Three US Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, Land special operations) who captured a top terrorist in Iraq are being rewarded not with medals and commendations but with a court martial to answer criminal charges stemming from allegations that they assaulted their prisoner.
The three non-commissioned officers -- Petty Officers Matthew McCabe, Julio Huertos and Jonathan Keefe -- captured Ahmed Hashim Abed, who is alleged to have been responsible for ordering the murder and mutilation of four contract workers, two of whom were later hung from a bridge in Fallujah. The incident shocked Americans in 2004 and a special operations team was dispatched to capture the killers and their leader.
According to Fox News national security correspondent Catherine Herridge, the SEALs succeeded in capturing Ahmed Hashim Abed, whom the military code-named "Objective Amber." Abed reportedly later told investigators he was punched by his captors causing his lip to bleed.
"The three suspects, all members of the Navy's elite commando unit, have refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral's mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial," according to Fox News Channel.
"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," states the report.
Charges against the three SEALS include dereliction of duty, failure to safeguard a detainee, assault, and making false statements. The three SEALs will be arraigned separately on December 7. Another three SEALs — two officers and an enlisted sailor — have been identified by investigators as witnesses but have not been charged, according to Fox News.
"All clear thinking Americans should be outraged. Is this how we treat our protectors? Is this justice?" asks a former NYPD detective and US Marine.
"Let me get this straight: we're trying a guy -- a foreign terrorist -- who killed 3,000 people on September 11, 2001 in a civilian court, but we're going to try three war heroes in a military court over a bloody lip?" adds political strategist Mike Barker.
The SEALs' court martial is scheduled for sometime in January, 2010.
The four civilian workers murdered by Abed were transporting supplies for a catering company when they were ambushed and killed by gunfire and grenades. Abed's terrorists then burned the bodies and dragged them through the city streets. Finally, they hanged two of the bodies on a bridge over the Euphrates River for the world press to photograph.
SEALs are superbly trained in all environments, and are the master's of maritime special operations. They are required to utilize a combination of specialized training, equipment, and tactics in completion of special-ops missions.
A tactical force with strategic impact, their training includes unconventional warfare, direct action, combating terrorism, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, information warfare, security assistance, counter-drug operations, personnel recovery and hydrographic reconnaissance.
Although personnel comprise less than one percent of U.S. Navy personnel, they offer big dividends on a small investment. SEALs' proven ability to operate across the spectrum of conflict and in operations other than war in a controlled manner, and their ability to provide tactical intelligence offers military and political decision makers immediate and virtually unlimited options in the face of rapidly changing crises around the world.
The most important trait that distinguishes Navy SEALs from all other military forces is that SEALs are Maritime Special Forces, as they strike from and return to the sea. Their stealth and clandestine methods of operation allow them to conduct multiple missions against targets that larger forces cannot approach undetected.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer and columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.
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Comments
This is not what America is about. These men did their jobs. Bad guys get hurt sometime when being detained.
These men are heroes and they should be treated as heroes. Shame on everyone involved in prosecuting them.
Look, I commend these men for their brave duty to country, but in this case, they are accused of beating a prisoner, not while capturing him, but after he was captured, subdued and restrained. It is the same as if officers in a local jail opened up the jail cell and went in and beat a prisoner. It simply can't be permitted that we ignore the rule of law when it suits us. These men will likely face very light penalties if they are convicted. The military, according to your story already offered a non-judiciial administrative penalty, but they refused. If they are innocent, they'll be acquitted, but if not, then the trial is a consequence of their actions and is being held at their own request.
This is not only shameful, it's unjust. These men risked their lives carrying out an order for the safety of our country, and now they're going to be tried? How ungrateful can we be.
Perhaps Mr. Ahmed Hashim Abed was attempting to escape, and during the struggle he received a bloody lip. Some things are now clearer to see: terrorists are not only cowards (an undeniable fact, real men stand up and fight fair) but wimps as well.
I wonder what a black eye or a broken bone would have cost my SEAL brothers. Perhaps the death penalty? Life imprisonment? God help my country!
If Abed were accidently killed during his capture, this would be a non issue. dead witnesses don't talk. Give me a break you liberal idiots. DO you not see what these people do to our people that they capture? They are beheaded, drug through streets, hung from bridges, burned.... and this guy has a bloody lip so we are going to put them up for a court martial? They are the best of the best, and heros to me.
The United States is dying from within.
WE are witnessing the final days
When are we going to stop trying to be politically
Correct so we don't offend the rest of the world.
