Eating Our Own (Joseph Farah On Politically Correct Prosecution Of Nation's Guardians Alert)

Worldnetdaily.com ^ | 08/09/06 | Joseph Farah

[goldstategop]

I'm getting a bad feeling about what I see happening to our troops in the field – at home and abroad.

I'm referring to the growing number of serious charges against U.S. troops in Iraq and some recent prosecutions of Border Patrol agents right here in this country.

First of all, I would like to remind everyone that we are at war.

We can never afford to forget that – not for a minute. We are at war with people on foreign soil who want to destroy America. And we are at war with people invading this country – some of whom certainly want to destroy this country.

I should also say that in any war, there are bound to be some excesses and atrocities committed by U.S. forces. And they should be punished.

So what's bothering me?

For one thing, the numbers. There are just too many charges being brought – charges that are destroying lives, ruining reputations and, surely, deterring other young men from wanting to serve their country.

Another thing that's bothering me is the zealousness of the prosecutions. It seems obvious to me that people sitting behind desks are rashly judging our men in the field – men who often have to make split-second decisions of life and death.

I've sounded off already on the charges against those now dubbed the "Pendleton 8." The way these men are treated – as if they are guilty before being proven innocent – is un-American and extremely unwise, especially in time of war.

I think back to other high-profile cases – or should I say trumped-up cases – like the one against Lt. Col. Allen B. West. Why we would want to drum out of our military honorable and brave men like this is beyond me. I think of the murder charges brought against Lt. Ilario Pantano.

Here at home, I am disturbed by the case against two Border Patrol agents – Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean. On Feb. 17, Alonso, 37, an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve and a former nominee for Border Patrol Agent of the Year, responded to a request for backup from Compean, 28, who had seen a suspicious van near the border town of Fabens, Texas.

Both pursued a suspect, a drug smuggler by the name of Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, who fled across the border to Mexico, but not before the agents saw what they believed to be a gun in his hands and heard shots fired. Both fired in return in an effort to stop his escape.

Instead of being given medals for heroism, the two agents were hit with charges of violating the illegal alien's civil rights. The illegal alien, with 800 pounds of marijuana in his van, was given full immunity from prosecution to testify against the agents. You the taxpayer even paid his medical expenses for getting shot in the buttocks.

It turns out Border Patrol agents are forbidden from pursuing fleeing suspects.

How about that? How much sense does that make?

Well, I guess it makes lots of sense if our goal is not really to stop, or even slow down, illegal infiltration of this country.

Won't you sleep better at night knowing that Border Patrol agents are forbidden from pursuing fleeing suspects?

Won't al-Qaida and MS-13 be glad to hear about this policy – if they haven't already?

Why wouldn't drug smugglers and coyotes continue to take chances with the knowledge that they can simply outrun those charged with protecting our border?

Both Compean and Ramos were found guilty and could each face 10 years in prison.

Are you outraged?

I am.

As Ramos explains: "How are we supposed to follow the Border Patrol strategy of apprehending terrorists or drug smugglers if we are not supposed to pursue fleeing people? Everybody who's breaking the law flees from us. What are we supposed to do? Do they want us to catch them or not?"

I guess not.

[goldstategop]

The outrageous prosecution of American soldiers and Border Patrol agents - our nation's guardians - has sent out two messages: Don't fight to win and don't catch illegal aliens. Political correctness is destroying reputations and lives in this country.

((Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)

[mo]

always remember that what a Demonrat can't accomplish in the ballot box, he will try to in the court...that's why the Supreme Court is really, in the end, their primary objective. FDR had to pack the Supremes to get his way.

[Go Army.com]

Not a peep of this in the pro facist media.