Trump honors US navy seal killed during Yemen raid

 Marine One with US President Donald Trump flies with a decoy and support helicopters to Dover Air Force Base February 1, 2017 in Dover, Delaware, for the transfer of Navy Seal Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens who was killed in Yemen on January 29. (AFP)

Not only would Barack Obama done NOTHING to honor our fallen SEAL, he wouldn't have even acknowledged the loss.

The story comes from Al Arabiya.

Trump honors US navy seal killed during Yemen raid

President Donald Trump on Wednesday made an unannounced visit by helicopter to Delaware to honor the Navy SEAL killed in a daring raid in Yemen, the first American combat death since he became commander-in-chief.

Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens of Illinois, who reportedly was a member of the famed SEAL Team 6, was killed Sunday in a rare ground assault in conflict-torn Yemen. Trump flew from the White House aboard the Marine One presidential helicopter to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the repatriation of Owens’s remains.

Trump was accompanied by his daughter Ivanka and was due to meet with the Owens family. Owens, 36, was killed during a firefight. Three commandos were wounded in the raid and three more were injured when a V-22 Osprey military aircraft made a hard landing, according to Pentagon spokesman Chris Sherwood.

US special operations forces had mounted the raid in the Yakla region of Baida province against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which Washington views as the global terror network’s most dangerous branch. On the AQAP side, 14 fighters, including women, were killed, according to the Pentagon.

Officials said the commando raid was aimed at gathering intelligence and seizing computers and other electronic equipment being used by AQAP. The raid snagged “an unbelievable amount of intelligence that will prevent the potential deaths or attacks on American soil,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

But “you never want to call something a success 100 percent when someone’s hurt or killed,” he told reporters.
Civilians ‘likely’ killed in US raid

Civilians were “likely” killed in a US commando raid in Yemen over the weekend and children may have been among the dead, the US military’s Central Command said Wednesday.

The January 29 raid against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has garnered wide attention because a Navy SEAL was also killed and several more wounded in what marked the first operation of its kind authorized by President Donald Trump.

A Yemeni provincial official had previously said 16 civilians were killed in the raid – eight women and eight children – but CENTCOM did not provide any numbers.

“A team designated by the operational task force commander has concluded regrettably that civilian non-combatants were likely killed in the midst of a firefight during a raid in Yemen January 29. Casualties may include children,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

‘BETRAYED’ Exposing the High Cost of the War on Terror: The Shocking Sacrifice of America’s Special Ops Forces

Believe me, not that many people read this blog here at Holger Awakens but I beg you to get this story to your friends, to your coworkers, to your family, to your neighbors - EVERYONE needs to read this from Major General Paul E. Vallely, US Army (Retired).

If there's one thing you pass around this year, this must be it.  People have to get exposure to this upcoming book - it is going to shake the very foundation of this country and the present administration. 

The story comes from Family Security Matters.

‘BETRAYED’ Exposing the High Cost of the War on Terror: The Shocking Sacrifice of America’s Special Ops Forces

by MAJ. GEN. PAUL E. VALLELY, US ARMY (RET)


The Tragedy of Extortion 17 (the demise of Navy SEALs and other Special Ops)

On August 06, 2011, Taliban forces ambushed the US Army helicopter CH-47, call name "Extortion 17," in the Tangi River Valley of Afghanistan. This transport helicopter was moving an American reaction force in a relief operation of US Army Rangers that were engaged in a three-hour firefight. Thirty Americans, twenty-five of which were Special Operations, Were aboard that helicopter. One of these warriors was Navy SEAL, Aaron Vaughn.

The tragedy of Extortion 17 on that fateful night in Afghanistan will not fade away because of the efforts of a few brave men and women. Billy Vaughn, father of fallen Navy SEAL Aaron Vaughn, and Major General Paul Vallely are among them and are now relating a grave incident and its political roots.

Billy Vaughn stands in the defense of American freedom from tyranny; and MG Paul Vallely (US Army Ret.) stands by his side because of his clear-cut military perspective and his extensive background in Special Ops. Together they offer their book today and Hugo House Publishers, Ltd, is preparing to release it - all about the tragedy of Extortion 17:

BETRAYED

Exposing the High Cost of the War on Terror: The Shocking Sacrifice of America's Special Ops Forces

The book goes beyond which was discussed in their press conference of May 9th, 2013 at the National Press Club accompanied by other family members of the fallen and noted members of the military. It exposes the political policies and failed ideology that precipitated the unconscionable tragedy of Extortion 17. The book is co-authored by Billy Vaughn and Major General Vallely (US Army Ret). This heart-wrenching book is a must-read.

