Clue by four for CinC SOCOM and CinC CENTCOM
Prosecuting special operators for bloodying the lip of a wanted terrorist will, in the long run, result in a lot more such terrorists being killed resisting special operators attempting to apprehend them.
Navy SEALs Face Assault Charges for Capturing Most-Wanted Terrorist
By Rowan Scarborough
FOX NewsNavy SEALs have secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq — the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004. And three of the SEALs who captured him are now facing criminal charges, sources told FoxNews.com.
The three, all members of the Navy’s elite commando unit, have refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral’s mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial.
Ahmed Hashim Abed, whom the military code-named “Objective Amber,” told investigators he was punched by his captors — and he had the bloody lip to prove it.
Now, instead of being lauded for bringing to justice a high-value target, three of the SEAL commandos, all enlisted, face assault charges and have retained lawyers.
Hint to Echelons Clearly Above Reality: You are fracking up by the numbers.
Hat Tip: DrewM at Ace of Spades
Updates below the fold
UPDATE:
Allahpundit gets it wrong:
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…They’re being charged for allegedly giving him a beating and covering it up.
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…Giving the SEALs a zero-tolerance wrist slap reminds other troops not to do anything more seriously stupid that might be exploited politically. And it will be a wrist slap, I’m sure: The last thing The One needs after shipping KSM off to NYC for his close-up is the image of SEALs being hauled off to prison for busting some jihadi in the face. In fact, according to Fox, the SEALs requested a court-martial rather than nonjudicial punishment, presumably because they know full well how awful this looks for the military. Prediction: Wrist slap.
Nope.
Article 15 NJP has limitations set on the level of punishment which can be awarded based on the rank of the commanding officer presiding. An Admiral’s Mast is already rather far removed from wrist slap territory, and indicates that the chain of command below that point was unwilling to pursue the matter (clearly by dint of being concerned with operational effectiveness and morale). Demanding a trial by Court Martial is a high risk move by the operators involved, who clearly are of the opinion that they did nothing wrong and who are willing to bet their careers and freedom on a jury of their peers.
UPDATE TWO: Blackfive is not amused:
Let me explain something to you amigo. That wrist slap would be a career-ender in Spec Ops for these men. You understand? We take three guys who accomplish more in a lazy afternoon than you have in your entire anonymous, snarking-from-the-sideline, existence and we put them out of work making dead tangos. And that sounds like what should have happened to this ass clown. If he dies during the take down we have no problems.
I know you have no earthly clue just how god-awful complicated it is to actually perform a raid and scarf up a bad guy, let’s just say it rates up there with trying to conduct a Beethoven Symphony with your orchestra in free fall, screaming towards Earth like a phalanx of freaking lawn darts. That is why we like to send a f**king Hellfire down on them and last time I checked that leaves a little more than a god damn bloody lip. And yes I am saying I don’t care if he got it once he got to base. What if the guy who clocked his murderous ass knew Scott Helverson, who this bastard helped kill, burn and then defile his corpse? Do you really want to be on record saying he should be made an example of? Do you remember what Kos said about the four men this scumbag killed you dumbass? I’ll remind you “F**k them”. You are sure in illustrious company.
I realize you get paid to say controversial shite all day long. Every once in a while you ought to take a gander at who gives you the freedom to flap your freakin’ gums and think twice before you decide that zero-tolerance demands that your betters suffer for some bullshit like this. Don’t offer the PC losers cover, ever. They will use it against my friends.
And in case there is any question, I’m with Blackfive on this.
Denouement: All the special operators were either acquitted at trial by court martial or had all charges dropped.
