UPDATE ON WARRIOR DEFENSE FUND'S EFFORT TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE SEAL TRIO
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your generosity in making it possible for us to make meaningful contributions to the causes the three SEALs so unjustly charged with abusing a terrorist prisoner. We now have some $10,000 (estimated) in the bank, and we will shortly disburse that sum to the Trio.
You should know that your contributions to Warrior Defense Fund (WDF) are fully tax-deductible, as we are a 501(c)(3) organization under IRS rules. We would caution you to avoid any fund-raising operation that is NOT so designated, because your donations will NOT be tax-deductible. Further, the fund-raisers will have to pay taxes on all contributions over $12,000.00, so they have to allow for that expense before donating to the SEALs.
Sad thing, though--I learned just yesterday that JUST ONE of these young men may have to expend around $150,000.00 in his defense, due largely to the fact that the military judge in Norfolk has moved his trial (and that of one more defendant) to Iraq. This was done ostensibly so that the accuser could be confronted.
An issue has arisen that bears some planning, and that is how the funds are to be equitably distributed. If we just send one-third of your contributions to each of the SEALs, that would result in an uneven benefit to them. For example, one SEAL has more charges lodged against him than the other two. As another example, their lawyers are charging different rates, so what might appear to be a fair distribution of funds might not be that at all.
Here's what we're doing. We are establishing a "fusion cell" in the Virginia Beach area that is composed of five or six respected members of the local community, including some retired SEALs. This cell will be provided the latest information on the amount of money WDF has available. The cell will then assess the requirements of the SEAL Trio and recommend how the available funds should be allocated. We are already in contact with two of the other fund-raising groups and have invited them to participate in this method of disbursing funds. It appears that they are anxious to join us.
Once the percentages have been adjudicated, the cell will inform WDF (and such other groups as may cooperate) how much money they recommend be provided each SEAL. We (and the other groups) will then transfer the funds from our bank account via wire transfer directly to the accounts of the SEALs.
I really like this method of getting the money in the hands of those who need it, as it places decision-making responsibility in the hands of those closest to "the problem" and removes any taint of favoritism that might otherwise be suspected. The "beauty part" of it is that no checks will ever be written. All financial activities will be by wire transfer.
If any of you have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to call me at 252-402-7459, or e-mail me at larrywb@suddenlink.net .
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Replies
by Human Events
12/15/2009
Hon. Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
The Pentagon
Washington, DC
Dear Secretary Gates:
We, the editors and staff of HUMAN EVENTS, and the many Americans who have attached their signatures to this petition, hereby request your personal intervention to dismiss the charges against Navy SEAL operators SO2 Jonathan Keefe, SO1 Julio Huertas and SO2 Matthew McCabe.
These three men are charged with abusing a terrorist they captured in a daring nighttime raid on or about 1 September 2009. On that night, they -- as part of a platoon from SEAL Team 10 -- captured and detained Ahmed Hashim Abed, one of the most barbaric and dangerous terrorists in Iraq. The terrorist -- in a move that is literally right out of the al-Queda training manual -- complained of abuse, apparently alleging he was struck in the stomach.
We had hoped that the SEALs’ commanders would dispose of this matter at the lowest level -- with a scolding and perhaps a few hundred pushups -- for anyone actually guilty of inflicting an inconvenience on this bloody-handed barbarian. But on 29 September 2009, Gen. David H. Petraeus signed a letter authorizing MGen. Charles T. Cleveland to dispose of the allegations of misconduct. In that letter, Gen. Petraeus said that MGen. Cleveland could, "...dispose of these matters in any manner you deem appropriate. This includes the authority to convene courts-martial at any level up to and including General Courts-Martial and to refer charges concerning these individuals to any court-martial."
The three now face special courts-martial next month. We believe their commanders -- including General Petraeus -- have failed you, the SEALs and the American people by not preventing the matter from going this far.
You are the person next in line above General Petraeus in the chain of command. You can, legally under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, intervene to dismiss the charges against the three SEALs and direct that they be restored to duty.
We respectfully request that you do so forthwith. For this matter to continue -- and to place the honor and fighting future of these three men at stake -- is manifestly a gross injustice.
Respectfully submitted,
SupportOurSEALs.com - OPERATION S.O.S. was created in response to 3 Navy SEALs who have been criminally charged with allegedly assaulting one of the most sought after terrorists in Iraq while being detained. Ahmed Hashim Abed is the suspected mastermind of the capture, torture and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards whose charred bodies were drug through the streets of Iraq and then hung from a bridge in Fallujah over the Euphrates River in March of 2004. These horrific acts of terror quickly led to the U.S. invasion of Fallujah and ultimately wound up costing many more American lives.
