From the Inane to the Insane

Monday, November 30th at 10:28AM EST

27 Comments

Every year the New York Police and Fire Departments face off in an annual football game. The good-natured but intense contest has been a New York City tradition since 1973.

In 2004, members of both squads visited the Oval Office to present President George W. Bush with a token of appreciation for his response following the attacks of September 11, 2001. The meeting had special meaning since among the many casualties of 9-11 were 22 members of the New York City Fire Department Football Club. (See bravestfootball.com and nypdfootball.com). Originally, President Bush was asked to attend the annual game to receive the players’ thanks, but he was unable to do so, so I arranged the visit to the White House for the players.

The meeting was scheduled to last about ten minutes. At the president’s insistence, it lasted longer, in part so he could show the players another recent gift–something he was obviously proud to share with them. You see, that morning, the warriors who captured Saddam Hussein visited the President and gave him a glass-enclosed gun, the gun Hussein had on him when they dragged him from his rat hole.

The President picked up the box with the gun and showed it to the players. The President turned the box over and showed the signatures of the soldiers, who were involved in the capture, saying what a “great group” they were. Clearly, he was proud that our American GIs had captured a brutal tyrant, who took the lives of many. Our brave troops captured a terrorist, and our Commander-in-Chief honored their valor and service.

Now, less than six years later, let’s look at what has changed.

Just a few days ago, the “big news” was an inane circus starring two people who crashed a White House State Dinner. The stories, the photos, the calls for investigations, more funding, firings, in other words, the typical madness will all follow. Of course, few will thank publicly the men and women of the Secret Service, who keep so many so safe for so long.

While most of the major news outlets seemed totally taken with the gate crashers, few Americans were made aware of a mockery of justice that became public that same week, namely the prosecution of three brave Navy SEALS who face ruin for, among all things, capturing a terrorist who brutally killed, maimed, defiled and hanged four American citizens in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004.

Matthew McCabe, Jonathan Keefe and Julio Huertas are among the best-trained men in the world. Recently, these dedicated sailors captured Ahmed Hashim Abed, who masterminded and, according to reports, was responsible for the brutal Fallujah murders. Like the soldiers who captured Hussein, you would think they would be honored for their valor and service. You would think a grateful nation would recognize their achievement with a proclamation or commendation—maybe even an invite to the oval office. Instead of receiving any such thing, they are facing a court-martial. Instead of being honored by our nation and its leaders, they are being persecuted and prosecuted for nonsense.

Their offense? According to published reports, one of the SEALS allegedly punched the suspected terrorist. Hmmm.

Now what?

Our government now trips over itself to apologize, to ignore history, to coddle tyrants and terrorists, to provide propaganda platforms to wretched individuals, who are our enemies and to punish brave men and women in our military who deserve praise, not prosecution. We move to court-martial three United States Navy SEALS, while we insult the memory of the victims of 9-11 with a show trial for Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his mosaic of maniacs just blocks from the most vicious attack on American soil.

Time, events and sometimes, elections, serve to highlight the distinctions between significance and insignificance, praise and prosecution, political power and political correctness, and pandering and patriotism.

So here we are, transfixed on a couple stealing some punch and taking photos at the White House, and watch the wheels of government turn and heads roll, while three families, the McCabes’, Keefes’ and Huertas’ must be asking themselves, “What did we do to deserve this?

Clearly, from the inane to the insane.

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Marcus Latrell just talked about this

Scope (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 10:47AM EST (link)

on Beck’s radio show. He said that the enimies know every trick in the book. They know every single thing that could get our military members in trouble, and, they use it at every opportunity.He relayed a story about some burned out destroyed vehicle that some woman called and complained that the seals were responsible for. It went to the JAGS, and the seals were grounded for 2 weeks while the incident was investigated. So, every enemy can make any complaint they want, even if they are lies, and, our military members are investigated. As I’ve read before, no matter what happens with the 3 seals, even if they are exonorated, their reputations are already destroyed. You would think that when you invest $12 million in the training of a Navy Seal, you would put some trust in their integrity and honesty. This must change, and soon.