The book also raises awareness and presents details regarding the possible infiltration of the Taliban into the Afghan Government, and sheds light on other security issues. The official release of the book August, next month, the 2nd anniversary of the demise of Extortion 17 and the death of 30 American warriors. Read about the hard truths. To order, if the button to the left doesn't work, simply click on the link below.

http://www.specialopsbetrayed.com/

The warriors on that CH-47 Chinook helicopter were compromised by their leaders:

the same ‘leaders' who are supposed to be uniting and securing this nation,
the same ‘leaders' who have ordered surveillance on Americans through the NSA,
the same ‘leaders' who have used the IRS to stymie voices of dissent in our country'
the same ‘leaders' who investigated the press and media, and singled out news organizations,
the same ‘leaders' who forced unwanted and crushing regulations and laws upon us,
the same ‘leaders' that left not just our fighting men and women at risk, but our country, our homes, our families unprotected and unsafe.

© Stand Up America 2013 A portion of the proceeds from the book will go to the Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund, which supports families of fallen soldiers, their families, and those who are stepping up to serve; and Operation 300, which supports specifically the children of fallen warriors.

The book is being offered for pre-publication sale now in July, our 237th anniversary, as a way of honoring our founding fathers, and the many brave men and women who continuously put their lives on the line to declare America's freedom from tyranny and terror.

Don’t Be a Victim - Former SEAL Reveals Tips on How to Protect Yourself

From Family Security Matters.

Don’t Be a Victim - Former SEAL Reveals Tips on How to Protect Yourself

by BRANDON WEBB

As I continue to read about the terrible tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, I can't help but think there's some lessons from my time as a Navy SEAL that I can pass on to the average citizen. So here goes...
Don't Make Yourself an Easy Target

When at sporting events, concerts, and the movies, choose seats that give you a tactical advantage always. What do I mean? Choose seats that allow good and east vantage points and a hasty exit point. Always stack the odds in your favor. It's the reason I still combat park (back in to a space) and sit with my back to the wall when I'm eating.
Active Shooter Scenario Advice

Take cover and not concealment. Concealment hides, cover hides AND protects. It's the difference between hiding behind a movie seat or a concrete wall.

Don't lie there with your eyes closed and get shot. Think and move. A good decision executed quickly is better than a great one never executed. Violence of action, as we call it in the Spec Ops community, will often change the odds in your favor.

For close quarter combat drills we'd draw a gun with someone over 20 feet away running at us. In most cases you can be on someone before they can draw and take a shot. I'm not advocating running straight at someone but if you have the tactical advantage (jam, re-loading, distraction or the shooter isn't paying attention) then take the shooter down or get the hell out of there. Deal with the situation with your eyes wide open.

In Aurora, the shooter was severely weighted down with armor and his helmet would have also limited his vision. You can use all this to your advantage.

Flashlight anyone? I have one for daily carry and take it everywhere with me. It's become another extension of me and has diffused at least two potentially violent confrontations in a non-lethal way. I recommend the Surefire P2X Fury Dual Output LED.

How to use it in this situation?

I would have pulled my high lumens pocket flashlight and blinded this guy. The high powered beam would have taken away his vision for 3-4 seconds, which is an eternity and enough time to flight or fight. There's also no shame in surviving and getting you and your loved ones out of harm - especially little ones. Be a Hero to your kids and family for surviving, nobody can expect more of you than that. Like we say in Survival Escape Evasion Resistance (SERE) school, "Survive with Honor."
Concealed Carry

If you're lucky enough to live in a state like Texas that not only allows concealed carry, but supports the use of deadly force, then train to use it.
Learn From an Expert


There are plenty of former Military and Law Enforcement that have great self-defense skills. Just vet your instructor carefully, ask for references and proof of service. While there are many solid instructors out there, there are also a plethora of wannabe Rex-Kwon-Do types who are self-proclaimed experts and worse - lie about their service.
Alter Your Lifestyle, and it May Save Your Life

Photo of the Day: SEALs

(Hat Tip: Henry Bowman)


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U.S. Navy SEALs Rescue 2 Aid Workers From Somalia, 9 Somali Pirates Killed In Helicopter Operation

Whoa! A daring rescue of two aid workers who had been captured in Somalia by Somalian pirates - one worker being American and the other Danish was performed successfully last night by U.S. Navy SEALs in Somalia - both hostages are fine, all SEALs are okay, nine Somali pirates appear to have "Heckler and Koch syndrome."

From the report at the L.A. Times:

U.S. military forces carried out a dramatic helicopter rescue overnight in Somalia, freeing two Western aid workers taken hostage by pirates.