For 5 years, Abed remained a highly sought after target in Iraq until his capture one night in early September, 2009. The details of that night are not quite clear, but one thing is for sure, some of our military's most elite (members of SEAL Team 10) went in and extricated Abed without one casualty. Shortly after Abed was turned over to Iraqi officials, according to Fox News, 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. Without hesitation, the SEALs were ordered to give statements and were investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
SUPPORT OUR SEALS - UPDATES
Nov 28, 2009
Special Warfare Operators 2nd Class Matthew McCabe and Jonathan Keefe, and Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Julio Huertas all face charges including allegedly punching Ahmed Hashim Abed while being detained back in September.
The charges being brought against these SEALs, if guilty, warrant nothing more than a slap on the wrist. These warriors do not deserve this; they deserve to be treated like heroes for doing the jobs that 99.999% of American can't even fathom. Yet, here they are being thrown up on the chopping block by none other than the US Government. The country they swore to defend is now feeding them to the wolves. And to add insult to injury, (click here:) Chapter 18 of the Al Qaeda training manual (page 16 of 17) released by the US Justice Department says that members must complain of torture and mistreatment inflicted on them. They're trained to use our own system against us!
I'm sure all of you agree that this is a complete outrage and mockery of our US Military. As Americans, we CANNOT stand for this and MUST show support for our troops who are constantly being put in harms way to protect the country that is now bringing them under fire.
Jan 1, 2010
This past December, all 3 SEALs were arraigned and plead not guilty to the charges stemming from the alleged abuse of Abed. The 3 SEALs refused Non-Judicial Punishment (Captain's Mast) which is based on an assumption of guilt resulting in consequences that can be career changing, and opted to take their chances with a Special Courts-Marshal to prove their innocents. Their trials are set to begin in 2010 and if convicted, they carry a federal conviction that will follow them throughout their lives, and punishment that can include a year detention and a separation from the service with an Other than Honorable Discharge.
Two of the 3 SEALs, Matthew McCabe (accused of punching Abed) & Julio Huertas went before a judge on Dec 7, 2009 and are scheduled to being trail in January, 2010. A very successful Support Rally for the 3 SEALs was also held that same day outside the Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, VA. Several hundred supporters came and went throughout the morning waving flags and holding signs as the 2 SEALs appeared in court. The 3rd SEAL, Jonathan Keefe was arraigned on Tuesday, Dec 22, and his trial is set to begin in April, 2010. You can find out more about the rally that took place that day by clicking here: Dec 7, 2009 Support Rally - Norfolk, VA
Jan 5, 2010
Currently, nation wide Support Rallies are being planned for Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010 for various locations all across the United States. This is the day SO2 Matthew McCabe's trail is scheduled to begin and we want the world to know that we stand behind these 3 SEALs and support them. The more local attention we can get from coast to coast, the more national attention this case will receive. You can find out more about these rallies at: Jan 19 Navy SEALs National Support Rally
Jan 11, 2010
SO1 Julio Huertas went before a judge this morning and in a rare move, Commander Tierney Carlos moved the trials of Jonathan Keefe and Julio Huertas to Iraq after government prosecutors said they would make the detainee available for deposition at Camp Victory in Baghdad; however, they would not bring him to the US to testify. Keefe faces an April 6 trial and Huertas' case will be heard later that month; both in Iraq.
Jan 14, 2010
Matthew McCabe's scheduled court date was moved from this coming Tues, Jan 19 to May 3 in a decision that was made by a judge yesterday in Norfolk, VA. The Military Judge granted a request to prosecutors to delay the trial because apparently 3 more Navy SEALs who were expected to testify have stopped cooperating and notified the court that they have retained their own lawyers. Also, unlike Huertas and Keefe, McCabe's trial will stay in Norfolk because according to the Washington Examiner, ''McCabe's attorney, Neal Puckett, says there's no need to move his trial because he doesn't need to question the detainee''.
The Support Rallies that are scheduled for McCabe's original start date, Jan 19, will go on as planned. We still want to send a message that we stand behind these SEALs and show them support before 2 of the 3 head to Iraq to be tried.
Jan 20, 2010
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Feb 5, 2010
As we grow closer to the scheduled trial dates set for April & May, we will be focusing on organizing more protests. In the beginning, we wanted to make sure we were not labeling these rallies ''Protests'', but instead ''Support Rallies''. We wanted to show support for these 3 SEALs, not protest our government. Well, I'm sure everyone will agree that it's time to take the gloves off. WE ARE NOW PROTESTING THE ACTIONS BEING TAKEN AGAINST THESE ELITE WARRIORS, WHILE STILL SHOWING OUR SUPPORT. Never in history has a military personnel been sent to a foreign land to stand trial by the US Government. This has gone too far and we must make our voices heard!
Please take the time to signup on our Email Updates page so we can continue to keep everyone in the loop and notify you of when & where our next protests will take place.