Posted on 11/27/2009 8:32:10 AM PST by Irisshlass
The military is throwing the book at three terrorist-hunting Navy SEALs who captured one of the most wanted in Iraq.
It seems one of the commandos may have punched Ahmed Hashim Abed, who intelligence reports said planned the bloody ambush of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah, Iraq, five years ago.
Instead of plaudits, three SEALs face court-martial in January. And conservatives are expressing outrage to HUMAN EVENTS.
Abed, whom the U.S. command designated "Objective Amber," was nabbed in darkness Sept. 3 by a platoon of commandos from SEAL Team 10, based in Norfolk.
The next few hours proved a bit comical. The SEALS took him to an Iraqi police station to enter the country's judicial system. But when the higher-ups were notified, they told the sailors to get him back. He was too valuable. After hours of negotiations, the Iraqis gave him back and Abed ended up in a cell inside the U.S.-secured Green Zone.
Sometime along the way Abed alleged he was punched and showed a bloody lip to prove it.
The military is hypersensitive to any charge of prisoner abuse or any hint of a coverup. A SEAL officer immediately notified the chain of command. Next thing the SEAL platoon knew, they were writing out statements and being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
The SEALs were sent packing back to Norfolk. They will be arraigned next Monday and face separate special courts-martial. The case was first reported Tuesday by FoxNews.com.
Three other SEALs -- two officers and an enlisted man -- in the unit have given statements as witnesses. According to one statement obtained by Fox, the SEAL told investigators he looked in on the detainee and did not see any injuries.
The charges were brought by the commander of the special operations component of U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla.
The three SEALs charged:
Matthew McCabe, special operations petty officer second class (SO-2). Offenses: dereliction of performance of duty for willfully failing to safeguard a detainee; making false official statement; and assault.
Jonathan Keefe, SO-2. Dereliction of performance of duty and making false official statement.
Julio Huertas, SO-1. Dereliction of duty; making false statement and impediment of an investigation.
The March 2004 Fallujah atrocity was a turning point in the war. Insurgents ambushed four Blackwater agents, all former commandoes. They died in a hale of gunfire and grenades. Insurgents then burned the bodies and dragged them through town. Two were hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River, for the world media to see.
The gruesome picture was a wake up call to the U.S. military. It now knew it faced a vicious enemy able to spring attacks throughout the country.
Conservative bloggers are ridiculing the military for filing criminal charges against three brave warriors.
"Navy SEALs betrayed by our own government! Who will be next," one blared.
Another website said, "PC rubbish at its worst."
Elaine Donnelly, who heads the Center for Military Readiness and fights against a political corrected armed forces, said she is appalled.
This prosecution is a disturbing vision of the demoralizing legal entanglements that our soldiers will face in the future if they capture murderous enemies in a war zone," she told HUMAN EVENTS. "Now that the Obama Administration has decided to play along with terrorists who demand an undeserved show-trial in New York City, terrorists know exactly how to exploit for their own benefit military regulations as well as civilian law. The prosecuting authorities thoughtless lack of judgment in this case reminds me of the canary in the coal mine, an unmistakable sign of dangers to come."
A few days ago, when this was breaking, one poster here opined that this may be the military’s way of forestalling any public court (including the court of public opinion) of kangaroo-trialling these sailors. They would be advised by the military tribunal (privately) that they would not be harshly punished, and would subsequently be fined some trivial amount and/or “confined” to quarters on some particularly miserable winter weekend afternoon (probably during playoff season).
Eaxctly. Dead terrosists dont complain about split lips.
The way our military is treated in this war I wouldnt blame any of them if they just left post, and bought a ticket home on the first commercial flight.
There’s NO evidence that they acted unprofessionally. This terrorist could have smacked his face against the wall himself, or maybe he fought and they had to subdue him.
Notice the military automatically believes the terrorist and charges our own men. How putrid.
SO-2
In 22 and a half years in the Navy, I never saw this paygrade...
In response to your comment I hate to say it but it is the thought process from people like you that the socialist communists use to try and tie the hands of our military behind their backs. This is an ungoing saga started in Viet Nam where the socialist politicians applied rules of engagement upon the military to turn them into world policemen. It all comes down to if you are going to fight a war and win, you fight the war. Use all tools and measures necessary to accomplish victory. If not you become the political paper tiger the Obama and the socialist communists would like our military to be in order to further their agenda. So the American people need to decide whether we are going to allow the communists in Washington to continue to degrade and humiliate our military while continuing to kiss the asses of the enemy that fill their coffers, or draw the line and demand victory.
