To ensure our very freedoms and standing in the world, it is imperative that our military hold itself to a code of conduct that is above reproach.
This murderer, who happens to be a U.S. Navy Seal leader, should be handed over to the Hague and charged with war crimes. Giving him life in Leavenworth would be too big of a gift for him. He has disgraced his uniform, his unit, his country, and has soiled our reputation abroad.
Send him to The Hague.
47
There are three types of people who join the military. The ones looking for a job, the patriots who want to serve thier country and the third type who really want to kill. If the allegations prove true against Chief Gallagher I believe that when he goes to sleep at night as an old man I am pretty sure in his last days in this world that little girl and old man will visit him quite often.
32
Considering the Trump administration is currently trying to eliminate rape reporting, and treatment in conflict zones, protecting a man who has done cruel and inappropriate things would be entirely consistent.
27
This report, along with the article on civilian deaths in Afghanistan reinforces again that if there was ever any reason to be in Iraq or Afghanistan, it has long since passed. We are inflicting untold pain and suffering and creating generations of people with every good reason to hate the U.S. Something tells me that the actions this person is accused of are more common than any of us want to know. Then these guys come home, retire, and join local police departments. The war does come home.
35
This always happens - every military and quasi-military organization develops an insular culture of “us” and “them” that inevitably results in toxicity, abuse and lawbreaking.
The reason this happens over and over again is organizational culture; those who rise to command positions have risen through this toxicity and proven themselves by averting their own gaze from time to time as necessary, and adeptly learning to manage around the culture. So when they get to the top, they’re not going to change the culture because they are a product of the culture. Believing their wistful comments about “bad apples” is a delusion. The situation is not going to get better until the culture is ripped out root and branch.
Here in Canada we’ve had repeated scandals within the RCMP, most recently a huge settlement (hundreds of millions of dollars) for sexual harassment going back over 40 years involving thousands of female members. Needless to say, RCMP leaders expressed regret that such things could happen within their organization.
Improvement can only happen with a radical culture change, and the only way that change can occur is if fresh management comes in at the top, and they make it abundantly clear to every member of the organization that there is ZERO tolerance for any kind of abuse.
16
The fish rots from the top. The corruption of the President leads others to think it is okay to look out for #1. Congress must act.
23
So much of America seems to love the "good guys" who aren't hesitant to break the law in order to get the "bad guys". I bet he grew up watching Dirty Harry movies, and thinks Ollie North is a hero.
19
This kind of thing has haooened far too frequently. Rolling Stone reported a decade ago about similar widespread behavior by US troops in Afghanistan. Who are the terrorists exactly?
17
Terrorism like this creates more terrorism, even if most in the US can't see the first one for what it is. Having people like this wearing a US uniform endangers the troops and Americans at home.
18
Why is anyone surprised that the seals would attract a psychopath murderer? That he is admired by the right for spraying neighborhoods with gunfire and rockets is because that is their ultimate fantasy, to be the big bad guy while being totally protected. The right also loved the movie about that poor sniper, who after several enlistments went home to continue killing animals and loving guns. The way he died was just desserts.
I always thought snipers were considered the cowards of the battlefield, killing from a great distance behind shelter.
The people that reported him should be honored, not vilified, they know that they have destroyed their careers.
24
The Navy must demand better from these elite men.
16
To the family of the girl killed and to her friends who were walking with her and their families, and to others outright murdered in Iraq, we here are profoundly sorry. We pray for her soul and for the healing of yours.
We know that mere words will not undo the harm or bring your daughter back to you. But know, at least, that as we mourn our dead from this terrible war, we mourn with you.
19
When will America and particularly America's men fall out of love with weapons and war?
22
Unfortunately the entire Iraq war based on false premises - it is such a sad episode, and no wonder soldiers developed PTSD - that’s what happens when a person knows deep inside they are killing innocent people - they can no longer live with themselves
13
We called them heroes... the Rambos of America. Is undeniable that we go and destroyed and killed indiscriminately, once again the Vietnam era atrocities... dejavú.
12
I believe that anyone who engages in the coverup of war crimes should be tried. There is no excuse for murdering children and innocent civilians just for the fun of it. Of course the Fox News crowd supports the murderer as hero. They do the same when the Israeli army shoots innocent Palestinian children.
15
Absolutely disgusting. My tax dollars. Your tax dollars. This is a microcosm of the entire military effort since 9/11. It’s got to stop.
13
Anybody remember Arlo Guthrie:
"I wanna KILL, kill, kill, kill, kill!"
"Son--you're our boy."
You can get anything you want/
At Alice's Restaurant.
7
The surprise is not that a SEAL may have violated rules of engagement or that there may have been pressure put on others to not report the incidents. The surprise is that it does not happen more often. War is hell and we demand too much of our troops by our endless conflicts. I commend those who were willing to stick their necks out to file complaints and bring what they believe to be wrongful action to the attention of their superiors. That act may have demonstrated more courage than they showed on the battlefield.
14
If this story is factual, then Chief Gallagher should have been relieved of his duties ASAP and sent home for an Article 32 hearing. The military is a diverse organization, that I had the "honor" of being a member of in the US Navy. The Chief's alleged crimes are his alone, not mine or other SEAL members or military members. During WW2, a young Kamikaze pilot rammed into the USS Missouri. His plane practically was demolished and did little damage. The CO of the ship had his body removed and then the next morning, there was a religious service and the Kamikaze pilot was buried at sea. That is the military, and the nation, that I was and am part of.
207
These crimes are a direct result of the pervasive violent video game culture sweeping the nation. When killing becomes a competitive sport, it is time to re-evaluate and re-educate.
7
war crimes predate video games by several millenia. blaming them for such conduct is short sighted and overly convenient.
20
Reserve your hate for those that killed 300 innocents worshiping Easter morning.
Not one little girl.......many, many more.
This man is not your enemy, they are but you can't see it.
5
@There
Why are YOU sweeping his crimes as a soldier under the rug, and then rushing to point out that others have done far worse? We’re talking about this man, Gallagher, in this article.
41
@There anyone killing innocents is the enemy. If we lose our humanity we are no different than they are.
31
Committing a violent war crime injures our own troops. It makes it more likely that the opposing side will do the same or worse to any of our captures warriors (the chief's own words attest to that phenomenon). It makes allies lose faith and trust in our military and our people, sometimes with dire consequences. Equally bad or worse: it injures the troops who witness it.
The war crimes the Chief is accused of are among the kind most likely to cause psychological trauma to fellow service members and contractors who support them in the field. Acute traumatic stress, PTSD and other biopsychsocial consequences from witnessing, say, the killing/murder of a child, are real, debilitating, and life-threatening injuries that impact not just the witnesses themselves, but also their families, friends, colleagues, and communities at large.
If the Chief is guilty of war crimes, he has likely also caused the US military and the US people unnecessary casualties.
18
Wouldn't a SEAL or other soldier be put in the brig or otherwise punished if he shot and hit another military member with a bullet, even if the other guy consented to being injured (or maybe in an effort to get out of serving, requested it)? At the very least would it be considered damaging military "property"?
Seems to me that intentionally or negligently causing a serious and debilitating psychological injury to another SEAL or other member of the military, especially combat forces, is not all that different.
2
Excesses by warriors in battle are not atypical. In the Iliad, Achilles drags Hector’s corpse behind his chariot about the walls of Troy to hurt the feelings of and to humiliate the Trojans. But in the wars against terrorism and popular insurgencies we must achieve an end to the hostilities and resentments toward us that energize the conflicts. When our soldiers commit war crimes we cannot afford to condone those acts, ever. When Gallagher killed people out of a disordered mind without just cause, he fuels hatred towards our citizens that will result in further acts of terrorism.
11
It seems to me that the pendulum swings back and forth over time regarding what people like the SEAL Chief do and how reporting them is received by superiors.
We've been at war a very long time (not that you'd know it in the USA). Part of the strategy is the large use of Reservists. The bureaucracy of the Armed Forces is HUGE. These circumstances have contributed to what it is alleged that Chief Gallagher did.
As a former law enforcement officer I know people change, sometimes even just a little bit, as they are immersed in the job they must do. It's almost impossible not to. And the vast majority of LEOs and Sailors, Solders and Marines don't change to the point of losing their humanity.
But some do. And if found guilty, that is really what Chief Gallagher has had happen to him; he lost his humanity. He is a casualty of war, much like his victims.
The bureaucracy has a vested interest in itself and its perpetuation. Once removed from the theatre of war, sometimes the inability to remember what it's really like takes hold and poor decisions result. It's inherent in the structure itself and then the size compounds it as it gets larger.
I don't know how to fix it but not being in a perpetual state of war seems like a good step forward.
I gave birth to my daughter in April 2000. She turned 19 the other day. All she has known is war. She doesn't have any memory before 9-11-2001. All she knows is her country at war and sailors, soldiers and marines dying. I'm sad for her.
11
War is not a good solution but sometimes it is the only practical solution. Since the start of this century we have used war as a way to end threats to our national security while rejecting the necessity of removing the causes of the threats. No nation building when dysfunctional nations are creating or harboring the malefactors of terrorism has been a persistent promise by politicians. The notion that destroying the fighters without eliminating the issues in the populations which produced them has led to these endless engagements. The lessons of WWII was that peace could only be achieved by peace and people’s enjoying prosperity and freedom to be who they are has been forgotten.
1
It seems to me some of these alleged crimes that Gallagher committed were along the same lines as terrorism. Pretty scary how nonchalantly this was covered up but not all that surprising given the nature of the SEALs.
15
The family of this guy should be so ashamed. But I'm sure the accused wouldn't care about that at all. Remember this guy when some major horrific massacre happens again in this country, he's partly to blame.
12
He may have started out as a true and honorable warrior but he clearly did not remain that way. We were the invaders in Iraq. We had no reason going to war on that country. This story is an abomination on top of a tragedy. I cannot even fathom the pain men like Edward Gallagher inflicted on that nation. There should be a rule against deploying that many times. It breaks down one's sense of right and wrong in a normal world.
12
Not a single commenter on this story can claim special knowledge of whether the accused CPO engaged in illegal killing. Yet it seems the overwhelming majority of commenters have made up their minds one way or the other. Perhaps someone can explain to me why prejudgements based upon nothing but news accounts are a reasonable approach. I will have an opinion about Chief Gallagher after sworn testimony is weighed by a neutral tribunal and a judgment is handed down consistent with due process. To those who have already made up their minds I suggest you examine your own motives, prejudices and sense of fairness.
2
Nothing more compelling than 7 soldiers repeatedly putting their own careers on the line.
Perhaps as well you found the testimony against Calley of the My Lai massacre unconvincing as well. If it weren't for journalists photos, that would have gone unexposed as well.
13
Maybe this means this round of American blood lust is fading, and Trump will not serve a second term, and we will stay out of wars for a few years.
5
As a forensic evaluator I see two problems hiding in broad daylight. A psychopath who slipped into the military under cover of heroics in combat. And two the shame and greed of self protection of his superiors to cover it up. It takes two to tango. Good this is reported. Remember that psychopaths project their own anti social motives onto others and portray themselves and believe they are victims. They are profoundly able to convince others of their sincerity and honesty whereas they are actually guilty.
11
Still waiting for his Commander-in-Chief to go on trial for war crimes. Arresting George W. Bush and sending him to the Hague would be a huge step for neutering ISIS, spawned by Dubya's thinly-disguised attempt to secure Iraqi oil by inventing "weapons of mass destruction".
It would be the least we could do for the parents of soldiers murdered by Dubya while defending their country - but it would be a start.
10
The larger issue is why are we still involved in these conflicts?
Why indeed?
Most Americans would not be able to explain why we are involved in any of these conflicts.
And as long as no Congressman's kids are involved (or your kids), most readers of the NY Times can do the outrage thing but won't write a letter to their Congressman to stop the wars!
7
And as a side note, this is why responsibility for investigations into sexual assaults in the military need to be removed from the chain of command.
4
I’ve made a few comments here already, but I feel compelled to make another because I am frankly a bit shocked by some of the comments I’m seeing from people who are ostensibly “liberal.”
The military is a microcosm of society. There are exceptionally talented individuals, and there are some exceptionally abhorrent individuals, but everyone is an individual deserving of individual consideration. To make blanket assumptions—good or bad—about an entire group of people is what bigots do.
I'm a veteran. I'm a liberal. I believe in gun control. I believe in climate change. I have two degrees. I’m the first in line to criticize America for foreign policy misadventures that have cost thousands of innocent lives and destabilized entire regions. If any of this confounds your assumptions, maybe you need to have a look in the mirror.
Most veterans don’t want to be simplistically idolized, and those that do lack character in my opinion. And, of course, no one wants to be simplistically demonized. Like you, all we want is to be considered as individuals based on our individual merits. Some people enlisted for a few years because they had limited options. Some people—Robert Mueller, John Kerry, Pete Buttigeig—had options most of us don’t and served to answer a higher calling.
Rachel Maddow wrote an excellent book—Drift—about the military and its relationship with mainstream America, and how those who serve are increasingly marginalized and misunderstood. I suggest you check it out.
263
@Aaron
"Drift" is outstanding, and a very good reference as far as this article is concerned.
Unfortunately, even when all the chains of command are followed, and no one intentionally hurts anyone, inevitably, there is tremendous "collateral damage" inflicted.
The non-combatants and their homes, families, cities and entire country is reduced to rubble.
As most people know, war is similar to chess. The primary differences being (besides casualties) is this: Chess is a game played on a chess board. War is no game. It is the destruction of nearly everyone, everything and everywhere within the range of all the weapons used.
24
@Aaron
Thank you for taking the time to compose a much needed and necessary point of view which seems to be sparse, to say the least, among the 1000+ comments. I am more disappointed than shocked by many of the sentiments shared.
Thank you for the Rachel Maddow book suggestion.
Your comment sounds very familiar to what my brother has been talking about for a very long time, especially the part about "those who serve are increasingly marginalized and misunderstood". Even though his service was spent in Vietnam, there are many similarities between that conflict and those who served and continue to serve in Iraq and other areas.
20
@Aaron, in wanting to see the world as we wish it was instead of how it is liberals are just as myopic as conservatives. The desire for simplistic answers to complex problems makes fools of us all. This is especially true of our conflicted relationship to a volunteer / professional military. It allows far to many of us to avoid serving while burdening those who do with our unrealistic expectations and judgements. Our military is reflective of our society & we don't get a pass on how these individuals are used & misused just because we don't like the results. If we want better outcomes than perhaps we should take collective responsibility again and own the process with our involvement, anything else is just dishonest.
10
A brave and important article. Kudos to Mr. Philipps and NYT.
We cannot afford to gloss over such thorny issues. Wars are the breeding ground for future wars. It is high time these endless wars stopped.
2
Haha. This is funny.
When was the last time ANY American was prosecuted for war crimes?
If you can’t even lock up Dick Cheney... don’t bother.
9
@Chris in Berlin
Because the Germans had such an easy time warding off and stopping and calling to account the Nazis and their repugnant "leadership"?
I'm a father of a decorated USMC Recon officer who has been serving this country with distinction and honor. I'm ashamed from the actions of this dishonorable man and his superior officers. They all should be charged with war crimes and punished accordingly. This is what separates us from groups like Isis, Al-Queda and such. Shame on you chief you are a disgrace!
9
And just who is surprised?
3
Trump should be arrested, not this guy
"War is Hell"
Sherman, the famous (or infamous, depending on your view) General, knew his craft. His "scorched earth" policy left behind a path of mayhem and destruction some 100 miles wide. From Atlanta to Savanah, then on to Columbia, he "broke the back of the Confederacy."
War is Hell and those who engage in it, even the good guys, wage a battle against Satan - the "Prince of Darkness," the "Father of Lies," the "Emporer of the Kingdom." Those who go up against this power, especially SEALS, better go with a spiritual armor exceedingly greater than their military armor.
"War is Hell," and Satan is its general. Let's not forget that.
1
If these allegations are true, this man has some very serious mental issues.
It is so sad that a person would shoot a random girl walking with friends for no apparent reason other than to kill a person unlike you - that just hurts the soul.
7
I teach a university class on the Vietnam War (also was an officer in the Army Reserves and spent a year in Iraq)...I will tell that even if convicted it is likely Chief Gallagher will not serve any time. LT Calley was convicted for his actions at My Lai on that fateful date in 1968 and served what amounted to 3 years of house arrest. The ROE in Vietnam at that time was so permissive that ANY target whether armed or unarmed was a legal target (especially in a free fire zone). New scholarship has been coming out to suggest that My Lai was not an anomaly but rather the norm (Speedy Express come to mind). The problem is not so much with Chief Gallagher or LT Calley but rather the chain of command that allows something like this to happen in the first place. What the officer corps lacking these days is moral courage...taking the harder right over the easier wrong. Everyone is so afraid about their "careers" they will not speak out...
8
We need to cut the military budget in half - we are simply not making any progress on so many different locations around the globe.
6
True professional combatants know that there never is honor in cruelty - and certainly no honor in (nor need to) ever deliberately target the harmless and defenseless. Such a person not only is unhinged, but an immediate danger to his team, the mission, those service members that follow and the entire overall strategy - which, hopefully, is an eventual peace.
211
My father was drafted for Vietnam and as a result I grew up with a critical view of 1. Why our country invades other countries in the first place to wage war on them. 2. A very critical view of the military as an institution. I'm not surprised by this story.
10
@HeatherD, but isn’t it sad that even after Vietnam our leaders failed to learn the lessons and proceeded to repeat the mistake of sending our youth to fight more wars over there away from home, and kill maim humans out there?!
4
If this is what our so called elite in the Military are doing they need to be rooted out and prosecuted, there needs to be a new leadership in the Military to root out this criminal type activity.
11
To quote George Orwell.
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
That is I’m afraid the reality. The overarching truth that we had no business in Iraq after George Senior’s decision to halt Desert Storm is I’m afraid the proximate cause of these atrocities.
5
You empower the enemy when you murder their innocents.
Gallagher is broken. He should never have been deployed five times. Justice must be served but we must also make sure Gallagher is not a threat to others or himself. The incident at the traffic stop is ominous.
17
If all is true in this article The magnificent 7 will be able to live with themselves. Not sure about the chief and his protecters though.
7
We made another one of these guys who enjoyed killing, and the testosterone poisoned macho ethos of what the US military seems to have become, a hero also, and made a movie of his "exploits". There is something seriously wrong about our continuous war mentality and what it is doing to our national psyche, where everyone who serves is a "warrior" and a "hero".
8
As if civilians killing civilians in mass numbers is not enough... then, actual warfare trained parties picking out civilians like trophies.
War is a horrible, nasty, dehumanizing and gory business.
Does it attract men/women who may have criminal tendencies? Yes.
Actually, fearlessness and deadly calm focus asked of any dedicated soldier is what gets you attention and these same qualities are seen in antisocial personalities.
When this kind of news- and I’m glad it’s out there- it just goes to prove every rhetoric radicals post in their videos! I’m afraid how many impressionable young men out there are going to read and see this, and go on a new rampage.
I’m sick of horror feeding horror!
6
The veneer of civilization is so very fragile.
Hannah Arendt did her best to warn the world after she covered Adolph Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem.
Eichmann’s most unusual trait was appearing “more normal” than the average person.
Eichmann had no capacity to think for himself. “Respectable society” endorsed mass murder, Eichmann scoffed any notion that he could have questioned the most respectable members of society.
Humanity has been living on borrowed time since the end of WWII. The writing was on the wall that we had to morally and psychologically evolve.
We haven’t progressed one iota.
And now there probably isn’t enough time to avert another massive catastrophe.
There is so much beauty in our species. It’s a shame that we are so precariously close to destroying ourselves.
9
So, what else is new? In every engagement the American military has engaged in brutality as a matter of course. You need only remember those horrible photos of their behavior at Abu Ghraib. And yet those responsible for those unpardonable acts were never disciplined. The invasion of Iraq was a bare faced aggression by America while the rest of the world stood silent. The claim of WMD as a justification for the invasion could have been disclaimed by the UN because their inspector Hans Blix had previously prepared a report denying the existing of WMDs in Iraq. But Dick Cheynne, that war criminal, kept insisting that they were hidden in the sands somewhere.
11
This was done in Bosnia and Kosovo as well. NATO led forces had no one to hold them back. I saw officers indiscrimimently simply knock out passersby on his way to go out for drinks, rape, etc., as Roman soldiers would do before...no one to reprimand them, nor no where to turn....no one would print such actions for fear of reprisals
5
What exactly is heroic about murdering young girls, old men and teenage boys?
