Friday, November 27, 2009

Literature, Or Reality?

I've been reading a book by the novelist, Vince Flynn, Extreme Measures. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Flynn's books, they typically deal with the CIA, Washington, DC, and how politics affect the intelligence community, following the exploits of the main protagonist, Mitch Rapp, as he works to ensure the safety of the country. This book is no different.

Here is more about it (and writing in general) in Vince Flynn's own words:



So why the book report? Well some of you may have heard about the three Navy Seals being charged for assault, who now face court martial, after capturing an incredibly dangerous terrorist, Ahmed Hashim Abed. I swear, it is just like some major scenes in the book mentioned above. It's uncanny.

Anyway, the claim against the Navy Seals? They gave the terrorist a bloody lip when they captured him. I am not kidding. A bloody lip. Heck, I've seen people get bloody lips playing a game of pick-up basketball. Bear in mind, this terrorist is responsible for murdering four Blackwater guards, burning them, and dragging them through the streets of Fallujah in 2004. And, the Seals involved claim he was fine when they nabbed him:
Matthew McCabe, a Special Operations Petty Officer Second Class (SO-2), is facing three charges: dereliction of performance of duty for willfully failing to safeguard a detainee, making a false official statement, and assault.

Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe, SO-2, is facing charges of dereliction of performance of duty and making a false official statement.

Petty Officer Julio Huertas, SO-1, faces those same charges and an additional charge of impediment of an investigation.

Neal Puckett, an attorney representing McCabe, told Fox News the SEALs are being charged for allegedly giving the detainee a “punch in the gut.”

“I don’t know how they’re going to bring this detainee to the United States and give us our constitutional right to confrontation in the courtroom,” Puckett said. “But again, we have terrorists getting their constitutional rights in New York City, but I suspect that they’re going to deny these SEALs their right to confrontation in a military courtroom in Virginia.”

The three SEALs will be arraigned separately on Dec. 7. Another three SEALs — two officers and an enlisted sailor — have been identified by investigators as witnesses but have not been charged.

FoxNews.com obtained the official handwritten statement from one of the three witnesses given on Sept. 3, hours after Abed was captured and still being held at the SEAL base at Camp Baharia. He was later taken to a cell in the U.S.-operated Green Zone in Baghdad.

The SEAL told investigators he had showered after the mission, gone to the kitchen and then decided to look in on the detainee.

"I gave the detainee a glance over and then left," the SEAL wrote. "I did not notice anything wrong with the detainee and he appeared in good health."


I might add, you know from my previous writings, I have no love lost for Blackwater. But, these guys were simply protecting a supply chain when they were attacked, no, murdered, and then set on fire.

Here is more on the tactics being used by Abed:



We are a nation of laws, but it seems to me we need to be careful that our laws are not manipulated by the very people who have harmed us. Torture is wrong, but for these Seals to be treated the way they are as a result of, at best minor injuries, and more likely, false claims by this terrorist mastermind, is disturbing. To say the least. In this case, reality is mimicking literature. Read the book, you'll see.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The terrorists who were responsible for the murders of 3000 people on September 11 are given the benefit of a civilian trial normally reserved for U.S. citizens, but 3 Navy Seals who risk their lives for us every minute they're on the job face a court martial because a terrorist they captured got a bloody lip. WTF????

And all the kool-aid drinkers who helped to create this absurd craziness we're all faced with every day are too busy worrying about their jobs and health insurance to pay any attention to what their Revered One is up to. Conspiracy theorist that I am, I cannot help thinking that this is all part of the plot!

Gotta buy a lotto ticket today. Winning the lottery is likely the only way I'll ever get to retire to Malta!

It just never ends, does is, Rev?

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

No, SF, it really doesn't. I cannot believe these three men, some of the most highly trained in our entire military, are having to spend one skinny second on lawyering up because this terrorist mastermind CLAIMS they gave him a bloody lip (or punched him in the gut, depending on which report is more accurate). It is absurd!!

This man MURDERED four men, BURNED them, and dragged them around the streets, and he is able to threaten the very career of these Seals over something so minute?? I mean, really - many people arrested in our country end up with that level of "injury" or more as a regular course of getting arrested. Absurd.

As is KSM being able to have a CIVILIAN trial. That is insulting on the face of it, and no amt of spin by The One's Justice Dept. can take away that this is politics, pure and simple. It has NOTHING to do with justice.

Oh, and it's gonna cost NYC a bundle, too, which it does not have.

I tell you what, SF - you end up in Malta, and I will definitely come see you! My knees were killing me too much to get off the ship when we docked there, so I am due a "do-over"! :-)

Anonymous said...

Wherever I'm living, Rev (and I sure hope it IS Malta some day soon!) you and your partner have a standing invitation to come visit and stay as long as you want!

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

You are too sweet, SF! And don't think I won't take you up on your lovely offer!

And you know you are always welcome down here in the Lowcountry!