I do not envy the position that the men and women of our armed forces are in, day in and day out, in these war zones. I cannot imagine how that affects you.
But, how is killing children and elderly men, who pose no direct threat to you, right in any scenario? The lack of regard for life is disturbing, to say the least.
1
Thank you for the podcast. This is a sadly under-reported story of getting away with murder, with our President's wholesale support and admiration.
Illegal witness-tampering. Time for some arrests.
Reminds me a lot of trial for Police Officers that shoot unarmed civilians, etc. There is a culture of protecting the group at all costs - One of those costs being the reputation of the group.
This incident damaged the reputation of the Seals. I can not believe that anyone would purposefully shoot an unarmed girl and an old man who were civilians - That is more than cruel, and really taints the seal reputation in my book.
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Good morning, I did not hear any mention of President Trump's tweets expressing his thoughts and sentiments on this matter. (I seem to recall that the president had expressed his strong, predictable opinion on this matter.) From your coverage of this matter (including an earlier episode) I believe that the SEAL chief acted as if he were above the law in the atrocities he committed. And now the trial verdict simply announces to the rest of the world that the US military is indeed above the law and justice through the military courts is a farce. Why was the president's involvement not mentioned today? Thank you.
5
@Peter who cares about his comments. Just can't win. If he tweets he's condemned if he doesn't he condemned. Men and women are arrested because of lies or coercion and vindicated umpteen years later and American can't pay them anything for the horrors endured because of a corrupt judicial system but Kim Kardashian is awarded 2.x amount of millions because her privacy was invaded. You give up that right when you become a star. A trashy one but a star nonetheless. America is twisted in their judgments He could have been set up who knows. Just thank God it aint you and keep it moving.
1
Not everything is about trump.
Trump wasn’t involved in the crime or the judgement. There’s no need to bring him in.
On a side note, Sadly, military being above the law isn’t anything new. Plenty of American soldiers kill civilians overseas and get away with zero consequence.
What it says is that they can perform whatever criminal actions, they will not face any serious legal consequences. This is precisely the reason why the USA never wanted to join the International Court of Justice. It is not only the president who is above the law. Democracy anyone?..
5
It’s not easy to say “Thank you” for this reporting when the overarching message is that we live in a country increasingly ruled by the lawless rather by the law and those with true courage. This is a horror story. While I have utmost respect for those who put their lives on the line for our freedoms, that doesn’t mean we should give them carte blanche to indulge in completely unnecessary acts of cruelty, and, then, in acts of coercion and thuggishness. Loyalty has been redefined downward. It’s a rot that will have terrible consequences.
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The Rule of Law is declining everywhere even in the once highly respected Navy Seals. Yet everyone has to answer at the end of one’s life if not before!
2
@Janet Kilb Amen. Nothing new under the Sun. Probably not the 1st incident only one that is publicized
you do realize the legal system has deemed him innocent, yes? if so why do you feel the need to relitigate and try to make it sound like he's guilty? the man is an american hero.
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@Jeff thank you for saying it!
@Jeff
The legal system cannot deem him innocent. "Not guilty" is very different. He may have committed horrible crimes, but for whatever reason -- for instance, a cover up -- nothing was proven.
5
Thank you so much for today's story on Edward Gallagher's trial. I hadn't really followed this story too closely and wasn't sure what was going on or why suddenly some other party (a medic) had admitted to killing the victim.
If the very strong implication, that Gallagher did murder a prisoner combatant so cold-bloodedly, is true, and SEAL witnesses changed their stories...how horrible, what country do I live in? I do not want these Navy SEALs, to represent me or my country. They do not share the values that I, and many other citizens, subscribe to. I do not want them back out there in combat, they have obviously lost perspective and their group moral compass is very much out of whack.
Shame on them!
And thank you for this and all the great information I get every morning from The Daily, and yes, I am a subscriber.
2
We have an illegitimate civilian court due to blatantly-partisan court packing, an illegitimate supreme court due to our traitor in cheif's stolen justices, and now an officially illegitimate military court. It is the duty of all patriotic Americans to severely and cut and dismantle our endless military funding. Our men and women in uniform are good people and a lot braver than me, but if that is a system that empowers this type of hateful murderer, then it is time to dismantle it and rebuild it into something we can be proud of.
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@Andrew G illegitimate because the outcome wasn't what you wanted? Hmm
@Chris
So you agree with the outcome -- innocent people being murdered?
1
...or, How to Get Away War Crimes.
The United States and its military cannot be trusted to police itself. The US truly is a rogue nation.
Any shred of pride and dignity for the armed forces of the United States is gone for me. When the Justice system of the United States can't even properly bestow justice upon a barbaric killer, there is no moral high ground. Our military is no different than our enemies except for the technological advantages that we give them. I lament everyday that my taxpayer dollars is going towards funding these sort of activities.
6
We live in an era of misinformation aided by our President who freely applies Russian principles of propaganda(active measures) to confuse us all. I’m not saying you are wrong just saying how can we really know anymore.
Military Justice is to justice as Military Music is to music.
Marshal Foch
6
The seals have gotten to Hollywood I wish they would have remained in the shadows like they were in Vietnam now the genie is out of the bottle they are starting to believe they are Rambo and can blow up and cut anybody's throat once you do that the command system starts to break down then anybody is allowed to do anything they want even a chief go back to the shadows and tighten the command structure
1
This trial reminds me of Trump's "stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and not lose any voters" comment. You can literally get away with murder if you're useful politically under this President.
4
How can anyone respect the armed forces if this kind of law breaking occurs to protect a murderer?
2
Our men and women are putting their lives on the line for a country that does not support them and their decisions made in the line of fire. SHOOT OR NOT TO SHOOT. We want to protect the isis, illegal immigrants, murders by jail time 3 hots and a cot Taxpayers paying for the ones that murder molest rob us. You name it. I would shoot to kill like its you or me. I am going home to my family. America ain't America anymore. We are owned and governed by everyone but Us. No other Country allows people the freedom to come in learn their ways and kill without consequences. Let God be True and every man a liar. If the Elite is guilty he'll get his but right now run Soldier get out while you can. Dont be another O.J. A marked man. Retire. Lay low. Seek God's plan for you and your family's life.