11
I have never understood the American idolatry of highly-trained killers of other human beings. Yes, these men endure incredible hardship in their training, and develop astounding proficiency at what they do -- killing people. But I would never aspire to such proficiency, nor would I want my children to develop such a skill.
Yet these views apparently put me out of step with many of my fellow Americans.
We are a nation that worships war, and cultivates the skills of violence and murder. This has nothing to do with "defense".
So it's inevitable that within the ranks of such men, a bloodthirsty psychopath like Gallagher will rise, and will be defended by at least some of his comrades.
What an ugly, awful business...
14
When US armed forces are killed by opposing armed forces in battle situations those persons captured can be charged with murder (eg. Omar Khadr). When US armed forces intentionally kill civilians its called "collateral damage".
I know most in the US armed forces are brave and moral. But those who treat war as a virtual reality video game need to be kept at home.
10
too long on the job. people have limitations. 5 tours? why do we do this to our soldiers? it does not matter that he may have wanted to return to battle each time..... the real people making decisions are supposed to know better. to me he is another casualty of endless war.
8
It does not surprise me that 40 members of Congress, who probably don't know any of the facts, have called for the man's release. As has Trump. Laws and morality is lost within the Republican party.
12
We are a warrior nation. Until we recognize the evil inherent in that, we will so remain. Until we recognize that Ike's dire prediction(s) about the "military/industrial complex" have come true, we will so remain. Until we recognize that Colonel Jessup in "A Few Good Men" and Sergeant Barnes in "Platoon" were murderous thugs, not heroes, we will so remain. Until we empower leaders that will say "STOP! This is madness", we will so remain.
In this aspect, we have become an amorally sad lot, indeed.
15
No surprise that Trump and the Republicans would support him. The sadistic, the cruel, the enemies of truth band together.
13
Did anybody read the Faux Noise “article” regarding Gallagher‘s wife and brother claiming he is a “hero“? (someone is very worried that her cushy benefits are going to disappear if her husband is convicted). It’s very telling that the article says nothing about a full seven platoon members repeatedly attempting to report him, while being repeatedly threatened with retaliation. They just state that the guy with the Muslim sounding name (Alazzawi) said that he did not see the stabbing directly. He actually was not one of the members of the platoon making the complaint, he was one of those they actually complained to. Folks, THIS type of propaganda is why we have Trump cult members, including the multitude of Republican Congress people who were salivating to rush to the obvious criminal’s aid.
So glad that some in the Navy see fit to make a full investigation into the corrupt culture that is obviously being supported by many.
We actually pay these people, folks. They report to us. Time to truly drain the swamp.
18
Although it's not fair to paint the entire Seal community with the same brush, this guy has done a great job of destroying their reputation. Granted, the Seals, or some Seals, have swallowed the media frenzy about their heroics. There are others in the military, my son was one, who never blow their horn for attention. This guy needs to be put where he can do no more harm. Yes, he is guilty even before a trial for being a blowhard who gets off on killing old men and young girls. Take a lesson from submariners, guys, and be silent about any heroics while calling out despicable acts by your brethren.
12
As a retired CPO, this one slipped through the cracks. This is no "August Chief." He's an E7. Yeah, E7 Gallagher. Big difference. E9 Alazzawi also.
He's brought discredit to the Navy and should be rewarded with the title "E6" when his trial is over. All of his military benefits should be stripped also.
They volunteered to join...don't forget that. They fought a fake war too...but that's another story altogether that those responsible want us to forget.
11
Abolish the SEAL program. Shut it down.
7
Well, thank you for your service...NOT!
I guess criminals and murderers dressed in USA uniforms just like that guy, are the reason why USA is one of few countries that boycotts the International Court of Justice and international law in general.
12
What is it with republicans and “conservatives“ and Fox KGB TV, that they even condone cold blooded murder? This man has betrayed his Navy Seal oath. His comrades would not risk everything to try to bring him to justice if it wasn’t a true representation of the situation.
This is what we’ve come to? There is no right or wrong, only “my side” must win at all moral costs? Truly shameful.
11
“Stop worrying about it, they do a lot worse to us.”
So two (or many) wrongs make a right.
War criminal G.W. Bush has even more blood on his hands than I thought.
11
@Richard if I could I would recommend your comment 500 times just for your last sentence. he unleashed this mess and sits in TX somewhere painting pretty pictures. Rumsfeld, wolfavitz, Cheney..... all unscathed. a. true national disgrace.
8
Looks like it started at the top. For no reason the GWB administration went to war in Iraq. Untold misery followed for an entire ancient civilization. What saddam had started to do with ethnic mischief, the US and it’s allies finished the job by decimating the entire region, leaving a void open for rogue elements like ISIS. This is an endless thing. Attack retaliate attack retaliate doesn’t matter which part of the world. Produce horrible weapons, use those weapons on fellow humans of different color or religion or tribe or country... Humans will never know what peace means..
6
The only thing that can’t be trusted is Gallagher’s ethics and judgement. No pardons for this hero.
5
Fictional accounts of serial killers lead one to believe that killing becomes an addictive behavior. One wonders if the job of a Navy Seal can potentiate a serial killer. It appears that Chief Gallagher began to relish killing and did so indiscriminately. More attention must be paid to the mental state of Navy Seals because, given this account, many abandoned their humanity in an effort to protect Gallagher.
8
"40 Republican members of Congress signed a letter in March calling for the Navy to free the chief pending trial, and soon after, President Trump said on Twitter that he would be moved to “less restrictive confinement.” Chief Gallagher was released from the brig and is now restricted to the Navy Medical Center in San Diego, according to a Navy spokeswoman."
New York Times, please make public the names of the 40 Republican members of Congress who signed the letter. Each and every one of them should be "un-elected" in 2020.
These warped people are disgusting.
20
Our military must never become a magnet for psychopaths. That is why some sort of uniformed eleemosynary national service should be required of every able-bodied American citizen--to ensure that everyone has skin in the game, and every able citizen who votes has been vetted by honorable service among peers.
3
The fact that the Chief is facing a court-martial does not make him guilty. This writer and this newspaper have taken the position that the Chief is guilty be reciting the charges. I rather suspect that there is a lot more ambiguity in the facts and circumstances.
I disagree that the write and paper have chosen a side or presented him as guilty merely by listing the charges against him.
Listing the charges could just as easily be a means to defend someone from an overzealous law enforcement agency. Though in this case, it seems the journalist and the Times are reporting fact: those are the charges. Doing otherwise would be a defoliation of duty on their part.
4
Bush? He allegedly committed the acts mentioned here while at the end of Obama's second term.
2
Your use of the term SUB-culture of illegal killings makes me wonder if your reporters have ever had direct,blunt, open conversation with a Seal. I have. One was a friend's son home on leave. Just his attitude should have put him behind bars. All he wanted to do was kill Moslems. He was angry that he'd been pulled out of SE Asia to train new recruits back in the States.
Our military and their private, mercenary collaborators are trained to be assassins and the niceties of rules affect few of them. They are above the law. They are protected by their superiors. Gallagher may or may not be found guilty, but he's just one of the multitude who infest our military jungle at all ranks - from the Generals to the Princes.
10
Seal Team Six is not my father's Navy.
"In 2015, Lieutenant Forrest S. Crowell, a Navy seal, wrote a thesis for Naval Postgraduate School titled “seals Gone Wild.” In it, he argued that the seals’ celebrity status had diverted their culture “away from the traditional seal Ethos of quiet professionalism to a Market Ethos of commercialization and self-promotion.”
11
It was 7, not 6
1
"You can't handle the truth".
5
We train our soldiers to become killers and then act shocked when they behave as we demanded.
4
There is a difference between killing and murdering. If you or others don't know and understand that, it's a bigger problem.
Unless the Chief had
classified, legal and valid orders to kill a school girl and to do it as she strolled with other girls, it sounds like he indeed may have committed murder.
3
@Jon Precisely. Most people jump on onto the mental issues when the Chief could be just as sane or even more grounded than anyone. This is something he was trained for. Further, his subordinates may not be accurate. Unconcious biases may have prompted them to report the Chief even though he might not have done anything wrong.
1
has anybody written or claimed, 'this isn't who we are' yet?
4
Oh, Great. So Fox News is now impacting military investigations and court marshall proceedings. For these types, the ends always justify the means. Another blow to American prestige.
10
This too is the face of the forever war, we send these individuals into horrific situations and are outraged and appalled when they commit atrocities. Then cowards like Trump glamorize their actions and behavior from a distance. We’ve made a fetish out of warrior culture and own these actions done in our behalf.
8
Oh, what a surprise. An American turns out to be a murderer instead of a hero, and most of those around admire him for it. I would have never thought.
7
Didn’t Aaron Sorkin and Tom Cruise teach us anything?
2
Nothing shouts "hero" to the civilized world like murdering defenseless young girls with the comfort and distance of a sniper rifle.
Stay classy, America
10
or stabbing to death a patient while he's being cared for by a doctor.
7
War creates and nurtures psychopaths. Not always, but too often. They must be weeded out and treated if they are to be returned to society, or jailed if they commit atrocities. If they are not, the effect of their criminality, over and above what is done to their victims, is to aid and abet the enemy. Psychopaths like Chief Gallagher (yeah, allegedly, OK) are the recruting Poster Boys for ISIS and Al Qaida.
7
After reading this, I cannot tell where the truth lies. It appears to me that seven members of his unit would not come forward to complain of his abuses if they did not occur. On the other hand, he may have been suffering some mental illness that drove him over the edge and caused these brutalities. A military court should be able to sort out the truth and provide the correct decision. I do not know, and cannot tell, though I do think his superior officers failed and need to be held accountable. It bothers me that a "news" organization would be beating the drum in support of this man, and that his fate has become a political issue. This should be only about his behavior and its legality. Nothing more.
5
So, as a veteran of combat also in a counter-insurgency situation, I understand that this service member acted in ways that demanded responsible and effective interventions by his commanding officers .... which was NOT forthcoming.
The Navy has let him down. Fortunately his peers intervened, and he is no longer in the (classic) double-binds he confronted, and which he did not deal with.
Hopefully psychiatric professionals can communicate or clarify the need for commanders to recognize this situation and take steps to prevent the consequences for service members who do not or cannot cope with it.
Gallagher's intentions are heroic as are those of his peers to call for help in protecting him.
1
Heroic? Killing Innocents from a sniper's nest?
4
@viable system
I think you get at the crux of it. You have this man who was trained to kill, to fight, to defend and make hard decisions to be a hero. Somewhere along the line in his training and career, something went wrong and he snapped. There is a line, you need people to go in, and be able to make those calls, and kill. Personally, I'd be useless in those situations.
Someone needs to be managing these men and making sure that every time they go get deployed, that they are mentally sound to do the work.
I have a friend who is a police officer; he shot a suspect (did not kill him) and he was assigned admin leave and counseling before he was cleared to work again. It's probably not efficient to do this in war.
At any rate, something is not working. We can't just have soldiers snapping and killing indiscriminantly without consequence. But it's also hard to get my mind around "punishing" this man with jail.
So many of our service men and women deserve our utmost respect and support. But there are a few out there that need to be investigated and punished. The Chief's superior should receive a court martial and be severely punished for his part in the cover up.
The seven men who came forward show the best in our military. I'll be interested to see what their courage in this matter does to their careers. I'm not hopeful.
7
The Gallagher case presents a serious problem for the American military and for the nation. We need elite special troops like the Navy SEALS, but we certainly do not need or want a group which engages in and covers up atrocities.
The only way to look at this case is to consider what the motivation would be for the complaining SEALS platoon members to lie and what the motivation would be for Chief Gallagher and his immediate superiors to lie.
The answer is readily apparent. The platoon members have everything to lose and nothing to gain by lying. Chief Gallagher and his superiors have everything to gain by false denials and everything to lose by telling the truth.
10
This whole case touches on a very troubling aspect of our military and indeed of any military in the world. We ask, even demand, that these men do things which would be considered despicable in ordinary civilian life. Then while sitting on our couches we look closely at what occurs in battle and we are not comfortable with what we see. Maybe it is the system of organized, sanctioned killing that we should question, and not the actions of any one individual.
I know that Chief Gallagher's actions frighten people but then so would most SEAL actions in my experience. That after all is the point - they are not there to fill out forms or help build day care centers, but to kill people. From the perspective of the battle field things are not nearly as clear cut as they appear from the safety of your home.
1
Even war has laws. If these allegations are true then the rules of engagement have been violated.
6
It is time for a committee of international jurists to review the charges brought at the Nuremberg Trials and then select the many American officials and military members who are in desperate need of standing before a war crimes tribunal.
Yes, all other major powers are worse. But that is the best reason of all, as there are no good guys left, and they are needed. End Rogue America by bringing its many criminals to justice.
3
It is largely unreported that SOCOM is a sixth military service with their own ground, naval and air forces; and most importantly, their own DoD budget, distinct from their parent organizations. They are very good at what they do, but, like professional athletes, they are coddled and allowed to get away with actions that others would be prosecuted for. The culture is “you are the best and are not subject to the rules that constrain others”. And this article highlights a result.
5
Reputation, capability, and talent should not relieve one of responsibility when they commit heinous acts. And a code of silence should not be confused with a code of honor.
4
So unfortunately tical if the knee-kerk attitude, of these past couple of decades, whereby all people in uniform are 'automatically' considered 'heroes' (one of THE MOST over MIS-USED words', according to A LOT if media outlets, and staff).
There are very few heroes, and now something like this doesn't sorrier me at all.
I'm certain this is only one of MANY - most of which you'll never hear of.
'Le RoI etc Mort. Vivre le roi'- only in the worst possible way.
@U.N. Owen: Without even knowing it, Americans are "apologizing" for their mistreatment of vets returning from Vietnam. That's why just about anyone in uniform now is a "hero". I agree that is inappropriate, but, Hey - here we are.
This is one of the results of the endless and often nauseating lionization of the military. The slavish adoration accorded to them by the public does have consequences. The soldiers, particularly the praised-beyond-all-sense-of-reason-and-proportion, Navy Seals, have come to feel themselves akin to God's avenging angels meting out "justice" on behalf of the Almighty himself. It is a relative certainty that this is but a tiny sliver of the types of war crimes committed by some, but by no means all, of the US military around the globe. And yes, there is such a thing as crimes of war. It cannot be that in time of war the law is silent or that the mountains are high and the Emporer is far away. War, as Christopher Hedges pointed out, is a potent and lethal addiction, a drug. And when those service members violate norms perhaps by ingesting too much of that intoxicating potion they must be punished severely. The American public, which relies on the soldiers to keep us safe (which is quite debatable but for another discussion) by doing violence on our behalf must hold the military to the strictest account. Enough of the sickening jingoistic support of anything and everything the military does. The military must be brought to heel in the strongest possible way to leave no doubt who is in charge.
5
Another case of testosterone poisoning
6
@vera, our women fought along side as well. Commander in chief George W Bush finished what his father started. And it ain't over yet. All that fighting. Head slap.
While I believe that the majority of our service personnel conduct themselves with 'decency', the concept of decency is also highly contextual; i.e. 'decency' means you are permitted to kill & destroy, so long as you do so according to certain rules. Some killing is condoned, but some is not. These are, after all, 'evil doers' who 'hate our freedom.'
So add up the several Iraq wars, decades of involvement more broadly in the Middle East, and the sum of the 'decent' killings should be shocking to us. Instead however, we take the state of being at war as a given in our nation, and instead of asking what we have to show for all of this, what the opportunity cost in terms of domestic progress has been, why it is considered 'decent' and worthwhile to kill all of these people for any reason, we allow it to just hum along in the background of our lives, and only briefly stop to think about it when there is killing that does not comport with certain arbitrary sensibilities. It is much more complex than that, of course, but at least consider that all the killing, decent or otherwise, is all being done in our name, with our tax dollars.
The platoon members who repeatedly reported incidents involving Chief Gallagher’s unambiguous signals that he enjoyed murdering old people and youngsters should be commended for their bravery.
Sociopaths kill for pleasure. I am glad that Chief Gallagher’s subordinates took their observations up the ladder. The culture of coverup is an indictment of the underlying willingness of some Navy Seal superiors to indulge savagery. That’s got to be rooted out.
9
There is a silver lining to this, brave men at great cost to themselves stood up to injustice.
6
Wars of choice fought by a mercenary army is exactly what the 2nd amendment was supposed to prevent.
2
@HL: Huh? I'm not sure I can follow your logic. What's the 2nd Amendment have to do with this?
We've heard this story ten thousand times. Atrocities committed with witnesses to the crime who are forced to hide the truth. The only answer is more oversight by outside people. The us- against- them mentality in all military organizations leads to this.
3
Sorry Chief Gallagher but the actions mentioned here don't come close to any sort of judgement calls made in the heat of battle.
Assuming you are guilty of the crimes mentioned here, serving time in a military prison for enlisted men will probably get you to reflect on your actions.
2
Does this ever sound like Lieutenant Calley and the My Lai massacre? The simple fact is that if you give people weapons of war, teach them to hate and fear everything around them, then atrocities happen. Just like My Lai, I'm sure this is not the only incident. I've personally heard of far worse amongst contractors (U.S. paid mercenaries).
That's war. I don't condone it but I hate to see a few soldiers scapegoated.
1
Gallagher is probably now the top ISIS recruiter the organization has seen in recent times. Navy SEALs who commit unneeded atrocities, create and energize enemies than then attack innocents in the western world. If they want to play cowboy they should do it elsewhere and not at our expense and future pain.
1
I don’t want to assume the guilt of Chief Gallagher, but doesn’t it have that deja vu feeling? Abu Graibh, My Lai, etcetera, all blamed on a few bad apples. Though, nobody ever says, how many bad apples constitute a few. Never enough to spoil the barrel. But it’s a rather large barrel. Time to abolish the whole warrior class. Go back to a conscript army. Civilians don’t like fighting wars; so there’d be fewer wars to fight. The only lesson worth learning from Viet Nam was that a too reckless, or gung-ho, or ruthless officer could be dealt with at night. Fragging. It’s a great pity we didn’t pay attention; instead, we developed a fetish for super-soldiers. But what if the bad apples are not actually rotten. It could be that they're the best of a carefully engineered crop, and we just don't like the taste. Maybe, we should think about planting something different. Yeah. Make apple-jack cider, not war. That should be the motto of the 21st century.
1
Make no mistake. Chief Gallagher is the smaller problem in this story. The larger one is an informed chain of command that pressures whistle-blowers to adopt the party line.
As a sea service company commander, I taught hundreds of recruits what I had been taught: you do not have to follow orders to carry out illegal or immoral acts. These should be reported. Yet even as I passed along this wisdom, I knew that doing so jeopardizes your career and, worse, the confidence and trust of your shipmates upon whom your life may depend, all perpetrated and encouraged by a self-protecting chain of command.
On the other hand, as many other readers have pointed out, the military values character qualities most likely to defeat an enemy. I.e., you can't train people to kill then wonder why they kill. You can't base evaluations and promotions on team cohesion then wonder why discord in the ranks is quashed by the command.
216
Anne thank you for your courage integrity honesty and love of the real values of our country. I too have risked speaking out and being able to act congruently with our best values is ultimately what makes life worthwhile. Thank you
8
@Anne
I, too thank you for your honesty, integrity and (most of all) courage.
I made a similar point here yesterday; you cannot train people to be killers; especially elite killers, and simply expect everyone to sit around with nothing to kill; or, called into action.
More accurately, "patience" cannot be put on hold indefinitely. The thing is, our military must have this virtue. It is virtually impossible for everyone to do this.
I compare it to a gun locked and loaded with the hammer pulled back, target square in the sights and one's finger on the trigger; however, they cannot pull the trigger until given the order to fire.
Common sense "tells me" that to 'not' pull the trigger (after everything I just wrote) has to be an extremely difficult thing to do.
6
Waste from class 182 here( those who know understand).
Really? Too aggressive?
That’s who we want as a SEAL.
1
"Waste from class 182 here( those who know understand)."
And those who know how to use Google can "understand" too: "182" is BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL).
"Too aggressive? That’s who we want as a SEAL."
Every member of the military is bound by the UCMJ, which outlaws war crimes. And even SEALs are supposed to adhere to the Rules of Engagement, a topic which is not even mentioned by the Times.
