I have been reading with growing consternation reports of the forthcoming court martial of the three US Navy SEALs who captured Ahmed Hashim Abed, believed by the US military to be one of the most dangerous and vicious jihadists currently operating in Iraq.
The US high command in the Middle East pinpoints him as the mastermind behind the shocking murders and mutilation of four US contractors working for Blackwater in 2004 – burned alive in their vehicle and strung from the girders of a steel bridge over the Euphrates River while a baying mob below chanted DEATH TO THE INFIDEL.
It’s so darned easy to take the SEALs for granted, because they are men who would march into hell on our behalf. They are men who are sworn to defend their nation, men whose creed is so well-known: “I have been chosen to defend those who cannot defend themselves. If I am knocked down, I will get up. Every time. I am never out of the fight.”
The Americans stormed in and grabbed this Hashim Abed character, risking gun-fire, booby traps, hidden bombs and God knows what else. Thereafter Hashim Abed instantly did what they all do – claimed be had been punched in the stomach by one of the SEALs. And then, later, that one of them had whacked him in the mouth and made his lip bleed.
Within days, three of the SEALs were informed they would face a court martial, charged with hitting a detainee, dereliction of duty, lying, and probably cheating, swearing, laughing, whatever. It was an entire litany of ‘offenses’ so utterly risible, and given Hashim Abed’s likely track record, the entire country should rise up in protest.
I know we have a bleeding-heart Liberal in the White House, but this situation is only just on the north side of lunacy.
Because every time one of these incidents finds its way into print, and America’s finest warriors are pilloried for their actions, it’s just more chipping away at their morale, their confidence, their sense of duty, and perhaps above all their belief in themselves and their country.
The SEALs mostly operate in places where they are up against mass-murders, killers, bombers and races of people, Arabs, Pashtuns, Pathans and Persians who profoundly wish us all dead.
Does it not beggar belief that these Liberals think they can be treated like law-abiding American citizens, rather than knife-wielding maniacs whose public vow is to see all of us either dead or converted to Islam?
It’s pointless trying to argue the case for the military, because no Liberal has ever been wrong about anything. Any one of them will tell you that. But it should be remembered that my non-fiction book, LONE SURVIVOR was so named because Marcus Luttrell was the only survivor. The other 19 American special combat heroes were all dead. And they were dead because Marcus and his team were afraid to make the tough military decision, because they might end up in jail for murder right here in the US of A.
The death of those 19 in Afghanistan was 100 percent down to Liberal views, philosophy and laws. And now there are three SEALs facing court-martial entirely on the word of a captured terrorist, at the urging of a vast but child-like section of the American electorate.
The names of the three, all Special Ops Petty Officers, the front line of US military muscle, are Matthew McCabe, 24; Jonathon Keefe, 25, from Yorktown. And Julio Huertas, 28.
Their Trial will almost certainly be held in Iraq where it is most convenient for their accuser, Hashim Abed. Never mind they are American citizens, and entitled to a trial right here at home in front of their peers. All I know is they seem right now to be playing in the face of a stacked deck.
And I will be making every effort to help them. I will donate to the costs of their defense with a percentage of my royalties from my next book, INTERCEPT – a thriller about Guantanamo Bay and beyond.
Right now I am constantly thinking about how this all came to pass. Who was the military officer who wrote down these terrible accusations against the SEALs – attacking their honor, their competence, trying to put them behind bars for ‘failing to safeguard’ this appalling little terrorist? Just who the hell was this judicial midget?
I don’t suppose we will ever know. But I guess he knows. And he probably has many years to contemplate his accusations, made so vividly against the SEALs.
He’ll probably go to his grave still considering the day he raised his hand against Matthew, Jonathan and Julio, his own countrymen, who, in the face of terrible danger, were just trying to do their best.
Whoever that officer is, may God have mercy upon his soul.
–Patrick Robinson : February 2010
To pre-order Intercept, visit amazon.com, or click here.. Some of the proceeds will be given to help defend the SEALs.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by AngelaRMLash: RT @specwarcom: My personal view of the SEALs on trial 4 capturing the most dangerous Taliban leader. http://bit.ly/chDwWK #tcot #sot #navy…
Patrick, I hope your comments are flung far and wide. I also believe that the Ambassador to Lebanon that ignored the SEALs warning in the 1990′s about potential car bomb threat and caused the deaths of the American Embassy personnel is in this group. AND every single Congress person that has signed off on the ROE from day 1 is guilty of murdering those 19 SEALs you spoke about. They need to take responsibility for their (in)action.
Thanks for the story on Marcus, btw. Great read that has caused me to also read Dick Marcinko and Bob Gorley’s books. Very interesting background information.
Trying these Seals simply shows what we have evolved to. These Seals are trained to protect we, the American people, who cares that they socked this known terrorist in the stomach, (no one in his right mind gives a damn). In my opinion, leave the seals alone and let them do their job and stop harrasing them.
Give them hell Seals, respectfully, Charles Suttles
They only made one mistake. They brought him out alive. Maybe that’s why they are on trial, for not finishing the job.
I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the new stuff you post.
What do you really expect with the people that have taken over the White House>
Just wanted to say a quick “Thank you” for making this story a priority. I am the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran and though my father passed away in 1999, I still feel a strong love and respect for our military personnel. It sickens me to know that we have as you put it so well, “a bleeding heart liberal” in the White House, more than willing to sacrifice the lives of three American heroes on the word of a known terrorist. How dare he! Had he ever cared enough to serve in the greatest Armed Forces on the planet, maybe he would realize what an idiot he is, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Keep up the good work.
Hi
i am just reading Barracuda 945 which states inside the front cover was written in 2003. You say that no women serve on submarines however, Australian navy has women on submarines and a few other countries such as Spain and Canada also.
Great books.
J
Patrick,
Have read everyone of your books. I want to tell you that your writing has caused this old man to miss a lot of sleep because once I begin one of your books I cannot put it down until I finish it. Thanks for all the enjoying evenings you have provide me
“The SEALs mostly operate in places where they are up against mass-murders, killers, bombers and races of people, Arabs, Pashtuns, Pathans and Persians who profoundly wish us all dead.”
Patrick, really? All of them? This generalization is just on the North side of racism.
A Court Marshal can also be used to exhonorate a person and bring them out from under the cloud of criticism. Rule of law is also what SEALs protect and promote.