Jessica Buchanan, a 32-year-old American, and Poul Hagen Thisted, 60-year-old Dane, both from the Danish Demining Group had been kidnapped in October in the central Somali town of Galkayo, which until then had been considered relatively safe for Westerners.

Early Wednesday, the Danish Refugee Council, of which the demining group is a part of, confirmed the successful rescue operation of the two aid workers.

The overnight raid was carried out by U.S. military hellicopters and Navy seals operating out of an American base in the tiny east African nation of Djibouti. After the mission, they returned to the Djibouti base with the two.

Witnesses reported a gun battle that left several pirates dead, according to news agencies. Both hostages were unharmed in the rescue.

The AP reported that Bilal Hussein, a pirate, said he had been informed by other at the scene that nine pirates has been killed.

Let's face it, a rescue attempt in Somalia is enough to get anyone's stomach in a pit but it appears that this operation went down like clockwork - I'm sure the Somali pirates had no idea what hit them until it was far too late.

One thing I'd like to throw out here to Rep. Ron Paul...under your direction, our SEALs would have been stationed in Virginia or California - perhaps you can describe at the next debate Congressman Paul just how this operation would have been pulled off by our SEALs traveling from California as opposed to the strategic small base in Djibouti.

Once again, America is extremely proud of our fighting men and women!

U.S. helicopter raid frees two aid workers from Somali pirates


Jessica Buchanan, a 32-year-old American, and Poul Hagen Thisted, 60-year-old Dane, both from the Danish Demining Group had been kidnapped in October in the central Somali town of Galkayo, which until then had been considered relatively safe for Westerners.

Early Wednesday, the Danish Refugee Council, of which the demining group is a part of, confirmed the successful rescue operation of the two aid workers.

The overnight raid was carried out by U.S. military hellicopters and Navy seals operating out of an American base in the tiny east African nation of Djibouti. After the mission, they returned to the Djibouti base with the two.

President Barack Obama appeared to refer to the mission just before the State of the Union address when he looked at Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, and said "Good job tonight."

The October kidnapping was one of a series of kidnappings of Westerners by Somali pirates in a bid to extort high ransoms. Several kidnappings occured late last year in Kenya, Somalia's southern neighbor, triggering a Kenyan invasion in a bid to restore a stable government, which continues to this day.

Western diplomats and aid workers have been using Galkayo as a base or entry point into Somalia, with diplomatic activity on the rise since the radical Islamic rebel group Al Shabab abandoned the capital Mogadishu and retreated to its southern stronghold.

Witnesses reported a gun battle that left several pirates dead, according to news agencies. Both hostages were unharmed in the rescue.

The AP reported that Bilal Hussein, a pirate, said he had been informed by other at the scene that nine pirates has been killed.

A second pirate, Ahmed Hashi, said two helicopters attacked at about 2 a.m. the pirate compound about 12 miles north of the Somali town of Adow.

Underscoring the growing dangers of operating from Galkayo, an American engineer was kidnapped there Saturday. Many other hostages remain in Somalia, including a British tourist, several other aid workers, shipping crews and others.

SEAL Team 6 New Book on Death of Osama bin Laden: Dead in 90 Seconds

A new book on the death of Osama bin Laden by SEAL Team 6 will be released tomorrow, written by the former Team's commander, Chuck Pfarrer. The SEALs take the opportunity to express their disdain at how the Obama administration released details, and when they released them.  The quick announcement gave other al-Qaeda leaders a chance to find "a bolthole." Military "intel" was devalued by the way the announcement was made, and Pfarrer said SEAL Team 6 was treated "shabbily."

Chuck Pfarrer

Here are a few details from TheTelegraph.au:

1) bin Laden was dead within 90 seconds. Only 12 bullets were fired.

2) The mission was not a "kill" mission.

"I've been a Seal for 30 years and I never heard the words 'kill mission'. It's a fantasy word. If it was a kill mission you don’t need Seal Team 6; you need a box of hand grenades."

3) The Seal's referred to bin Laden as "Bert," and asked if they were going to Pakistan for "Bert" or "Ernie." "Ernie" referred to Ayman al-Zawahiri.

4) The death:

Bin Laden’s bedroom was along a short hall. The door opened; he popped out and then slammed the door shut. “Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo,” radioed one Seal, meaning “eyes on target”.
Two Seals kicked in Bin Laden’s door. The room, they later recalled, "smelt like old clothing, like a guest bedroom in a grandmother’s house". Inside was the al-Qaeda leader and his youngest wife, Amal, who was screaming as he pushed her in front of him.
"No, no, don’t do this!” she shouted as her husband reached across the king-size bed for his AK-47 assault rifle. The Seals reacted instantly, firing in the same second. One round thudded into the mattress. The other, aimed at Bin Laden’s head, grazed Amal in the calf. As his hand reached for the gun, they each fired again: one shot hit his breastbone, the other his skull, killing him instantly and blowing out the back of his head.

