Comments on: 25 Years in Prison for Army Ranger Who Shot Al Qaeda Agent http://www.frumforum.com/army-ranger-got-25-years-for-shooting-al-qaeda-agent Building a conservatism that can win again Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:50:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sean Linnane http://www.frumforum.com/army-ranger-got-25-years-for-shooting-al-qaeda-agent/comment-page-1#comment-80939 Sean Linnane Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:50:56 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=20719#comment-80939 Nobody comes out of this one smelling like a rose: Ali Mansur was a known al-Qaeda operative; the military authorities released Ali Mansur back into the custody of the officer whose men were slayed at his hand; Lt. Behenna conducted an impromptu battlefield interrogation and the rest is history. I have no problem with the military system - I was a part of it for a quarter of a century. This was a court martial - something most people confuse with a civilian trial; the two are not congruent. A trial has a judge and a jury, a court martial requires neither. The prosecution threw out their own expert witness because they could get away with it - I'm not a lawyer but I think this guy would stand a good chance for winning an appeal in a civilian trial. However, that's not my point. I think my point has something to do with the fact that this guy shot an enemy prisoner who turned at him and got 25 years, Breaker Morant followed stated policy and got death by firing squad, but Lt. Calley lined up a village full of old men, women and children and gunned them down and he all he got was a year's worth of house arrest. Nobody comes out of this one smelling like a rose: Ali Mansur was a known al-Qaeda operative; the military authorities released Ali Mansur back into the custody of the officer whose men were slayed at his hand; Lt. Behenna conducted an impromptu battlefield interrogation and the rest is history.

I have no problem with the military system – I was a part of it for a quarter of a century. This was a court martial – something most people confuse with a civilian trial; the two are not congruent. A trial has a judge and a jury, a court martial requires neither. The prosecution threw out their own expert witness because they could get away with it – I’m not a lawyer but I think this guy would stand a good chance for winning an appeal in a civilian trial.

However, that’s not my point. I think my point has something to do with the fact that this guy shot an enemy prisoner who turned at him and got 25 years, Breaker Morant followed stated policy and got death by firing squad, but Lt. Calley lined up a village full of old men, women and children and gunned them down and he all he got was a year’s worth of house arrest.

]]> By: Kanzeon http://www.frumforum.com/army-ranger-got-25-years-for-shooting-al-qaeda-agent/comment-page-1#comment-80886 Kanzeon Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:43:51 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=20719#comment-80886 I'd like to learn more about this case, but all you provided is a link to World Net Daily and a blog by his defense lawyer. Even so, I'm mystified by your take on this. This was a court martial. He was accused of shooting a defenseless prisoner in the head. If the prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence, that is a travesty that should be corrected. But it wasn't a civil proceeding. Are you suggesting that the court martial system developed by the military does not suit the military's needs or that court martials should be eliminated? I don't see how it connects with your stated concern that war is treated as law enforcement. I’d like to learn more about this case, but all you provided is a link to World Net Daily and a blog by his defense lawyer.

Even so, I’m mystified by your take on this. This was a court martial. He was accused of shooting a defenseless prisoner in the head. If the prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence, that is a travesty that should be corrected. But it wasn’t a civil proceeding. Are you suggesting that the court martial system developed by the military does not suit the military’s needs or that court martials should be eliminated? I don’t see how it connects with your stated concern that war is treated as law enforcement.

]]> By: andydp http://www.frumforum.com/army-ranger-got-25-years-for-shooting-al-qaeda-agent/comment-page-1#comment-80770 andydp Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:51:19 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=20719#comment-80770 What's the status on his apppeal ? Sounds like major grounds for a re trial at the least. Good luck to Michael and his family. What’s the status on his apppeal ? Sounds like major grounds for a re trial at the least. Good luck to Michael and his family.

]]> By: Sean Linnane http://www.frumforum.com/army-ranger-got-25-years-for-shooting-al-qaeda-agent/comment-page-1#comment-80766 Sean Linnane Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:03:34 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=20719#comment-80766 Michael's family has established the DEFEND MICHAEL website, to get the word out and help develop Congressional support for clemency: http://defendmichael.wordpress.com/ Michael’s family has established the DEFEND MICHAEL website, to get the word out and help develop Congressional support for clemency:

http://defendmichael.wordpress.com/

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