A post on the website of the law firm Pucket and Faraj on Sunday announced that the military has decided to cancel the deposition of Ahmed Hashim Abed, the suspect behind the brutal killing of four Blackwater contractors in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. A government trip to Iraq that was scheduled so as to depose Abed has been cancelled by Major General Cleveland after two military judges have ruled on the SEALs’ cases.
Navy SEAL Matthew McCabe, one of three Navy SEALs involved in the case and the only one accused of actually hitting the detainee, is represented by Neal Puckett.
“This leaves the SO2 McCabe defense and government teams without the Iraqi detainee’s presence or sworn statements as evidence in the case,” according to the post on Puckett’s website.
All three lawyers representing the SEALs have requested for the deposition in relation to their clients’ cases. For the cases of Navy SEALs Julio Huertas and Jonathan Keefe, the request for deposition was denied, but the court-martials were moved to Iraq. In the case of Matthew McCabe, the military judge who ruled on the case upheld the government request for a deposition and a special court-martial was scheduled for May 3rd in Norfolk, Virginia.
In an article on The US Report, writer Chris Carter opines that the case of the prosecution against McCabe, Huertas and Keefe “appears weak.” Carter continues by pointing out the stipulation in the Al Qaeda training manual instructing captured members to complain of abuse as well as the SEALs’ decision to undergo a trial to clear their name and protect their careers.
February 10th, 2010 - 9:43 am
[...] victim of the alleged assault in the Navy SEALs cases has been scrapped, according to this USNAVYSEALS.com blog post here linking to this post from SO2 McCabe’s lawyer Neal [...]
February 16th, 2010 - 1:37 pm
This entire case is the most horrific fraud against the US Military and The American People. Obama and his henchmen like Eric Holder hate the heroes in the US Military and seek only to protect terrorists with whom they clearly find as dear as brothers. Rev Wrong and Bill Ayers are just two of hundreds of the disgraces in Obama’s inner circle. Any General or Admiral who dares to punish our soldiers like these Seals will see their careers DESTROYED when THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASSUME CONTROL AGAIN AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. Go ahead punk make my day…
February 16th, 2010 - 1:38 pm
These are heroes and this terrorist should alreadyhave been shot as he has no further informaton to offer. If it had been me I would have beaten this guy severely and these Seals are not onlyheroes but clearly Saints as well.
March 3rd, 2010 - 6:05 am
Ironic as it may be, there are rules in war. In the military we are governed by strict laws. And as a Soldier, I believe it is our duty to perform at an even higher standard when the situation is at it’s worst. We the public do not have all of the facts, but we do know that a fellow Soldier has given testimony that the Seals may have committed crimes. So, the legal process should run it’s course. Hopefully, they will be exonerated and further prove that we do hold ourselves to a higher standard than the terrorists who committed the heinous acts to begin with.
March 4th, 2010 - 8:13 am
Words can’t express the anger I feel towards the obvious Muslim desert dirt, but perhaps more disheartening is the typical, self serving leaders in these SEAL’s upper chain of command looking to save face and wear there white dress tails and gloves to social functions; and I’m not talking about there immediate unit command. My brother and I both served, he retired 23 years as a career Seal and ultimately a CO from E-1, I was in Beirut. I did not have all this tolerance bullshit to deal with; these men showed great restraint. This is war, rules of engagement apply. As the one gentlemen stated above, put a pill in this Muslim’s brain, he has nothing else to offer. And yes they are Saint’s as well as heroes, as I too would have buried him in a not-too-shallow-grave. Now these three young men have to face a court martial because God knows if they took the NJP route the would get screwed blue. Meanwhile President O’narcissist has nary a comment and he is supposed to be Commander in Chief?
Hey, you cowards who hide behind these guys, grow a set and dismiss this $@!*. You may very well have put these men at risk, but they are used to that. What you can never take, win or lose this ridiculous lawyer’s folly, is their Honor, pride and the respect of those who know what it takes.
Press On Men,
Scott J. Rehberg
March 7th, 2010 - 7:53 pm
WHERE IN THE HELL IS OUR COMMITMENT T0 OUR SERVICES?
THIS HAS TO BE THE MOST DISCOMFORTING NEWS I HAVE PERSONALLY EVER HEARD. YHERE HAS TO BE A WAY FOR THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TO CONFRONT THEI. AFTER ALL THIS WAS NOT AN ACT OF “TERRORISM” ‘BUT JUST A DESIRE TO BRING THE TERRORIST TO JUSTICE.
