Navy SEAL trial exposes divide in normally secretive force

ABC News ^ | June 30, 2019 | Julie Watson, AP

[jazusamo]

The WhatsApp group would eventually lead to formal allegations that Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher fatally stabbed a wounded Islamic State captive in his care and shot civilians in Iraq in 2017.

Gallagher, 40, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A jury of mostly combat Marines will ultimately decide the fate of the 19-year-veteran and Bronze Star recipient charged with murder, attempted murder and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline for posing with the corpse for photographs.

No matter the outcome, the court-martial at Naval Base San Diego has provided a rare view into the insular Navy SEAL community and likely will have a long-term impact on one of the military's most secretive and revered forces. It has pitted veterans against each other both inside the courtroom and out in a fierce debate over brotherhood, morality and loyalty.

"SEALs, it seems to me, have been seeing themselves as God-like on the battlefield, and there is a real danger in taking that view of one's unit or one's self," said Gary Solis, a former military judge and Marine Corps prosecutor who teaches law at Georgetown. "I think this will alert the SEAL community that the rules apply to them."

[jazusamo]

I seriously doubt these warriors consider themselves "God-like" but I believe this former JAG, Gary Solis needs to realize that every Special Ops warrior is fully aware they're putting their very lives on the line on every deployment which for years have been many while the JAG's are far in the rear with the gear.

I pray Chief Gallagher is fully exonerated with a not guilty verdict.

[mountainlion]

Innocent until proven guilty except in liberal media.

[jazusamo]

Former Jag Gary Solis excerpt on the Haditha Marines:

“It was a series of missteps, errors built upon mistakes, until the case was just untriable,” said Lt. Col. Gary D. Solis, a retired Marine Corps judge who now teaches military law at Georgetown University.

An Iraqi Massacre, a Light Sentence and a Question of Military Justice

[blueunicorn6]

I don’t think there are going to be any winners in this trial.

[Parmy]

I have always believed that every JAG should be subject to combat behind a section or squad leader as a grunt for at least 6 months, if not a year.

Then there would not be such an arrogant attitude towards the men who actually have to live in the situations and own them.

[jazusamo]

Sadly, I think you’re right.

[Widget Jr]

There are more charges than just killing a prisoner, which is bad enough. He's also accused of sniping at unarmed civilians.

[Destroyer Sailor]

Agreed.

[Manly Warrior]

Top tier warriors indeed do tend to think themselves above the rest in every aspect. Starting with the basic airborne infantryman to SF, SEALs and Rangers/Force Recon in between, the elite spirit & esprit de corps is a must have.

However, the laws of our nation and overall sense of right & wrong has to included and lived by else we all are just well equipped thugs.

As a guy who spent much of my adult life within these ranks, I can tell you even the best of the best have turds. Regarding Chief Gallagher, I can’t say, but I hope the outcome both brings honor to the SEALs/Spec Ops community and sees justice done, regardless of whom she righteously falls upon.

Major USA, retired
InfAbnRangerSapper

[E. Pluribus Unum]

...SEALs, it seems to me, have been seeing themselves as God-like on the battlefield...

If you think of yourself any other way on the battlefield you are begging to die.

[PIF]

As I heard it Gallagher was trained as a medic at some point and “stabbed” the guy in the throat or more succinctly cut a hole in his throat to perform a tracheotomy - the other guy (also a medic) put his hand over the tube in the hole because the guy was suffering and was going to die anyway or as the Romans used to put it: administered quietus.

[ohioman]

SOB Gary Solis needs to meet up with one of these brave men in a dark alley.

[jazusamo]

Exactly...I read one article that stated Gallagher performed the trach and that entails cutting a hole in the throat. Nothing I’ve read since then has alluded to his doing the trach, only that he stabbed the guy.

If that has been brought out on the stand I haven’t seen that fact written by the press.

[Carriage Hill]

Ditto that.

[Eagles6]

I remember this. The father of a Cpl. was a member on FR.

It was no massacre.

[jazusamo]

You’re absolutely right, it was no massacre.

Truth be told, no charges should have been brought.

[M Kehoe]

G-d fearing Mr. Solis, not god-like.

Have you been in a firefight? Gary?

5.56mm

[M Kehoe]

Ping.

5.56mm

[yarddog]

I remember seeing an interview of a Navy Seal who was in the blackhawk down battle. If I remember right, he was a sniper. I think his name was Wasdin or something similar.

He said when he first got shot in the knee, his first reaction was something like, hey, I am a Seal this isn’t supposed to be happening to me. I think he then got shot again in the same leg to where it was basically just hanging.

He said an Air Force Para rescue patched him up and he kept on fighting until they eventually fought their way out.

[jazusamo]

Bump!