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Fiery Reaction to Marine’s Stolen Saddam Rifle (Marine Convicted of Possessing Iraqi AK-47)
The Press Enterprise ^ | July 6, 2012 | JOHN ASBURY

Posted on 07/07/2012 5:22:04 PM PDT by DogByte6RER

Fiery Reaction to Marine’s Stolen Saddam Rifle

Saddam's plundered AK-47 fromI Iraq

Is it among the spoils of war? Or worthy of a felony conviction that carries a 10-year prison sentence?

The recent conviction of a Twentynine Palms Marine from Hemet has sparked a debate from readers and a fierce defense from the Marine himself.

To rewind, Staff Sgt. Joel Cleve Miller was convicted last week of illegal possession of a machine gun. Federal prosecutors said he smuggled a chrome-plated AK-47 that once belonged to Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein’s Royal Guard back to his home in Hemet after a 2005 tour in Iraq.

Miller now faces up to 10 years in federal prison (more likely four years based on legal statutes) for the felony conviction. The conviction marks the end to a 20-year career in the Marine Corps and a checkered past that previously led to his bad conduct discharge for forging more than $30,000 in fraudulent travel expenses. He was acquitted of two other charges that he possessed and sold other weapons.

The debate comes down to the question of should a Marine’s tour of service outweigh his criminal transgressions.

In his own defense, Miller has started a website, Free Joel Cleve Miller, U.S Marine

On his site, Miller lists a brief statement that he thought all chrome machine guns were inactive. Consequently – federal prosecutors found the gun was a functioning machine gun.

“His wife and her boyfriend set Him up. They were given 5th amendment protection because they are both being investigated for perjury for there grand jury testimony. It prevented him from bringing in much of the evidence that would set him free,” Miller said.

Supporters from across the country have decried the conviction as well, arguing that Miller’s tour of service should exonerate him and calling the story a fabrication of the “libelous media.”

To be fair, the article written is based on federal court documents which outlined the evidence in the case.

Other comments call Miller a fool for being caught in a bumbling crime. One comment, who appears to be his wife also commented defending herself and turning him in.

“WOW amazing how you people want to attack ME for doing the right thing!!!! Not one of you attacking me know me nor do you know what I dealt with in my marriage!! So before you have me sent to Iraq and stoned to death get your heads out of your rear and just know you do not know the whole story also I was never in jeopardy of losing my children, or did you forget he was discharged with a dishonorable that should tell you something about him”

On his Facebook page, Miller also touts his defense and asks for support and letters to his federally appointed public defender. He is set to be sentenced in Riverside federal court Sept. 27.

The Facebook page also carries a photo of a Marine platoon with the American flag and a SS flag for the “Scout Sniper” team. It’s unclear if Miller was listed in the photo.

The flag coincidentally is also the symbol of the German Nazi Schutzstaffel – an armed guard for the Nazi’s during World War II.

The Marine Corps investigated the case last year, according to CNN, “They determined that the Marines in the photo were ignorant of the connection of this symbol to the Holocaust and monumental atrocities associated with Nazi Germany.”


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: California; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: ak47; automaticweapons; badconductdischarge; banglist; bcd; bigchickendinner; federalprison; feds; gunnerpalace; hemet; iraq; machinegun; marinecorps; ncis; oifveterans; plunder; saddamhussein; shinytoyguns; souvenir; spoilsofwar; usmc; wartrophy
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Former marine convicted of possessing Saddam's AK-47

Former Marine Joel Cleve Miller was convicted in U.S. court of possessing a fully automatic AK-47. Weapons experts determined the gun was from Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan because of its markings.

1 posted on 07/07/2012 5:22:12 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
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Earlier FReeeper thread posted about this ...

Hemet: Marine convicted of smuggling rifle from Saddam palace (AK-47 stolen from Saddam’s palace)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2902615/posts


2 posted on 07/07/2012 5:23:44 PM PDT by DogByte6RER ("Loose lips sink ships")
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To: DogByte6RER

He should have known enough to make it inoperable, at least temporarily.


3 posted on 07/07/2012 5:26:52 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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Related news link references and FB page ...

“Fiery reaction to Marine’s stolen Saddam rifle”

http://blog.pe.com/crime-blotter/2012/07/06/fiery-reaction-to-marines-stolen-saddam-rifle/

“Former Marine guilty of having AK-47 from Iraq”

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/07/ap-former-marine-guilty-ak47-iraq-saddam-hussein-royal-guard-070312/

“Free Joel Cleve Miller US Marine”

http://freejoelmiller.com/

Joel Dutch Miller (Face Book)

https://www.facebook.com/joel.d.miller.14


4 posted on 07/07/2012 5:28:21 PM PDT by DogByte6RER ("Loose lips sink ships")
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To: DogByte6RER

I think I found a use for “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

On another note, I don’t see a problem with war trophies being registered as long as they don’t create a hazard to the community, like unexploded ordnance. If someone wants an artillery shell, have EOD drill it out. Other than that it’s fine with me. The guy was willing to give his life for this country, why not let him take something home?


