Denied Justice By the Country He Defended

Human Events ^ | May 28, 2009 | Katie O'Malley

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

Memorial Day 2009, however, marks the first of what may be 25 Memorial Days that Army Ranger 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna will spend behind bars in Ft. Leavenworth. In March of this year, Behenna was sentenced to 25 years for killing known Al Qaeda operative Ali Mansur. Behenna has maintained, and forensic evidence supports, that the killing occurred in self-defense

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

Folks can help: Folks can also sign this petition http://www.petitiononline.com/MBehenna/petition.html

And they can contact their senator or congressman, or Michael's Mary Falin.............202-225-2132

Senator Inhoffe.....202-224-4721 Senator Coburn...202-224-5754

[SeaHawkFan]

When the charges were first filed, his parents, though shocked, had reason to be hopeful. His mother is an Assistant United States Attorney and his father is a retired Special Agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Michael’s parents have invested their entire careers pursing justice and knew that ultimately the truth would prevail. Michael’s mother Vicki explains, “I told Michael to trust the justice system. It is a fair system where a search for the truth is its ultimate goal. I’m sickened to know now that there was not attempt at my son’s trial to give the jury the truth.”

His mother is naive.

[the invisib1e hand]

His mother is naive.

No, you are a cynic.

[Gay State Conservative]

I've often wondered if,in Courts Martial,officers and enlisted men picked as jurors are subject to any overt...or covert...pressure from above in “politically sensitive” cases like this.Could it be that some Deputy Assistant Associate Junior Secretary of Defense,a holdover from the Carter years,sent the word down that those voting “not guilty” shouldn't hold their breath waiting for their next promotion...or something even worse?

[Lurker]

Michael’s mother Vicki explains, “I told Michael to trust the justice system. It is a fair system where a search for the truth is its ultimate goal.

Truth in a Coutroom? Hahahahahahahah....hohohohohhohoho....hehehehehe.....stop it.....you're killing me....

You don't get Truth in a Courtroom. You get the Law. One has almost nothing to do with the other.

[Frenchtown Dan]

I can’t begin to express how outraged I am about this. If this American hero serves 25 years in prison for killing an enemy, than what American young man or women in their right mind would want to serve in our armed forces to protect our country, only to be put behind bars if they have to shoot? Absolutley sensless.

Might as well take away our soldier’s guns.

[SeaHawkFan]

I speak from personal experience.

Did you not hear about the guys in MA that spent 30 yearsin prison for murder because the FBI wanted to protect a couple of Mafia informants who actually committed the murders?

Ever hear of the case of Edwin Wilson? If not, you need to read this:

http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/wilson102703.pdf

There are many others. Chances are very good that by the end of this year, you will be learning of another US Attorney and an FBI office exposed as covering up racketeering by power officials in a state government.

[SeaHawkFan]

You don't get Truth in a Courtroom. You get the Law. One has almost nothing to do with the other.

In too many cases, you don't even get the law.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

In two weeks, Michael’s case will come before Gen. Townsend. The general will review the record, the recommendation of the prosecutors and the clemency package. He can choose to set aside the findings of guilt, call for a new trial, or reduce Michael’s sentence.

[Dick Bachert]

Since my kids were old enough to leave home alone, I’ve told them to STAY THE HELL OUT OF THE “SYSTEM” BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS TOTALLY SCREWED!

Still is!!!

[Tahoe3002]

These are the primary reasons I shred my juror summons.
Have for years and will continue until the Constable shows up and takes me in to court.

I will not participate in some court room drama that has no real intention of finding the truth.

[SeaHawkFan]

You are one of the people who should be on a jury to stand for the pursuit of the truth.

[Alberta's Child]

These are also the primary reasons why the U.S. will never again have a military draft. After Vietnam, nobody in their right mind would submit to forcibly serving a government as thoroughly corrupt as unprincipled as ours.

[Alberta's Child]

I'm with SeaHawkFan on this one.

I'll always respond to a jury summons, but I've never served on a jury. I'm always kicked off by one side or the other for some reason . . . perhaps because I come across as a very objective, analytical person who isn't swayed by emotion.

[Condor51]

It was during the final transfer and interrogation that ... Mansur attacked him, obliging Behenna to fire upon and kill Mansur in self defense. .... His grateful nation.. chose instead to charge him ... with the premeditated murder ...

'Premeditated murder'

How can his actions have been 'Premeditated'. That is utterly absurd.

• Premeditated:
  'planned in advance'
  'to meditate, consider, or plan beforehand'
  'To plan, arrange, or plot (a crime, for example) in advance.'
  'To reflect, ponder, or deliberate beforehand.'

  And from a Legal Dictionary:

• Premeditated:
  having been thought about at some point before being committed, premeditated killing
  also : having been formed prior to commission of the act, premeditated malice

• At the MOST this should have been a charge of Manslaughter.
  Law: the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought.

Appeal, appeal, appeal and appeal.
The charge itself was a miscarriage of justice.

IMO we have waaaaaaay too many Libs in the Military who are JAG Officers. And I don't think that's by accident -- Infiltrate then destroy from within.

[Tahoe3002]

They always found a reason to disqualify me. IMHO, the attorneys were looking for people whom they could manipulate.

Additionally, years ago, I went as summoned. I was threatened by the bailiff that the judge would find me in contempt of court if I did not provide specific personal information, required by state law. Information like my marital status, mine and my wife's employer, job descriptions, years employed there, etc.

[itsahoot]

I can’t begin to express how outraged I am about this.

Are you angry at the man who let this become fashionable? GW Bush, failed miserably to protect them men and women he sent into battle. I never heard him say one word in defense of the Haditha heros, that Jack Murtha dragged into Courts Marshal.

GW could not even bring himself to pardon Scooter Libby, or the border guards. He was a gutless failure and I voted for him both times, because his opponents were infinitely worse. Or at least that is what I thought at the time.

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

Jesus Mary and Joseph...I’ll tell you what I outraged by...the eat our own mentality that you display here.

For God sake this is about one of OUR BOYS...put in harms way, asked to do a tough job...and a Brady violation that may land him in jail for 25 years...

I am so sick of the Bush haters

How utterly naive and bs to imply that our military will fair equally under Bush v. Obama...gimme a break...

I am so sick of those who claim to be on the same side of the aisle they are making more ill than the left...

[itsahoot]

I am so sick of the Bush haters

If you love the men so much, maybe you shouldn't think so highly of the man who put them in the position to be charged with crimes, because they defended themselves. He stayed above the fray, letting our heros sludge in trenches, with JAG officers making judgement about their every move.

[bigheadfred]

Behenna’s mom was on the prosecution team that got Tim Mcveigh executed. Just thought you might like to know.

Pat