Fair Winds and Following Seas

The USS Forrest Sherman, a Burke Class Destroyer, transits the Intracoastal Waterway on its way out to sea today 30 September 2011. Good hunting, Gentlemen. Pictures by Steve Pond.

Everyone Who Showed Up Is A Hero

SEALs assault case goes to court

The mother of slain Blackwater guard Jerry Zovko drove from Ohio to give each of the accused SEALs a blessed rosary and lend them her support.

"These young SEALs are in this situation because they caught the mastermind behind the death of my son, and not only my son and his co-workers but also the marines who went into Fallujah after their death," said Donna Zovko. "I am very proud of these young SEALs and thankful to them. They did not do anything wrong."

Early in the morning, before the SEALs' arraignments even began, a crowd of about 100 people formed outside the base to show their support for the accused men. Some of them were from Hampton Roads and some of them drove hundreds of miles to stand by the accused SEALs. And, just about every car that drove past the base honked in support.

"It's made me, and the other two guys, feel very good about the situation. It's helping us get through everyday," said an overwhelmed McCabe. "It makes us feel so much better knowing that we have so many people behind us, I just can't explain how much better I feel because of that."

McCabe's father was among the crowd. "You send these kids into harms way, they don't know if their next step is going to be their last step. They go get one of the most high profile terrorists on the planet and for that they get a court martial," said Marty McCabe.

"Tears my heart out. Last time I read the Constitution it was, 'We the people.' It doesn't cover these clowns, you know these guys who climb out from under rocks and kill women and children."

The citizens who gave up their Monday morning to be in Norfolk in support of these Warriors made a difference. Thank you everyone.

BRAVO ZULU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They'll Have Every Right To Say No

If we continue to punish our Warriors for doing the job we trained them and then asked them to do, do not be surprised when we arrive at the point where our Warriors say No.

SEALs deserve their day in court
Examiner Editorial December 4, 2009

As former President George W. Bush would say, Ahmed Hasim Abed is an evildoer. He masterminded the killing of four American military contractors and ordered the desecration of their bodies in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. Abed was considered a high-value target in the war on terror, so when three Navy SEALs brought him to justice, they should have been hailed as heroes.

Instead, they were reprimanded for allegedly injuring Abed. After being turned over to Iraqi authorities, Abed complained of being punched, which caused -- quelle horreur!-- a bloody lip. All three SEALS requested and were granted court marshals in order to clear their names. Those proceedings will convene in January. The SEALs surely believe they acted appropriately because military courts are notoriously strict and severe compared with civilian courts.

The incident with the SEALs highlights an uncomfortable truth about the Obama era: Terrorists operating on foreign soil get more favorable legal treatment than uniformed members of the American military, who risk their lives to protect and defend the Constitution.

This injustice is not lost on the SEALs, who are afraid the Navy won't even grant them due process. "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," said Neal Puckett, a lawyer who is defending one of the accused.

The Navy's treatment of these SEALs suggests the military has learned nothing from previous hasty attempts at military justice in Iraq. In 2006, an inquest was prompted by a Time magazine article titled "The Shame of Kilo Company." Eight Marines were quickly rounded up and charged with massacring civilians. Time later ran multiple corrections of the story, and the magazine's primary source turned out to be of dubious character. Six of the Marines have since been cleared or acquitted of all charges. Of the remaining two Marines whose charges remain unresolved, one wasn't even present for the alleged crimes, and the other's chief accuser was "not being truthful," according to one Naval Criminal Investigative Service report. The only shame belongs to Time magazine and overzealous military prosecutors.

The Navy has offered no public defense of its arbitrary disciplining of the SEALs based on the word of a murderous terrorist. Was it fear of bad publicity, or simply investigatory or prosecutorial incompetence?

Whatever the explanation, the SEALs deserve their day in court, and the Navy should do whatever is needed to ensure this kind of railroading never occurs again.

ANNOUNCEMENT REC'D VIA EMAIL for 7 December Norfolk Rally

Links will be available before the end of the day.
If you go, be prepared to stand OUTSIDE the gate.

Date: Monday, December 7, 2009
Time: 8:00am - 6:00pm
Location: Naval Station Norfolk
City/Town: Norfolk, VA

As most of you already know, some of our military’s most elite, the Navy SEALs are under fire from the US Government for none other than bloodying the lip of 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.

Matthew McCabe, Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe & Petty Officer Julio Huertas all face criminal charges for allegedly punching Ahmed Hashim Abed while he was being detained. You can read the full story at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,576646,00.html

Fox News video interviewing Neal Puckett with Puckett & Faraj, PC, the lawyer representing Matthew McCabe http://video.foxnews.com/12027326/perversion-of-justice?/12027319/act-of-terror/?category_id=949437d0db05ed5f5b9954dc049d70b0c12f2749

On December 7, the three SEALs are set to go before a Judge and plead not guilty. This first court appearance is only the arraignment and the actual trial is set to being sometime in January.

As of right now, unconfirmed reports say that the arraignment will take place at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, VA on December 7; however, we are still trying to figure out the exact time(s) and location(s).

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 our support for our troops who are constantly being put in harms way to protect the country that is now bring them under fire. We must send a message that “political correctness” has reached a boiling point and that these service men will not be hung out to dry.

I put this protest event together in hopes that it would gather locals in the area who would show their support that day. I, myself, am located in Fort Worth, Texas, so chances are slim to none that I will make it out next week. I do not expect to see thousands show up for the arraignment; however, it would be nice to see a decent crowd showing their support that day. The big protests need to come in January when they go on trial. This is when we all need to make the sacrifice of traveling to support them. Don’t get me wrong though, if you want to travel to Norfolk on the 7th, please do so, I just don’t want our efforts to be misused this early in the game.

So, with that said, I ask everyone, within reason, to take to Norfolk, VA Naval Base on the 7 and send a message loud and clear that we stand behind them.

Also, I will update everyone as more information comes to me.

UPDATES:"I received an email from one of their attorneys. It will be on Norfolk Naval Base and he will let me know the building number when he receives it. Are you planning on setting up outside of the main gate?"

“Everyone will be at the main gate...some of us will be in the court room...I will have someone from The Intelligence Report Media Group there....we have applied for passes already!”

“If you can get on base, can anyone be in the courthouse?”

“I think they will only let press and military personnel..sometimes they make the press stay out in the hall..family may get in and they may not..it will be a toss up on that day!”

“Word is from the Navy...."judges decision".....with all the protesting we are hoping we have generated..I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't let anyone in.”

“Mike and I also talked about this..They may not let people on the base..some of us will have to stay outside the main gate. They very well may restrict the base that day.”

“Many have asked about attending the hearing scheduled for December 7th, in Norfolk Virginia. The actual hearing on base IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, as to how many people will fit inside the courtroom I do not as of yet know. To get on Base you will need either a Military ID, active or veteran. If you did not serve in the military you can get on base with an active drivers license and the registration to the vehicle you are driving. The vehicle's registration must be in the driver's or one of the occupant's names for security reasons. If you wish to go to the actual hearing please be advised that the same rules apply as if you were in Federal Court. The Court will
tolerate nothing less than silence and respect for the proceedings. Anything less and I am quite sure all supporters will be removed.”