Remember that the wife lived, the children were protected by the SEALs. Had bin Laden or his followers walked into the home of any American, everyone would have been dead. Our Military are the defenders of each of us. They are not mercenaries. They do not form kill teams. They defend.

From the preview at Amazon, Pfarrer says the men who into for bin Laden were members of the smallest, most elite force in the U.S. military. You can read the preview online, including the miracle that happened before the SEALs made it into the compound. The book title is SEAL Target Geronimo by Chuck Pfarrer, released on November 8, 2011. The Kindle addition (just ordered mine) is $12.99, hardcover $15.18. Visit Pfarrer's website.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Photo of the Day: Honor and Grief

Petty Officer Jon T. Tumilson was laid to rest on Friday, August 19 in Rockford, Iowa, where an estimated 1,500 mourners came to pay respects for the fallen Navy SEAL, including Tumilson’s ribbon-winning Labrador retriever, Hawkeye. [Photo via Fresh1025.radio.com]

(Hat Tip: Sondrakistan)

The Horror - 31 U.S. Troops Killed In Afghanistan Crash of Chinook Transport Helicopter During Raid

A US Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division prepares to land inside the landing zone at Forward Operation Base Joyce, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, Dec. 17, 2009. Image from US Army/DVIDS.

You know, you go to bed on a Friday night and never consider that Saturday morning is going to bring you news that hits you right in the gut and breaks your heart into pieces but this Saturday morning is one of those times as reports are out that 31 U.S. troops (25 of them Navy SEALs, 6 were the chopper crew) and 7 Afghan troops were killed in a crash of a Chinook helicopter as a raid was going down in eastern Afghanistan.

My G_d, may the hands of the Father comfort the families of those that have fallen.

From the report at The Long War Journal:

Coalition forces suffered the largest loss of life in a single incident since US forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001 when a transport helicopter crashed during a raid in eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 US and seven Afghan special operations forces. The Taliban and an Afghan official claimed the Chinook was shot down, but ISAF would not confirm the reports.

The helicopter crashed today while conducting a raid in the Tangi Valley in the Saydabad district, a known haven for the Taliban in Wardak province. Thirty-one US troops, including 25 Navy SEALs, six aircraft crewmen, and seven Afghan special operations soldiers were killed, according to ABC News.

A spokesman for the Wardak provincial government said that the Chinook was hit as it took off after an operation. A villager in Saydabad also told AFP that the helicopter was shot down.

In a statement released on their propaganda website, Voice of Jihad, the Taliban claimed the helicopter was shot down "with rockets during the fighting." The Taliban also said that eight of their own fighters were killed during a clash in the area.

The International Security Assistance Force did confirm the helicopter crashed and said "recovery operations are underway," according to a press release issued today. ISAF did not release details of Coalition casualties, however.

As you can see, it hasn't been confirmed that the Chinook was shot down but it sure seems to be leaning that way. I hate to speculate on this tragic crash but from what I'm reading here it almost looks like this might have been a battle that wasn't going so well and that the SEALs needed to get out of an area - the one account says they had been extracted and were taking off when the crash happened...if the Taliban numbers had exploded on them, it might explain how the Taliban got close enough with some RPGs.

The concerning thing about this for me is that if the Chinook was indeed shot down, whether or not some new weaponry has been introduced into this battle field - like some sort of rocket launcher that we haven't seen the Taliban have before.

The important thing in all of this is that we all remember the tremendous sacrifice that these SEALs and helicopter crew have made to their country...that while we sit in shock today and begin the grieving process with their families, that we honor the spirit of their service to America.

Such a sad, sad day in America.

38 Coalition, Afghan forces killed in helo crash


Coalition forces suffered the largest loss of life in a single incident since US forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001 when a transport helicopter crashed during a raid in eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 US and seven Afghan special operations forces. The Taliban and an Afghan official claimed the Chinook was shot down, but ISAF would not confirm the reports.

The helicopter crashed today while conducting a raid in the Tangi Valley in the Saydabad district, a known haven for the Taliban in Wardak province. Thirty-one US troops, including 25 Navy SEALs, six aircraft crewmen, and seven Afghan special operations soldiers were killed, according to ABC News.

A spokesman for the Wardak provincial government said that the Chinook was hit as it took off after an operation. A villager in Saydabad also told AFP that the helicopter was shot down.

In a statement released on their propaganda website, Voice of Jihad, the Taliban claimed the helicopter was shot down "with rockets during the fighting." The Taliban also said that eight of their own fighters were killed during a clash in the area.