See, for example: "War Crimes", US Marine Corps MCTP 11-10A (Formerly MCRP 4-11.8B), 2 May 2016, which is online.
4
@PWB
I didn’t realize the NYT version is the whole truth.
No mention of TBI either.
I’ll leave war crime determinations to the remfs.
What a terribly sad, sickening and tragic story.
3
This is war not preschool.
2
“This is war, not preschool.” Exactly. My preschooler thinks all problems can be solved by violence against “bad guys.” Real life is much more difficult than that. If we don’t embody the kind of world we want to live in, we are part of the problem. This sick man Gallagher is part of the problem, a terrorist himself. Un-American.
1
What do you expect when you put these special ops people on the highest pedestal possible?
4
My thinking on this subject was shaped by the Adolf Eichmann trial, and Eichmann's excuse, "I was only following orders." Some orders should not be followed, but should be reported.
Have our culture become that which we fought against some 75 years ago?
3
The "I was just following orders" schtick didn't work at Nuremberg, and it should not work here.
3
I’m going to use a word very rarely used in our country, evil. This man is pure evil. He should never be allowed to be free in our country. He decided because of his status that he is allowed to kill anyone he wants anytime he wants. He’s dangerous.
He and his protectors do not belong in the Seals. They do not deserve the honor that goes with the title “Seal”. And shame on the Republicans who are supporting him. They are just interested in showing their military “chops”. They are not interested in honor and truth.
8
My god, is this the US military we're reading about? And we set people like Gallagher up as heroes? US Naval officers have abetted war crimes, there's no other way to see this. Bullies like Gallagher are, deep down, cowards.
6
PTSD, war, vigilance oh my. Sounds like Mi Lai, which doesn't suprise anybone that has been in war. It's out there, so don't be so suprised. But Chief needs treatment.
2
There's nothing new about murderers and sociopaths who wrap themselves in flags and join the infantry. A tale as old as time.
11
So we have a bunch of murderous thugs in the Seals. Surprise, surprise!
5
There is a story I was told about my father going to get the class ring from one of his lieutenants who had been killed and finding that his finger had been cut off and the ring was gone. This was in the Aleutians, and he had been killed by a sniper so what had happened had been done by our guys. Dad called his men together and told them if he ever caught anyone do any of that to either one of our men or the the enemy he would shoot first and ask questions later. He said a officer’s worst nightmare is to loose control of his men, that there is only a thin veneer of civilization that is easily lost in war and if that happens, we have lost.
204
I suggest turning this guy over to the International Criminal Court, where he would be charged with committing war crimes and judged without interference by Trump, the Republicans, and Fox.
32
"I suggest turning this guy over to the International Criminal Court, ..."
The US is not a party to the ICC, and doing what you "suggest" would be illegal under the American Service-Members' Protection Act, which was supported by Republicans. (See the Wikipedia article.)
1
The fact is there are many well documented cases of American forces committing war crimes. Massacres of men, women and children. During various Indian wars, in the Philippines, Vietnam.
During our war against the Philippine guerrilla fighters an American general gave orders that all males above the age of about twelve were to be killed on sight.
On at least one occasion US forces gave Indians a present of blankets, blankets that our heroic forces knew were laced with smallpox.
You've probably heard of My Lai where US forces murdered everyone in a village which had Vietcong sympathies. Free fire zones where we assumed that everyone in a given area was an enemy and so we simply laid waste to the entire zone. The use of Agent Orange to defoliate huge areas. In this case we became somewhat concerned about the toxic effect on our troops. We have never shown the least bit of concern for the effect on the Vietnamese.
Right-wingers never want to acknowledge these facts. Sometimes they simply deny despite historical documentation. Sometimes they insist that we shouldn't look at our own crimes since our adversaries don't do that. Always they attack any American who does acknowledge our crimes. Unpatriotic! they cry or even Traitor!
There are a lot of very evil Americans. That was pretty clear during the Civil Rights movement when lots of Southern whites celebrated the use of cattle prods and police dogs on non-violent demonstrators. It's still true. Hence Trump.
23
I admire anyone who, in the heat of battle, does his duty, protects his buddies, and eliminates enemies.
But the enemy is not normally a woman or child, or an old man who happen to be in the way of a firefight.
To deliberately kill another human being solely for the sake of killing a human person, especially when that person is no threat to you, is a heinous crime. Duty includes human decency. I fully realize that my opinion runs afoul of the ideas of many people out there, but unless human decency is followed, we will, worldwide, forever be at war with one another. That is not acceptable.
328
@Tom Cotner The Iraqi's weren't out enemy. They did nothing to provoke the 2003 invasion. There is nothing decent about participating in an unprovoked attack.
35
@Tom Cotner
Perhaps one way to prevent such things from happening is not to put so many young men, and women (though they seldom lose control due to testosterone) in the heat of battle.
5
And this is the type of man that Trump would call a hero. Honorable service members would not. This rogue Seal places every team member in greater danger.
18
@OHonolulu
He places all Americans in danger, because equally insane, barbaric terrorists attempt revenge.
5
Of course brutality toward civilians is a war crime. But this story has anecdotes purposely written to portray as victims and the officers as callous criminals.
I would love to live in a world of peace where we all help each other and get along, the view of my previous President, but there are people who would kill us to the last child to gain control. But first they have to get through our military which is an ugly, necessary evil.
And "teenagers" as in the story? Most of those who humanity trains to murder, world-wide are "teenagers". And in many parts of the world they do not wear uniforms to blur the line between trained soldier and civilian.
So what about shooting a girl walking on the other side of the river makes that OK to you? They are WAR crimes. We know it’s a war, but some things are still crimes, even when told as an “anecdote”, whatever that means.
1
A group of schoolgirls can clearly be labeled as victims and not enemies. The same for an elderly man. Killing people like this is simply unacceptable.
1
This soldier is just emblematic of the rot in our society. The best way to resolve this, the most effective and just in the long run , is to ignore it. No culture harboring such action can survive very long. Trying to obtain justice in the United States is hopeless. Encouraging the collapse of the system is more likely to end these events. Maybe with a change in the gene pool, a new group might be more morally accountable.
3
The armed services demand loyalty at all costs for “unit cohesion”.
This is the same condition required of lemmings. And autocrats. And dictators.
We cannot (should not) be surprised when this blind loyalty model results in criminal behavior. The real surprise is when critical-thinking individuals follow their moral compass and common sense at great personal risk. That is bravery.
15
Priests don't report each other either. And neither do police officers.
It has always been my understanding that the American ethos at its founding was precisely to undermine corrupt authority that sttod in the way of instituting new and fundamental human ideals. Not enshrine it in new institutions and tribes now acceptable because they are wrapped in a new flag.
5
Thanks, George Bush. You must sleep well, knowing you had over a million men, women and children Iraqis murdered so we could find those weapons of mass destruction. And yet Mr. Bush gets up, has breakfast, lives an easy, opulent lifestyle, paints, gets positive press and gets to play with his grandchildren.
You want to go after this Navy Seal, go after the guy who ordered him there in the first place, and his conspirators. Of course, that'll never happen.
15
@VicFerrari, he is busy painting landscapes and portraits. Sheltered in his studio. He won't hear us.
1
@VicFerrari Just goes to show there really is no such thing as Karma. W orders an invasion that results in the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, and he's still living the good life, but if someone steals your parking spot then there is retribution?
1
@Ron May, the sad thing is Bush might escape it but his descendants might not. Seldom do our leaders stop to think about the impact on our future generation. They are short sighted, they need immediate gratification. And GWB thinks by surrendering himself to God he will be forgiven, because you know Jesus is the Savior.
As a Navy veteran and frequent viewer of FoxNews, I have followed the story of Chief Gallagher with interest, including FN's interviews with his wife and brother. My recollection of the way the background was presented was that the Chief is accused of killing an "ISIS bomb-maker" who probably would have died anyway. There was never any mention of any other charges of war crimes. So this report in my view shows why it is so important to have a free press, as it is vital that one side not be able to present what is a slanted view unchallenged. FoxNews should also be presenting these allegations, in the interest of fairness and accuracy.
27
Perhaps you should apply the same newly focused lens to every other news report you view on Fox News. FN is propaganda, pure and simple. It has no journalistic mission to present a balanced perspective. Frankly I am no fan of any cable or broadcast network TV news, but FN is the most baldly biased of the lot, and the least likely to let facts get in the way of the narrative they are pushing.
4
The problem is not only the individual, the Chief, but the whole lot of those more senior than him who condone or turn a blind eye to the grave wrong that he committed while on duty. I salute the seven commandos who risk everything in speaking out. In them I find morality and courage of the highest degree, and they restore my confidence in the bright side of humanity.
377
@BC
They are the ones who deserve the Profiles in Courage honors and the Medals of Freedon, not ht celebrities and politicnas we usually honor.
16
Whether Gallagher needs to be convicted or simply get help, portiers guilt is manifest . I sure hope he isnt an Annapolis grad-that would be depressing. Any and all of his other attributes aside, he is unfit to be in his commanding role. The Navy, his seal brothers, and the taxpayer needs to expect better leadership from an officer. He hadmany options within his respsobibilties - he could have given Gallagher a heads up, minor disciplines and or written warning (after all Gallagher wasn't bucking for promotion -such a letter wouldn't have been a tragedy)a ad averted what followed from original complaint )s), but he didn't have the prerogative to sit on these plausible complaint from MULTIPLE seals -what does he think this is ? Another bit of fake news from the deep state ? Portier certainly should be dismissed from command at least while these charges are pending. Bit i dont see hw his guilt isn't already assured. All he can do s one person is deny what multiple others witnesses-his failure to take ANY action.
6
The fairy tale we're fed by the U.S. military: Honor, duty, country.
The reality: Atrocity, cover up, coercion/suppression of whisteblowers (the true "heroes").
Ladies and gentleman, I ask you now to please join me in honoring our troops by singing the national anthem. I don't know about you, but I lost my voice and my stomach for that song a long time ago, at least since Mai Lai. Too much cognitive dissonance.
Over the ensuing years, nothing has changed. It's just gotten worse. I no longer recognize my fellow citizens. We're not living in the same country.
Land of the free? Home of the brave? You tell me. I don't see it.
33
@Greg Gerner
Move to China, Russia or dozens of other countries run by despots. My guess is you will "see it".
1
Or just stay here for a while and you will see it.
We are becoming an authoritarian regime, where police and army kill with impunity, congress is no longer an equal branch of government, and the courts are rigged.
2
Was the Chief a rogue murderer run amok among otherwise brave and honorable elite soldiers? Perhaps. One thing, though, is for certain. That question will not be answered in the pages of the NYT by either news stories or comments. War is the one institution that cleanly penetrates civilization's thin veneer of high-mindedness and goes to the core of our animal savagery. Those of us who imagine ourselves enlightened will always be uncomfortable with our own brutality when we see it reflected in others.
3
It is an illusion to think that moral rules can hold. This guy maybe did worse than others, but how many killings are "unjustified"? And what about pushing the button 7000 miles from the target, killing a family, and going back to suburbia?People who are trained killers kill. Sure, one would say there should be an elegance to it. Sorry, there is none.
4
War crimes are committed by troops deployed in other nations,and Navy SEALs are no exception. Such reports appear at regular intervals. Human psychology,a person captured during a war is helpless in the hands of his captors. Torture,theft,and verbal abuse are common. We are familiar with police excesses - custodial deaths. The US Navy SEALs became more famous after the killing of the global terrorist Osama Bin Laden,and they make a name for themselves. A good investigative report by New York Times. One hopes that Hollywood may come out with a movie on the subject. A trial needs to be conducted. War crime reports should not be hushed up by superiors,but unfortunately that is the tendency. There are bad guys in every force,and this tarnishes image.
4
The SEALs are not the most highly regarded commando force in the US military. They share that honor with USMC Force Recon and the Army's Delta Force.
5
@Pat O'Hern
Highly regarded? After reports like this as well as past reports? Sorry, they may be the stuff of graphic novels and action games but they are not highly regarded by civilized persons.
1
@Pat O'Hern
Surely, you jest by omission. The Rangers exist for conducting raids and attacks. Rangers also have the greatest lineage and history.
1
@Ed
Sorry. I stand corrected, absolutely.
1
Not just these war crimes, but Navy SEALs have also murdered a brother of the Green Berets. It is an important troop of the US military, but it seems like Navy SEALs really need to start thinking about their organizational culture. Too much promotion on short-term success (like featured film and bestselling books) and too little real silent professionalism.
6
If true, the acts described in this article are detestable- there can be no doubt about that.
However, I’ve always believed that war is a different world and the men and women who experience it are the only ones who will ever understand that.
Therefore, as a civilian, I will not pass judgement on an individual who comes from a world I will never understand (unless proved otherwise in a court of law). And this view is from an individual who has never served and likely never will.
3
Honor and discipline. There’s no defending a soldier who does not abide by those two bywords.
6
I wonder how many of the commentators who have never served in uniform and/or operational war theaters criticizing the conduct of certain military personnel would behave themselves when faced under immense war field psychological and physical pressure and fatigue?
Yes, we in western countries should behave in a certain manner and adhere to correct codes of ethics and conduct but certain of our adversaries certainly would not care one moment for such niceties today but would happily run to the liberal media and "human rights" focused lawyers as soon as some wrongdoing can be exploited...
2
@Marc
This argument holds no water as it was the Chief’s own colleagues, under the same stresses, who immediately recognized the inappropriateness of these acts. Of course it is possible the Chief is simply constitutionally unable to handle this kind of pressure, but in that case he should be relieved of his post- not serially promoted and lauded.
22
We shouldn't have been in Iraq in the first place but Bush/Cheney sold the American public a bill of goods and they bought it.
15
@Kaari, Mueller was the first one to present the case listing Iraq as one of the countries harboring terrorists. Colin Powell stood by his side. We believed them, they fooled the entire world, our lawmakers, our allies and led us into a war that history will remember as unforgiven.
1
“The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted.”
-- DH Lawrence
8
The rest of the world would be well advised to remember that
1
We citizens of the United States of America need to face the fact that we’re not the good guys much of the time. We spend a huge amount of money on our military. We have killed many innocent civilians and we will kill many more. We believe that might makes right. Much of our hard earned money goes to taxes that are used to kill people in foreign countries. A large part of our economy is dependent on manufacturing things that can kill people and often do. We have enough weapons to make life extinct on earth and we continue to manufacture more. This soldier is a sick man if his accusers are being honest. Ruthlessness is a survival trait for soldiers in war, it would seem to me. We have many veterans committing suicide all of the time and I have the feeling they’re not the ruthless ones. We have had many serial killers in the United States and maybe these institutions are an outlet for some of them.
15
Maybe Americans need to learn more about the rest of the world so they won't unthinkingly support disastrous and cruel foreign policies in the name of patriotism.
1
@Jordu
How about republicans?
Average Americans had better get the wake-up call. It's been a long long long time since most foreigners consider the US military as a benevolent force defending democracy and human rights in the world. The illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq predate the Trump regime, but he and his extremist counsellors are doing their best to place the United States firmly in the camp of rogue states. A disgrace.
18
A necessary precondition for getting people to easily kill other people, is to first dehumanize the people to be killed in the minds of the killers. This is the standard psychology of warfare and soldiering. Once you've dehumanized the enemy, killing innocents--at My Lai, or in Iraq--is a predictable and persisting consequence of war. This is inherent to all war-waging. IMO, military culture which enables and normalizes such psychopathy, along with a citizenry that is largely apathetic to our habitual war-waging, are as responsible for such war crimes as the soldiers who perpetrate them.
21
I couldn’t agree more. This is on us as a society. We have allowed congress unfettered freedom to wage endless war and act surprised when we hear this. These kinds of atrocities are as predictable as the weather.
9
It seems to me that Chief Gallagher's moral failings, whether innate or acquired during his career as a SEAL, caused him to be as unsuited for his job as a special ops commando as the most severe physical disability. Those in our military, whether members of an elite unit or performing more mundane duties, are required to behave professionally, with a clear sense of their moral purpose, and with a basic respect for humanity. If these attitudes are missing, our troops became just another band of thugs or mercenaries destroying things and killing for sport and for personal gain.
13
It is a common illusion that beneath fatigues young Westerners fighting abroad remain decent hometown boys. Some do. Others do not. Soldiers are trained to become killers. The circumstances of combat oblige them to live a semi-animal existence that coursens sensibilities. Many warriors come to hold cheap the lives of bystanders, people whom they do not know, especially when their own casualties are high.
Max Hastings "Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975
9
Some of these guys are not mentally resilient enough to withstand multiple rotations. And it’s not one or two, they break in groups, as the investigations into the group behind ‘leonidas’ of the Australian SASR in Afghanistan demonstrates.
Leonidas’ is the most decorated Australian veteran of Afghanistan, including the Victoria Cross, and was given this nickname after allegedly kicking a prisoner off a cliff. When members of the regiment reported his actions a clique formed around him. A board of inquiry is currently investigating the allegations, but, again, too many rotations seems to instil a gif complex in some operators.
4
In the past, young officers wanted pilot training so they could fly for the airlines after their service. Now it seems many want to be Seals or SAS or whatever so they can sign up as mercenaries (or “private contractors “) after they serve.
Ah, for the good old days.
3
This kind of madnesss happens often in front line combat/infantry troops. It is a constant, dangerous struggle for
squad leaders/platoon leaders to control the one or two guys in a platoon who seem to enjoy killing just for the sake of killing. It's a dangerous business. Sometimes the enemy is all around regardless of who they are fighting for. That was my experience in Vietnam as a lowly squad leader in a regular, non-elite platoon, Central Highlands, 1969.
11
Evidence may show this SEAL is a heroic man. Evidence may show this SEAL is guilty of war crimes. Both can be true at once. Human beings have a terrible time with ambiguity.
I know what war did to my father. It took me decades to work out he wasn’t one thing or another, but a man with very different aspects.
I also can’t imagine how difficult doing the right thing has been for the 7 SEALS who reported these actions. The image of that schoolgirl is stuck in my brain. It had to have stuck in theirs.
What a colossal tragedy.
18
When you make a killer out of a man they sometimes become addicted to killing.
30
A great article that is going a long way towards understanding and rationalizing the next mosque and church bombings.
Take a step back and the line where the battlefield ends becomes blurry. The line between regular and irregular forces also becomes increasingly unclear.
Can anyone explain to me where exactly the difference lies between a soldier who indiscriminately kills civilians, old men and captured combatants and a mosque shooter in what has become a global battlefield, driven by the internet as the ultimate propaganda machine.
12
You’re right. There’s not much difference. But remember, one man’s battlefield is another’s home town. You might be less blasé if this were going on in Colorado or Massachusetts instead of Iraq or Syria.
7
I wasn’t blasé. I was aiming to say in neutral words just what you are probably alluding to.
And we may end up seeing this happening in our own hometowns, that’s what scares me so much.
2
We are already seeing it. Hate crimes are perpetrated by people who think they are ‘defending’ their group.
2
I won’t defend the actions described in this article, if true. But I will say that I always find it very odd that the general public seems to think that there is such a thing as a “clean war,” or a way to go into a military theater somewhere and fight by a set of rules and norms that magically excludes this kind of behavior. The scenario that is the battlefield has ALWAYS (for all of human history) produced these kinds of obscene results and you can’t criminalize it to keep it from happening out there in the legal and moral no man’s land that is a war zone. The mere act of war creates a permissible space for evil — coaxes it out — and brings out the worst of human characteristics, such as those listed in the first paragraph.
If you want to stop this from happening, figure out how to stop fighting wars.
20
@X were atrocities committed during our Revolutionary War? By either side? I'm no expert on the subject but I've never heard of any. And we did resort to guerrilla tactics. Any experts out there?
Rationalize- attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate
The more the veneer of civilized society is stripped away by war, the more moral standards also fall by the wayside.
It is also basic psychology that the winner will always claim the moral high ground.
Now imagine this case being argued at the Nuremberg trials, then contemplate the verdict.
11
Maybe no one should be given five deployments into a war zone.
14
@Susan, RN Maybe no one should participate in an illegal invasion.
I am interested to know how the Navy trains people like Mr Gallagher to be professional killers, and then untrains them for life as a civillian. Is the training just as grueling, or is it even possible to release them back into a culture so awash with military style weapons?
8
That’s what Blackwater and corporate security firms are for—military outplacement.
2
@Joe Wynne, There is no Blackwater.
