SEALs Who Caught High-Profile Terrorist Now Face Court-Martial

Human Events ^ | 11/26/2009 | Rowan Scarborough

[blackbart.223]

"They have enough to worry about already without fear of retribution from dumb ass muslim fanatic."

Read this carefully. Get back to me.

[Paleo Conservative]

I left a message on their discussion forum.

[antiRepublicrat]

When you start up the prosecution machinery against your own guys on so slight, so insignificant a thing as this

It's a tough one. We are strict on our treatment of prisoners. OTOH, not much damage was done. IF *** BIG IF *** the SEALs acted inappropriately, then you'd think a Captain's Mast would be in order, not a full court martial.

But then we don't know the whole story. Perhaps it started as a Captain's Mast, but the SEALs refused because they know the prisoner is lying, and refusal usually elevates an issue to court martial. Now they get to show their innocence in the court martial.

[Girlene]

From antiRepublicrat's comment:

....."It is because I care about our military. We are a professional military with high standards, not a bunch of street thugs who would punch a restrained captive. "

You replied:
You said it very well, and I would agree 100%, even if many other FReepers here don't seem to get it. Thanks for your clear statement of the matter at hand.

Well, I think the whole story is not known at this point. From what I've read, this is major overreach by the convening authority, Maj Gen. Charles Cleveland. What is the point? To send a message that "we are not street thugs"? Here's some more info from CNN, Navy SEALs accused of punching accused Falluja plotter

...........The attorney said he expects the SEALs will not waive their constitutional right to confront the accuser in court, which could cause a logistical challenge. Abed is believed to be in a U.S. military detention center overseas, and it is unclear if the military would want him brought to the United States for the court-martial. ..............

Now why wouldn't the military want to get to the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Why would it be so difficult to let Abed tell his side of the story at a court martial? Could it be that NCIS knows these terrorists don't hold up too well under cross? Could it be just having his presence in front of a jury panel would likely guarantee an acquittal? What is the purpose of this trial?

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

Read this carefully. Get back to me.

You don't think I missed this the first time, do you? In case you do, let me clear it up. I didn't.

And again, it's in everyone's interest to make sure that these things are public, if it involves charges and/or accusations like this. Hiding things and making them secret, when someone is charged with something is not in anyone's benefit, not in our form of government.

[antiRepublicrat]

The Commanders in WWII had no doubts about their decisions when it came to total victory.

And they also gave strict orders for treatment of EPWs. Would you people please understand the difference between combat and treatment of prisoners!

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

Well, I think the whole story is not known at this point.

I would think this would be true in this case and in many court cases. All the information that is known and can be brought to trial is not going to be released in public before the trial.

So, I think we can agree on this one.

[I_Like_Spam]

With no reliable witnesses against them, I don’t see the point of charges against these seals.

Whose going to testify? The captured terrorist?

The alleged victim has no credibility as a witness, upon cross examination he would be impeached as a vermin that would say anything. Of course that’s in a civilian court, perhaps the rules are different in a military court.

[antiRepublicrat]

He's lucky these SEALs didn't empty their magazines into his Islamist ape skull.

That would have been fine with me, and probably fine with the Navy too. But our military has always had policies about what you do to them should you decide to capture them instead of kill them.

And quit tap dancing. It's more than obvious you haven't seen a day of combat in your entire life.

I think my knowledge of the military's rules for treatment of prisoners shows it is more likely that I did than you. Our soldiers don't have to be gentle with prisoners (the takedown procedure upon capture is in no way gentle), but they are not allowed to physically abuse prisoners. In fact, they are bound by law to protect prisoners from physical abuse.

[Snurple]

For (allegedly) popping this idiot in the mouth??????????

On what planet do you reside...better yet...what kind of dope are you smoking?

[behzinlea]

Now they get to show their innocence in the court martial.

They are not required to prove their innocence, numbskull. It's the prosecution's job to show why this terrorist animal puke should be believed beyond a reasonable doubt.

And they shouldn't have been charged criminally--or even at captain's mast--in any event. Even if the charges were true, an oral counseling would have been more than sufficient.

[Girlene]

IF *** BIG IF *** the SEALs acted inappropriately, then you'd think a Captain's Mast would be in order, not a full court martial..

They allegedly refused.

[behzinlea]

I think I know a helluva a lot more than you do about these things, but I’ll let you play pretend because you have such little credibility on this thread.

[Girlene]

So, I think we can agree on this one.

Great. Now what do you think about "why" the military might not want to bring Abed to the US to tell his side of the story?

[webstersII]

“my guess is that the charges will be dropped before then.”

Why do you say that?

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

Great. Now what do you think about "why" the military might not want to bring Abed to the US to tell his side of the story?

It would be only a guess, of course, but I would think they would be reluctant to have him exposed in any other environment, other than one which they can totally control, so to get the maximum intelligence out of him. I think it would diminish their ability to do that, if he were to be brought into this kind of thing.

As I said, just a guess on my part...

[Lower55]

LoL WoW

Not working here.

[blackbart.223]

So what you are telling me is, it is okay to reveal the identities of these guys who where operating in a war zone in a foreign country thus maybe causing danger to them and their families? And why? A murdering butcher got a fat lip.
This isn't a civil matter it is a war.

[Star Traveler]

If someone is being charged, then yes it’s important for it to be public. But, if it’s only an internal investigation, then it does not need to be public (and it shouldn’t be).

[Irisshlass]

The difference in WWII and the way we fight today, they adhered to Geneva Convention Rules during WWII. And they did their best to follow those rules unlike the nazis and other members of the axis powers who tortured and abuse their prisoners. But in the Geneva Convention these accords are only granted to uniformed military prisoners not those in civilian attire who blend nicely in with the population. So by them declaring a war on us and having no regard for rules of engagement or the treatment of prisoners they should be treated and dealt with like the barbaric animals that they are. What you also fail to realize is under the new rules of engagement from the Ocommie administration such as don't fire unless you are fired upon and the kid glove treatment of these animals you have and one in the same doctrine of lets play war with both hands tied behind our backs and do everything we can to kiss the enemy's ass so as not to offend the muslim world.

If you were in combat as you say you were and you had been captured by these animals how do you think you would of been treated. Would you have been given three hots and a cot? A prayer rug? A nice exercise area? And your Bible to read at will? Would you have been read your Miranda rights and treated with the up most respect? Needless to say you probably would of been shot immediately or used to make the next beheading video for YouTube. Not to say that you probably need a haircut anyway. But besides that you know exactly in your little political correct mind how you would of been treated. So stay in the little fantasy world of the clintons and the gores and the ocommies and see what the view is like in a couple of years.