The International Security Assistance Force did confirm the helicopter crashed and said "recovery operations are underway," according to a press release issued today. ISAF did not release details of Coalition casualties, however.

"ISAF is still in the process of assessing the circumstances to determine the facts of the incident," the Coalition command stated. "Reporting indicates there was enemy activity in the area."

Wardak and the neighboring province of Logar are contested by the Taliban. The two provinces are just outside of Kabul, and are used by a host of Taliban and allied groups, including the Haqqani Network and the Hizb-i-Islami Gulbuddin, to stage attacks into the national capital. These groups, along with al Qaeda and the Lashkar-e-Taiba, pool their resources and fight as part of what ISAF calls the Kabul Attack Network.

If today's crash is confirmed to be a Taliban shoot down, it would be the second such incident in two weeks. On July 25, the Taliban shot down a Chinook with rocket-propelled grenades, or RPGs, just one hundred yards outside of an Afghan Army base in the Pech Valley in Kunar province. No ISAF and Afghan troops were killed in the crash, however.

The Taliban's most successful operation involving a downed ISAF helicopter took place in 2005, when the Bara bin Malek Front, a Taliban subgroup operating in Kunar, shot down a US special operations Chinook helicopter. The US team was attempting to recover a four-man team of Navy SEALs who disappeared during Operation Redwing. Three of the missing SEAL team died in an ambush and another 16 US personnel, eight SEALs and eight members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, were killed when insurgents shot the helicopter down with a salvo of rocket-propelled grenades. The sole surviving member of the ill-fated team sought refuge from local villagers who nursed him back to health and helped coordinate a successful US rescue mission several days later.

Third Navy SEAL Found NOT Guilty In Iraq Abuse Case

Hallelujah! The third and last Navy SEAL accused of the ridiculous charges of abuse of an al Qaeda jihadi in Iraq has been found not guilty in the last court martial proceedings. Seen as the most serious of the odds of being cleared, Petty Officer Second Class (SO-2) Matthew McCabe has been cleared at the Virginia court martial proceedings.

The case of the court martials that should NEVER have seen the light of day is now over - let's bury it and piss on the whole damn proceedings.

Congratulations go out to all three SEALs for standing up for their honor and seeing their names cleared - you all had a nation behind you and tonight, your service is celebrated and honored.

Here's the only report I can find on the net, from Fox News:

Navy SEAL Found Not Guilty of Assaulting a Suspected Terrorist


Virginia military jury found a Navy SEAL not guilty on charges of punching a suspected Iraqi terrorist.
Matthew McCabe, a Special Operations Petty Officer Second Class (SO-2), was facing three charges: dereliction of performance of duty for willfully failing to safeguard a detainee, making a false official statement, and assault.

First Navy SEAL Facing Court Martial Is Found NOT GUILTY

The trial that NEVER SHOULD HAVE FUCKING TAKEN PLACE is over for the first Navy SEAL to face court-martial charges over a leading al Qaeda terrorist getting a split lip in Iraq is over and Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas has been found completely not guilty.

From the article at Human Events:

The first of three Navy SEALs to face a courts martial, Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas, was cleared of all charges by a military jury early Thursday. The court martial began Wednesday for two of the three Navy SEALs accused of mistreating Abed, mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater security guards in Fallujah in 2004."It's a big weight off my shoulders," Huertas told NBCChicago.com as he left the courtroom. Hertas said he plans to continue his military career and is going home to “kiss my wife.”

All I can say is two things: these Navy SEALs are facing these court martials and risking their entire careers instead of taking the easy route of a reprimand for their actions - they know the truth and they want their names cleared and their records spotless. The first has seen justice - if you call a ridiculous court-martial a measure of justice in the first place.

The other SEALs better receive the same justice.

Navy SEAL Found Not Guilty

The first of three Navy SEALs to face a courts martial, Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas, was cleared of all charges by a military jury early Thursday. The court martial began Wednesday for two of the three Navy SEALs accused of mistreating Abed, mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater security guards in Fallujah in 2004."It's a big weight off my shoulders," Huertas told NBCChicago.com as he left the courtroom. Hertas said he plans to continue his military career and is going home to “kiss my wife.” Defense lawyers in the Baghdad court martial of two Navy SEALS accused of mistreating Ahmed Hashim Abed presented evidence calling into question whether the Iraqi suffered any injuries, according to news reports from the trial.

Military medics who examined Abed after the encounter testified that it did not look as if he had been beaten. And defense lawyers showed jurors photos of Abed after the time he said he was beaten with a visible cut inside his lip, but no obvious signs of bruising or other injuries, according to the Associated Press.

