HUMAN EVENTS Petition To Free the SEALs

Human Events ^ | Dec. 10, 2009 | Human Events

[La Enchiladita]

Secretary of Defense The Pentagon Washington, DC

Dear Secretary Gates:

We, the editors and staff of HUMAN EVENTS, and the many Americans who have attached their signatures to this petition, hereby request your personal intervention to dismiss the charges against Navy SEAL operators SO2 Jonathan Keefe, SO1 Julio Huertas and SO2 Matthew McCabe.

These three men are charged with abusing a terrorist they captured in a daring nighttime raid on or about 1 September 2009. On that night, they -- as part of a platoon from SEAL Team 10 -- captured and detained Ahmed Hashim Abed, one of the most barbaric and dangerous terrorists in Iraq. The terrorist -- in a move that is literally right out of the al-Queda training manual -- complained of abuse, apparently alleging he was struck in the stomach.

We had hoped that the SEALs’ commanders would dispose of this matter at the lowest level -- with a scolding and perhaps a few hundred pushups -- for anyone actually guilty of inflicting an inconvenience on this bloody-handed barbarian. But on 29 September 2009, Gen. David H. Petraeus signed a letter authorizing MGen. Charles T. Cleveland to dispose of the allegations of misconduct. In that letter, Gen. Petraeus said that MGen. Cleveland could, "...dispose of these matters in any manner you deem appropriate. This includes the authority to convene courts-martial at any level up to and including General Courts-Martial and to refer charges concerning these individuals to any court-martial."

The three now face special courts-martial next month. We believe their commanders -- including General Petraeus -- have failed you, the SEALs and the American people by not preventing the matter from going this far.

You are the person next in line above General Petraeus in the chain of command. You can, legally under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, intervene to dismiss the charges against the three SEALs and direct that they be restored to duty.

We respectfully request that you do so forthwith. For this matter to continue -- and to place the honor and fighting future of these three men at stake -- is manifestly a gross injustice.

Respectfully submitted,

[La Enchiladita]

Please add your name to the petition. Thank you.

[La Enchiladita]

Ping

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Done. We should have done this for the Haditha Marines. I guess we couldn't accept that our government would actually shoot itself in the foot and take us with it.

[DoughtyOne]

I did, but I wasn’t asked to confirm my existence like other petitions. I hope this carries weight.

[La Enchiladita]

Ping

[La Enchiladita]

Ping

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks for the ping, Dita! I'm on board!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[La Enchiladita]

Thank you, (((Conor))) and everyone. I learned about this petition on Michael Smerconish’s radio show last night. I’m signing all the petitions I can find.

[rocksblues]

Signed!

[montag813]

Human events is about a week late on this.

www.SupportTheSEALs.com has an existing petition with more than 25,000 signers.

[montag813]

I did, but I wasn’t asked to confirm my existence like other petitions. I hope this carries weight.

The SupportTheSEALs.com Petition DOES require confirmation. I really don't get why Human Events and Malkin are promoting this un-verified one a week later.

[jazusamo]

Thanks, done.

[La Enchiladita]

I signed that one also, which goes to local VA legislators. It was posted on FR by blueyon. The Human Events petition goes to SECDEF Gates. Frankly, I’m looking to sign as many of these as possible and glad it is being fought on many fronts. There can’t be too many!!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks La Enchiladita.

[DoughtyOne]

I went to the link you provided and signed the more official looking form.

Thank you.

D1

I don’t understand either, why people on our side would support the sight without proper ident.

Take care.

[montag813]

I signed that one also, which goes to local VA legislators.

It goes to Congress, military brass, SecDef and other parties. Of course the problem is that Gates is limited by statute as to how much he can intervene in a case already filed.

[Czar]

Marked for action tomorrow morning.

[BIGLOOK]

I'm with you on this ......but it's never going to happen at this point; the Special Courts Martial will happen.

What we can hope for is;

1. The court will select a jury of peers, all SEALs or UDT.

2. During the trial when the plaintiff is still on the stand, the judge will call a recess, the jury and the judge will retire, all JAG lawyers and those behind the bar will leave the court room, the Marine guards will take a smoke break, leaving only the defendants and the plaintiff behind, alone, to strike a sensible solution to this matter, one that the defendants should have arrived at five years ago.

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

[Phileleutherus Franciscus]

Please add your name to the petition. Thank you.

I'll be happy to do so. I'm pretty sure, though, that since the SEALS turned down an admiral's mast and insisted on the court martial, that they're pretty confident they will be acquitted.