Navy SEALs Face Assault Charges for Capturing Most-Wanted Terrorist

Fox News ^ | Tuesday, November 24, 2009 | By Rowan Scarborough

[Terrence DoGood]

Navy SEALs have secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq — the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004. And for their trouble, three of the SEALs, members of the Navy's elite commando unit, are now facing criminal charges, sources told FoxNews.com.

The three have refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral's mast — and requested a trial by court-martial.

Ahmed Hashim Abed, whom the military code-named "Objective Amber," told investigators he was punched by his captors — and he had the bloody lip to prove it.

Now, instead of being lauded for bringing to justice a high-value target, three of the SEAL commandos, all enlisted, face assault charges and have retained lawyers.

[GatorGirl]

I strongly considered joining the Navy JAG corps when I graduated from law school but my husband and I decided against dual military careers in our family.

I wish I had joined. I’d be a Captain by now and would be able to possibly help inject some sanity into this mess.

What a travesty!!

[bigheadfred]

If all this dink has is a bloody lip, well, our men didn’t do it, IMO. Now if he had the imprint of a semi-auto pistola up side his head...

I’m a wondering if Maj. Gen. Charles Cleveland shouldn’t get one of those nice Yellow service ribbons. The ones they give for peein’ down your leg way and far above the call of “duty”.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

All of the news articles lead differently. They make it sound like the SEALS requested a Court Martial to clear their name to not have a mark on the records. No matter what... political correctness pushed this ahead. It disgusts me beyond words of thought. My prayers are with these SEALS.

[rlmorel]

Right. My contention is that this is not a “Bush” policy, this kind of creeping thing has been getting more and more ingrained, accelerating upwards exponentially at the end of the eighties. Bush did wrong by those Marines, and I discredit him with that. But can you imagine if we had high intensity, long duration combat going on during the Clinton years? It makes me shudder to think of it.

And by the way, thanks for your service, FRiend...

[MestaMachine]

It was on Fox this morning, didn’t get to hear Beck, but Rush did it too. This is NOT going away. A fire has been lit under this.
They could have gotten a reprimand that would have ended their careers. They chose Courts Martial rather than dishonor which they do NOT deserve.
We will fight this tooth and nail.

[Hoodat]

Beck opened with this on today’s radio show. He said that he can no longer support our government’s call for troops since that same government is not willing to support those troops. A soldier from Ft. Hood called him up to thank him. I was literally in tears.

[444Flyer]

Political Correctness is killing our military. Literally, as in the case of jihadist Hasan, and figuratively as in the case of our Seals.

Enough!!!

(See new tag.)

[Hoodat]

Exactly. Contrast this with the fate of the Somali pirates whose lives were ended by SEAL guns. As I recall, President Obama tried to personally take credit for giving that order.

[MestaMachine]

Thanks for updating me, Hoodat. I have been either in tears or close to it since this story broke. Tears of outrage and profound sadness at what is happening to us and our Brave Warriors. We must NOT be silent.
Thank you to Glenn Beck, and to all the Patriots who will not let this obscenity pass unnoticed.

[444Flyer]

Exactly. Contrast this with the fate of the Somali pirates whose lives were ended by SEAL guns. As I recall, President Obama tried to personally take credit for giving that order.

We all know the REAL score.

[smoothsailing]

Return to the Article

November 25, 2009

Navy Seals capture most wanted terrorist - arrested for assault

James Simpson

First we had Congressman John Murtha accusing US Marines of atrocities in Haditha, Iraq - a blatant lie based on false information supplied by the enemy. Those Marines had to face an arduous multi-year trial despite the obvious fabrication of evidence, and it is still not over for some.

Next we have the Obama administration seeking to soothe Muslim fears about "backlash" after a Muslim Major commits the first successful act of terrorism on our soil since 9/11, while they withhold evidence about the case from Congress and do more to suppress than investigate the nature of the attack.

Now we have the spectre of seeing three U.S. Navy SEALs arrested because the terrorist they captured claims he was punched!

Who is the enemy here? Four SEALs captured Ahmed Hashim Abed, codenamed "Objective Amber" on September 3rd. Abed was the ringleader of the group who ambushed four security contractors in Fallujah in 2004, and hung their burned bodies on a bridge. One of the four, Scott Helvenston, had been a Navy SEAL himself for twelve years.

But now Abed is claiming he got a bloody lip. And the Navy is prosecuting. These people are insane! Give the SEALs a medal for a dangerous, thankless job well done, and suggest that Abed get on his knees and thank God he wasn't captured by someone else.

