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Navy SEAL trial exposes divide in normally secretive force
ABC News ^ | June 30, 2019 | Julie Watson, AP

Posted on 06/30/2019 11:59:16 AM PDT by 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."

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; courtmartial; gallagher; garysolis; navyseal; sandiego; sewingcircle; specialops; thesewingcircle; usmilitary; usnavy; whatsapp
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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.

1 posted on 06/30/2019 11:59:16 AM PDT by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo
Innocent until proven guilty except in liberal media.
2 posted on 06/30/2019 12:03:40 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: All
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

3 posted on 06/30/2019 12:07:29 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo

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


4 posted on 06/30/2019 12:10:54 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: jazusamo
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.

5 posted on 06/30/2019 12:14:30 PM PDT by Parmy
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To: blueunicorn6

Sadly, I think you’re right.


6 posted on 06/30/2019 12:15:08 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo
There are more charges than just killing a prisoner, which is bad enough. He's also accused of sniping at unarmed civilians.
7 posted on 06/30/2019 12:26:13 PM PDT by Widget Jr
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To: blueunicorn6

Agreed.


8 posted on 06/30/2019 12:31:26 PM PDT by Destroyer Sailor (Revenge is a dish best served cold. Z)
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To: jazusamo

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


9 posted on 06/30/2019 12:46:00 PM PDT by Manly Warrior (US ARMY (Ret), "No Free Lunches for the Dogs of War")
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To: jazusamo
...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.

10 posted on 06/30/2019 12:47:01 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Capitalism produces EVERYTHING Socialists/Communists/Democratic-Socialists wish to "redistribute.")
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To: jazusamo

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.


11 posted on 06/30/2019 12:51:34 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: jazusamo

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


12 posted on 06/30/2019 12:56:14 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: PIF

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.


13 posted on 06/30/2019 1:03:17 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo

Ditto that.


14 posted on 06/30/2019 1:07:33 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: jazusamo
I remember this. The father of a Cpl. was a member on FR.

It was no massacre.

15 posted on 06/30/2019 1:14:50 PM PDT by Eagles6
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To: Eagles6

You’re absolutely right, it was no massacre.

Truth be told, no charges should have been brought.


16 posted on 06/30/2019 1:22:55 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo

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

Have you been in a firefight? Gary?

5.56mm


17 posted on 06/30/2019 1:23:22 PM PDT by M Kehoe (DRAIN THE SWAMP! BUILD THE WALL!)
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To: Travis McGee

Ping.

5.56mm


18 posted on 06/30/2019 1:27:32 PM PDT by M Kehoe (DRAIN THE SWAMP! BUILD THE WALL!)
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To: jazusamo

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.


19 posted on 06/30/2019 1:30:33 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: M Kehoe

Bump!


20 posted on 06/30/2019 1:32:32 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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