But, what about the SEALs who took out the Samali Pirates last year?

yoyo (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 10:48AM EST (link)

Should they be “Lawyering-Up” just in case they get brought up on capital murder charges? One of the pirates was a minor, after all. And, wasn’t the rifle used a Barrett Mk81A series .50 cal? I am sure that there is some stupid rule somewhere that states you cannot use a rifle of that caliber for use on “people”.

This whole thing stinks of a sewer. It is horribly sad.

Why conduct a Courts-Martial when (ESPECIALLY since they are Enlisted only) an XOI or Captains Mast would more than suffice, considering the nature of the “offense.”

I am no Sea-Lawyer, but this seems like having a jury trial over a “40mph-in-a-35mph-zone” speeding ticket. A fine is more than sufficient for this offense, if found guilty. Why the Courts-Martial?

Why?

Show-Trial, anyone? Seems this administration is all for them nowadays. It reminds me of “The Clinton Years.”

What a frickin’ joke.

Nemo me impune lacesset
“No one will provoke me with impunity!”
=============================
Pukin’ Dogs – The Fighting 143
Sans Reproache
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The ‘yoyo’ replaced my cigarettes January 22, 2006….

Yoyo- The Seals requested a Courts Martial

Scope (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 11:07AM EST (link)

over a Captains Mast. It seems they want the nation to know that they are being accused of, as you say, nothing more than a sppding ticket. I believe I read somewhere that the Officers at a Captains Mast event almost never find the military members innocent.

Thanks for the clarification, yet -

yoyo (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 11:35AM EST (link)

it all seems ridiculous. I do hope that THEY are not the ones looking to have a “show” trial. From an ex-squidly, that may not be the smartest thing to do. For one, a trial by a jury of your “peers” is never the case in a Courts-Martial. While the jury must consist of at least one enlisted person, it is never your “peer”. It usually a curmudgeony Senior Chief or Master Chief who sits on the jury. If you are a Second Class or First Class Petty Officer, a Senior or Master Chief is NOT your peer, and CAN be less forgiving than a Commissioned Officer in a lot of cases. I fear that if this is a case of “wanting the nation to know” kind of trial, the “peer(s)” may be their worst enemy.

As for the XOI/CO Mast almost never finding members innocent – I am not so sure about that. I (personally) was found innocent at Mast once and had everything dropped at XOI once. Given that SEAL Teams are so tight, this had the very real possibility of being dropped at XOI, or their Skipper giving them a slap on the wrist (if even deserved) and their records expunged after a few years. The XO and CO were in the best position (IMHO) to have all the facts, personally know the accused, and best investigate this whole incident in the correct context. However, my opinion is based on that it was NOT the XO or CO who brought up the charges or filed the report.

In contrast, Courts-Martial is forever-ish. And the findings will carry through to the civilian world.

Plus, they have every opportunity to STOP the proceedings at XOI or Mast, at any point, and THEN request a Courts-Martial if they think they are being railroaded. From a perception stand-point, it would look better for them (from a jurors POV), had they chosen that route.

Again, IMHO.

The Courts Martial worried me when I heard it, too.

Achance (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 11:46AM EST (link)

Anyone sitting on one of those “juries” is looking at, at best, an eight year hiatus in his/her career with a vote to acquit. Clearly, the government wants to make an example of these guys and anyone wanting a promotion will understand that it is their job to help the government make an example of them. Hope there are a few selfless officers out there.

In Vino Veritas

I'd disagree

streiff (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 12:00PM EST (link)

the officers sitting on the panel will be too low ranking for anyone to go after. They almost certainly won’t come from within the SEAL community which gets rid of the risk of retaliation by that chain of command… if that chain of command is actually interested in taking these three guys out rather than having them exonerated with careers intact and putting them back to work.

The SecNav might refuse to certify a promotion list if any of the jurors were on it but that would bring a thermonuclear response when it was inevitably revealed.

The only real danger would be the Senate refusing to approve a promotion list if any of the jurors was on it (they did this for the Tailhook guys and for the commander of the USS Cole) and it is hard to see the Senate going after a court martial panel in this manner.

