Florida Candidate Plans Michael Behenna Rally
Florida congressional candidate Allen West (left) plans a September rally at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to support Edmond Army Lt. Michael Behenna and others.
West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, is among dozens of present and former members of the military who have spoken out in defense of Behenna, serving a 15-year sentence in the death of an al-Qaida operative in Iraq.
Writes West, "We have created rules of engagement in Afghanistan which allows the enemy every opportunity to kill our men and women. We have considered such horrible ideas such as an award for 'courageous restraint.' We even allow former Taliban members who have attacked, and maybe even killed, our troops to be released from detainment based upon a 'pledge' signed by their fathers and tribal leaders.
"Yet, we have our own Warriors such as Army 1LT Michael Behenna serving a 15 year prison sentence for killing a known Al Qaeda operative who attacked him. Worse however, is the fact that exculpatory evidence in his case was withheld by the Army prosecutors who also withheld a key witness. There in the military prison at Ft. Leavenworth sit 10 Army Soldiers while Taliban fighters are being released. We just witnessed some of our finest Warriors, US Navy SEALS, having to endure a courts-martial because they 'punched' a terrorist.
"That is why I will be heading to Ft. Leavenworth in September to rally for the release of our soldiers so that they can be reunited with their families. Those families who willingly sacrificed their loved ones, believing that they could be severely wounded, or even killed....but never imprisoned for doing what we ask Warriors to do."
West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, is among dozens of present and former members of the military who have spoken out in defense of Behenna, serving a 15-year sentence in the death of an al-Qaida operative in Iraq.
Writes West, "We have created rules of engagement in Afghanistan which allows the enemy every opportunity to kill our men and women. We have considered such horrible ideas such as an award for 'courageous restraint.' We even allow former Taliban members who have attacked, and maybe even killed, our troops to be released from detainment based upon a 'pledge' signed by their fathers and tribal leaders.
"Yet, we have our own Warriors such as Army 1LT Michael Behenna serving a 15 year prison sentence for killing a known Al Qaeda operative who attacked him. Worse however, is the fact that exculpatory evidence in his case was withheld by the Army prosecutors who also withheld a key witness. There in the military prison at Ft. Leavenworth sit 10 Army Soldiers while Taliban fighters are being released. We just witnessed some of our finest Warriors, US Navy SEALS, having to endure a courts-martial because they 'punched' a terrorist.
"That is why I will be heading to Ft. Leavenworth in September to rally for the release of our soldiers so that they can be reunited with their families. Those families who willingly sacrificed their loved ones, believing that they could be severely wounded, or even killed....but never imprisoned for doing what we ask Warriors to do."
A petition seeking a new trial for Behenna now has more than 20,000 signatures. Learn more about the Behenna case at www.defendmichael.com.
Labels: Michael Behenna
posted by Mike McCarville @ 9:45 AM
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