The Definition of Asinine

Our government (aka Dear Leader) giving defense jobs to foreign countries while we have able-bodied, well-trained Americans ready to pack a lunch, fill a thermos and go to work.

SEAL 3 Update

This should provide interesting subject matter on Andrea's blogtalk show with Crush tonight.

Navy SEALs' trials moved to Iraq

NORFOLK, Va. - Two of the three Navy SEALs accused in the mistreatment of an Iraqi detainee will have their military trials take place in Iraq, a military judge ruled Monday.

Both Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan E. Keefe appeared in military court at Naval Station Norfolk in separate hearings. In each case, the presiding judge decided to move the sailor's trial to Camp Victory in Iraq. That decision was made so that the victim could give direct testimony instead of a deposition, enabling Huertas and Keefe to face their accuser.

The charges against the three SEALs involve Ahmed Hashim Abed, who has been linked to the 2004 deaths of four Blackwater contractors who were mutilated before their bodies were hung from a bridge.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe is accused of striking the detainee in the midsection, dereliction of duty for failing to safeguard the detainee, and lying to investigators. He deferred entering a plea until his Jan. 19 trial.

Huertas of Blue Island, Ill., faces charges of dereliction of duty, lying to investigators and impeding an investigation.

Keefe, of Yorktown, faces charges of dereliction of duty and making a false official statement. Huertas and Keefe have pleaded not guilty. Their trials are planned for April.

The SEALs have received an outpouring of public support, including the backing of several members of Congress.

SEAL Trio Update From Military.com

3rd SEAL in Detainee Case Wants Trial
December 23, 2009
Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK, Va. -- A third Navy SEAL charged with not stopping the alleged abuse of an Iraqi detainee pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two misdemeanors and asked to be tried by a military jury.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe, of Yorktown, faces charges of lying to investigators and dereliction of duty for failing to safeguard Ahmed Hashim Abed -- a man the military describes as "a suspected Iraqi terrorist' captured by U.S. forces in September. Abed is thought to have been involved with the killing of four U.S. civilian contractors in 2004.

Keefe, 25, told Cmdr. Tierney Carlos, a military judge, that he wants a jury made up of at least one-third enlisted sailors, as is his right under rules for military courts-martial.

Keefe's lawyer, Gregory McCormack, requested a delay because the government has been slow to produce evidence against Keefe. Carlos scheduled the court-martial to begin April 6. Although the case is being handled locally, the decision to press charges was made by Army Maj. Gen. C.T. Cleveland, head of Special Operations Command Central.

Like Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe and Petty Officer 1st Class Julio
Huertas, arraigned on related charges earlier this month, Keefe could have accepted administrative punishment for his actions but instead chose to fight the charges. If convicted, the SEALs could face a year in the brig, demotion in rank and a bad-conduct discharge.