Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Posted on 12/14/2009 7:29:11 PM PST by 444Flyer
Forty members of Congress are calling on the military commander who ordered the court martial of three Navy SEALs over the alleged punching of a terrorist to dismiss the charges.
The letter, circulated by Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), was sent Thursday to Army Major Gen. Charles T. Cleveland, commander of Special Operation Command Central. Gen. Cleveland ordered the prosecution of the three SEALs.
“In our opinion, prosecutorial discretion should have been exercised,” the 40 congressmen said. “Failing that, we respectfully and strongly urge you to exercise your leadership authority, stop the impending court martial and exonerate these men.”
Earlier, 33 House Members had signed a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates asking him to intervene in the case. That letter had been circulated by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.). Military law experts told CNSNews.com, however, that the Defense secretary’s ability to intervene in a court martial could be limited.
U.S. congressmen representing two of the SEALs’ home districts signed the letters. Only Republican members signed the letters.
Rep. Bob Latta, who represents the Ohio's 5th Congressional District that includes Perrysburg, Ohio, signed both of the letters. Perryburg is the hometown of one of the three SEALs, 24-year-old Petty Officer Second Class Mathew McCabe.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
Only 40?
how do we fight this? What is the most effective way?
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
All Republican. I find it illuminating that not one Democrat saw anything wrong with this.
I wish this article listed the congressmen who signed on so I could see if my congressman signed it. I’m forwarding this article to him anyway as a means of urging him to sign it.
This would have been a prime opportunity for THE ONE to demonstrate to Americans he has a pair by announcing dropped charges and that terrorists better never mess with our military's best. Instead we get crickets and disheartened soldiers with their hands tied behind their backs while terrorists get no such restrictions against them.
If military leaders from the great battles in our history were to be apprised that the word of terrorists in a WAR SCENARIO superceded the word of our troops, they'd be rolling over in their graves.
“SEALs arraigned in Norfolk as protesters rally in support”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402803/posts
“Government Has Yet to Provide Evidence to Support Its Prosecution of Navy Seals”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402782/posts
“A fat lip? Or a black eye for the DoD?”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401209/posts
“New Ad Urges Public Support for Court-Martialed Navy SEALs - Video”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2400710/posts
“Clubbing Our Seals”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395650/posts
“HUMAN EVENTS Petition To Free the SEALs”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405737/posts
“Free the Navy SEALs Now”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405087/posts
“Cease and Desist The Prosecution of 3 Navy Seals - Petition”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2404481/post
“Navy SEALS May Go to Prison for Giving a Fat Lip to Islamic Terrorist”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394743/posts
“Navy SEALs Face Assault Charges for Capturing Most-Wanted Terrorist”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393662/posts
Pathetic.
If the latter, what advantage is gained in destabilizing the current worldwide military balance of power? And who, exactly, are the beneficiaries of such destabilization?
Unfortunately, this thing will go forward. The silver lining might be that it does not go forward without the People’s attention.
We need a purge of leftist and politically correct COs and we need it soon.
“how do we fight this? What is the most effective way?”
I like FrdmLvr’s idea to start.
“I wish this article listed the congressmen who signed on so I could see if my congressman signed it. I’m forwarding this article to him anyway as a means of urging him to sign it.”~FrdmLvr
Then here’s some contact information:
Ray Mabus
Office of the Secretary of the Navy
2000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350-2000
To file a citizen complaint regarding the treatment of these Navy Seals, please call 813-828-4976 on Monday… or send emails now to holly.silkman@soccent.centcom.mil
US Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps : The Office of the Judge
Advocate General : Public Affairs : 1322 Patterson Ave., Suite 3000 :
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066
Comm: (202) 685-5493 : Phone Numbers: Washington Navy Yard: (202) 685-5190 : Pentagon, Room 4C642: (703) 614-7420 :
AJAG, Military Law : 1254 Charles Morris St., SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5047
Comm: (202) 685-7053
One of the responses to the article says that they are all Republicans. Is there any way to confirm this, and to get a list of those involved?
First understand the UCMJ:
The SEALS were offered non-judicial punishment under Article 15. They would have been disciplined at their immediate command level and it would have been over. An Article 15 could result in a written reprimand, a fine, forfeiture of pay or demotion. I have known commanders to fine someone $1.00 all the way up to throwing the book at them.
As is the SEALs right, they refused the Article 15 at accept Courts Martial.
So, in reality, they chose the Courts Martial betting in all likelyhood that the charges would be dismissed or they would be found not guilty. On the other side of the coin, if found guilty, they face significantly more severe punishment like confinement and discharge.
I don't want to get into the validity of the specific charges except they were reviewed by a JAG and options recommended to the commander. The commander chose the Article 15 route, the SEALS chose the Courts Martial.
“To file a citizen complaint regarding the treatment of these Navy Seals, please call 813-828-4976 on Monday...”
OOPS! Or ANY day during the week. (Darn cut and paste..!:))
All Democraps support court-martialling SEALS over a fat lip.
They all need to be removed from DC 2010
My thoughts exactly. Why not 435?
Here’s the pdf of the letter. If you congressman’s name is not on this letter, please contact him or her immediately and ask them to get on board. I just sent my congressman a short thank you for signing the letter.
http://www.cybercastnewsservice.org/cns/webuploads/SEAL%20Letter%20Final-1.pdf
The guy is a loser.
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