For every girl in a flowered hijab walking with friends along a riverbank who is shot, there is an immediate family who may be radicalized.
34
@Susan, RN
Americans lack the sophistication to grasp the Law of Unintended Consequences. Hence endemic obesity with high fructose corn syrup required in all foodstuffs, for example.
6
@AE, this is what is most baffling. America represents human beings from all corners of the planet. Mostly passionate human beings who made it to America and then proceeded to achieve their American dream. Yet, these same people who now make up America the land of immigrants, turn around and inflict so much mercenary pain against fellow humans, without learning any lessons of unintended consequences. Considering their own ancestors had made such a deliberate choice of immigrating to America to build a life for themselves. So baffling. We seem to lose our collective minds once we breathe the air in America. We are complicit in all the harmful acts America has committed, whether it be military or environment or public health or obesity related. Money clearly plays a role. Big Military Industry Complexes, Big Pharma, Big Ag, Big Sugar, Big Physicians, Big Hospitals, Big Defense, Big Oil, Big Plastics....on and on and on.
2
The comfortable lives of NY Times posters will never be intruded upon by the reality of warfare and the idea that it can remotely "civilized is a lie we tell ourselves.
In every war, civilians and prisoners are routinely executed. That is what war is.
4
@Douglas
I’m not sure understand. Are you saying that summary executions (i.e. not combat deaths but rather intentional extrajudicial killing of enemy soldiers who have surrendered or are not threats) is a good thing? Sure it happens, but it is is still wrong and illegal by every code of war and should be the basis for court marshals.
6
....remember, the commandos who spoke up against this behavior, were in the same environment...not sitting safely at home.
Those 40 Republican members of Congress should be held to account, too, for their irresponsible, obstructive actions.
16
This state of affairs should not surprise anyone. These men play a high stakes game over and over. Some get lost but many do not and all are changed by what they see and do. The military is a nasty commitment in wartime for everyone involved.
9
Looks like things haven't changed much in the last fifty years. The response of the commanders says it all.
14
Here’s a thought. Why not issue passports at birth along with the usual birth certificate? Plant a seed in American culture that travel, mingling in other cultures and learning other languages to actually experience other perspectives would be the norm, not the exception. Establish institutions that finance travel grants. The US is solely in need of a cultural reboot on the frontier warrior mentality that drives all these endless unsolicited intrusions into other countries. Still want the US Military? Turn it into a national travel agency.
9
@BBB
Kennedy’a Peace Corps,
Alliance for Progress.
1
If these allegations are true, he needs to be turned over to the Iraqi justice system for whatever punishment they deem appropriate. If we refuse to do that, he should rot in prison for the rest of his life — assuming the death penalty isn’t an option
15
Great example of how horrible men get promoted up the ranks. Happens everywhere, all the time.
26
If he's guilty and committed these acts, he's a murderer and a psychopath and should be locked away.
I commend the courageous SEALS who's persistence and morality stopped the killing.
33
It is terrifying that this type of person can exist, especially in an institution (military) that has occupied a sovereign country since the catapulted, illegal invasion of Iraq after Colin Powell’s lie to the U.N. And to put more harm to injury when a “prominent veterans’ apparel” manufacturer trots out a disgusting t-shirt commercial to help free this monster, it pains me deeply how cowardly we have become as form of colonial-capitalism under the disguise of imperialism. Shame on all of us,
10
It seems to me that Gallagher got to fulfill his desire to murder in the military. He bragged about killing innocent men, women and children. He shot a school girl walking with her friends. He stabbed a wounded unarmed 15 year old. How is this the definition of valor and honor?
32
There is a very disturbing culture in our country that fetishizes and romanticizes violence and bullying, especially when it’s targeting marginalized people like innocent non-combatants. One needs look no further than our commander in chief to see this behavior supported. It’s hardly surprising then that the GOP’s propaganda machine has taken up the cause and is spreading it to the masses who blindly support anything spewing from their TV sets.
19
Any AMERICAN SEAL with honor would have terminated this individual ASAP. Apparently, they forgot WHY they were in the place we put them. Disgusting. Completely Disgusting. I never want this kind of pathological murderer defending my freedom.
22
Much good would be done if Hollywood would not advertise for violence and gun culture today the way they advertised for cigarettes in the 50s and 60s.
9
As a former soldier for 23 months I can say that we knew as a unit, that there are some individuals holding subtile aggression and/or fear towards everything. It is the duty of the team to moderate this! If this gets out of hands the team imho failed horribly. A team is only as strong as it's weakest link as we all know.
8
Why do his relatives appear on Fox, it's the only place they would see sympathy ?
11
Why are Republicans always on the wrong side?
26
Chilling story and more frightening that Fox us s vehicle supporting these types of immoral and illegal acts. Where is the morality ?
19
I am currently reading the book “You Paint Houses Don’t You?” A first person account of a Mafia hitman. The relevance is that he was sent to Italy in WW2 and recounts numerous war crimes routinely committed by US forces. In fact, Patton encouraged such crimes (according to the book). This was news to me but I think explains a lot; being in battle desensitizes a person and the brass care about results, not conduct, because that’s what politicians care about. This guy’s conduct is abhorrent, but reflects a long tradition of conduct by the U.S. and other militaries.
17
@Saint Leslie Ann Of Geddes
'The brass care about results, not conduct' : sums up America's out of control capitalist system, too.
5
Prosecute him for war crimes and murder.
The group and its prestige and exclusivity and fearsome can-do arrogance—became all that mattered.
10
I know nothing about Chief Gallagher except what I have read here. What I do know is that war can destroy anyone. Our various wars in the Middle East have lead to atrocities the equal to those committed in Vietnam. More than once there have been coverups by the military and these coverups have brought shame and disgrace to America. What government officials were willing to do after 9/11 lowered our morals and ethics as well and this has had consequences in the military, in our intelligence services and in numerous police organizations in our country.
11
I feel the need to play Devil’s advocate here since everyone is projecting our collective war crimes in Iraq onto a single soldier. We created that mess. While these actions are horrible if true it appears that this may have been a due to other war crimes like using child soldiers, hiding combatants by dressing them as civilians, and using civilians as human shields. I do not know the circumstances but a coup de grace on an injured combatant with no hope of survival by using a knife may have been done in a quiet merciful way to not give away their position. War is horrible hopefully this man has seen the end of it.
1
@PictureBook
He did NOT have life threatening injuries. There was no coup de grace; there was deliberate murder.
16
The American military's function is to disrupt and destroy governments whose interests do not align with our own, and to conquer any territory deemed necessary for the advancement of American political and economic interests. Killing civilians is not only commonplace but actually required of the American military, as most of its enemies are essentially militias created by power vacuums as a result of imperial interference and destabilized democracies. So reports of this conduct are not only surprising but a part of the job description for American soldiers.
7
@Alex
You're kidding right? Part of the job description? You served in a different military than I did. Maybe you're Somalian.
9
"Photos from the deployment that were stored on a hard drive seized by the Navy show the chief aiming sniper rifles and rocket launchers from rooftops in the city."
For the record, the weapon in the first photo is not a "rocket launcher".
It appears to be a Swedish Carl Gustaf M3 recoilless rifle, which is used by US special operators. (per web research -- see the Wikipedia article for a photo)
Why did Gallagher's lawyer think it would be a good idea to release that photo?
4
I'd say Lt Commander Breisch doesn't know the first thing of the military conduct and deserves at least 10 years in the brig for failing to report war crimes to a superior and for obstruction of justice. How men such as this become ifficers is a mystery to me.
13
War crimes can only be committed by non Americans. As long as it is something that was done by an American, it becomes something to be brushed under the carpet. Name one American soldier who has actually been punished for war crimes in the last century. Even the My Lai massacre of hundreds of civilians led to the conviction of one soldier, who served only three and a half years under house arrest. American military justice is a joke.
21
The matter should be an Internal matter not for our enemies to capitalize on. God sakes china is piggybacking on American satellite through the broad bandwidth. In addition to aggressively hacking all areas of American technology for military use. They are obviously planing an attack based on evidence based data....
And how are things on Neptune?
12
The US and its allies that fight in places like Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan have to have ways of identifying and bringing to justice those who go beyond the rules of law and war. In Australia an investigation is currently underway into the conduct of some members of the SASR (Special Air Service regiment) like the US Seal Team an elite special forces unit. This investigation is looking for possible war crimes committed by SASR soldiers in Afghanistan. The US and its allies like Australia are set apart from our enemies because we can go and look for murderers on the battlefield and we can send them to trial, convict and punish them. This set us apart from the likes of ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Taliban who kill regardless of soldier or civilian. As painful as it is to prosecute those who protect us all, civilised society demands it and that is what will always set us apart from our enemies. Having rules of law and of war.
9
The most worrying quote was at the end of the article, 'When Chief Swarts responded that he never thought SEALs would report one another, Chief Gallagher replied, “Me either, those days are gone.” '
When multiple members of a highly trained military group assume that loyalty to the group is more important than truth or following the law, that is bad. Worse than a rogue soldier who loves killing.
27
A critical part of being a professional soldier is knowing when, where, and who *not* to shoot.
Chief Gallagher wasn't going after high value military targets, he was shooting and killing for the sake of shooting and killing, trying to pass it off as "winning".
I hope the SEALs who brought forward the problem are given medals for true courage and virtue, as well as promotions.
27
I think is time that we humbly accept that we are a country with armed forces with blood thirsty war criminals in their ranks, but also that the problem starts at the top of the chain of command. Our presidents are the main war criminals.
11
Cheney and Rumsfeld thought this would be a cake walk. Give silly thinking men power and you’ve got a problem.
2
@Skutch, didn't Cheney shoot someone in the back side? Silly "non thinking" men.
How many SEALS are there today than during Vietnam? The military’s reliance on special forces has increased its need to fill billets. The grueling physical standards haven’t been compromised, but have the psychological in the need to expand the ranks?
4
My Special Ops nephew and I had a conversation at Christmas, 2004, in which I spoke bluntly to him, as follows, verbatim: "When you bash into somebody's home in the middle of the night and seize or kill a man in front of his screaming wife and children, you have just made a new crowd of terrorists." His reply to me was to shake his head up and down, repeatedly, in effect, saying, "I know, I know." He and his buddies had already intruded secretly into several countries in air reach of Bagram AFB in Kabul, from whence they did their midnight work. My nephew was and is a soldier. I was a journalist. I hated and opposed the so-called War on Terror for exactly the reasons I outline here, and because in this and other stories I had all the proof I needed that Dick Cheney and his ilk had created the doers of darkness. I told this story, in writing, to two U.S. Senators, including the spouse of a former prominent U.S. Senator, who once offered me a job as Counsel to a U.S. Senate Committee. Of course, I got no follow-up questions. This Chief will face judgment on his own, and he should, but the high criminals are free, honored in their country, and will almost certainly die in bed. The American people have not yet faced the last consequence of this sort of thing, at home, or around the world. This is the hard truth.
33
"My Special Ops nephew and I had a conversation at Christmas, 2004, ..."
You berated your combat veteran son at Christmas?! After the Vietnam War, I thought Americans had learned to respect veterans.
"He and his buddies had already intruded secretly into several countries in air reach of Bagram AFB in Kabul, from whence they did their midnight work."
And that is exactly what they should have been doing in the early days of the war in Afghanistan. al-Qaeda was infiltrating fighters and weapons from neighboring countries.
Maybe you should apologize to your nephew.
Touché. Be sure to reach far and wide when you consider the “doers of darkness” and their deeds.
The higher ups who tried to kill the story? They should be brought up on charges too.
Obstruction of justice.
Oh, wait, we don’t do that anymore....
28
Easy to make assessments from the under the umbrella of freedom this man provides to you.
3
@There** this man doesn't provide any freedom.. in fact it's just the opposite .. he makes the world resent and less safe. That whole war made the world less safe. You comment is blind.
27
@There
And who should "make assessments" if not for other United States citizens?
8
You can’t handle the truth.
6
Served 24 years in the Navy as both an enlisted sailor and an officer. I was a member of the EOD community and served most of my naval career forward deployed in the Middle East or supporting the Middle East.
I’m heartbroken and sick to my stomach if any of this is true. If found guilty, life in a military prison is the minimum and necessary punishment.
I’ve invested to many years of my life to the Navy to have some punk destroy its reputation.
33
I read about guys like Gallagher, along with stories about Guantanamo, secret prisons, and etc., and I think about the bitter hatred US troops must inspire.
We invade someone else’s country on made-up grounds, and we wonder why people there set roadside bombs. How would we react if a some powerful nation invaded us? I think we’d be setting roadside bombs. Or worse. How would we react if they started picking off our neighbors to entertain themselves?
Is it any surprise at all that our reputation is in the gutter? Iran in 1950, Vietnam, Cambodia, Central America, Iraq...we throw our weight around to suit what CCR called the fortunate sons, and then get even nastier when our victims complain.
38
I think the rational is: “We are defending our interests overseas.” Not my interests.
We have a blue-water navy defending corporations that don’t even pay taxes. Think GE. Read old NYTimes article that GE has 1000 tax lawyers working full time on not paying any income tax.
Think: “How did our oil get under their sand?”
1
Before retirement I often counseled employees who were contemplating becoming whistleblowers. Without judging the merits of their complaints, I believed it my duty to advise them that whistleblowers rarely received roses and praise and that they would be facing a long, arduous journey. This was not meant to discourage them but to let them know the risks they faced.
12
@Bulldoggie
As a counselor, did you feel it was your duty to tell them a haunting dreadful, lifelong memory of guilt, for not speaking up, is worse that a long arduous journey? Pretty sure the truth will wear better than the sin of silence. We are Americans, so bad stuff must always be stopped. This is not a white lie to make somebody feel good.
5
It is good that this one man has been stopped, but what really needs to be stopped is our failure to recognize our common humanity which reaches across races, religions and even nations. On the day that this is recognized, there will finally be no further need for such suffering, sorrow and harm.
15
No doubt that Edward Gallagher is a psychopath. He belongs in prison for life.
16
It looks like Marge didn't read the part about destroyed evidence as well as the threats those who reported these things received. The absence of disciplinary action is extremely common when it comes to those who see themselves as untouchables.
12
The Navy needs to get out of the business of land warfare- that is the Army's job and the Marine Corps- part of the Navy- has significant capabilities as well. The Navy would have a fit if the Army fielded warships or submarines. They should revert to the frogmen they once were.
Beyond that, the SEALS seem to operate more like a cult than a special operations force and are more than a little too courting of public relations for a force that is supposed to be operating in the shadows. The 160th SOAR (US Army) was also part of the raid on OBL, but you did not hear that or read that on every website, TV show or whatever- they prefer to stay away from the cameras and publicity. The US Navy and Marine Corps court the media- just look at the list of TV shows on CBS, for example.
The problem with their structure is that they are not being held properly accountable and it shows. The rot is from within. If they are violating the laws of land warfare they are simply war criminals. If they are violating the UCMJ they are criminals worthy of court martial.
17
David: "The Navy needs to get out of the business of land warfare ..."
The "L" in "SEAL" stands for "Land". Anyway, the problems described in this article have nothing to do with where the fighting is.
David: "The US Navy and Marine Corps court the media- just look at the list of TV shows on CBS, for example."
There are several books about special operations, for example "No Easy Day" by Mark Owen and "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell.
And the movie, "Zero Dark Thirty", concludes with the special operations raid on the bin Laden compound in Pakistan.
There is also a CBS television series called "SEAL Team".
I have a close family member in another branch of the military who lost his job for reporting his superior's misconduct. Fortunately the misconduct did not involve murder, but it gave me a much better understanding of the sometimes toxic culture in the military.
22
No honor, but dishonor to the unit and the flag.
No respect, but disrespect of another living human being.
But then what should we expect with our current President and members of his party sitting mute and doing nothing to restore this country to it's previous moral values.
13
What exactly do you think these guys do for a living? There’s regular DOD then there’s SOC.... (Special Operations Command) don’t ever mess with SOC don’t date them don’t anything with them. You don’t ever know when they’re going to turn on you... & it happens as fast as flipping a light switch. The warmongering GOP glorifies them - they’re the “Gods of War”. War involves extreme brutality no civilian can ever understand unless they’ve been on the receiving end of their wrath, but chances are if you’re on the receiving end, you aren’t going to live to tell about it.
18
Men like this inspire others to hurt & hate us. The children of the old man & the family of the young girl shot without reason will have a hatred for us their whole lives. If this man was truly courageous, he would confront his own feelings and seek counseling with words, not bullets.
15
It just seems wrong that his lieutenant “idolized” him. Something off there!
4
If this enthusiastic killer is ever drummed out of the Corps, you can bet we'll hear about him again when he joins one of Erik Prince's mercenary armies or blows up a federal building.
20
What corps? He's not a marine, he's in the navy.
Chief Gallagher is on trial for heinous crimes committed in wars that were initiated by the Bush/Cheney administration. His alleged crimes are a tiny sub-set of the vast criminality that goes uninvestigated, unprosecuted and unpunished. The perpetrators of the destruction of the Middle East luxuriate in gated communities and private clubs. For them, there is no justice.
16
Muggle hunting was the official sport of the death eaters in Harry Potter.
When our armed forces (and even police) commit such atrocities- it diminishes all of us. It’s one thing to shoot in self defense. It’s another to shoot women and children. Hope they lock him up for life.
14
God bless these brave warriors.
Hi Robbo,
God tends to frown on indiscriminate murder, last I heard.
15
That is, unless you were supporting the acts of those who opposed the indiscriminate murders of Gallagher... If so, then sorry...
2
@Robbo. Yes, these brave, decent men deserve all our support. First, they risk their lives for our safety, and now they risk careers to uphold our honor. God bless them all!
3
Another example of American exceptionalism. When you act outside the law, you are an outlaw. If the US doesn't report, charge , and convict criminal wrongdoing then the ICC must take action even if the US refuses to co-operate. Victims simply cannot be swept under a rug.
11
We are exceptional.
1
@There
We are exceptional at some things and not at others. I like to acknowledge where something is working and correct what is not. It seems to me as though some Americans (and I've been one for over 68 years; AKA my entire life) see it as unpatriotic to protest what we, as a country, are doing which isn't working the way we would like to see things work. If these type of people also parent in the same manner, they will only want to hear good comments about their children and no criticism. I pity those children and who they will grow up to be.
5
Who are the " 40 Republican members of Congress [who] signed a letter in March calling for the Navy to free the chief pending trial..."?
16
They are cowards.
5
I was a member of a US Special Operations unit at one time. This way of thinking and behaving was not at all usual, it was the norm. Those in the Special Ops community think of themselves as elite (they are told they are elite as part of their training) and outside the rules of the regular military. They want to kill. To those that think of the Special Operations Forces as some kind of grown up version of the Boy Scouts, I am sorry to say that nothing could be further from the truth. Our unofficial official unit motto was ‘we don’t need a reason’. We were not a rouge unit, this was the attitude from the top down.
20
Sounds like these " elite " military units need a big old dose of Women.
Large, strong, serious and unafraid of making waves, and reporting Crimes. Wish I was younger. Seriously.
24
We all wish we were younger!
Thank you Times for writing and printing this important article. Both sides are right. Both sides feel righteous indignation. I have talked to over a thousand Seals over the past few years and I know what they are expected to do. Chief Gallagher was doing his "job" and doing it so well he's been decorated. The other Seals, who broke the story, are also heroic. They risked their lives to expose their training. God bless and protect all our fighting heroes.
4
I'm sorry, these incidents may have been going on a decade and more after we invaded Iraq but, well, it all sounds too familiar. Putting a uniform and our flag on it doesn't make it something different.
4
It takes a lot to become a Navy SEAL and for 7 of them to collectively put their careers and their reputations at risk for turning in one of their own says it all to me. Those 7 SEALS are the courageous men who should receive medals of valor for their service to their country. It is despicable how too many in the military, the police and in politics who are supposed to be serving their country often serve each other, with complete disregard for their country!
The Republicans pushing for the release of Chief Gallagher fit those who do not serve their country, let alone with honor.
67
The 7 whistle blowers are true heros and patriots. Not like the faux 'my American flag lapel is bigger than yours' GOP ilk.