Its time to show our resolve and strength instead of
Portraying America as weak and passive.STAND UP AMERICA
AND FIGHT FOR OUR GOD GIVEN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM BEFORE THEY ARE
LOST FOREVER !!!!
What is the point in having soldiers to defend our country and capture the crap stains of the world if we are going to punish them for doing their job. How would those that are going to prosecute these heroes feel if it were their family members that were killed, burned, drug through the streets and hung from a bridge. Give me a break.
To Brad S. If someone is sought out by the U.S. military then they have done something horrible. If they get the beat down of a lifetime when they get caught then so be it. Also, if someone is in prison for murder, rape or some other violent crime then the guards should be ordered to go into their cell and beat them once a week. Pain is one of the best teaching methods out there
If the Navy SEALS come after you, it is on...while I appreciate the fact that these men are trained to be disciplined and professional, they are nonetheless human. As humans, when we must deal with those that would kill us and our families and destroy our country, it is quite understandable, nay, excusable, nay, expected that the enemy would be treated to a little extra negative attention.
Leave these men the hell alone, they did their job for our country.
you have got to be shi##### me, they gave him a fat lip and they are getting court martialed?!?! What a painsy nation we have become, these guys should be celebrated for doing their job.
While I recognize our obligation to set ourselves apart from the terrorists and other less humane cultures in this world with regard to those in custody, to somehow, even remotely, equate a fat bleeding lip with murder, beheading, incineration, and hanging is absolutely ludicrous! Frankly I don't give a tinkers damn about a terrorist or any other radical for that matter either. If all he gets in return for his heinous actions is a bloody lip he's damn lucky, even to be alive! Orwell said it best (paraphrase here) when he wrote: "People sleep safely in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Let me ask you this Brad: Are you, in any way, capable of doing even half the job of a Navy Seal? I'll never stop defending your right to have your say here or anywhere else in this country, but in this instance, the "accusation" is coming from a TERRORIST.
You have got to be kidding me!! The terrorist got a fat lip and now the SEALs are facing assault charges?!?!? This is absurd, no it's absolutely ludicrous! What is happening in our country??
This is a total disgrace. Our government and military leaders that are allowing the prosecution of these brave men must have their heads up their own A**. In my opinion they should have shot Ahmed Hashim Abed, burned him, drug him through the streets, and hung him from a bridge just like he did the Blackwater security guards. An eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth.
Who is the person that actually wrote these charges down and took them seriously? He's the person who should be courtmartialed for gross stupiditiy.
I wouldn't have cared if they had killed him, since Ohbummer probably won't let us interrigate him anyway.
When we send Seals out to do a job we darn well should give them the right to do it their way or be ready to do that dirty work ourselves.
Do we really want to let every terrorist know that when a Seal tells them shut up or I'll kill you, that they can scream for help anyway, because the Seal really isn't allowed to do anything to stop them, (except say please Mr. Terrorist, don't scream for help).
I think the jerk that accepted and processs the complaint should be beat to a pulp and hung from a bridge for a while.
Another liberal PC agenda.
SO, so what can we do, as AMERICAN CITIZENS to stop this fiasco?
I wish somebody else besides FOx News was the source of this. It is interesting that they were offered non-judicial punishment but refused. Since there seem to be 3 US military witnesses...there might be more than just a fat lip.
Brad S is mentally retarded
Brad S., you are a cretin,a liberal , and a coward.
Are you kidding me under the Geneva Convention individuals who engage regular military (which the SEALs are last time I checked) and that are not wearing uniform or insignia identifing them as members of a regluar military force may be legally executed in the field thats international laws of war and you are talking of a court martial for a bloody lip ??? When are we getting rid of this PC crap..... Oh yeah next presidential election less than 3 years from now until then lets remember the oath ...protect against all enemies forgein and DOMESTIC....
Keep it simple guys ...
Next time, just keep shooting until there is nothing left to 'hit'.
Another disgrace from a putrid, politically correct, weak, deplorable administration.
A terrorist is a terrorist- kill the S.O.B. and save the paperwork and the B.S. of courts martial.
Wait, aren't we at war with terrorism (and terrorist)? Doesn't that involve pointing guns at the enemy with the intent of kiling them? These unselfish heros who want no cheerleaders, put their lives on the line in ways we will never know (or want to know)...and we're putting them on trial for a fat lip? Have we forgotten the images of Fallujah? Shame on us!
We ask the military to protect us and then criticize the methods and manners in which they carry out that protection?
Those Navy SEALs have my support!!!