“What keeps me here is the reek of beer, the ladies and the craic”

I still think that it is the NCO's you need to worry about.

yoyo (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 12:20PM EST (link)

Remember, all three are Enlisted, not Officers. Therefore, there must be at least one NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer, ie Enlisted) on the jury, thereby making it a “Jury of Your Peers”. Most likely, in this case, it would be a 3-person jury, two Commissioned Officers and one NCO. The NCO will most likely be an E-8 or E-9 staffer at the base in which they are stationed.

(Speaking from my limited 11 year experience as a Navy NCO) most enlisted personnel do not like grandstanders (I didn’t, therefore I can extrapolate that ALL didn’t – j/k) and will look upon it poorly if the accused leave the impression that they are grandstanding for some higher cause. This is my fear.

However, if there is some sort of downward pressure to railroad and publicly hang these guys (as perceived by the NCO), then this may work to their advantage. Most (lower) grade officers worth their salt listen and respect the “khakis” and he/she could very well sway the opinion and set the consensus of the officers.

This will certainly be one to watch. It is just sad that it came to this to begin with.

the inclusion of an enlisted member

streiff (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 12:46PM EST (link)

is the prerogative of the accused. So if a CPO is sitting on the panel it is because the SEALs asked for him.

I don’t know the dynamics of this particular case but if the Navy wants these guys gone they’ll use administrative action even if they are acquitted. If the SEALs want to keep them and they’ll be okay.

“What keeps me here is the reek of beer, the ladies and the craic”

The NCO who doesn't see this in the same light we do is rare.

nessa (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 12:54PM EST (link)

I’m not sure of the intricacies of the Navy, if it were an Army matter, any “staffers” from the local post are actually trigger pullers just biding their time till a good assignment opens up. everyone has to suffer a little staff time to be “well rounded”, and suffer is the correct term.

Officers generally respect the opinions of senior NCOs. Its been ingrained into them since they were 2LTs, Platoon Leaders leaning on their Platoon Sergeants common sense and experienced advise and on through Captain when they were Company Commanders, leaning on their First Sergeant. Nothing against Commissioned Officers, its just the way the system is designed, they are a team. By the time they are Majors its natural for them to value an NCOs advice.

Senior NCOs are not an extremely forgiving lot, they are not afraid to call stupid, stupid, no matter who did it. Not always but Senior NCOs are also less career oriented, that is to say more likely to take an unpopular stand that might have an adverse effect on their career if they think it is the right thing to do. If these guys are being railroaded I would count on an NCO putting a stop to it. If it turns out they did something stupid, like punch the guy after he was in confinement, I would also count on the NCOs to drop the hammer mercilessly.

If Captains Masts or Article 15s in Army vernacular, seldom return an innocent verdict its because of the NCO/Officer relationship. NCOs recommend Article 15 action, Officers decide whether it is warranted and pass judgement. If I thought a troop needed an Article 15, and went to all the effort to make on happen then there’s a good chance the Commander is going to agree. If it wasn’t a guaranteed slam dunk, I wasn’t going to recommend it, there are other means available to NCOs who need to “learn someone a lesson.”

“If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams

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teh twitter

I think that is what he means

streiff (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 1:03PM EST (link)

If these guys are being railroaded I would count on an NCO putting a stop to it. If it turns out they did something stupid, like punch the guy after he was in confinement, I would also count on the NCOs to drop the hammer mercilessly.

I think officers, particularly ones who have served in combat units are a little more likely to turn a blind eye towards a “tune up” unless it is so egregious that they can’t. I know I did.

“What keeps me here is the reek of beer, the ladies and the craic”

Just wanted to make sure he was worried about NCOs for the right reasons.

nessa (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 1:37PM EST (link)

I was in Fallujah in 03 and 04 with One Panther, I was driving to Kuwait after our TOA with the Marines on the day they hung the bodies on the bridge. I would have whole heartedly supported a little tuning up during the capture but then I was Airborne Infantry, NOT the kind of tool you want to use for a surgical operation, unless you are fond of doing surgery with a battle axe. It is a technique.