14
@The Sanity Cruzer
Chief Gallagher received medals for his killing
skills. This made him a hero. Being a hero made it
difficult for him to remember that this was not an excuse to kill for recreation and sport. He became addicted to killing and the rules of warfare no longer constrained him. This took him to a pattern of behavior that required medical attention and psychiatric help. No one in his unite wanted to initiate that recommendation. Seals are effective working in
small unites and " bonding " is part of the training. No
one wanted to recommend that this " hero " needed
psychiatric help. After all, soldiers need to kill the enemy. Thats their job. However, a soldier also has
rules about who, why, and when he can kill and these
rules need to be followed.
5
@Neil
Explaining it doesn't absolve it.
This isn't 'A Few Good Men', or 'Platoon', or 'Full Metal Jacket'. Or...maybe it is, and accordingly needs to be punished to the full extent of the law.
The true miracle in this is that 7 men had the guts to challenge their anti-hero leader. That a Lt Commander wouldn't back them up is something straight out of 'Full Metal Jacket'.
Disgusting.
3
Imagine you were the kind of a person who likes hurting and killing people. Now imagine you grew up in a country that glorifies guns and violence. Now imagine that when you turn 17, you can get a pretty good paying job, no experience required and paid training provided, where you get to kill people, and you're treated like saint by over half the country.
Now accept that none of this is imagination.
47
“We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”
Attributed to George Orwell.
3
except the Iraqis were not, and are not, doing us harm
12
@Conservative Democrat. We sleep less soundly when these “rough men” indiscriminately murder non-combatants because they can.
11
@John Andrechak
Then why were American boys sent there by American politicians?
1
"At the same time, some conservatives have rallied to Chief Gallagher’s defense . . . " Can we please stop using the term "conservatives" and use a more appropriate name (e.g., bigots, racists, sadists, jingoists, xenophobes, etc.)? Thank you.
36
let us be truthful; we are the bad guys; not just a few bad apples; the defense of our boys is the same as the Germans use; & just as wrong;
12
IF the allegations about stabbing the 15 year are true then the guy is not a hero or a "pirate" or a great "operator"
Stabbing a wounded man/boy who is lying on the ground being treated for injuries...
That just makes you a WORM
Neither the Seals, the US Navy nor any branch of the military needs them.
IF the allegations are proven to be true then any officer who "looked the other way" or acted to protect the individual from being held responsible for his criminal acts should find themselves in front of a court martial as well.
ENOUGH!
30
Are we trying to end the war in Afghanistan? You end it by leaving, or killing relentlessly. The last war we won, we bombed indiscriminately. A colonel on General Curtis LeMay's staff was reported to say: "We better win, or we'll be hung as war criminals.". That was WWII, bombing Japan.
8
Because the Navy has been so busy with the Fat Albert procurement scandal, they could not also look in to allegations of murderous behavior by a Navy Seal leader. Increase the Navy budget and everything will be fine.
4
According to my own admittedly amateur understanding of military history and tactics is that in a true hard fighting engagement you need the “Gallaghers” of the world to “storm the barricades” and more or less display near reckless...nearly insane...courage and tenacious ability to inflict lethal violence against the enemy...BUT...these “pit bulls” need to be kept on a very tight leash which is the whole idea behind strict military discipline.
This whole affair reeks of serious discipline creep and sloppy chain of command management and the insane amount of PR and prestige that’s been heaped upon the SEALS in recent years has not helped.
19
Edward Gallagher would have been right at home at the My Lai massacre.
He should get life in prison without the possibility of parole.
23
This man is a disgrace to the nation, to the Navy and, most of all, to the men and women of the armed services who, unlike him, have served under the most trying of circumstances with honor and integrity.
17
Band of brothers? I think not. The ugly underbelly of our military is being exposed.
14
“Picking off” a teenage girl? And an old man? You mean, simple, cold blooded murder, yes?
And this is good for America why?
19
This is what happens when you unleash the dogs of war.. A few of them will contract rabies and run wild.
13
A sociopath. Plain and simple.
21
Good. Here’s hoping the war criminal gets what’s coming to him.
15
More navy scandals. Endless navy scandals and incompetence.
6
Yet, few navy careers have been sunk.
Breist, Alawazzi, and Gallagher should not be allowed near any populations of civilians in any combat role. They are recruiting machines for terrorists and insurgents. Their stupid attitudes will lead to the deaths of Americans. The Seals who reported Gallagher were doing exactly what they were supposed to do. They saw a big problem and followed the chain of command to address it. They were acting honorably. Gallagher seems to have sunk into some disturbed mental state like PTSD. He needed out of that situation. He was committing crimes and dishonoring the Navy and the country. Covering it up was pointless, he was already out of control.
17
Machoism is a disease. It's on TV. It's at the movies. In video games. It is everywhere in American culture. This guy is its poster boy.
9
his acts are the historic standard of our “boys” as American as apple pie; killing, raping; as the Sioux, the Filipinos, the Koreans, the Vietnamese
4
Remember this ?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmudiyah_rape_and_killings
2
War is war is war....the sooner we all realize this fact the more quickly we will end the ongoing wars.
1
Quite simply, it is time for men to stop running the world. Women (most women) attempt to hold it together. Men (a large percentage) attemt to tear it apart. The world needs women to run it. The men have had their chance and nothing ever changes.
Blame it on testosterone. But a BIG change needs to happen.
12
Testosterone is a dangerous, lethal drug. Ask any older man to reflect back on the utter recklessness of youth, and this fact will become quite clear. I am certain that most women do not suffer from this killer compound coursing through their veins.
Hats off to the SEALS that did the right thing. They made a tough call, made even harder by the weasels in their chain of command. Leadership means doing the right thing each and every time. Leaders can never reach perfection, but they can never stop trying to achieve it. This is what happens when they do.
20
This is why the US won't join the international Criminal Court (ICC) and does all it can to undermine that institution. When the ICC was first created, Americans who supported the US joining made the argument that the US had nothing to fear from such an institution. After all, the ICC only investigates if a country does not investigate itself and the US, as a law-abiding state, would investigate its own forces for war crimes long before any such cases made it to the ICC. Guess what? That's not the case. The US military commits war crimes on a regular basis and, just as regularly, covers them up.
21
As HONOR. Guard said in a comment below, service members who commit serious crimes, especially very violent crimes, in the theatre of war or other conflicts, harm their current and further fellow military members. When they do so with impunity, they harm the entire military and out nation. If found guilty, will the accused be required to make restitution for those losses as well?
6
GW Bush started this war on false pretenses. He was the commander in chief. He is responsible for pulling the ultimate trigger, and this guy was one of the bullets. Sure Obama and Trump were presidents when all this happened, but it is the trigger Bush II pulled that has been ripping through bodies for over 15 years.
7
"At the same time, some conservatives have rallied to Chief Gallagher’s defense, raising money and pressing publicly for his release."
Why do conservatives always jump to defend wrong doers?
12
As a retired US Navy Officer I find this very disturbing. The rules of engagement are clear in the use of lethal force. Lethal force is used only in self defense and defense of another. So I find it very hard to justify the killing of a small girl, old man, or a restrained captive teenage boy. These are war crimes plain and simple. The SEALs who reported this to their superiors did the right thing.
If Chief Gallagher is found guilty I hope they throw the book at him. He fully deserves it. All his enablers need to be tried as accessories to war crimes for doing nothing about it. Only then will a semblance of honor be restored to the US Navy.
26
Perhaps this will be a small cautionary tale about the uncritical adulation accorded to American troops these days. "Thank you for your service, Chief Gallagher." As in any organization the military contains the good, the bad, the ugly and the truly heroic. It's important to recognize that.
9
A few thoughts. If this kind of stuff happens in our military, image what Erik Prince's mercenary army gets away with -- I'm sorry, I meant to say his "contractors," to put it in right-wing politically correct terms. I'm willing to bet there is something approaching zero accountability. Was anyone else surprised that Trump and his minions at Fox immediately stood up for him without even considering the possibility that this is serious stuff (that's right, they don't care)?
Also, to be fair, I must note that it's important to keep in mind that our enemies never would have batted an eye if the situation were reversed. For all you far-left merica-haters, this shows why western democracies are indeed better; even though it's not perfectly implemented, we do have something known as the rule of law, which is something for which Trump, the far-right, and our ISIS enemies share disdain. Hopefully there is a fair trial, and the man gets whatever it is he deserves. Though I bet Trump pardons him.
6
Sounds like Gallagher drifted across that line - especially skilled at mayhem, he figured he could do what he wanted. Maybe he NEEDED to. "It's all cool, right? No one I know will care about an old man or a young woman getting killed. Happens all the time here, right?" The stabbing of the teen is particularly disturbing. That takes time, consideration, focus. Like that scene in "Saving Private Ryan." Very disturbing. Gallagher needs help. He should not be roaming around in public.
This is a wake up for the military. How can you control and direct that lethal skill you've built. What happens when that skill leaves the boundaries of the military life and interacts with the civilian population? I wonder if this has been well thought out.
9
This is totally unacceptable.
Chief Gallagher has for at least 10 years been allowed to hurt, maim and kill innocent civilians as well as abuse prisoners and endanger his own men apparently with complete impunity as well as with the cooperation and complicity of senior commanders, and two who actually threatened the 7 seal team accusers with sidelining and even an end to their careers. Only by threatening to go to the media and tell senior brass outside the SEALS command structure were their commanders forced to report the killings.
So many people complicit in protecting the Chief will not be charged and already conservatives and politicians are putting pressure on authorities and acting as if these SERIOUS crimes either never happened and/or Chief Gallagher is innocent.
How many people murdered by others in the SEALS and armed forces not charged? How many crimes committed and allowed to pass by and in the case of Chief Gallagher despite acts going back 9 years and what happened in Mosul...he is honoured and awarded a Medal !
Take him to the International Criminal Court.
America needs to sign on to it and support its role in bringing to Justice those who have committed crimes otherwise, cover ups will continue murders not investigated and suspects not face justice ...because of innate corruption and/or disdain for the rules or the victims.
Case in point: Have trials begun for the suspects at Guantanamo after 18 years ?
The law is being abused and needs to stop.
5
Could it be that a constant worshipping and glorifying of the military service has created a culture of
“I can do whatever I want” ?
I am grateful for their sacrifice, but they are just doing their job. And like everyone else should be held accountable
9
There is something wrong here. It’s a shame that a man that needs help did not get it before it got to this point.
2
Breaking point.
2
"The chief’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, said the Navy investigation report, which was first reported by Navy Times, does not offer an accurate account of what happened in Iraq. He said that hundreds of additional pages of evidence, sealed by the court, included interviews with platoon members who said the chief never murdered anyone."
It seems as though reasonable doubt, which may well be shown within that which has not been reveald, doesn't matter in the minds of the majority here. Even in the court of public opinion shouldn't one be presumed innocent until proven guiulty? I am not claiming Gallagher is innoent, but it seems like many in this forum would have to excuse themselves from sitting on his jury.
1
Our military has a history of targeting civilians. Usually this is done by air power and is considered more acceptable, even though it causes many more civilians to be killed. This soldier is different than most because he’s open about how much he loves killing people. I don’t think he’s typical, but he can’t be that much of an aberration in the special forces in particular. Giving him life in prison or the death penalty would be a gross injustice because of the hypocrisy that would demonstrate.
It's as close to funny as anything related to this can be that one of the people trying to hush this up used fragging as a metaphor. Cheif Gallagher should be glad these 7 are not his kind of SEAL, or they might have tried to deal with things "inside the family" instead. It's a testament to their dedication to duty that they remained committed to seeing him dealt with this through the system and by legal means.
6
Maybe we should think twice about invading other countries. The collateral damage hurts everybody involved.
4
What the Chief did is condoned behavior, it is condoned from the top down. The commanding officer of the Seals is guilty of complicity. He knows what is going on....and the leadership above him knows what is going on.
3
While the facial resemblance is to that of Sgt. Red O'Neill in "Platoon," Gallagher's soul appears more on a level with that of Sgt. Barnes.
I hope, once the trial is over, a movie of the same quality addressing this incident is made
What is this guy going to persons he does not like at home. Truly scary.
2
@Cecily Ryan
You mean like the people they pull over? Because lots of them come home and become cops. He may be the worst over there, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, coming home who have the same mindset.
1
I see no reason why the platoon members who objected to Chief Gallagher conduct would lie. He will get his day in court and if he broke the law he must be punished. The obvious question, assuming the man's guilt, is - did he enter the service as a psychopath or did he become one as a consequence of being asked to participate in a succession of violent undertakings that had less to do with national security and more - the control of strategic resources in the Middle East such as... oil?
Either way the people who should really be in the dock: George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld - never found themselves in harm's way (they were draft dodgers from what I understand) and are currently living lives of ease and luxury.
Gallagher merely represents the absolute lowest rung of war criminality. His actions have nothing to do with defense and everything to do with obscenely criminal behavior authored by individuals with a level of authority far higher than a Naval Chief.
The people who blew the whistle on this should be praised and protected. They're the real heroes.
What's the heroism of stabbing a defenseless teenager to death or shooting old men and young girls from a hidden platform with a sniper's rifle. I would characterize that entirely differently. Fox News and the rest should be ashamed of themselves. Have we not learned the lessons of Nuremberg?
This sounds like Einsatzgruppen stuff. Courage under fire is no license to commit atrocities.
4
As private citizens, we must ensure that Gallagher never works another day in the US. Perhaps he can join the Saudi military given his penchant for shocking disregard for human life and dignity.
However, I hope he never draws another breath as a free man.
3
It all starts from the highest level of governance, but if anyone gets indicted it of course will be low level personell. And the US acts as though rule of law and humanitarian concerns are utmost. It is on a daily basis getting impossible to be a proud American.
3
"I serve with honor on and off the battlefield. The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of circumstance, sets me apart from other men.
Uncompromising integrity is my standard. My character and honor are steadfast. My word is my bond."
Excerpts from the Navy SEAL Creed.
Based on statements made from various Navy SEAL commandos from Team 7’s Alpha Platoon, it's difficult to not see how far Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher has strayed from that creed and philosophy.
I have and always will have the highest regard and esteem for this group. Unfortunately, there are bad apples in every barrel in life and need to be weeded out from time to time. That also includes leadership, or lack there of.
493
@Marge Keller
Sir, respectfully;
It’s not one bad apple, it’s all the criminals who tried to cover it up who are just as guilty. What’s their excuse?,
54
@Marge Keller
bad apple....or psychopath?
49
@Marge Keller
This goes far beyond "a few bad apples." It reads like institutionally sanctioned murder and mayhem.
44
I won't pre-judge the man and so a trial is needed. But he did send a text message bragging (truthful or not) about killing a teenager with his knife. (“Good story behind this, got him with my hunting knife.”)
The idea that any of our enlisted men could stand with a corpse of an enemy fighter, killed within the limits of permitted combat activities or otherwise, and brag about killing them or use them as a prop in some unofficial military ritual is abhorrent, disgusting and on its own worthy of reprimand or discharge from service. Our military leaders should put an end to any idea that such conduct is permitted.
Although our service men must be trained to be lethal and brutal in all situations that require such conduct, they must also represent our core values of decency and dignity. Using a dead enemy combatant's corpse as a prop is neither tough nor reflective of American culture or beliefs.
We cannot allow our men who fight terrorists to become or act like terrorists themselves.
448
@T Mo American troops in Vietnam were also known to take celebratory pictures with corpses and make jewelry out of corpses' severed fingers and ears. Our troops have been terrorists for a long time.
19
"its own worthy of reprimand or discharge from service."
It's worthy of a charge of 1st degree murder and the punishment should be executed.
5
@Sarah Johnson, I'm a 3 time Iraq veteran and i never did that nor did the soldiers i served with. SOME members of the military do bad things but the majority serve honorably. Be careful not to make sweeping generalizations about things you don't know anything about.
11
As a civilian DOD contractor aboard USN ships at sea around the world, I met many fine young men and women service members, officers and enlisted alike. The SEALS were among the elite and their training was brutal, but it did not turn them into brutes. But, like any organization, there are bottom feeders who take advantage of the opportunities their training provides. I observed and interacted with a number of service members who were arrogant bullies. Like our president, they felt entitled to behave as they wished, as it would seem Chief Gallagher does. In the services, those who report such creatures are the brave ones.
32
Insighful article that should have this country questioning our mandates in occupied countries round the globe, and/or how that mission could ever hope for a successful outcome when it's face is that of a stone cold killer?
This is the kind of individual that America is judged upon, and sadly will surely inflame sensibilities and acts of terrorism.
So many of my relatives, and ancestors served across the globe under different flags and I have been proud of their service and sacrifice.
I am reminded of their code of honor that my Father taught us: the killing innocent people, and unarmed combatants was forbidden.
How could we ever attach the word 'freedom' or honor to such heinous behaviour?
7
while we should wait until after the trial, it sounds like the SEALs who kept the pressure up deserve medals, while their superior officers need jail time.
16
Our military has a history of targeting civilians. Usually this is done by air power and is considered more acceptable, even though it causes many more civilians to be killed. This soldier is different than most because he’s open about how much he loves killing people. I don’t think he’s typical, but he can’t be that much of an aberration in the special forces in particular. Giving him life in prison or the death penalty would be a gross injustice because of the hypocrisy that would demonstrate.
6
Where is this history? Context and factual info please before making such blanket statements. We did not fire bomb Dresden but we did Nagasaki and Hiroshima after the imperial Japanese had ample time to surrender.
1
It started in World War Two and has continued ever since. Look at the civilian casualties during all of these wars. It’s not something that’s going to be admitted publicly. Our defensive nuclear policies are premised on the idea that we may initiate a first strike leading to total devastation of our enemies civilian population along with everything else.
It looks like the whole War of Terror has been misguided from the beginning. It is hard to be sure, but a case can be made that we would be much better off if we had had a more measured response to 9-11. If the Taliban and Saddam Hussein and Quadafi were still in power we would probably be much safer and groups like ISIS would never have come to power. We destabilized the whole Islamic world, and now we are paying the price. We need a Presidential candidate who will take on the military industrial complex and wind down the War of Terror.
7
Gallagher's superiors who tried to cover up the allegations are guilty of dereliction of duty.
They are complicit. They should join Gallagher in prison.
The whistle blowers are to be honored.
22
If the allegations are true, this man should spend life behind bars. In my experience, there is zero tolerance among the honorable men and women in our armed forces for this type of blatant criminality and depravity. It is in-American. Just leave it to those hypocritical hard right-wingers to cry for his release. He should count himself lucky simply not to hang.
5
it is as American as apple pie; read the history of the “Indian Wars, Mexican War; on & on
Our warriors have been fighting for too long in too many places and often for questionable reasons. No wonder that some get cynical and cruel and murderous. Gallagher should be sent home to some kind of rehab and those who revealed his killings should get a medal for bravery under fire.
It is illogical to put Chief Gallagher on trial for murder; that is what he has been trained to do.
2
@Ebba: he was trained to kill in battle, not to murder, a distinction as old as the Bible. King David’s general, Joab, killed many in battle, but it was for murder of Abner and others that David told Solomon to have him put to death.
Indictments and sentences need to take into account the circumstances of war, and the line may be difficult to draw sometimes, but these cases are clear ones of murder if the report is correct.
2
>>> "It is illogical to put Chief Gallagher on trial for murder; that is what he has been trained to do."
If what Gallagher is alleged to have done is actually what he was trained to do, we need to disband the SEALs, along with any and all other units conducting similar training.
However, at least seven brave SEALs insisted that his behavior was unacceptable, that he committed war crimes, and the brass eventually decided that he must face a general court martial, charged with, among other crimes, murder. So, maybe the casual commission of atrocities is *not* what his trainers intended him to learn.
What kind of rehab exactly do you propose? Chris Kyle anyone? Don’t you get it? It’s the culture. You can’t “rehab” them. They’re bonafide hardcore killers. There’s regular DOD which isn’t bad then there’s SOC which is SEALs, Recon, & Green Berets. They made a career out of killing. Most regular DOD will get no more than 10 kills. SOC forget it- it’s so high they don’t even count them anymore. Killing is like breathing to them.
The Seal Team could also use donations for their defense! Why should the top brass get unlimited funding for his defense (uh...now their defense needing to add his superior officer who was told about the horrid and wanton behavior). Let us know if and when a donation fund for the team members is started.
5
If you believe there ought to be such a fund, why don't you do a little research and outreach and then set one up yourself? Why wait for someone else to do it?
2
@Shenonymous he will be assigned a military attorney, but can, at his expense, hire a civilian one too.
1
@Anon
Thank you so much for your reply. It is appropriate to be sure, but I am handicapped and unable to undertake such an involved project. I will be glad to make a donation, meager as it must be should anyone take on the task.