I sit here in disblief at what I have read. Military men on trial for a bloody lip!?! Did they get praise for catching the sub-human terriorist? WAA WAA he has a bloody lip and four men lost their lives, four families lost fathers, brothers, etc. I agree with the person who said they should have killed him to avoid the paperwork.
It's time for new blood in Washington. We need people with honor and respect for our Constitution. People who know what it's like to fight along side the great men and women who die every day for our freedoms. We have got to get these people out of our government. Both parties are corrupt bottom feeders and bringing our great nation down to thier level. Lets vote them all out no matter what party they claim to be part of. They are searving themselves and could care less about you and me. They don't support our troops and want to put them in jail for punching this terrorist? He's lucky they didn't hang him up and gut him
like he did those four guys in Iraq. We have to get rid of these morons in our government, they are a threat to this nation.
If this weren't true, it would be utterly LAUGHABLE. They ought to give these three Navy SEAL's medals of honor. Better still, give me a rope and tree, or five gallons of gasoline and a zippo, I'd gladly take care of the terrorist piece of garbage, Ahmed Hashim Abed. Next time they have to capture a piece of dog###t like him, waste him completely. What the Hell kind of military leaders is West Point and the Naval Academy producing these days, if they allow these kind of travesties to occur ? Talk about "gutless wonders" with no balls...
Go here and listen to this account from a man who knows:
w w w dot Blogtalkradio dot com slash american-grand-jury slash 2009 slash 11 slash 26 slash AGJ-WANTS-TO-KNOW
THIS IS AN OUT RIGHT SHAME. FIRST OF ALL I THINK WHEN THEY FOUND HIM IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST BREATH HE EVER TOOK. IT IS A SHAME THAT AMERICA IS SUCH A GREAT NATION WITH A TINY LITTLE BACK BONE. ITS TIME WE STAND UP FOR OURSELVES AND CHANGE THE WAY WE PUNISH CRIMINALS. IT IS SAD THAT A MOTHER CAN LOCK HER KIDS IN THE CAR AT WALMART TO GO SHOPLIFTING FOR HERSELF AND ONLY GET A TICKET? TRY THAT IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AND THEY'LL CUT YOUR HAND OFF. WE NEED TO SET THE EXAMPLE, NOT BE LAUGHED AT BECAUSE OF OUR SOFT HEARTED LIBERAL WEAK GOVT. EYE FOR AN EYE.
THIS IS AN OUT RIGHT SHAME. FIRST OF ALL I THINK WHEN THEY FOUND HIM IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST BREATH HE EVER TOOK. IT IS A SHAME THAT AMERICA IS SUCH A GREAT NATION WITH A TINY LITTLE BACK BONE. ITS TIME WE STAND UP FOR OURSELVES AND CHANGE THE WAY WE PUNISH CRIMINALS. IT IS SAD THAT A MOTHER CAN LOCK HER KIDS IN THE CAR AT WALMART TO GO SHOPLIFTING FOR HERSELF AND ONLY GET A TICKET? TRY THAT IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AND THEY'LL CUT YOUR HAND OFF. WE NEED TO SET THE EXAMPLE, NOT BE LAUGHED AT BECAUSE OF OUR SOFT HEARTED LIBERAL WEAK GOVT. EYE FOR AN EYE.
This is what happens when operations conducted by SEAL Teams becomes public agenda, and front page news. No part of this operations should ever see the light of day. The NEWS needs to stop indulging in special operations missions!
I agree completely iwht Cbpcop. What this case shows is, once again, that the war on terror is a farce. In fact, Americans never have been told what the agenda in the middle east really is.
I agree completely with Cbpcop. What this case shows is, once again, that the war on terror is a farce. In fact, Americans never have been told what the agenda in the middle east really is.
I agree completely with Cbpcop. What this case shows is, once again, that the war on terror is a farce. In fact, Americans never have been told what the agenda in the middle east really is.
These men will be found innocent. But what about the next team that goes through a door. You do not have time to think twice. If this BS cost one soldier his life because he hesitated, his death will hang on the commander that passed this up the line. They have hired civilian lawyers to defend themselves, at their own cost. They will need help when the time comes.
If good people stand by while our current leaders permit things like this to happen, we can expect more of the same until we lose all the freedoms that our military men and women have sacrificed so much to protect. As a veteran, I stand with the Seals.
Let the bankster fight his own wars...Then you will not be fresh meat... or betrayed by your Masters
Is this what the sheople in the U.S. call doing something about this traversty? Sitting in front of a PC and writing a few words of being upset in a blog. Damn, this is the way to help those Seals. How about starting an online petition, that'll show them. Get real people this government and yuppy society needs to know enough is enough. Horass your almost elected officials about this BS and don't stop until something is done.