Obama and Co dont have any brains
I know that we hated the libs blaming everything on Bush...is this paypack for eight years of blaming everything on Bush??? I wonder if Obama called the Commander and said book them!!! Remember it took 90 days to make a decision on whether to send more folks to Afganistan. I hardly believe he knew anything about this case until the media mentioned it. You give Obama too much credit.
Obviously you never severed. This is horse $hit. The SEALs are a military force and not a police force.
Looks like this administration is sending our sons and daughters into dangerous situations and then court marshaling them for doing their duty and/or defending themselves. This SUCKS!
“Hate to say it, but the SEALs deserve punishment if they acted unprofessionally in their duties. I just hope the guy resisted in order to justify the punch.”
When you start up the prosecution machinery against your own guys on so slight, so insignificant a thing as this then I’d say your tired of being a great nation.
Now they have a taste of what our government is all about. When those SEALS get out of jail, they should use their training to turn against the US Government.
This is fantastic anti-obama propaganda. Stories like this are the best thing that can happen...
Yah these young men have no jobs to come home to. The military is great - work with a team, top-notch equipment, a challenge. Plus training in use of lethal weaponry. We need our young trained like this. The PC wave has crested, imho, is now collapsing due to internal contradictions (as the marxists say). Be of good cheer. This is a cause celebre for us, the good guys!
Support our seals!
Sergeant Eddie Dohun was based upon the real-life SSGT Charles Dohun. Just parenthetically, it didn’t quite happen that way in real-life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bridge_Too_Far_%28film%29#cite_note-18
Special Ops 1, Special Ops 2??? I don’t know.
we’re only getting it from one side, though.
And what side is that?
“These guys refused a Captains Mast (Article 15) on advice of their attorney.”
The SEAL Code
Loyalty to Country, Team and Teammate
Serve with Honor and Integrity On and Off the Battlefield
Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow, Never Quit
Take responsibility for your actions and the actions of your teammates
Excel as Warriors through Discipline and Innovation
Train for War, Fight to Win, Defeat our Nations Enemies
Earn your Trident everyday
United States Navy SEAL
In times of war or uncertainty there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our Nations call. A common man with uncommon desire to succeed.
Forged by adversity, he stands alongside Americas finest special operations forces to serve his country, the American people, and protect their way of life.
I am that man.
My Trident is a symbol of honor and heritage. Bestowed upon me by the heroes that have gone before, it embodies the trust of those I have sworn to protect. By wearing the Trident I accept the responsibility of my chosen profession and way of life. It is a privilege that I must earn every day.
My loyalty to Country and Team is beyond reproach. I humbly serve as a guardian to my fellow Americans always ready to defend those who are unable to defend themselves. I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions. I voluntarily accept the inherent hazards of my profession, placing the welfare and security of others before my own.
I serve with honor on and off the battlefield. The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of circumstance, sets me apart from other men.
Uncompromising integrity is my standard. My character and honor are steadfast. My word is my bond.
We expect to lead and be led. In the absence of orders I will take charge, lead my teammates and accomplish the mission. I lead by example in all situations.
I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight.
We demand discipline. We expect innovation. The lives of my teammates and the success of our mission depend on me - my technical skill, tactical proficiency, and attention to detail. My training is never complete.
We train for war and fight to win. I stand ready to bring the full spectrum of combat power to bear in order to achieve my mission and the goals established by my country. The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required yet guided by the very principles that I serve to defend.
Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail.
I sincerely doubt this terrorist came quietly. And if ONE Seal acted unprofessionally and punched the guy, I do not see the indictments against them as JUST punishment.
It seems to me that commanders are of the Wesley Clark, John Murtha, John Kerry persuasion, and are too quick to throw the book.
It would take more time and space than is available to tell you just how little I care if this thug got a belly punch and/or a split lip in the rough and tumble of capture.
vaudine
Yeah! If this report is accurate, then the entire SEAL platoon was transfered back to Norfolk. This Jihadi couldn’t have done better if he’d had a grenade.
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