As someone with more than public knowledge of Chief Gallagher's case (and other high-profile war crime matters past and pending) it is my opinion that news articles based on leaked government evidence that has not survived legal scrutiny eventually miss the truth by a wide mark once everything comes to light (in this case, most likely in trial).
Consider the present article's failure to mention the purportedly questionable reliability of some key government SEAL team witnesses, as reported on several occasions by Navy Times, which is cited as a source in this article. Is this possibly because none was contained in the 400-some pages of cherry-picked leaked discovery The NYT reviewed? That might seem like a lot of paper, but it is a fraction of the evidence on which this case will be tried.
If our society values objective fairness, which I do, Chief Gallagher deserves that too, regardless of how one might feel emotionally about the news made public about him and his case to date.
We have warriors do our dirty work for valid reasons, so might I suggest that we let this case play out before publicly judging him, and by extension, the military culture of which he is part. To do otherwise is premature, short-sighted, divisive, and serves little constructive purpose.
11
It is certainly appropriate to wait for legal proceedings to run their course before reaching legal conclusions -- and that definitely will happen. On the other hand, people are perfectly entitle to weigh in on the basis of whatever evidence and testimony may be known at the moment.
An important reminder: Seven SEALs bucked attempts by superiors to dissuade them from pursuing their reports of Gallagher's alleged crimes, attempts that included threats to their careers. Many of us know very well that career service members just *do not* press ahead with accusations like these unless they feel very strongly that it is necessary to do so. The risks are too great.
2
Do tell.
Umm, you're not going to?
Then too bad if we get our info from the media, if you fail to correct it.
Elsewhere it was reported that even though these team member who worked directly with him reported this, others, who did not work with him at the time of the reported incidents, or as for long a period of time as the team members, flatly testified that the Chief never murdered anyone.
If Mr. Black stands behind me while I murder Mr.Zero, and then Mr. Pink, Mr. Gray, Mr. White and Mr. Green, who never in fact were anywhere near when I murdered Mr. Zero, they are honestly telling the truth. As they know it,
Sorry, you cannot have the military be unimpeachable, when you selectively believe those you want to believe.
There are far too many individuals today in Seals, Delta Force, Rangers, and other Special Forces for the glamor and bragging rights.
Almost gone are the days when soldiers became Seals to do an honorable job quietly, without looking forward to the fame and riches ahead.
they should all be on trial for felony murder. There are no innocent people here.
2
A "bird that should definitely be pulled" is the one that is disgraced every time it shows up prominently displayed on Ryan Zinke's lapel.
4
Killing anyone is traumatic and can easily lead to an abdication of one's humanity. It's not hard to see how killing enemy combatants can lead to gross desensitization and atrocities committed.
Honestly, I'm surprised that we don't hear this story more often.
3
Andrea Gallagher, the wife of this guy, probably has some stories to tell, but I wouldn't be surprised that if such stories exist she'd be reluctant to tell them given the abusive nature of her husband. Where is the outlet for this guy's aggression when he's not on duty?
8
Gallagher has some similarity to Stephen Paddock.
1
Clearly, this guy is the enemy.
5
What is with Republicans who rush to this guys defense? So much for their law-and-order rants that they are always on. There is ample evidence that this Chief is disturbed and unfit for service. He actually texted his friend and admitted he killed the injured kid with his knife, confirming what those in his unit witnessed. Thankfully those in his unit acted to get this psycho removed from killing any more injured combatants and civilians and upheld the code of honor that distinguishes true warriors. They should all be promoted.
8
My Lai redux.
6
The War About Nothing in Iraq was a giant criminal conspiracy.
7
“On May 16, 2016, former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey was named chairman of Fulbright University, a US-backed college with ties to the State Department in Ho Chi Minh City. During his recent visit to Vietnam, President Barack Obama heaped praise on Kerrey, a former Navy SEAL who served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. What Obama failed to mention is that Kerrey also supervised one of the most atrocious war crimes of that ghastly war. The unit he lead killed women and children during an assassination mission in 1969. Some of the victims had their throats slit. Instead of being charged with war crimes, Kerrey was awarded a Medal of Honor for his role in another operation that year in Nha Trong Bay.” — Counter Punch, Jeffrey St Clair
2
So is this is the Seals' version of the 'Ice Truck Killer" acting like he is Dexter Morgan?
1
All because George Bush decided to attack a country that had nothing to do with "9/11". We are still paying for his stupidity.
24
Bless those who spoke up and remained resolved. They are truly embody the American spirit. They should receive commendations and medals.
9
I had a long Army career. Two of my children are serving. It is not acceptable to tolerate this. Nobody wants to see their kids serve and be subjected to this. The men who participate in war crimes are damaged for life. Many never recover from the experience. War crimes also lead to a break down in good order and discipline and sap the effectiveness from a unit. There is no excuse for war crimes, and these individuals must be punished and repudiated by the profession of arms.
20
I was reluctant to comment here; but my father was a bomber captain who flew over Germany during WWII. My siblings and I were rabid anti-Vietnam War protestors because we lived with the aftermath and the emotional damage done to his soul, however righteous the war.
Friends of mine saw their son fight in Fallujah.
It is heroic, and their voices a necessary part of our country’s present tapestry and crisis - to speak out against evil; especially when the President, their ultimate commander, has debased their cause by dehumanizing the very people they have been sent there to defend.
15
It takes a lot to get men toughened to the warrior status required of SEALs. We shouldn't be surprised when they no longer recall how to act like human beings.
Can we just agree that war is bad for people--both the warriors and the warred upon?
16
Uhh, no I can’t agree.
War is hell, battlefields are brutal, emotions run high in such situations.
But, we are held to a standard of basic human decency. We do not deliberately kill civilian non-combatants, we do not kill enemy that have surrendered, we do not revel in our cruelty to others.
Men and women who descend to those levels lose their humanity, become psychopaths, and have to be purged from our armed forces.
We are better than that!
394
Okay K.
Hope you feel the same way when one of these "toughened warriors" rapes, murders or maims a loved one of friend of a loved one.
That individual would obviously deserve a "pass".
4
What are you not agreeing with?
The Times is reporting what it has found out, until a transcript of the trial is available and we can see ALL the testimony we owe Chief Gallagher his expectation of innocence. Rather than condemning him, let him have his day in court. That is what our armed forces fight for and we who benefit owe him that.
What we must insist upon is that his court martial proceedings be truthful and complete. Anything else is a betrayal of our troops.
3
Time to remove rose colored glasses and investigate the real reasons the vast majority of our wars are fought for. Seek out Smedley Butler. He'll tell you.
1
So, we send men and women on 3, 4, 5 and more combat deployments and are angry and surprised when they commit atrocious acts of depravity? The conflicts in Afghanistan Iraq will never end in any way that we could consider satisfactory. We will never have much impact on the area and the costs we have paid are staggering. Why are we still there? Why are we still sending young men and women to be ground up the this endless conflict?
9
@Jerry Place
“So, we send men and women on 3, 4, 5 and more combat deployments and are angry and surprised when they commit atrocious acts of depravity?”
Exactly. Robert Bales didn’t go to Afghanistan to slaughter civilians, but after so many deployments, he snapped. He has done enough time and should be released into a program where he can receive help.
4
Color me not surprised! The usual will happen. The wrong doer will be protected and the men with honor who stand up for what's right will be punished.
2
It’s not like one or two people are accusing him, maybe then there could be some doubt. This is a profession that has as its main purpose the killing of people. It seems that some psychopaths will be attracted to this profession and excel. The fact that his superior officers allowed this behavior to go on says a lot. The truth is the United States has historically targeted civilians to demoralize the enemy population. This is usually done with airplanes though and allows for plausible deniability. The point I’m trying to make is that he shouldn’t be made a scapegoat as a way of legitimizing other more egregious acts.
3
If he did what he is being accused of, that is clearly unacceptable. But this is what can happen to people when you’re fighting the kind of enemy that we are fighting over there. Ruthlessness to some degree is what will be needed to defeat an enemy like ISIS and radical Islamic extremists.
So if convention (laws) are broken by another group you should do the same? Sounds like you are making a plain excuse to support your morality ( and the other group).
6
“I have my own rules . This country needs men like me . We fight wars out there . We keep you safe.” “Did you kill civilians for no apparent reason?””Of course I did. Now let’s get on with this I have a plane to catch.”
3
But for the actions of W. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell, C. Rice, Tenet, Wolfowitz, Perle, Woo and others Gallagher would not have been in Iraq to increase the tally of war crimes already committed: military aggression against Iraq and the authorization and legal justification to torture human beings.
13
Killing is my business, and business is good!
-Megadeth Album
Yeah, not in my name and not for my country. You may be a state sanctioned murderer, but that doesn't mean you're above international law and the Geneva Convention.
5
And Donald Trump loves this guy. Go figure.
9
what is the reward for these soldiers to be the mercenaries in an imperialist war? respect amongst people who despise their countrymen?
what is the punishment for being a whistleblower? career suicide?
this knot that blood hungry people have tied this country into is very very tight.
2
And this is why it’s so repulsive to see NYT, WaPo, CNN and the rest of the MSM demonize and slander Assange, Manning and Snowden.
10
We invaded a nation based on lies, lies, and more lies. When the Iraq's didn't welcome the US military as saviors, we killed, humiliated, and tortured Iraq's. Some Americans have the nerve to wonder why in many parts of the world we are held in utter contempt. It also explains how and why lying crook like Trump was elected.
6
I read this article carefully and was disturbed by the fact that none of the “whistleblowers “ are named - just allegations that do not appear from the article to be supported by any other witnesses or evidence., and that the alleged statements by these men’s superiors are described as if they are threatening the men to be silent, instead of warning them against repercussions for false allegations. I do commend the reporter for including support for the Chief’s claim of innocence as well.
There is going to be a court-martial and all the evidence in support of these horrific claims -if there is any- will come out. If he’s convicted, he will likely get the death penalty.
As of this moment, according to the article, he is a highly decorated, well-respected member of the most elite fighting force in the United States Navy. And at this moment, legally, he is innocent.
Comments that he is a murderer or a psychopath or that he joined the military to kill are wildly speculative and unjust.
It is painful to read so many comments assuming not only that the allegations here are true, but that they are commonplace in our military. First, the foundation of justice in our country is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Second, unfounded aspersions against millions of service members, including those who have died or been maimed, are bigotry.
3
@MJC:
"Bigotry"? That's very opinionated of you. . .
"Wildly speculative"? Speculation is not from the commenters here; it's somewhat black and white, and in the article you just read.
4
@MJC
Evidence:
Literal evidence (pictures, bodies, text messages)
Witness accounts: everyone in his unit. Literally everyone
Defense?
"This isnt the guy i know"
"They are disgruntled because he pushes them hard"
You seem to be overlooking the fact that he has no 1st person witnesses supporting his position.
Everyone on his side was not out patrolling or fighting, they were sitting at desks.
The raging irony is that this is Multiple SEALS vs 1
You have to say a bunch of high level Seals are liars to save 1 guy because..... why exactly?
Blindly believing 1 person over several others with identical accounts is patriotic and supportive of troops because....
Square that please
5
@MJC the accused has a right to face his accusers. You do not have the right to face his accusers.
3
To the parents of the enlisted officers who blew the whistle on these atrocities - Y'all raised wonderful adults, and I am thankful that you did. Your kids are heroes.
40
It’s so sad that some are in such dire need of a hero that they would glorify what this individual has done. I am a navy veteran and we are bound by the laws of UCMJ and the government that has entrusted us with the power to defend it.
We are not above the law.
23
Our so-called "elite" forces are not superheroes, they are human beings who are perfectly capable of doing bad things as any other human. These men took the same oaths as all of us who have served in uniform have pledged, and tens of millions of we Veterans and Active Duty service members who have served honorably find the alleged conduct by Chief Gallagher unconscionable, barbaric, and inhuman, along with being a gross violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
If Chief Gallagher is guilty of what his accusers claim, he needs to be prosecuted and incarcerated like any common criminal. That golden Trident on his chest doesn't inoculate him from the UCMJ and the rule of law, war or no war. A Sailor with his training, rank, and experience should know better.
The "elite" forces are just as accountable as the rank and file. That's the bottom line. Moreover, any coverup of their bad behavior is illegal and deplorable all the way up the chain of command.
13
“. . . But but a confidential Navy report paints a dark picture, finding a subculture that prizes aggression and covers up wrongdoing”. Duh!!! to the first point and very sad and criminal to the second when actions are deliberate and beyond reasonable fog of war and fear for one’s life. A subculture that prizes aggression and outright war crimes are two separate things, but certain military persons it appears (sadly) we’re overly defensive of the former, allowing for this particular unrestrained psychotic behavior to not be stopped and go unpunished sooner. Solders in the field aren’t working at a bank; they do extraordinarily dangerous and daring things that would be overwhelming to the common person if plucked from a normal pedestrian environment, so there needs to be a certain aggressive culture in order to overcome doubt and fear and accomplish the the task while putting one’s self in harms way. That basic understanding doesn’t condone all aggressive actions and I’m amazed that alarms were sounded when multiple solders — who understand this culture — reported that one of their own was committing murder.
2
To those that say you must serve in war to know what it does to you and use that as an excuse to defend warcrimes, instead saying you should go after the politicians and not those on the ground, I agree with going after politicians but the people on the ground have a responsibility too when they sign up for military service. The tribunals that held the Serbs and the Rwandans accountable for crimes committed against the Bosnians and their fellow Rwandans respectively did not serve alongside the men that committed crimes, yet that did not prevent them from holding those responsible accountable. This is a pretty weak argument to lean on anyway.
If you're willing to defend a SEAL because you weren't in his position, how can you be so dismissive about a crime when you cannot put yourself in the shoes of the innocent Iraqi and his/her family who was killed by Gallagher? This kind of worship of anyone in uniform and excusing any wrongdoing on their part suggests a streak of authoritarianism and is the kind that dominates many military run regimes. Appropriate civilian oversight of the military, which includes the citizenry and the politicians they elect is vital for any democratic society.
19
Imagine a teenage girl walking down the street in front of Hotel Del Coronado being shot by a man with a rifle, or a fifteen year old local high school student being hacked to death by a man with a knife or hatchet. How would San Diego react to such news?
20
Shame on me, you, and every American for allowing the Iraq War to start.
13
@David Not all of us supported the War--and/or even actively protested it. Perhaps we're owed an apology.
6
I hear you, @M; I protested vociferously, travelling significantly to events. It wasn't enough, and in the back of my mind I probably knew it wouldn't be. I should have been rioting.
@David Why shame those of us who tried, then? Those who supported the war are to blame; not everybody.
1
“Stabbing a defenseless teenage captive to death. Picking off a school-age girl and an old man from a sniper’s roost. Indiscriminately spraying neighborhoods with rockets and machine-gun fire.”
Not to mention bombs and missile strikes.
Can't really blame them for getting mad at us. Considering what we've done to so many people around the world, 9/11 may have been a measured and reasonable response.
12
Its inevitable. We take young men and train them to kill. We put them into insurgent warfare situations for multiple tours. The rules are hazy and change often. Vietnam all over again. This is the price of 15 years in Afghanistan and Iraq. Too bad we can'[t make our politicians and the MIC pay it.
2
I am disgusted by all the armchair psychologists and psychiatrists in these comments who firmly state that Gallagher is a sociopath, a psychopath, a paranoid schizophrenic etc. You people have never met this man and are eager to pile on with ever greater levels of defamation. It’s ugly.
Commenters herein also routinely assume the truth of all allegations against Gallagher and forego any acknowledgment that the man hasn’t been found guilty of anything yet. Remember the descriptor “alleged?” Use it. Gallagher hasn’t presented his defense to these charges. Does anyone believe in due process any more?
No surprise that many in the NYT readership are the eager to jump on any story that portrays a member of the armed forces (particularly the Special Forces) in the worst possible light. This feeds into the progressive narrative that we are no better than, and probably worse than, those with whom we are at war.
I don’t know what, if anything, the accused is guilty of and neither does anyone reading this one sided article.
2
Rest assured. As for your Police force, able to shoot people of color in your country mostly without consequences, the system will, in all probability, protect this poor innocent soldier from the rigor of Justice.
5
I'm placing this response to a post below at the top of the thread, because I think it's important for some of the commenters who are defending Chief Gallagher and who are angry at criticism of his actions be reminded of a really important point.
>>> Author has zero military experience. Neither do the editors or readers. Doesn't stop all three from having LOTS of uninformed opinions on this topic.
This poster has no idea what military experience any of us may have had. I happen to know that at least some of us are . . . umm . . . experienced. However, there's a more important point to be made, one which a few angry vets here should remember:
Our armed forces serve our civilians and are properly under civilian oversight and control. It is proper, indeed, essential, that citizens critique and, yes, judge our service members and their actions. That's part of our job as citizens.
This used to be fairly widely understood. During the Vietnam era, it was fairly common for those of us who were no longer in uniform to -- only half-jokingly -- remind our friends still serving, "I outrank you. I'm a civilian."
13
1. Horrible!
2. Clearly the Navy, and the armed forces in general need to have ways for it's enlisted's to be able to report wrongdoing outside of the chain of command.
3. And what is it with Republicans cutting this guy so much slack? So typical.
5
I write about things like this in a SCIFI setting; nobody listens. Hand to hand/firefight combat is one thing, this, but if true, is another.
1
Disgusting.
Many of my family all served in Navy or presently serve.
4
" I was taught that if you are on the side of the righteous you would never abandon your honor and do such things as descripted in this piece.'
In a war, everybody thinks they are "on the side of the righteous."
3
Don't forget the SEALS tried to block the Medal of Honor nomination for an Air Force special forces airman, John Chapman, a soldier the SEALS left behind in a mission.
There's the legendary SEALS for you.
7
My cousin had a son at 16, he joined the Military at 18, he is 42 now. He has been arguing with me and his Aunt Mary we controlled our fertility and live middle class lives off Engineer salaries. Jason has been spouting all this crazy crap just like these enlisted Chiefs.
I worked for the Federal Government and had one of the E-9’s retire and then got stuck working for me a female Engineer in her 30’s. He would try to ignore what I told him. I finally I had to tell him we aren’t in the military anymore Tom. Get over it. You aren’t in charge of a bunch of 18 year olds, nor am I a second LT. That you are going to bully. I am the boss you can quit and enjoy your 20 year military retirement. You aren’t going to treat people like crap!
The guys latter told me Tom was stunned because he had been in charge of something since he got that E-4 promotion back in year 2/3.
These guys are piss ants.
6
Like politicians, many join the service to legally commit crimes.
Our politicians are just unethical, incompetent fools who are only interested in serving their egos and interests. It used to be shameful and embarrassing to publicly expose one’s ignorance and stupidity. Nowadays, the king’s fool is the king’s advisor and
proud of it. The Republican Party has become fools’ party and the fools are not in it to entertain the king. They are in it to brag about their hatred, inhumane and racist policies. They no longer feel extremist and criminals. They can prove their actions are
normal and legal because they supported by the Republican Party.
This guy is a paid killer and by supporting him, the conservatives are complicit to his crimes. He is paid by American taxpayers’ money and by condoning his behavior, we are also liable for his crimes.
I do not object to wars to protect our country but wars to kill innocent people and help us sell weapons do not make us exceptional or decent. If Republicans insist, they should follow the practices of the old days. Let our royal leaders be first to lead us to the battlefield.
12
Put yourself in his boots. It's easy to condemn when we're sitting in America. We are not in the war zone. We have no idea what it's like. I don't know if he's guilty or not but some consideration has to be given to the situation they are in.
1
I'll put myself in the boots of the 7 members of his unit who thought his conduct so reprehensible they were willing to risk their careers. They were there, after all, and witnessed it firsthand.
29
@Julia Just what the Nazis said at Nuremberg.
17
@Julia: The situations Chief Gallagher was in when he, allegedly, committed his war crimes, included:
*Being in a safe setting with a wounded prisoner, whom he is said to have murdered.
*From the safety of a sniper's nest, blowing away a harmless girl.
*From the safety of an armored vehicle, using its heavy machine gun to strafe a civilian neighborhood, at random.
OK, I've considered the situations, and I consider that there was no earthly excuse or apparent mitigation for the actions of which he is accused.