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teh twitter

Like killing cockroaches with hand grenades?

yoyo (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 3:50PM EST (link)

You will certainly kill the little boogers, but you will not be using the kitchen anytime soon….!

I use this same statement when discussing Obamacare with my more “progressive” friends.

Or for AGW/CC:

Imagine Einstein saying (in your best German/American accent):
“Trust me, Relativity just IS.
…NO! I won’t show you HOW I came to this conclusion; it is up to YOU to prove ME wrong.
…FINE! I will dismiss your dissent as a LIE, label you a HACK or a NAYSAYER, and DISCREDIT you if you try.”

J think they have a problem

martyinaz Wednesday, December 2nd at 12:41AM EST (link)

If I got the info straight,the three are first charged with falsifying a report (after action), behavior unbecoming a SEAL, then one was charged with striking the “victim” when in hand cuffs. There are three witnesses against them. One being their commissioned leader of the team. This just stinks. Frankly the leader should have shot that S.O.B… when he was seen “trying to escape”. Some of these officers just don’t know how to problem solve at all.

Hope you're right, Streiff.

Achance (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 12:36PM EST (link)

I’ve just seen Democrats go after really low ranking people too many times, though obviously, this wasn’t in the military. But if anything, this lot has less respect for the military than they do for the civilian employees. Just hope the military will look after its own.

In Vino Veritas

No, Need, The Zero Took Credit For the Pirate Kills Quickly

rcov092 (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 11:18AM EST (link)

prosecuting them now not an option…even for the Ditherer In Chief (DIC)

“Not One Red Dime for the NRSC or NRCC till they stop trying to elect liberals”

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Another indication of the rot at the top of the military exemplified by Colin Powell.

Tbone (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 10:50AM EST (link)

It is evident that there are way too many top military leaders that have butt kissed their way up the bureacratic military ladder and have instituted the worst kinds of political correctness as evidenced by this matter and Fort Hood.

Putting a civilian layer of the military hating, liberal, traitorous scum that consitutes the Obama administration only empowers those military leaders who think first of the careers and second of their duty.

Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.

Perfumed Princes are always a danger at the top...

nessa (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 11:25AM EST (link)

…there have always been those in the military who focus on “punching their ticket” and getting rank that way. The higher you go in rank the greater the temptation to become “politically correct” and connected and use that to get a head. Many succumb to it. Most of them have slipped through a couple of cracks before they get to the senior ranks.

Powell didn’t seem to be one of those, he was instrumental in re-forming the Army after the post Vietnam disaster that it had become. Maybe he didn’t sell his soul until he retired, there is still temptation and he definitely fell for it.

He’s gone too far supporting this administration, and either shown his true colors or changed his colors. Even Daniel Webster wouldn’t argue with the devil in defense of his soul now.

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teh twitter

This group sickens...

Erick Brockway (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 10:51AM EST (link)

They attack all those who protect us. Cambridge Police; attacked.
CIA; attacked. Navy SEALS; attacked.
Just waiting for his Secret Service to be attacked.
Oh wait…
PartyGate?

Note to lefties;
“Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” -Ronald Reagan

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Clearly this Whitehouse has no problem

Michael Dugas (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 10:54AM EST (link)

Bestowing the rights of our citizens on foreign terrorists while denying the rights of its own citizens. This is just another method that the Left is going to use to distract the nation from the harm they are doing. What till the debacle that will be the New York trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, it will be just another way to try the Bush Administration without looking like that’s their intention and keeping the public’s attention pointed elsewhere.

Intro to Federalist Papers; section 5;
paragraph 4.
“…dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the zeal for a firm and efficient government.”

Remember: A Citizen on the dole is a Liberal Vote at the Polls.
END ENTITLEMENTS!

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum !

The WHITE HOUSE releasing those photos ..

Veronica (Diary) Monday, November 30th at 11:21AM EST (link)

.. of that sari-wearing blonde woman indicates that Obama and Emanuel are milking this for all it’s worth.

Remember “You guys are a great photo op.”?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/you-guys-make-a-pretty-good-photo-op-president-obama-jokes-to-troops-at-osan-air-base.html

Tha’ts ALL this is.

