justice in order to trade for hostages. Nauseating."
My good neighbors who are from Denmark swear that Germany still has much deep rooted hatred for the Jews that they still negotiate with the Muslim nations. It never died. Sickening. Flame away but history does repeat.
Germany is greatly admired by the terrorists. They liked Adolph...
We still haven't heard from the other 4 peace activists. Still negotiating a prisoner release, maybe?
Just another reason why we cannot trust the EUrotrash in the war on terror.
We like to bemoan Germany's wild-eyed liberalism and anti-Americanism, and that's too bad.
After 2 tours in Germany, there is so much about that country to really appreciate. Their traditions, history, and landscape are in many ways absolutely beautiful.
The real problem in Germany, and we haven't faced it, is that they still support their socialist past....their national socialist past.
Their allies in the past included Islam, they nurtured islamo-fascism of both formal (ba'athism) and informal (caliphism) varieties, they have not repented, and they desecrate the memory of this American hero because they have deep resentment of America and a desire to impose their brand of socialism on the world.
The Israelis wacked all the murderers of the Israeli athletes. America is too politically correct to pull something like that. Besides, Steven Spielberg may make a movie about it. Ooh, scary.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Wonder if getting this terrorist isn't now a job for the Delta Force or SEALs...
As for Germany, they're off my list of potential places to visit and items to buy.
Thanks for your nice words on my country. The Justice authorities of the State of Hesse have released Hammadi today, that´s right. But it´s also true that this guy has served 16 years in prison, and that this time is sufficient to bring justice according to the laws of my country.
As you might know - because it´s the same in the US - governments have no influence on the decisions of the independant courts. I suggest you think about that.
Now go on with spitting on my country.
I'm aware that there's no death sentence, and that sentences for murder in Europe are much lighter than the US. I was a little surprised that life without parole exists. What's it used for, and what legal circumstances change the "without parole" status.
BTW, if his extradition was denied to secure the release of a hostage as opposed to the existance of the death penalty in the US, unmentioned in the article, that's a very bad idea. Places German citizens in danger wherever they travel.
I respectfully beg your pardon. This whole global terrorist situation can make the most logical mind stray. Mine not fitting into the most logical category...
I am still sickened by this terrorists release.
...and more importantly, he is a UNREPENTANT extremist muslim terrorist and will CERTAINLY kill again. The blood will be on YOUR hands. (Germany)
Boiling Blood Bump!
I know that you didn´t spit on my country, I was just addressing ´all in one´. No offense intended.
Yes, we have life imprisonment without parole. But it´s usually only used for those who repeatedly kill/try to kill. Even child abusers can get that treatment, and it means that after the regular time in prison the inmate is sent to a special facilitiy (similar to a high-security mental hospital). When enough psychos think he may get out, the judge can order the release, but this doesn´t happen too often - tragically these cases mostly lead to another crimes. Probably 5% of all murderers get such a status.
The former German hostage Osthoff was released Sunday afternoon, today is Tuesday. Do you think terrorists would release their victim before the blackmailed fulfills the conditions? Surely not. So this has nothing to do with Iraq. It´s just that Hammadi was 16 years in prison, and that´s enough for our standards.
This is the first I've read of this here. Do you know anything about the extradition request? Was the death penalty involved in the denial, the usual reason for refusals. If it was, this is an instance I'd be comfortable having the prosecutors (US) take it off the table and let him spend life in jail. As I noted before, it it was to release the hostage, bad idea.
Agreed, I´d rather see "life imprisonment" meaning exactly that. But it´s not like that.
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