9
Evil hides behind institutional walls. If this guy were acting on his own, he would be recognized as evil and immediately put behind bars. But because his actions are perpetrated as part of an institution (the military) and his victims are the “Other” (the enemy), he is instead hailed as a hero. When we have been taught to blindly obey the morality provided by an institution, we become nothing more than part of the herd and engage in group think. As such, our individual sense of right vs. wrong becomes stunted and withers. Each person should be expected instead to question and discern for himself/herself what is right vs. wrong and each should be individually held accountable for those actions, not allowed to avoid culpability by hiding behind an institution that blindly encourages over-aggression and winning at all costs.
602
SHAME!
13
@Dorraine Keim
Wrongdoers who hide behind an institution - the military, the Olympics, the church, the scouts, the team - hurt all of us.
41
@Ozzie Banicki That's not an argument.
7
Some mind boggling comments about Gallagher the hero, who "took a pledge." Show me the pledge that includes shooting little girls and old men from your sniper's nest, or murdering a teenager in custody. When we can't tell the difference between a psychopath and a soldier, or when killing for the fun of it makes a person some kind of idol, then we have sunk to the level of ISIS ourselves. The country owes thanks to the SEALS who recognized a maniac and reported him, even if the higher-ups condoned the murders. Unless we have completely given abandoned any moral code, this killer will have many years to ponder his crimes in a cell.
1129
A soldier kills and only kills for the country. Soldiers aren't supposed to have a feeling about their target, or the act of killing itself. They simply follow orders.
A criminal type sociopath is thrilled to harm and kill others.
When soldiers become sociopaths on a large scale, we've got a problem.
24
@Streamliner
They'll make an example of him but things will stay he same.
The SEALS are an insular group within the military, which is also separated from the rest of American society in certain ways.
They get the dirty jobs done but there is a cost to be paid. Having a cold heart helps a lot of them continue in the job. Having a cold heart makes behavior like this possible.
11
@ivanogre Doing the "dirty jobs" clearly didn't mean forgetting the SEAL's code to the other platoon members. The rest of his platoon went through the same horror of war, and they knew what he did was wrong, illegal even.
31
You show me two people, one of them is risking his career by coming forward to report something, and the other's career depends on him denying that report, I'm inclined to believe the first guy.
1253
@Thad
One person would be the Trump that is profiled in the Mueller report. He wants others to cover up his crimes and then blames them for his corruption.
New York City police department has never recovered from the in depth criminality of the police detailed in the Knapp Commission.
This Navy Seal has been able to murder and intimidate the other seals whose lives are dependent on each other. It is a very sad story but at least the other seals kept pushing the truth even when they were dismissed by people who should of cared but were so vested in the status quo. An institution that doesn’t value character can only exist when good men and women look the other way and do nothing.
So many American institutions are turning a blind eye till courageous individuals stand up and force them to be accountable.
54
@Tony
The other SEALs are the true heroes.
@Thad
I agree, but more that that, the texts mentioned in the article are evidence that something is wrong with Chief Gallagher.
46
@Thad You and me both. Why would 7 Seals risk their careers over and over to report something really horrendous unless it’s true? That would be just plain crazy. No, I believe them, and yes, Mr. Gallagher (he doesn’t deserve his title) must have his trial. I still believe in the rule of law. Unfortunately, it sounds like Mr. Gallagher and his superiors who protected him don’t.
32
Ugly right-wing, authoritarian Americans as far as the eye can see.
Congratulations to the Navy SEALs who did the humane thing and told the truth and broke the disgusting military code of silence, cover-up and denial.
37
Gallagher will write a book, and Oliver North will write the foreword. SEAL worship in American conservatism knows no bounds. Just like the SEALS.
12
"...and questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you and went on your way." Hubris and glorification breed depravity.
5
But it's TRUE. You sleep under the umbrella of safety he provides......right?
It appears the Navy has created some normal looking Frankenstein’s. Methinks that must be because of a years long culture of war and hate.
3
War is about killing an armed enemy.
Killing children and unarmed people is sick.
A thing done by a psychopath.
12
"Only the dead have seen the end of war." ~ George Santayana
3
There is a Code of Conduct that differentiates between killing and murder. The military in conflict can be an opportunity for a psychopath if those around him become complicit. When you start rationalizing that a "little bit of murder" is kinda ok, but a lot of murder is not, then those who fight and die in our behalf dishonor the uniform they wear.
7
Never been at war, so can't come close to understanding the threat he may have felt from a wounded man and a young girl walking with friends. I think if you see enough you probably see threats everywhere. And the guy is hired and paid by us to go over there and conduct a war. So this is a very grey area.
I hope that whatever happens, jail or pardon, that he gets some mental health help. I can't imagine being able to pick off a young woman or stab a man who was not really a threat to you and have a healthy mind that allows you to interact with society. Can you really reliably turn off that mentality that would allow you to without much thought kill a young woman? IMO, that's a whole lot different than shooting someone trying to actively kill you....
6
Seven (7) of his own, separate, trained-killer, warrior SEAL brothers-in-arms who were in the same place he was, or very close to it, witnessed and accuse him, not average civilians who know nothing of war.
He, like everyone, ought be considered innocent til proven guilty, but unless he was privy to top secret info and had orders other than these fellow SEALs, I lean toward their telling of the story. SEALs aren't known for spilling secrets, so the fact that these men did, suggests something very wrong was going down. Seven of them. Add five more, and you've got a jury of peers.
4
@Hope. Lots of stress on the Special Operations Community and it is beginning to tell on the organizations. As far as I’m concerned Chief Gallagher is innocent until proven guilty but I don’t like his odds given the facts we currently are privy to. Special Forces Command (Army) is also having issues. In their case Senior NCOs are claiming training standards are being reduced to meet operational goals. Never a good thing. And it appears the chain of command is, as it sounds like in the case of the Navy, loathe to own up to their command failures. Not atypical for certain careerists in any organization, but extremely disturbing coming from the military. However people need to remember we train and deploy vast numbers of men and women every year. Doing dangerous things in bad working conditions for low wages. The overwhelming majority perform nobly and with honor under conditions most of you can’t begin to imagine. Some of them however will come off the tracks. The test of these organizations is what they do when some members are found who violated “normal” behavior.
The 15 year old was identified as an IS fighter. I have no issue at all with what happened to him, I seem to recall a Jordanian pilot being burned to death by ISIS. And people being beheaded. They are at war, either let them win it, which we absolutely have the capability to do, or get them out.
@BorisRoberts
So, you're saying it's all right that we act like ISIS?
20
So you want Americans to behave like terrorists? Lovely. This country is lost.
6
I bet his hero Trump will pardon him and say he is a true patriot. I am retired military and the time i was in i never bullied any one or let the corrupt get ahead. This man needs a dishonorable discharge with no benefits. But as we know the GOP will shower him with money and say great work. Very sad.
8
I wonder if the Chief was a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Atheist or otherwise adherent and does that matter as to his intentions and inhuman actions? Inquiring minds need to know such Truths.
The Four “W’s & One H” of news reporting: who, what, why, where and how. New Rule: whenever a criminal or immoral act is reported the alleged perpetrator their religious identity must be included in the news report. Consider the possibilities of having a better informed public!
1
How hard was it to bring some justice to the perpetrators at Mai Lai during the Vietnam war? This sounds similar.
6
I think the human spirit reaches a threshold when it is trained to kill repeatedly. The military is full of good people, however, some will crack.
2
Culture?
Who gets a Medal of Honor for being part of stupid decisionmaking that gets their team wiped out?
I know,I know! SEALS.
Remember the team that happened on a shepherd,decided their only options were to kill him or set him free? And then? Have him run off to alert the Taliban.
How about aborting your mission? How about tying the kid to a tree till your mission was over? How about thinking outside the box as SEALS are wrongly renowned for?
Instead of treating this situation as a case study in stupid decision making, a Medal of Honor is awarded! Talk about defiling the Medal of Honor and those whose intelligent bravery has earned it.
In such a culture, where football players are prized recruits (apparently because of their hard workouts - huh? That's what makes a SEAL?), it is not surprising to see alternate realities play such a large role.
Guess we'll just have to keep on hearing of SEALS war crimes, murders of Green Betets, running amok, and then retiring to book tours and media rmbracement.
My trajectory with first admiring and now disdaining SEALS, follows my trajectory with Israel. Ultimately, both are just amoral bloodthirsty bullies, who "win" through superior technology and resources. The good among them are drowned out by the bad. And the bad among them are capable of a great deal of carnage, and that is exactly what they deliver.
6
Our military has a history of targeting civilians. Usually this is done by air power and is considered more acceptable, even though it causes many more civilians to be killed. This soldier is different than most because he’s open about how much he loves killing people. I don’t think he’s typical, but he can’t be that much of an aberration in the special forces in particular. Giving him life in prison or the death penalty would be a gross injustice because of the hypocrisy that would demonstrate.
3
Bravo to the whistle blowers. Too bad Snowden won't get accommodation for doing the same.
4
America's glorification of war showing though again. When guys like Gallagher get shot in the head or have their limbs blown off like 2 of my cousins in Vietnam, maybe then they will understand how horrible war is.
Governments are the cause of war. Only they use humans to do the dying for them.
4
Who woulda thunk it. America’s endless illegal and immoral wars, overt and covert, waged by the .01% imperialists for control of various markets and the maintenance of the dollar as reserve currency, predispose wanton murderousness.
4
I'm sickened by what this man has done to innocent people. He should pay a heavy price and the military should be cleaned up. I am strongly conservative, and I find his actions intolerable.
4
Reading the reports about Gallagher’s sniper “exploits” in Iraq reminded me of the horrible accounts of the Serbian paramilitary snipers during the siege of Sarajevo 1992-1995 who indiscriminately shot innocent men, women and children civilians as they made desperate forays outside their refuges for food and medicines. Monstrous psychopaths all of them.
8
"He's out there operating without any decent restraint, totally beyond the pale of any acceptable human conduct." Life imitates art, sure, but originally art imitates life. The zeroing in to focus on one man's depravity, certainly legitimate for justice, should not be allowed to be a handy dodge, to distract us or inure us from the depravity of our culture's longrunning war psychosis. There is a greater justice needing attention, too.
4
The NavyTimes article mentions his use of anabolic steroids.
I think that is pretty well known for producing aggressive , violent behavior.
I had a former boyfriend who was using those and I ended up with 2 black eyes when I said the wrong thing one time.
11
Sadly, our NYT supported the illegal invasion of Iraq while there was no evidence that the country had WMD. Tens of thousands of civilians were killed. It led to the birth of ISIS and other extremist groups not only in Iraq but throughout the region. Yet it did not stop the US/UK from repeating the mistake in Libya and Syria under the guise of "spreading democracy". Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have died as a result. Unless we learn, but quickly, the next invasion will probably lead to a nuclear disaster.
4
@Dominick Eustace
What are you, a paid Russian blogger. Or are you just clueless?
The US did not cause Syria, Dominck. C'mon, it was a bloody civil war and Al-Assad caused the problem, aided by Russia and Iran. We just fought ISIS there.
In Libya, the US worked to prevent half of the country under Quddaffi from killing the other half. Maybe we should have not gotten involved, but it was not a clear moral violation to do so.
Sounds like you just like to rile up the uninformed US readers. Nice try...
5
Is this Clint’s next movie deal? Turning a killer into a hero. I am a bit nostalgic for the “make love not war” 60’s.
6
@JAB I remember those days. Unfortunately I was in the "war" part...
How many times have we seen men fail to report wrong-doing in an effort to "protect" other men? Whether it is the blue wall of silence with the Police Force, or this troop commander and his aide in Iraq, or an assistant coach not reporting the coach he observes molesting a boy... we see this all too often. Does this tend to be a "male" thing? And if it is, what can we learn from women about courage and doing the right thing?
3
Just like all the other power brokers in the world, he too, will get away with murder. Special thanks to the Seals that risked it all and still give their all in the quest of establishing the truth and remedying moral issues.
2
The article concludes, "Chief Gallagher told Chief Swarts about his looming investigation and said he felt he could not trust anyone any more. When Chief Swarts responded that he never thought SEALs would report one another, Chief Gallagher replied, 'Me either, those days are gone.'"
This prompts one question for Chiefs Swarts and Gallagher: Which of your fellow SEALs committed similar acts?
6
This is an outrageous abuse of power. Testosterone plus “Boys Will Be Boys” is making the SEALS and military who support this criminal irrelevant. They should all be removed from service and put on trial.
4
Chief Gallagher reminds me of the vicious and diabolical character played by Tom Berenger in Oliver Stone's Platoon.
It's astounding that about 40 Republican members of Congress are rallying to his support. This is how debased our political leaders and system have become! Small wonder that we have such a morally and ethically bankrupt leader in the White House as well.
5
This made me think of the character in “Platoon” as well, Tom Berringer. Thank God for the good Seals who took there oath and creed seriously and acted with honor !
1
The difference between MS 13 and the Navy Seals is that the Seals get nice military benefits including a nice retirement. Seriously, this sounds like a street gang and they operate with our tax dollars and demanding our thanks and praise. "Stabbing a defenseless teenage captive, picking off a school age girl". What really is the difference? Organized sanctioned murder.
Some have commented that is sounds like My Lai again. The 7 who spoke up will have the same reward as Thompson, Colburn and Andreotta who tried to stop the massacre and Ridenhour who reported it. Death threats and condemnation.
4
I'm 100% pro US military but killing women and children? This guy has to go if even remotely true. Not only is that brutal by itself, but he turns all the victims' families into insurgents.
4
The SEALs are the most elite warriors of the U.S., not U.N. peacekeepers. They are trained to kill, and should have discretion during their operations. Bleeding heart bureaucrats should in no way be involved.
What should be asked is why they were ever be there to begin with?
2
@EuroAmerican. What kind of “discretion to do the job” justifies stabbing to deat a wounded captive when securely back at your own base? That is just plain murder, even under the laws of war.
9
@Tim Perry Indeed. I still have my signed copy of rules of engagement and nowhere does it allow the murder of captured persons.
4
One of the results of "forever wars".
2
If the reports are true of Gallagher shooting and killing innocent civilians indiscriminately, for sport, he should rot in jail for the rest of his life. Gladiator idolization in sport and war is common, it doesn’t forgive murders, rapists, or other. This story reminds me of the old days, when a cops would respond to a domestic assault against a woman, and the abuser would say we are just sorting out our issues—and the cop would chuckle it off and not investigate. The seven members of Alpha Company should be promoted. They can be elite warriors and killers, and still have a moral compass.
267
Terrible abuses and people lose their way, their moral compass in the military just as they do in corporate America in crime ridden poor inner cities and so on. However there is courage and patriotism in the military too. Yes horrible things happen and awful inner conflicts however the US military including Navy Seals also have a great deal of integrity. Every nation has the equivalent of the Seals. Would you or I go on one mission? No. Would you go into Pakistan to get Bin Laden.
Many would like Seals to go at the Saudis!.
2
The only way to fix a culture of rot like this is to court martial and dishonorably discharge everyone up the chain of the command who discouraged reports, suspend everyone who was aware and didn't act on them, and demote everyone who ought to have known but didn't.
As for the whistle blowers, they should be promoted for exemplary leadership in spite of a festering wagon-circling culture.
Every instition that relies on fostering a culture of camaraderie and obedience to authority is susceptible to this. Just look at what a mafia-like institution police departments have become - they have more respect for corrupt or murderous cops than for cops who bring them to justice. But whistleblowers are the guardians of military virtue.
4
From one Navy vet to others: if these allegations are true this man is a murderer. There are no two ways about it. He is a murderer and he needs to be prosecuted. I salute the SEALS who exposed him and I salute all of the good men and women in our Armed Forces. The best in the world!
9
Whenever we "assist" in a foreign country's civil war, or more like (for example), ISIS, we inevitably end up spending billions of dollars, and worse, who knows how many casualties.
The worst off are the citizens of whatever country we are in. They have the massive "collateral damage". In stories written this, the few (but still there) truly psychotic people who are behind the trigger. Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and of course Syria have suffered; horrifically. Millions of casualties; dead or wounded. Two entire generations have been lost in Syria, along with all structures reduced to rubble.
You have men rained to be killers; especially the most elite killers, then sent somewhere to sit and do nothing, inevitably, terrible things are going to occur. I do not see how it can be avoided. You can't have it both ways.
This happens across the government offices all the time. Our officials protect the weak-minded. See something? Don't say anything - just keep your mouth shut.
In this case -- this guy clearly needed help but our officials don't understand that. As a result, worse and worse events happened and how many people are dead and now this guy's family will have to deal with this tragedy when the hearings over and spotlight, too.
Whistleblower laws need to be strengthened; they are rarely enforced in our corridors of justice.
Sincerely,
State Department whistleblower
4
The amazing thing is the complete and utter incompetence of the Navy. For thousands of years armies have known that training killers will result in rape, murder, and pillaging if soldiers are allowed to go unchecked. Hence the strict military discipline, absolute power of the chain of command, harsh penalties, and the strict punishment of the most trifling of offences. We know by training killers we are going to create sociopaths and it is up to the superior officers to control them and remove soldiers like this one that are unfit for duty, and harshly punish them as examples to others. It's like 1000s of years of military knowledge has been thrown out the window and the Navy was completely incompetent here.
This wasn't the height of the Iraq war here either where they were bringing in the bottom of the barrel, this was a small handpicked force on a defined mission. The incompetence is just astounding, and then to see politicians try to further undermine our armed forces and military capability by championing this psychopath, just disgusting and borderline treasonous. It is time we start holding the guilty and incompetent accountable, from the bottom to the very, very top.
3
this is what endless wars do- attract those interested in killing not resolving conflict.
2
It is clear to me that the seven sailors who reported Chief Gallagher repeatedly deserve the nation's highest military honor.
7
“Navy SEALs are regarded as the most elite commando force in the American military.“
I was under the impression that Delta Force is the most elite special forces unit and that USAF Pararescue members are the most elite individuals. That takes nothing away from the SEALs; I’m just questioning the author’s choice of words.
Watch Joe Rogan interview Andy Stumpf. This so called patriot threatens liberals and democrats in the event of a civil war. He wants to kill his fellow citizens because of differences in ideology, the man actually wants to kill again but here in America. Does anyone think we are safe from our returning soldiers? PTSD does not explain all of this.
2
The bigotry displayed in this comment section is concerning.
* This article is about one Navy SEAL allegedly gone rogue. And about his men who persisted in reporting him. Concluding that all SEALS (or all service members) are bad? Really not warranted.
* A small handful of conservatives came out to support him. Are they misinformed? Or do they have inofrmation not contained here? I don't know. But comments attacking conservatives in general also represents unwarranted stereotyping.
*These are allegations. Extremely serious allegations, but not currently proven. No, it doesn't sound good. But innocent until proven guilty is a thing.
Too many of these comments are written from a perspective of prejudice, hatred, and transferred guilt. If Gallagher is guilty, let him rot in prison. Not all SEALS, not all service members, and not all conservatives. I thought bigotry is a bad thing?
2
Most of the comments which are anti-military in general come from the FSB/GRU propaganda force. Russians never miss an opportunity to make the American military look like the world's biggest threat. There are plenty of discerning comments by actual Americans who don't condemn all military service but only psychopathic criminals.
2
Who cares about whether or not the reporters on this story have military experience? Remember who reported the Mai Lai massacre. This article lays out a trial of possible war crimes, reported by members of the most elite group in the military. Those who reported the alleged crimes are the heroes.
What do you think TV CSIA agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (and former TV JAG lawyer) would think about this trial? s/
1
Prosecute him for war crimes and murder.
The group and its prestige and exclusivity and fearsome can-do arrogance—became all the mattered.
2
If these allegations prove true (and I suspect they will), this is just another disgraceful example of how lying, entitlement, and dishonorable behavior have yet again poisoned even the most respected and "upright" sectors of our society.
1
This guy needs to be a mercenary working for a private contractor, so he can be subject to the normal laws applying to US citizens and the Geneva convention applying to soldiers.
This type of behavior is the result of constant war for the past 15-20 years. These troops never get to decompress, they live in a world of tension, killing, fear, PTSD. Brief periods back in the US before another mission are not enough time to settle down apparently.
Gallagher had five deployments to Iraq. That scrambles people’s brains, sense of right/wrong, glorifies killing. A person inclined to enjoy violence gets their values twisted.
The Special Forces apparently have some serious command leadership issues. We’ve put too much pressure on fallible human beings!
@JTOR. None of which justifies or excuses murder.