Abed testified earlier that after he was captured from his home early last September, he was placed in a chair with his hands bound behind him and blindfolded. Abed said he was then struck from behind so hard that he fell to his knees, and then was struck again in the stomach, according to AP reports.

"It was very powerful. It was so hard I fell down again on my face because my hands were behind my back," he said, speaking Arabic through an interpreter, AP reported.

"Once I was down they put their foot in my shoulder; I started saying 'please, please' -- these were the only words that I knew."

One witness testified he saw Abed being abused. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin DeMartino testified that he saw Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe punch the prisoner, and that Keefe and Huertas were in the holding room, CNN reported.

But most of the other witnesses failed to corroborate that testimony. Of the 11 witnesses who testified -- half of whom are special forces or intelligence officers -- only one said he saw evidence of an assault, AP reported.

As HUMAN EVENTS has reported, terrorists are trained to fake injury when in captivity. Chapter 18 of the Al Qaeda training manual, released by the U.S. Justice Department, said that members are directed to complain of torture and mistreatment.

Keefe and faces charges of dereliction of duty by failing to safeguard Abed from abuse. Huertas had also faced a charge that he influenced the testimony of another sailor involved in the capture of Abed.

HUMAN EVENTS along with several Republican Congressmen have stood in defense of Navy SEALS McCabe, Keefe, and Huertas garnering over 130,000 signatures in a petition to dismiss the charges.

“I’m confident that these men are innocent,” Scott Taylor, a former Navy SEAL and Republican congressional candidate in Virginia's 2nd District, said on “Fox and Friends.” “It sends a horrible message to our troops as well as our enemies that all they have to do is accuse folks of beating them and you’ll have three of our top warriors taken off the battle field.”

“SEALs are highly trained professional warriors, and they operate in very ambiguous situations and again you can’t have politics infused there at the battlefield level,” said Taylor.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe is the only SEAL charged with assault in the case. McCabe will testify on behalf of Keefe and Huertas in the Baghdad court martial. McCabe’s trail is May 3rd in Norfolk, Va.

Despicable Court-Martial Case of First of Three Navy SEALs Begins In Iraq

I've spent some time in the past getting somewhat involved in the hearings and appeals in the 1st Lt. Michael Behenna case so it absolutely turns my stomach to see today arrive. Because today marked the first day of the court-martial trial of Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas, the first of three Navy SEALs accused in the case of the arrest of al Qaeda terrorist, Ahmed Hashim Abed.

A little background on the charges against Huertas and the others from the article at Breitbart:

Abed was arrested last September on charges of masterminding the grisly killings of four Blackwater security guards whose burned corpses were dragged through the Iraqi city of Fallujah west of Baghdad. Two of the guards' bodies were hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River in the insurgent attack.

Huertas and Keefe are both accused of failing to safeguard the prisoner. Huertas is also accused of attempting to influence the testimony of another SEAL.
The third SEAL in the case, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe of Perrysburg, Ohio, is charged with punching Abed in the face at Camp Schwedler, a U.S. base near Fallujah. McCabe is scheduled to be court-martialed May 3 in Norfolk, Virginia, where the three sailors are based.

You see where the third SEAL is being tried in Virginia but the disconcerting aspect of Huertas' trial is that it is going on IN IRAQ.

Okay, I really can't express to you all how this enrages me. And I think the fact that these Navy SEALs have waived a chance at a reprimand to take their chances with court martials shows not only the integrity of these American heroes but the fact that a man will put his life on the line for honor.

And just in case you have never heard or seen just what happened in Fallujah in 2004 to the four Blackwater personnel at the hands of the terrorist who will face Petty Officer Huertas this week, watch this brief video:






It is not too late to contact your Congressman and express your outrage of these trials. At last count, 20 Congressmen have written to Defense Secretary Gates to stop this insanity. There is NO evidence of this al Qaeda's claims and at the same time, we have four of our men on trial for a fat lip versus what you just saw was done to four Americans.

All three of these Navy SEALs better be totally exonerated or I am going to lose it. Completely.

Court-martial of Navy SEAL opens in Iraq



BAGHDAD (AP) - Opening arguments began Wednesday in the court-martial of a Navy SEAL accused in the abuse of an Iraqi prisoner suspected of masterminding the killings in 2004 of four U.S. private security contractors.
Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas, wearing his blue Navy uniform, appeared in a military courtroom at the Victory Base Camp outside Baghdad to answer charges of dereliction of duty and impeding an official investigation. He has pleaded not guilty.

Huertas, 28, of Blue Island, Illinois, is the first of three Navy SEALs to go on trial in connection with the alleged assault of the Iraqi prisoner, Ahmed Hashim Abed.

