The Virginian-Pilot
©
A second letter of support from members of Congress has gone out on behalf of three Navy SEALs charged with mistreating an Iraqi detainee.
The latest letter, written by U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., and signed by 40 of his Republican House colleagues, asks Army Maj. Gen. C.T. Cleveland, head of Special Operations Command Central, to drop all charges against the men.
“I find it infuriating and unconscionable that the three SEALs are now undergoing court martial as a result of those allegations,” Burton said in an accompanying statement. “This sends a backwards message to our men and women in the military who are charged with carrying out dangerous missions and must often use aggressive force in dealing with al Qaeda and the Taliban.”
Two North Carolina representatives, Howard Coble and Sue Myrick, signed the letter. No Virginians were among the signers.
A similar letter, written by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and signed by 32 other members of Congress, was sent to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Two of the SEALs were arraigned last week at Norfolk Naval Station. Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe is charged with assault, dereliction of duty and making a false statement to an investigator. Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas is charged with dereliction of duty, making a false statement and impeding the investigation.
They are scheduled to be court-martialed next month.
The third SEAL, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe, is charged with dereliction of duty and making a false statement. He has not yet been arraigned.
All three are assigned to SEAL Team 10 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.
The detainee allegedly assaulted, Ahmed Hashim Abed, is thought to be linked to the 2004 convoy ambush in Fallujah, Iraq, in which four Blackwater contractors were killed, their bodies mutilated and hung from a bridge.
Bill Sizemore, (757) 446-2276, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Fellow shadow soldiers
It is so easy for these "citizens" to complain nowadays about crap but as I said yesterday, the minute BRAC commission says we are considering shutting down bases in Virginia you wanna raise your hands,plead and beg for them to keep the bases but if a soldier giver a detainee a fat lip you wanna fry the same men who keep you free. That detainee or detainees could have possibly been the providing the improvised explosive devices(IED) that has been killing our men and women that patrol the mean streets of Iraq or the rocky roads of the Afghan provinces. It really turns my stomach in knots that some of these "citizens" compalin about a detainee who has gotten squared away. I gurantee if it was someone you loved that was on the end of one those IED's you would want justice. But oh well I am done on this matter. Cause alot you "citizens" would never truly understand what is to be a soldier that is fighting for your country or your beliefs. "SEALS I say again we got your back 3/75rgrmedic out."
375rgrmedic
Don't let the "no loads" get you down. Those that matter support you and the cause. Let those who have not "Been there, done that" settle back and read all about some sex crazed golf nut and leave military business alone.
a fix
on my previous comment the first line should read *why take the NJP if your *not* guilty*
alexvb
Like i've stated to you before why take an NJP if your guilty? You act as if an NJP is nothing. Obviously you know nothing about it. Getting an NJP hurts your career period!!! I wouldn't take an NJP for something I didn't do. That's like taking a plea agreement if your innocent. Yeah, you might know your innocent, but everyone else thinks your guilty cause you took a plea! In the end it's still gonna be bad for you. You act as if an NJP is just a slap on the wrist, but it's still put in your record and it will affect future promotions!! SO quit asking why didn't they just take the NJP. Do you and charles live together by chance?
Charles
you have no idea. To blindly believe what a terrorist says over those that provide your freedoms is pathetic at best. However, it's very typical of the left. Bow down to them and bash your military and country. Maybe they would be more excepting of you in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Iran. Try it maybe you'll like it. Remember, they aren't guilty yet no matter how much you want them to be, but heck pretend you care at least say you believe our military guys over a terrorist!!
375rgrmedic SHADOW SOLDIER
The types your referring to will never get it brother. They live in a dream world where everything is perfect. They will never or have ever experienced the real deal or how bad our hands are tied behind our backs over there as it is. ie rules of engagement and escalation of force. We as American Soldiers have many more rules to follow than those in other countries and I'm sure you know this. Good post and I enjoyed reading it. I know exactly where your coming from and I feel the same way. It makes you wish you could pick and choose whose freedoms you want to defend right?
Here we go again
It seems like yesterday that I dealt with this purported journalist relattive to another poorly-written and biased junk piece. This time, Sizemore fails to mention that the alleged assault resulted in but a bloody lip for this "gentleman" detainee and that there were no witnesses.
Fellow Shadow Soldiers
The public and government officials who have never put on a uniform and actually fought for this country should shut their mouths and let these men go without any kind of criminal action be brought against them. Some of you civilians are quick to point fingers at us soldiers for a small infraction. But you whine and cry if a base gets shut down and worse of all you become all patriotic if someone threatens this country and then you praise us for what we do. Serving and fighting for your country is two different things. Any clown can put on a uniform sit behind a desk and type all day or play musical instrument and say they served. But to get sent behind enemy lines or sent out on route recons or clearing buildings in Fallujah or fighting for your life on roberts ridge is a hell of alot different. So before you pass judgement on my fellow soldiers get off your lazyboy chairs, walk in our shoes and then you will see what is we go through while we are 18 or more hours away from home doing our jobs. If it wasnt for men like myself, fellow shadow soldiers, or marines. You wouldnt have the freedom to complain about nonsense such as this minor infraction or Tiger Woods personal life. SE
You have no idea
what we did in the service or whether we served. To blindly think that military service precludes obeying the law and expecting justice is dangerous and ignorant. You really have no idea what serving is about, do you?
375rgrmedic - Well said
Good point, if you have not walked in military shoes, been shot at or cleaned up bodies from a bomb blast how could a civilian possibly know what really goes on .