This sounds familar our U.S.A. Border Patrol and American Law Enforcement same problem ? They get Undermined and Sued by HOMELAND SECURITY and A.C.L.U. Also LARAZA and MEXICO?? How is it anybody American Srvicemen to American law enforcement? Getting Penalized at every turn for trying to PROTECT AND GUARD AMERICA?Somehow Someway something wrong with this Picture? WORKING IN REVERSE MAYBE THINK ABOUT IT?JUST A BIRTH CERTIFICATE CARRYING LEGAL TAXPAYING AMERICAN>>THANK YOU>
I have a brother inlaw (a former Marine) who works civil service on a Marine base. He says he has seen several heated arguements among officers about the current government and wether it supports or just "uses" the military. I think this unrest in the military should be fostered. We will need the military behind us when the real battles begin. The question is...when the tanks surround DC, will the guns be pointed out or IN.
Medic 1532,
You are exactly right. Capture one of these non conventional turds and then read him his Miranda rights and question and then execute. Nobama and his cronies are giving our military a lousy choice. If a prisoner is brought in by our military, they are exposing themselves to the PC crap of liberal a##holes. No more prisoners. Quick questioning and quick execution. Let them go to their 72 virgins. Hopefully all 72 will be gay men.
Does this really surprise anyone? That illegitimate Commander in Chief, who still will not show us his birth certificate, is an Islamic sympathizer. Barak Hussein Obama is one of them. Do you expect him to stand up for our brave service men and women? Not a chance; he’s too busy destroying the country from within by supporting subversive organizations like ACORN, CAIR, La Raza, the Black Panther Party and the ACLU. They should’ve bloodied more than his lip!
Our world is an huge mess and it's been this way for way too long.When we disrespect our troops when they give their lives for us we have no country to look up to. Our congressman,etc should be put on trial and replaced for ruining our country while stuffing their pockets and ego's. I used to be proud to be an American but not so much anymore. God bless our men and women in the military .It would be criminal to punish those SEALS and its cruel to even put them on trial for doing there job. I don't know all the answers but doing nothing about the state of our country is so sad and we will be very sorry if we don't stand up for what is right.
Hey folks we have who we allowed to be elected running our country. Well done fellow Americans. We through our silence and emasculated acceptance of the PC approach and fear of being ridiculed by friends and the press as being homophobes or worse yet - men - have one last chance. Speak up and speak out. Get active locally, statewide and nationally with your letters and voice. Oh, when you write a comment on a story like this have the guts to sign your name or just watch the slide continue. Maybe caring folks are ready to wake up and take back America. Together we are the vast majority. For me I am tired of minority and special groups dictating policy and laws. Oh, but this is probably going to be seen as hate speech so hang on we'll be accused along side of these SEALS. C. Steven Garcia, Christian, husband, father and small business owner.
Lots of good comments. Obongo is just an installed puppet. The Banksters stealing all your money continue to run your world straight into the ground! 34000 more to mideast, borders still open?
Military Officers swear an oath to the Constitution, not the President because they are considered "Defenders of the Constitution". It is time for them to band together and unseat the usurper in chief. Take back our country.
As a twenty year law enforcement officer, I can hardly belive what I've read. We give these young men, the very best training that can possibly be given, the very best tools of their trade, place them at the sharp end of the spear, send them down range and with a DO NOT fail mission. They accomplish their objective by capturing ALIVE a VERY high value terrorist objective, who's deeds and methods would sicken the most ardent of horror film afficianados. A literal walking, talking goblin! Then we "arrest" them and place them on trial with all the possibilities of expulsion from their life's calling and possible prison terms, all because the captured evil doer has complained of a fat lip. There is no doubt in my mind that we are in the midst of the Bibical end times, where right is wrong, wrong is right and justice goes crying in the streets.
If the goblin had, had the drop on our SEALS and the tables reversed, what might the outcome have been? These lads should be nominated for the CMH!
This Current President and his hand picked followers are hell bent on discrediting our country and military. This is another example of that philosophy. We expect these brave men to go into harms way and then endure a kangaroo justice system because of a political correctness infraction, giving this thug a fat lip. We can't leave these men to be hung out to dry by this socialist leaning Administration. Contact your state representatives to express your outrage at this travesty. Who do these nimrods think we're fighting an imaginary enemy or a bunch of dark hearted Islamist terrorists? Oh sorry I forgot 'man made catastrophe creators'
Stay away from the WarMachine, oppose the MoneyPower's fake "wars".
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