The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Sometime next week, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe will fly west and rejoin a group of his fellow SEALs training in Nevada’s harsh high desert.
For the first time in more than seven months, he will throw himself into the job that he loves. Instead of reliving what happened one night in Iraq last September, hours after he took an alleged Iraqi terrorist into custody, the 24-year-old commando will concentrate on preparing for future missions.
McCabe’s future with the SEALs was in doubt before a jury acquitted him Thursday on charges of assaulting a detainee and lying about it to investigators.
Last month, two other members of SEAL Team 10, Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe, were acquitted on related charges at courts-martial in Iraq.
“We’re all going to move on with our careers,” McCabe said after the verdict. “It’s all over and done with. ...I can’t wait to actually focus on work.”
The cases against the three SEALs were based on statements from Ahmed Hashim Abed and Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin Demartino, the Navy master-at-arms charged with guarding him for a few hours after his capture.
Abed didn’t appear in person, but his testimony was recorded and played back for the seven-member jury. He was far from a sympathetic character. In addition to his alleged involvement in the murder of four Blackwater contractors in Fallujah in 2004, McCabe’s lawyers said Iraqis knew Abed as “The Finisher.” He was reputed to have the decapitated bodies of his victims delivered to their families’ doorsteps.
Defense lawyers continually reminded jurors of the alleged victim’s background.
“We’re here because a mass murderer, a vile person cloaked in a human body, said 'I was beaten,’” Haytham Faraj told the jury during closing arguments.
Questions about Abed’s treatment arose shortly before he was transferred to Iraqi custody, when the SEAL detachment commander noticed blood on Abed’s clothes.
He called a meeting of all the personnel who’d been in contact with Abed to ask them what happened. A day or two later, Demartino came forward, saying he’d seen McCabe punch Abed while Huertas and Keefe watched.
The matter was investigated, and made its way up the chain of command. When the three SEALs chose not to have the matter handled administratively, Army Maj. Gen. C.T. Cleveland, head of Special Operations Command Central, decided to proceed to courts-martial.
His decision sparked an outcry: more than 100,000 people signed online petitions asking the charges be dropped. Politicians said they were outraged; commentators seized on the cases as evidence of political correctness run amok in the military.
Many people pointed out that terrorist training manuals instruct followers to allege mistreatment, and McCabe’s lawyers entered excerpts from the so-called Manchester Manual into evidence to make that point.
Just as crucial to the case were a half-dozen witnesses, many of them SEALs, who contradicted Demartino’s version of events.
Faraj and fellow defense attorney Neal Puckett said the acquittals prove the military justice system works. And though in the past, both have been critical of Cleveland’s decision to court-martial the SEALs, the attorneys were more philosophical after the victory.
“No terrorist organization can claim that the American military didn’t press forward and really investigate,” Faraj said.
Added Puckett: “Maybe the specter of Abu Ghraib is dissipating a little bit.”
Cleveland defended his handling of the matter, saying detainee abuse has “strategic implications” for the military and national security.
“Despite the opinion of some of those who preferred that these charges not proceed, I allowed these charges to go forward because I truly believe that the best process known for uncovering the truth, when the facts are contested, is that process which is found in our adversarial justice system,” Cleveland said in a statement.
“I will continue to take allegations such as this seriously. ... I look forward to Huertas, McCabe, and Keefe returning to their team and continuing their duties in defending our great nation.”
Kate Wiltrout, (757) 446-2629, kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com
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Thank You
This young man and so many others step up VOLUNTARILY to defend our country against all threats Foreign and Domestic. It is because of him and others like him that we can express our opinions freely and comment on what our Government does. Our SEALS are professionals they are special and they are human. They live though great sacrifice and so do their families. Every night we should bow our heads and pray for each one to return home safely, many won't. They know the potential cost and they do it without fear or favor, I thank everyone of them past and present. GW 10thSFG
SEALs
So you are saying we should just pray for the SEALs? What about the service men and women in the regular branches too? Did they not take up an oath to defend this great nation? SEALs do have the hardest training in the military, but does that mean we should not pray for our regular service members as well?