5 posted on 07/07/2012 5:34:15 PM PDT by wastedyears ("God? I didn't know he was signed onto the system.")
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To: DogByte6RER

When my father walked off the aircraft carrier Kittyhawk on his return from the Pacific after WWII, one of the guys in his bunking area walked down the gangplank and onto US soil with several barrels sticking up out of his seabag - including a Thompson SMG.

My, oh my, how things have changed.


6 posted on 07/07/2012 5:37:02 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (I'm for Churchill in 1940!)
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To: DogByte6RER

Looks like a machine pistol AK to me.


7 posted on 07/07/2012 5:37:36 PM PDT by pingman ("Human history seems logical in afterthought, but a mystery in forethought." (Strauss & Howe))
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To: DogByte6RER

Dang that is one good looking AK.

Too bad he did not lose the firing pin.


8 posted on 07/07/2012 5:40:08 PM PDT by Gabrial (The nightmare will continue as long as the nightmare is in the White House)
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To: DogByte6RER

Don’t we have a policy of one AK-47 per household?


9 posted on 07/07/2012 5:45:21 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: pingman; All

I’m not necessarily trying to defend the guy ... he got the Big Chicken Dinner for other misconduct.

But ... the AK pistol is chrome plated suggesting that it may have been used as a ceremonial weapon for Saddam’s palace guard. While palace guards would be expected to carry functional and loaded weapons, maybe there was something like a palace guard precision drill team? If so, it would make sense that the weapons were de-activated.

I’m just thinking out loud ...


10 posted on 07/07/2012 5:48:06 PM PDT by DogByte6RER ("Loose lips sink ships")
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To: DogByte6RER
All they have to do is make it so it cannot fire on auto, and then it is simply a collectors item.

What a bunch of anti-gun hysteria.

11 posted on 07/07/2012 5:48:42 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: Paladin2

If not, we should!


12 posted on 07/07/2012 5:49:55 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: fortheDeclaration

Oh, I think that was only for the Iraqi households. My bad.


13 posted on 07/07/2012 5:53:24 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: DogByte6RER

“federal prosecutors found the gun was a functioning machine gun.”

Federal prosecutors have found a shoelace was a functioning machine gun.
Really.

We’re talking an agency which WILL convict you if they want to.
Not saying he was right or wrong, just that there is room for doubt. Lots of room.


14 posted on 07/07/2012 5:57:56 PM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com)
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To: fortheDeclaration

Your talking Commiefornia here man; where anything short, stubby, black , shiny, with a pistol grip, flash suppressor or any thing that will hold more than one squirt of water is considered a weapon of mass destruction. The media p#ssys just wet themselves some thing fierce when they see any thing as lethal as a rubber band gun. I just wish I had been smart enough to retire out of state, but stuck here now.


15 posted on 07/07/2012 6:04:29 PM PDT by 5th MEB (Progressives in the open; --- FIRE FOR EFFECT!!)
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To: DogByte6RER

We’re doomed.


16 posted on 07/07/2012 6:05:07 PM PDT by andyk (Go Juan Pablo!)
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To: DogByte6RER

What are the chances this Marine didn’t know the difference? Slim to none.

OTOH, it was quite the souvenir!


17 posted on 07/07/2012 6:15:50 PM PDT by pingman ("Human history seems logical in afterthought, but a mystery in forethought." (Strauss & Howe))
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To: Gabrial

losing the firing pin doesn’t do it because firing pins are commonly available. Per the ATF you would have to destroy the receiver to demilitarize it.


18 posted on 07/07/2012 6:16:54 PM PDT by donmeaker (Blunderbuss: A short weapon, ... now superceded in civilized countries by more advanced weaponry.)
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To: driftdiver
He should have known enough to make it inoperable, at least temporarily.

No problem, the Feds would just fix it and proceed with the prosecution. They have done this to numerous demilled weapons.

19 posted on 07/07/2012 6:17:23 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (Join the Democrats, it's not Fascism when WE do it, and the Constitution and law mean what WE say.)
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To: wastedyears
The guy was willing to give his life for this country, why not let him take something home?

That is reasonable. But we are now living in a communists inspired Country and we are now all criminals. No way to escape since we are lawed to death. Freedom is gone.

20 posted on 07/07/2012 6:18:39 PM PDT by Logical me
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