WOULD HE HAVE GIVEN MATHEW MC CABE THE SAME TREATMENT?I DONT THINK SO
WALLY
March 10th, 2010 - 1:07 pm
McCabe and the other Seals are heros. They risked their life to retrieve dead Americans. What I don’t understand, is why the guy who got the “fat lip”, is still alive. He should have been found guilty and executed by now.
If I was in-charge, things would be different.
FREE THE SEAL
March 22nd, 2010 - 6:17 am
If that were my team that captured that high value target, he would have accidentally fallen down the stairs, and broke his neck on day one… I can’t figure out how he’s still alive to even GIVE a testimony…
Whoever takes the case, to prosecute those sailors, should be shot dead. I can’t even fathom how this is even an issue. NOW, even if they do get their good names cleared, how gun shy are they going to be now, in their future operations? If that were me, I’d throw that trident on the table, and tell them to go fu ck themselves, and get a job on the civilian side. I don’t think 90 grand a year, is enough to take the bullsh it that the suits that never served a day in their life give them. These men deserve full pardon, and a few promotions as well. All politicians should hang in the streets.
March 25th, 2010 - 8:15 pm
I believe that having lawyers and FBI agents in combat zone is pure stupidity on this government part. Most of the senior officers are nothing more political hacks. Look at the shape of our Navy CO’s being relived of command for cause That shows poor leadership. Everyone is afraid to stand up to the useless whiners and criers in the congress and senate. The men and women who steam the ships and man the shore stations everyone is short handed and tired, ships that needs downtime for repairs and upkeep are not getting it. The new ships coming on line are poorly built again poor supervision I could go on and on about this.
And the SEALS are special People that senior leadership have no idea on the proper use of this Wonderful asset.
B Armstrong ENC USN Ret
April 1st, 2010 - 6:26 pm
I’m a retired Navy Medical Service Officer and former Chief Hospital Corpsman , ESWS and FMF with24 years of service.
This is one more bit of crap from the new order that sickens me. Send us to combat to support and maybe give our lives to support our way of life …… we’re volunteers …but keep “combat lawyers and the media out of our way.
Petty Officer McCabe did nothing to deserve such harsh treatment for doing his job and risking his life.
You have my sincere support SO2 McCabe
Most Respectfully,
LCDR Jim Gee MSC/USN Ret
Creston, NC
April 4th, 2010 - 2:21 pm
You know how I know America is still what it claims to be, even with all this talk about the politicians taking our freedoms? Just look at this page, and how well it shows the fact that we do still have freedom of speech. Now, realize there are countless more pages just like this. GREAT. Anyhow, this Navy SEAL punched a guy. You know what? BASIC TRAINING requires getting punched multiple times in the Clinch Drill (even with boxing gloves it is still getting punched…hard, multiple times). If that fucker can’t take a hit like a man he shouldn’t have orchestrated the death of four warriors AND the degradation of their bodies.
April 7th, 2010 - 4:15 am
This sham of a trial is the most disgusting and shameful act ever committed by our country and perpetrated against the men and women of our military. And, what message does that send to our fighting forces (and how ridiculous does it portray us to the rest of the world) when we tell them, “You can kill ‘em, just don’t hurt ‘em.” Are you serious? Punched a terrorist in the mouth while attempting to restrain him? I was Army and both of my older brothers were Navy. My oldest son is a Marine, and my youngest is a Soldier. I have two nephews in the Air Force and one in the Navy, and I am an American, so yes, I have a vested interest in this case. THIS is the reason there ARE terrorists. Such spineless displays of cowardice by our governing politicians is the very reason terrorists believe they can attack us but we won’t hit them back.
April 12th, 2010 - 6:58 am
Maybe we need to get legislation passed making it mandatory that disclaimers be printed in large bold font on enlistment papers. Maybe something on the order of “Your signature affixed hereto denotes your commitment to your country which probably will not be reciprocated by your Government.”
What a tragic era we are in when our fighting men are vilified and degraded for heroism under fire from those whose goal is to be shooting at us individually.
I wonder how many Senators and Congressmen have actually been in the Military, let alone seen combat? I know the question is being asked why I focus on Congressional authority when the charges are brought by the Military and I would ask in turn – do you really think Congressional pressure has not been brought to bear in this case?
April 12th, 2010 - 10:04 am
Hooyah My Brothers Fight The Fight. We are all behind You !!!