Abed was arrested last September on charges of masterminding the grisly killings of four Blackwater security guards whose burned corpses were dragged through the Iraqi city of Fallujah west of Baghdad. Two of the guards' bodies were hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River in the insurgent attack.

The SEALs' case has gained widespread sympathy in the United States as well as support from at least 20 lawmakers in Congress who have urged U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to drop the charges.

The sailors could have received a disciplinary reprimand, but insisted on a military trial to clear their names and save their careers.

If convicted by the six-person military jury, their punishment could include jail time.

In a rare ruling in January, a military judge ordered that trials for Huertas and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe of Yorktown, Virginia, to be held in Iraq so that they could face Abed in court. Abed is still being held in Iraq, and the U.S. government refused to bring him to the United States to testify.

Huertas and Keefe are both accused of failing to safeguard the prisoner. Huertas is also accused of attempting to influence the testimony of another SEAL.

The third SEAL in the case, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe of Perrysburg, Ohio, is charged with punching Abed in the face at Camp Schwedler, a U.S. base near Fallujah. McCabe is scheduled to be court-martialed May 3 in Norfolk, Virginia, where the three sailors are based.

Huertas has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Neither he nor the other two SEALS have been held in custody.

Keefe's trial also was to begin last week at the court-martial room at the Victory Base Camp, but his legal team was delayed by the volcano eruption in Iceland that grounded tens of thousands of flights across the world.

A Gift From A Navy SEAL

This story, from Family Security Matters here, is inspiring, to say the least. No more comments from me are necessary, just read it as I've excerpted it in its entirety:

A Gift from a Navy SEAL
Maj. W. Thomas Smith, Jr.

Thirty-six years ago this month I was a 13-year-old junior high school student: playing a little soccer, chasing a few girls, listening to Black Sabbath albums, and pestering my parents to buy me a motorcycle (which Mom refused).

Meanwhile, on the other side of the earth, 23-year-old U.S. Navy SEAL Michael Thornton was running a series of high-speed missions against the enemy in the final days of America’s involvement in Vietnam.On one such mission – Oct. 31 (Halloween), 1972 – Mike; his commanding officer, SEAL Lt. Thomas R. Norris; and three South Vietnamese Naval commandos were conducting what the official report reads as “an intelligence gathering and prisoner capture operation” against the enemy-held Cua Viet River Base.

The five men launched from a Vietnamese junk under cover of darkness, paddled toward the coast in a rubber boat, and, about a mile offshore, eased out of the boat and swam the rest of the way in.

Once on the beach, things quickly degraded from difficult to bad to utterly desperate: First, it was determined that the initial objective point had been missed and that the U.S.-South Vietnamese team had been inserted into far-more-dangerous North Vietnam. Second and worse, the team was discovered and quickly came under fire from a huge enemy force that outnumbered them at least 10 to one. Third, a fierce five-hour firefight ensued between the two forces, the enemy closing to within a few yards of the team, and Mike was struck in the back.

Naval gunfire was called in, and Norris ordered the team to begin a fighting withdrawal back to the waterline hoping to escape by sea and prevent the overwhelming enemy force from encircling them.

Near the water’s edge, Mike – wounded but still fighting – was informed by one of the South Vietnamese commandos that Norris had been killed.

Dead or alive, Mike was not going to leave his commander behind.

Through a hailstorm of enemy fire, Mike raced back toward Norris’s last known position. There he found Norris’s near-lifeless form, shot in the head, and two enemy soldiers standing over him.

Mike quickly killed the two soldiers, lifted Norris onto his shoulders, and began the several-hundred-yard dodge-and-sprint back toward the beach under heavy fire.

An incoming round from USS Newport News exploded nearby, the blast-concussion blowing both men into the air. Mike scrambled to his feet, again hoisted Norris onto his shoulders and made for the surf.

When he hit the water, Mike – wounded, exhausted, adrenaline surging – literally tied Norris to his body and started swimming. When he saw one of the South Vietnamese commandos shot in the hip and unable to swim, Mike grabbed him too; swimming both men out to sea for more than two hours before the three wounded men were picked-up by the same junk that had dropped them off.

Nearly one year later, Oct. 15, 1973, Pres. Richard Nixon presented Mike the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony with Norris in attendance. Mike had “basically kidnapped” Norris from nearby Bethesda Naval Hospital (Norris would in 1975 receive the Medal himself for a separate action.).

Fast forward to October 2008: I’ve now known Mike for about 15 years. I met him even before that (though he doesn’t remember the meeting) when I was a green Marine lance corporal in the mid-1980s and Mike was a war-seasoned Navy SEAL officer wearing – above his myriad decorations – the loftiest American military award for valor.
In the years since, I’ve written about Mike, spoken with him for perspective on national security issues, broken bread with him, and more recently discussed with him the forthcoming Medal of Honor Society’s 2010 convention to be held in Charleston, S.C. (the state from which Mike and I both hail).