What I want to see is an investigation of the Navy legal team and the chain of command that ordered and condoned this arrest. This aggressive prosecution of battlefield events, where enemy terrorists are treated as "witnesses" to a "crime" has always looked more like a deliberate strategy to hamstring warriors and thwart battlefield success rather than merely the misguided application of political correctness.

At best these should be considered vindictive prosecutions, but I believe something much more malevolent is at work. I believe the person or persons who find cause here seek to sow doubt, demoralization and bring unbearable stress to bear on front line forces.

Outrage doesn't begin to describe this travesty.

I'm sure this administration will applaud the Navy's efforts to achieve justice for poor Abed. With their superior global awareness, they will surely want these SEALs given a fair trial in an appropriate setting. To demonstrate their evenhandedness to the terrorists, they'll probably choose GITMO.

Page Printed from: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/11/navy_seals_capture_most_wanted.html at November 25, 2009 - 01:48:33 PM EST

[Red Steel]

The Admiral’s Mast choice, as I understand it seems like a smart move on their part, it might get the case away from the hands of the political hacks. The Navy guys could maybe elaborate on that better???

They refused the admiral's mast for this BS and dared the admiral to take this crap to trial.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I wonder if there is a defense fund for the three.

[b4its2late]

They should’ve just shot the SOB.

[444Flyer]

April 18, 2009

"Captain Richard Phillips hails US Navy Seals as 'superheroes'"

"Richard Phillips, centre, hugs his children after arriving on a plane in South Burlington, Vermont"

"Captain Richard Phillips praised the US Navy Seals as "superheroes" last night as he returned home to Vermont after five days in the hands of Somali pirates.

"I am not the hero. The military is the hero. Thank them," the former Boston taxi-driver said after hugging his wife and two adult children and his mother-in-law at Burlington airport.

"The first people I want to thank are the [Navy] SEALS. They are the superheroes. They are the titans. They are the impossible people doing an impossible job, and they did the impossible with me.

"They are everyday people we will not recognise, and I will not divulge. But they did an excellent job. They saved me."..."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6116766.ece

All in a day's work for these heroes.

[Girlene]

Thanks for all the info, 444Flyer.

He stated that instead of giving our SEALS a consternation letter, harsher punishment was pursued for the SEALS in regards to the allegations by the terrorist detainee.

Rush has had some awesome callers on his show today discussing this case. One contended this was "payback" for the SEAL's operation that killed the Somali pirates. The chain of command under obama were livid because they wanted a "peaceful" resolution to the incident. Both callers talked about the military leadership (or lack of)that would allow these charges to be preferred in the first place. It seems that our military leadership has a "bit" to be desired in protecting their own. PC rules are running our military right now. Maj Gen Charles Cleveland (convening authority in this SEALs case) should be the next most ridiculed general after Casey (Mr. Ft Hood Diversity Queen). They should both resign.

He [Neal Puckett, civilian defense atty] also mentioned JAGS giving these SEALS poor counsel.

Get out of here! /s Neal Puckett is defending SSGt Wuterich, the last remaining defendant from the Haditha incident who has still to receive his court martial.

[who knows what evil?]

Thank you all you independents who voted for Obama!...Thank you very much! Isn’t the first black man to be President wonderful? Never mind his lunatic, dangerous far left whack politics! You bunch of damn idiots!

Took me a bit to figure out those 'FU52' stickers...

[Girlene]

If all this dink has is a bloody lip, well, our men didn’t do it, IMO. Now if he had the imprint of a semi-auto pistola up side his head...

Precisely, bhfred. Who says he had any injuries at all? Who says the Iraqis didn't do it? This "dink" made these claims after being transferred to the Iraqis. So what do they do, give him back to the Americans, his "abusers".....Riiiighhhht.

[SZonian]

They have two options. Use their military attorneys or hire private attorneys. If they use their military attorneys, they shouldn’t need a defense fund although they will probably need funds for other expenses. Family coming in for support, hotels, cars, fuel, food, etc.

The USAF has an Area Defense Counsel that is outside the Chain of Command of the base or fighter wing they are assigned with to maintain integrity. I don’t know if the JAG does the same in the NAVY.

SZ

[jazusamo]

But now Abed is claiming he got a bloody lip. And the Navy is prosecuting. These people are insane!

I'm sure this administration will applaud the Navy's efforts to achieve justice for poor Abed.

Good piece and yes, this is insane but this administration is Obama and Obama is the CINC, I believe the Navy is doing Obama's bidding.