Today, on December 7th, 2009 we are remembering the attack by the Japanese military 68 years ago on Pearl Harbor, an attack that got the United States involved in World War II. But today three of our Navy SEALs are in a court room fighting a court martial and for their very military lives.
Jed Babbin at Human Events tells us why (H/T to Erick Erickson of Red State):
two weeks ago, the three SEALs — Julio Huertas, Jonathan Keefe and Matthew McCabe — were part of a platoon from SEAL Team 10 that captured one of the most-wanted terrorists in Iraq, Ahmed Hashim Abed, in a nighttime raid on or about September 1. Abed is believed to be the man behind the barbaric March 2004 ambush of Blackwater security guards in which four were murdered, their bodies mutilated and then hung from a bridge in Fallujah.
The facts of the case are a bit muddy. According to a source close to the case who requested anonymity the SEALs captured Abed and transported him to a place where they surrendered him to Iraqi custody. He made no complaint of abuse before being turned over to the Iraqis. At some point after that, the SEALs reclaimed Abed who — though still technically in Iraqi custody — was taken back for further questioning, complaining of mistreatment. There was some blood on his clothing but it’s not clear when it appeared.
There is every reason to believe the SEALs are innocent. Chapter 18 of the Al Qaeda training manual released by the US Justice Department says that members must complain of torture and mistreatment inflicted on them.
American investigators became involved and, from that point, it’s apparent that lawyers were making decisions, and the commander at the top of the local food chain — MGen. Charles T. Cleveland — at first misunderstood his options and then pushed the matter far beyond the point at which it should have ended.
Last week, Congressman Dan Burton was on Fox News defending and fighting for the SEALs while explaining why this trial, this court martial, is a sham.
Help save the the SEALs. Sign this petition to send a message that you stand with the three Navy SEALs for defending America. Petition to Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations to not court martial the SEAL three!
There is also a Facebook group you can join to the protest the prosecution of the SEAL three.