The statist media is offering up the typical distraction from a story that incites the public.

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Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine

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let them try to court martial the men. They'll fail.

archer52 Monday, November 30th at 6:50PM EST (link)

In the military everybody follows orders. That doesn’t mean the end result will be what the PC police demand. The terrorist will say he was hit in the mouth. The SEALS will say, “what mouth, where?” and if that is all they have, it is done. They will be found not guilty. The media damage and the damage done to us by this will stay, but they will be fine.

Next time, shoot him.

Unfortunately the team leader is testifying against them.

martyinaz Wednesday, December 2nd at 1:14AM EST (link)

What a rat.. The team leader is a commissioned officer, he and two NCO’s are the government’s witnesses. After this, how could anybody have this rat as his team leader. Guys like that tend to have fatal accidents when on a mission.

Domestic Terrorism In Washington

greggoulas Tuesday, December 1st at 10:12AM EST (link)

It looks to me that the real terrorists are domestic and are walking the halls of Congress and the Whitehouse! How in God’s name are good soldiers, doing there jobs wrong in the eyes of this current administration unless that administration has a strong desire to infiltrate and destroy America from within with of course the support of the mainstream liberal press and the pompous boys and girls who wonder the hall of our Congress..NOT doing the will of We The People?

It sure looks to me as though our Forefathers would each and everyone turn over in their graves if they could see what Washington has become under this socialist agenda administration. I can only pray that God had mercy on America until we can get things changed for the better and back on track in 2010 and 2012.

Not so insane,

ronzo Tuesday, December 1st at 1:53PM EST (link)

maybe. Could be a play right out of Saul Alinsky`s book of rules or addendum on how to discourage enlistments. Who in their right mind wants to join a force to establish law and order when its governing body has absolute power to persecute and prosecute you for doing your job, not to mention deprive you of all rights and freedoms you`re fighting to uphold. What`s the point?

Is this another step in the steady, incremental dismantling of free society in order to install the left`s utopian dream? Just wondering.

PARTY CRASHERS; MAYBE NOT

dlsprite Tuesday, December 1st at 2:00PM EST (link)

On how the couple got in… I have one question. Who exactly is in charge over there?

More likely this was well orchestrated, maybe for publicity, more likely to be used as an excuse to launch a new Obama Secret Service as yet another new governmental office that reports direct to the President, with officials appointed directly by the President. Opps, the OSS acronym has already been used. Maybe a Presidential Special Service, or PSS, would sound better.

PSS...?

qixlqatl (Diary) Tuesday, December 1st at 8:15PM EST (link)

that’s what this administration and congress are doing on our backs while telling us it’s raining…

“Yet, Freedom! yet thy banner, torn, but flying,
Streams like the thunderstorm against the wind.”

George Gordon Noel Byron

From RME KRNL

RME KRNL Wednesday, December 2nd at 12:00PM EST (link)

From his economic policies to what his DOJ is doing under Eric “Americans are cowards about race” Holder, Obama has his priorities upside down and, in some cases, backwards, as well. Giving KSM and his fellow terrorists a show trial in NYC, with all the protections of U.S. citizens, while attempting to prosecute Navy SEALS for capturing a dangerous terrorist thug, saying a white police sergeant acted stupidly while arresting a belligerent black college professor but urging us all not to jump to conclusions about a Muslim Army major shooting down innocent fellow soldiers and others in cold blood — PC has already caused some people to be killed or law enforcement or military careers to be ruined and is going to get still more people killed or their careers ruined if we don’t get over it and stop letting it cripple us in what we should be doing.

I say good for the SEALS — for doing their jobs so well, for standing up for themselves, for pushing to have some light shone on what’s being done to them for doing their jobs, and, if they did, for busting that sleazebag terrorist’s lip, too. If it had been me, he wouldn’t have had to worry about a mere busted lip; he would have had to look for all his teeth on the floor at least because the first time he looked at me sideways, I probably would’ve butt-stroked him right in the mouth. Hey, smirk about THAT, Mo’fu!

RME KRNL