All of this brings me to an important event, in a personal sense, which took place last week when I was commissioned a major in the S.C. State Guard.

Being commissioned a field grade officer into a military-defense force with a lineage stretching back to the 17th century was an honor to be sure. But what made it particularly special was that Mike swore me in: He administered to me the oath of office, was the first man to salute me, and then shook my hand – pressing into my palm a gold coin engraved with his name, the SEAL trident, and the Medal of Honor – then he gave me great big bear hug (that’s the kind of good, unpretentious man Mike is).

As I later explained to my boss, Brig. Gen. Eugene F. Rogers (also a former Marine), the coin itself was a token more precious to me than the gold oak leaves I now rate. And I was somewhat bewildered by how I felt.”It’s because you were – and will always be – a Marine,” Gen. Rogers said. “There are certain things we treasure – things of tradition, no matter how seemingly insignificant to others – that others will never understand.”

And I’m not sure that any of us can adequately explain those things of tradition, but we must always try. Because, and as I said to Gen. Rogers and others in an e-mail, our military tradition and our national defense are inextricably connected.

Two More CounterTerror Navy SEALS Die In Afghanistan

With two more Navy SEALS dying on September 11th in Afghanistan, the same counterterror unit has now lost three members in just three weeks - a grave loss for America and a heartbreaker for the unit. Although very little is known about how and where these two fighters for freedom died right now, here are some of the details from Counterterrorism Blog:

Two more Navy SEALs from an extraordinarily elite and supersecret counterterrorism unit have been killed in Afghanistan, following the death two weeks ago of a SEAL from the same clandestine unit.

The two SEALs were killed September 11 somewhere “in Afghanistan,” according to military press releases, and were part of the shadowy Naval Special Warfare Development Group, the elite counterterrorism force once known as SEAL Team 6.
Killed last week were Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator John Wayne Marcum, 34, and Chief (select) Special Warfare Operator Jason Richard Freiwald, 30, the Navy said. Each man had served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was a highly decorated SEAL.

Above the tragedy of these two losses is the amazing honor that these two men served with and of course, the ultimate sacrifice they have made to America. It's my feeling that these men are casualties of some operations that are simply pushing the envelope of entering areas we simply haven't sent our warriors into before. The Navy SEAL killed two weeks ago was swept away by a river while the unit was performing a treacherous river crossing and that indicates that this unit is going after targets that perhaps were deemed impenetrable.

And while we mourn these two losses, we have to marvel at the determination and the spirit with which this counterterror unit is showing in letting nothing stand in their way to penetrate the most dramatic of Taliban defenses. G_d speed to these young men and sincere prayers go out to their families. A nation could not be prouder of their sacrifice.

Two More Counterterror SEALs Die in Afghanistan

Two more Navy SEALs from an extraordinarily elite and supersecret counterterrorism unit have been killed in Afghanistan, following the death two weeks ago of a SEAL from the same clandestine unit.
Details were - not surprisingly - vague. There is no direct evidence they died fighting in the new CIA-led offensive against Al Qaeda and the Taliban along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. But their loss in Afghanistan is certainly significant and a real blow to their fellow operators in the Joint Special Operations Command, which includes the Army’s Delta Force.
The two SEALs were killed September 11 somewhere “in Afghanistan,” according to military press releases, and were part of the shadowy Naval Special Warfare Development Group, the elite counterterrorism force once known as SEAL Team 6. Typically, the military identifies which Afghan town, district, city or province where American troops perish. But for the third time since August 30, when Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua Thomas Harris, a Bronze Star recipient, was reported killed after being swept away during a combat river crossing, the precise location of the latest “DEVGRU” combat casualties is unknown.
Killed last week were Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator John Wayne Marcum, 34, and Chief (select) Special Warfare Operator Jason Richard Freiwald, 30, the Navy said. Each man had served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was a highly decorated SEAL. Before Harris, no DEVGRU SEAL had fallen in Afghanistan since March 2002, according to a review of Operation Enduring Freedom deaths at iCasualties.org.
Marcum earned four Bronze Star medals with the combat “V” distinguishing device, as well as the Joint Service Commendation medal, four Combat Action ribbons and a chestful of other decorations in his career. The younger Freiwald had also earned a Bronze Star and Combat Action ribbon, the Navy said.
Sadly, both SEALs leave behind a wife and daughter. The Naval Special Warfare Foundation, which accepts donations, will likely provide support for each family.