whatarewethinking
Regarding that he was proven innocent, yes in the context of the LAW, he was exonerating, but mostly due to lack of evidence. It was a he said, she said case. If he was so sure of his innocence why did he not face cross-examination. My point is if integrity and honesty were involved, and PO2 McCabe admitted his transgression (which I feel he probably did and most of his supporters feel he did otherwise they would not be justifying his right to do it) then this would have been solved simply with an NJP and a small fine. Nothing newsworthy for your right wing media to amplify to the nth degree. You have already shown your political leanings by bringing the President into this. How you correlate the president into this issue is beyond me. But you are using FOX news logic as weak as it is. And we will all fight for your right to continue to do so.
This is what we are thinking
My mindreading of the situation: the SEALS brought the case forward in a public way in order to make the "detainee dilemma" public--to elicit the public support for our combat troops, they believe exists. They wanted to bring the American Public into this internal "political correctness/rules of engagement" battle and show the upper Army and Navy command who report directly (and aspire to report) to our Commander in chief, President Obama. That's how politics work--and military leaders closest to the top ARE the administration. Do you argree that top Naval officer published remark, "Prisoner/detainee abuse has strategic implications" is evidence of this thinking? In reality, VIDEOS/pictures of abuse have strategic implications in this "media war", where terrorists have learned how to use global media to incite/foment hatred and Jehad. What the American public is saying to President Obama and his military direct reports is this, "we the people who elect you and allow you to appoint Chiefs of Staff and down the line, want our combat personnel supported and defended for their actions. Enough pandering to the Muslim "audience". Military chain of command, make the right INTERNAL cal
We fight by rules!
Leave the SEAL alone! All is fair in love and war. We have to play by the rules but the enemy can just do what he wants? Chuck King, USAF (ret)
If we must SUSPECT someone
If we must SUSPECT someone of being dishonest, how about we give the benefit of doubt to our guy? After all, the terrorist we can show in writing is encouraged to use our system against us:
"Many people pointed out that terrorist training manuals instruct followers to allege mistreatment"
Norfolk Needs to Hold a Navy SEALs Celebration & Affirmation Day
We need to honor the U.S. Navy SEALs and recognize their achievements. Let's show the SEALS how much our local community appreciates their sacrifices in defense of our nation. I am glad the courts- martials made just decisions regarding the acquitals of these three fine Petty Officers. BZ, Gentlemen!
Leaders know when to charge, when to retreat
Repeating the best post on this article, from retnav....
Every good leader/manager needs to evaluate the situation and extract the most out of any crisis. In this case, if the Seals did/did not do what was charged was not the major issue with the American public.
What was important was the support shown by the chain of command for moral purposes. At some point a good leader needs to know when to cut his losses and regroup. In this case choosing to continue to prosecute and make a world wide issue out of what may have been a trivial issue was not a good way to boost moral in such a volatile climate. Did they break a law ? When was the last time you drove 2 miles over the speed limit ? Rolled thru a stop sign ? Arrived at work 5 minutes late ? Pick and choose when to charge and when to retreat.
While lawyers & righteous argue fine points of "rules"
and military discipline, our enemies distribute "blood" videos --as reported by Der Spigel-the Germans still like Americans.
www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,432122,00.html
distributing terror videos as entertainment. Global Islamic Media Front presents "Mujaheddin's Hidden Camera -- Blood Comedy." In that video, the Russian diplomats kidnapped in Iraq on June 3 beg for their lives. But their appeals are in vain. Thirty seconds later, the men are brutally beheaded. The film goes on to show US soldiers collapsing in Iraq after being mortally wounded by snipers, Navy Seals being massacred in Kunar in eastern Afghanistan and military vehicles being blown up. The credits read: "In the name of the merciful, oh Allah, let the shots hit their mark and strengthen our steps."
What the....
Realize that before you post or provide this gore, there are very likely children (minors) who can read and review the link you posted and follow the links from there!
You do not know what your audience is!
Think, man. Think!