2
I'm an old proud Marine. When I read these stories I become ashamed. I was taught that if you are on the side of the righteous you would never abandon your honor and do such things as descripted in this piece. You become no better than gangsters, mercenaries, and thugs. A free people's military and especially it's elite troops have a sacred duty to act according to the highest moral standard's of their country. Those who commit these crimes and those who cover it up and enable them debase themselves, their wives, their parents, their children and their community. Shame on them.
562
@Oliver True words. Hand salute to you Marine.
Regards, retired Army.
37
@Oliver
We can be proud of people like you and the SEALs who reported Chief Gallagher.
37
@Oliver
Sir, thank you for your honorable service. There is always a right path and a wrong one. Those who serve our country with integrity have chosen correctly, and those who choose the wrong path do a huge disservice to our entire country.
15
Volunteering to serve an Empire's aggressive, expansionist war machine is never heroic, and "he was just doing his job" didn't work at Nuremberg and it shouldn't work anywhere.
The sad fact is that the American military has been mostly used for pre-emptive wars of aggression and hegemony without adequate congressional approval, and often based on blatant official lies, as the fantastic movie "Vice" shows was the case with the the Iraq War.
Just remember that since WW II our military has invaded and occupied so many foreign countries that never would have or could have attacked us--Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, and on and on.
Once you volunteer to carry a gun or drop bombs for Empire, you've joined the dark side.
But look what happened with Chelsea Manning. She provided proof of war crimes, and she was the one who was and is still being punished, while the people who committed the actual crimes walk free.
5
“It’s called special operations, not different operations.”
Is IT not ummenschlichkeit IF you can get away with?
During this era of "alt-facts."
Inherent in our a WE-THEY culture;
enabled by the complacency of many
The complicity of many others.
Anchored and traditionalized in a legacy of
personal unaccountability by civilian as well as
military policymakers at all levels.
IT is what IT IS!
Varnish furniture.
Don't varnish the truth!
It is good to know that there are SEALS -
people-who do whatever they are asked to do,
need to do, to protect and promote democracy,
however, this concept and process is delineated;
whose values, norms and ethics
underpinning wellbeing,
menschlichkeit and accountability
were not trained out of them.
Bless THEM!
Hold accountable those who empower
willful blindness.
Willful deafness.
Willful ignorance.
Willful SILENCE!
When volcanic outrage,
by words and deeds is needed.
Bless THEM; these courageous SEALS
who risked themselves. Their careers.
For an AMERICA which IS as GREAT as the
noncomplicit and non-complacent
sustain IT to BE.
Bless THEM.
This stuff happens because we are full of hubris and think we are superior/ above nature.
There is no such thing as a war crime, that is a false creation, by the West in the last fifty years that completely ignores all human and natural history.
Everyone deserves a fair trial and a vigorous defense. I'm sure the Navy will give him a fine lawyer for that purpose; no need for conservatives to raise money and make a hero of this fellow. "Support the Troops" does not mean people are free from accountability. Shooting people seemingly for sport is what we saw from the bad guy in Schindler's List, not something we should tolerate in one of our own.
There is nothing more demoralizing to any conscientious employee than to see someone do something bad or incompetent - and get promoted.
The seven SEALs who spoke up against their own chief are heroes.
2
War on foreign soil is a very, very tricky situation especially when civilians and religion are involved. Congratulations to the team for speaking up; however, if there was ever a situation that could compel one to act irrationally...
Now we have the opportunity to question candidates about their views on war. We usually avert our eyes and speak about everything except this crucial topic.
In an era in which our presidents appear to have an outsized sense of entitlement about leading us into wars under false pretenses or using drones cavalierly, an era in which Congress cedes its powers, an era in which our Congressmen and women are actually rewarded for their ignorant decisions by being elevated to the ranks of presidential candidates (see Hillary and Biden), we need to ask.
An era in which our war criminal former President paints his banal portraits in peace, surrounded by his family, hugged by the Obamas. We need to question.
In the 60’s we thought we would not have to endure the stupidity of senseless wars much longer. We were so wrong.
Question the candidates. Study their records. Let them know we will no longer tolerate these atrocities. It’s up to us.
1
Servant of Satan or a Saint? It depends. If perception is truth, then 100% yes to both. Truth resides as perception in the individual. It depends on who you talk to.
Reality, on the other hand, tends to disobey individuals’ perceptions. In the natural social order of groups, there are individuals who have received a disproportionate ratio of control over reality due to the skewed perceptions of those over whom he or she has asserted influence. Sometimes all it takes to change the dynamics of perception in the natural order is to beat the bully one time at his or her game.
If peaceful people are at war with terrorism, and terrorists of Islamic colorings claim innocent lives, how shocking is it that terrorists of Christian, Buddhist or Jewish colorings respond to achieve the same effect in different “legitimate” ways?
What is shocking to me is the extend to which people still do not recognize their own tangled biases and clannish commitments. They can compel people to rationalize and marginalize any conflict until emotions are jarred. Then, realizing that fragile perceptions face a certain death, people begin to relent and open up to a more accurate understanding and conciliatory acceptance of reality.
Whose perceptions are considered if they are only found in individuals, and which reality is best if there is only one? This is more than a psychological or philosophical question, it’s our history. The real question is this: How are we going to change it?
Sickening. I wish I could say, “That’s not who we are.” But clearly that is who we are. More than 50 years since My Lai, we haven’t learned a thing.
3
Special forces are...special. Not heroes. But a special breed of men.
It doesn't surprise me, therefore, that the platoon members of the accused man were not intimidated by the empty threats made towards them by their CO two-and-a-half.
Sure, you have to be physically tough to make selection, but more than anything you need mental, emotional and spiritual resilience.
At their finest, special forces exemplify all that is best about the warrior spirit: tough; laconic; determined; unbendable; cheerful; graceful under fire; brave; loyal to their mates but also to their traditions; compassionate; humane; caring.
The accused is almost forty years old. I doubt he's a full-blown psychopath as scored by the Hare protocol. If the accused man were a psychopath or a sociopath, then his personality disorder would have manifested itself as a teenager, or in his twenties, or early thirties at the latest.
It's more likely that he's developed a psychosis, possibly what used to be called paranoid schizophrenia before the subcategory was removed from DSM-V.
2
That a serial killer was allowed to run rampant and even praised for the carnage he left behind him is incredible to me. I congratulate those who came forward putting their own lives at risk. I hope this exposé brings justice and karma.
3
This sad, creepy story is a side effect of switching over to a professional military, one that is over-deployed in our endless series of interventions and police actions. This guy Gallagher should be dismissed from the military, if not charged with criminal conduct. He could be a real beaut in civilian life, though.
The fact that this soldier will only defend himself on Fox News is the only thing I need to know about him. It seems that, just like our President, he needs the safety of a propaganda machine. His accusers have taken great risks to bring these charges.
3
No matter what happens in the military courts of law, this guy was made to be pardoned by this admin. Ironic how the guy who got five deferments rather than go to Viet Nam absolutely loves the so called tough guys of the military.
1
American war criminals should not be worried. The Government's sanctions against the International Criminal Court guarantee that they will not be held accountable, at home or abroad.
2
The training of warriors, especially at the elite level, is always a cautionary tale. They need to be capable of doing the most terrible things, but within the rules of what they know, and the law tells them is acceptable.
Without real leadership you can expect the worst, and it will happen. The fact that what passes for leadership anymore defends this behavior is a bigger problem than the chief. Maybe next time we elect someone who has served with distinction, or didn't serve for true reasons of conscience.
The tree dies from the top. Why is it when these situations arise, senior officers never seem to be charged? A few courts-martial of higher ranking officers might stem the rot.
1
It seems that the Republicans feel compelled to defend this behavior as well. Is there no way we can place basic moral principles above politics anymore?
Consider how the top tends to protect itself, its power and prerogatives.
Take it out of this particularly murderous context, and you can apply this general dynamic to most if not all of society, especially in these times of suppression and 1%.
And how much we need the bottom (including us, the people) to be brave and willing, in spite of threats or worse, to speak the truth and protect the innocent.
This is an ongoing issue in the military. Situations pertaining to war, conflict, and human behavior should be addressed upon entering the military. Soldiers should be aware that each person's rationale is different and while some people can make sound decisions, others logically become distorted, the equation by which they measure and reason is off kilter (and all of us are subject to this distortion depending on the situation).
The military should instate programs in basic training for soldiers making them aware of these complications. We each process experiences differently and knowing how to deal with certain events--understanding if you're type "A" or "B" --really can help a soldier tremendously.
Also providing books, biographies and memoirs of soldiers and their experiences will really allow for soldiers to grasp the military life and the mentality needed. It would also put soldiers on a path to empowerment and sustainment.
If these allegations prove true then some members of our military are violating values that include freeing persons from tyranny and violence.
Should the leadership be guilty of coverups, they are no better than the forces we ask them to fight against.
I remember the My Lai massacre and the fallout from that disturbing action. It took two soldiers to bring those killings to light. The claim was "the heat of the battle" which motivated those to take the action they did.
Our military is expected to take the high road morally and ethically and stay within the bounds of regulations and military law. When they cross that line and enter the dark side they must be punished. That goes for all involved, enlisted and officer alike, including the "ring knockers".
However, we have become immune to the horrors of war due to the extended length and multiple deployments. We have idolized those who proclaim to have multiple "kills" and we in a way have accepted the actions our military takes, good and bad.
The statement "they do worse things to us" is not acceptable. In engaging in our own form of terrorism we foster terrorism against us as witnessed in the theaters of combat from Vietnam to today.
The chief, should the allegations bear fruit and he is convicted, his actions soil the military in it entirety.
If Trump, in his ignorance of military rules and regulations pardons or commutes sentences should they come about is also complicit.
The US has been at war at one time or another longer than it has been at peace. We are the "world's policeman" and we like the job apparently. Many of us citizens want a new model of American power, predicated on peace, using our innovation, our creativity, to engage the rest of the world. With outfits like Fox and our current resident at 1900 Pennsylvania Ave, this won't happen anytime soon, but boy, it sure needs to. Regardless of the phony patriotic hype of "protecting our freedom" (ask yourself when was the last war that truly protected us at home?), American militarism is killing us all in the eyes of the world, and stains our moral character, especially when we see this kind of behavior. Remember My Lai.
“The Warriors,” a meditation on combat by the philosopher and WWII veteran J Glenn Gray, addresses the various reasons that men are drawn to battle. Gray identifies several different motivations: a sense of duty...the desire to test oneself...the attraction of war as spectacle... But one driver in particular stands out: Some men, Gray writes, are born killers, and they find themselves in combat as in nowhere else.
Commenters who blame Gallagher’s alleged crimes on failures of United States policy are right only in the trivial sense that had the US never gone to war, Gallagher would never have killed anyone. There’s nothing special about America or the recent wars in which it has been engaged that produces cases like this one. All wars generate such atrocities.
2
Regardless of mens rea or criminal intent, what we have created is the need for much greater scrutiny of our young warriors' mental fitness--which is not a pejorative but a "save your life" scenario after service is complete. The killing culture of war is going to affect many if not all young men and women and if we spend $150M on a fighter and tell the pilot to eject when it's failing, we ought to consider spending those sums on the mental affects of war including but not limited to PTSD. It starts with free medical care for all veterans of combat. Completely free with mental health benefits. That ought to make some Pentagon pencil necks think twice about armed conflicts...
1
The first major problem are the alleged actions taken by Chief Gallagher. From what various individuals have stated on the record, Chief Gallagher was clearly following "different operations" rather than following "the same laws as all other troops, called special operations".
The second major problem and obstacle are the members of Chief Gallagher's chain of command who either took no action after being told of his actions or to “decompress” and “let it go.”
The mindset of "you don’t just keep it in the family, you keep it in the immediate family" and to "turn a blind eye is common" allows those individuals to continue crossing the line with no consequences for their actions. This dangerous attitude will only perpetuate the uncalled for murder of innocents.
Whenever a military individual begins to enjoy the kill more than having remorse or even a pause for killing a child or elderly man, then something seriously wrong has evolved while this individual has been "dis-serving" this country.
2
I would call your attention to the 2018 BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures by the esteemed Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan for a thorough understanding of the intense need for war amongst humans. Savagery, nearly unimaginable acts of violence, and routine degradation of the "Other" are apparently innate qualities of our race, and are unfortunately common to, but by no means exclusive of, males. Until we progress to the point of abhorrence of all forms of hatred and aggression, stories such as these will continue to come to the fore. Honor is due those men who chose the higher need for redemption by exposure than those who continue to protect such a psychopath. These persons are culpable and will hopefully be held accountable for their choice to aid and abet such a lost soul.
@Ed Ashland
I agree with @HONOR. Guard, below.
Resisting, reporting, investigating, and when indicated prosecuting and penalizing a soldier/sailor/air(wo)man/marine for war crimes IS supporting our troops. And better done by Americans in America than ignore it, have it fester and demoralize and even mortalize (kill) the souls of our troops.
2
The actions described here are among the worst fears I had when the military became all volunteer. As has been mentioned in prior comments, the ability to kill with impunity is what attracts a certain element of young to enlist. This is not conjecture, it is fact. When these men return to to civilian life, they seek other ways to sate their adrenaline jones.
Now, Trump is already stepping in where he has no business being. Our heel-spurred president lied his way out of any opportunity to be, in the eyes of some, a combat hero, so he curries the favor of these wild cards with smug glee.
I smell another pardon coming on.
1
As Trump’s GOP ignores laws and process in pursuit of power it’s unsurprising to hear the same justification for war—focus on ends, ignore means. Democracies cannot exist on these terms, principles matter and outcomes will always be viewed in light of the processes that created them. Shame that this lesson has to be continually relearned.
3
What? They reported the terrible action to their higher up,in the government and he repressed the investigation instead of looking into it and thanking them for coming forward? I can hardly believe it, I said dripping with sarcasm. Name a government higher up that does the right thing instead of repress and retaliate. They may have been highly trained soldiers loyally and honestly serving their country who I support, but they were not trained in politics and PR. I feel sorry for them having to go through so much stress in an attempt to do the right thing.
3
This always happens when you vaunt a group to an untouchable, super-hero status—
So highly esteemed that they don't require oversight.
[But humans always yearn to find such a group and place it in a hallowed status. An aspiration, an ideal to believe in, that is unimpeachable.]
1
My recollection is that exactly the same arguments in defense of war crimes was made during the My Lai investigation and reporting. Fifty years on we know that the murders took place, insufficient punishment was meted out, and that the soldiers who reported the crimes are now considered heroes. Let us hope that if Chief Gallagher is found guilty, he won't be the only one punished, and that the leadership that covered for him will receive appropriate punishment.
2
cSending someone out on 5 deployments is unconscionable and all in the chain of command who approved that many deployments are the one's who should be held accountable. We know that humans cannot survive that much high intensity combat with their humanity intact. one and done would be a more responsible policy.
3
By all accounts Chief Gallagher was a stellar SEAL for many deployments. For what he did pre-2017 he deserves thanks; most of the country cannot understand the skill, sacrifice, discipline and steel it takes to be a SOF warrior. That said, past good works do not and cannot justify horrific breaches of ROE, trust, and yes, discipline. It appears the Chief was not able to transition from conducting direct action missions to advise and assist missions, and failed to adapt to the changing realities of war...something any good leader must do to lead and serve our country.
2
I have the same thoughts as I did when I saw “American Sniper”. We went to somebody else’s country to pick a fight. We got our way.
We found lots of different kinds of people there and we ourselves had different kinds of people. No matter what you think of the specifics of this case or the glorification of our American sniper, all of our troops would have defended America, their families and themselves had the situation been reversed and our country was invaded. Some of our troops would have committed the kinds of atrocities committed by Iraqis and other Islamic fighters against us. We would have regarded those acts as defending the homeland.
Whether we have also been as vicious to each other as Iraqis were, who knows. We don’t have 1,000 years of hating each other for our religious beliefs as are found in the Middle East. But we do have other societal divisions and our current political climate is the result of certain of our leaders who seek to inflame and divide us for their political advantage. Luckily we have a very different political history than the Middle East. I hope our values hold despite the efforts by some to destroy them. And I hope that we hold our troops fighting in foreign countries to the standards that we claim to have.
2
In the post 9-11 culture, our military was encouraged to be as courageous and aggressive as necessary. In fact, it was celebrated. Now we have forgotten what we promised we would never forget and we have turned on our own... but those that led us into this conflict will never pay. These war crimes are not on our soldiers, they are on those who led us into this war in the first place. I, for one will never condemn them until we declare the national leaders who lied to us in the first place.
What makes me deeply sad, if true, is a report I read (not sure when or where) that this man has suffered traumatic brain injury. If so, it thoroughly changes the entire equation.
I once worked with a former navy seal at a prominent financial services company. At first I thought his background was really interesting and made him an asset to the firm. I was wrong. He routinely pressured people to lie, threatened subordinates not to go to HR, and when challenged would actually say "the rules don't apply to me". He accused direct reports of "betraying the chain of command" if they tried to report his sketchy (and illegal) activities, and would make people pledge loyalty to him over that of the firm. He was very smart, but also very scary as he truly seemed to be operating with a different and very extreme hegemonic belief system, acting like it was normal in corporate america and beyond. Reading articles like this helps me understand even more how he got to be the way he is, and my experience working with him makes nothing in this article surprising.
2
While reading this article about Edward Gallagher, I was reminded of the earlier case of William Calley and his many, many vocal supporters in the American heartland.
As some might recall, supporters of Calley often canvassed restaurants in the 1970s, and they sought monetary donations for his legal defense or signatures on "Free Calley" petitions. Racist firebrand Governor George Wallace of Alabama visited Calley while he was incarcerated and urged President Richard Nixon pardon him. After Calley's conviction, the Nixon White House "received over 5,000 telegrams; the ratio was 100 to 1 in favor of leniency."
Yes, millions upon millions of decent Americans—including prominent journalists—approved of Calley's horrific actions during the My Lai Massacre. It seems no matter how vile a certain atrocity is, there is always a vocal segment of the U.S. population who firmly believe that any deed should be excused if it was committed during wartime conditions. In their minds, the enemy must be deterred at all costs, even if women and children must perish in the process. Of course, racial and religious bigotry often plays an unstated yet important role in their unconditional support of such figures as William Calley, John Chivington, James Forsyth, and others in U.S. military history.
3
I find military people quite frightening and, as shown here, lacking good judgement. The last time they did anything really good for our country was nearly 75 years ago.
1
@jkenb are you serious? There are literally millions of veterans in the US - what in the world are you basing this on? Quite frightening? I guarantee you, if you would meet me, you would never know I had served for almost 25 years and retired as a mid grade officer. You would not have a clue unless I told you. Way to paint millions of your fellow Americans as unstable.
Sounds like it's a difficult situation to adjudicate, which means the benefit of doubt ought to go to the American service man.
@Johnny. What’s hard to adjudicate? The court-martial will hear all the evidence, not read a newspaper article. Then the court will decide what is proven to be true.
2
If Chief Gallagher dd half of what's alleged, he's a war criminal. Not every war fighter can use the measured restraint necessary, particularly after repeated engagements and exposure to danger. That's no excuse but it is an explanation.
As a Navy combat veteran in Vietnam I am neither naive nor cavalier. But if Gallagher is proved to have been so far out of control, his superiors, including the Alpha platoon Officer in Charge and the SEAL Team Seven CO, are guilty of unacceptable lapses in supervision and leadership. They, too, should be courtmartialed. And if Gallagher is innocent they still should be censured for obstructing the complaints of Gallagher's shipmates. Thank God for the NCIS getting involved.
4
Chief Gallagher might think that he can get away with murder as collateral damages in the battlefield. The truth eventually came out and caught up with his actions. I hope he will have a meaningful sentence to serve as a warning to other soldiers in the battlefield that rules of engagement still count. At last but not the least, I think we should improve psychological treatment or mental fitness for our soldiers.
2
The skyrocketing suicide rates of military personnel and veterans and news stories such as this one suggest the possibility that there are more “Gallaghers” going unreported and untreated than we recognize. Those military personnel who commit these acts and those who observe them need help. Something is very wrong here and we can’t let these incidents go unrecognized. These people deserve our help so we can end the cycle.
Over the years I've heard purposely undetailed recounts about illegal or breaking-the-rules' killings from Vietnam and Iraqi war vets, Army, Marines and Seal. I always agreed with their assessments that civilians such as me could not possibly fathom the nature of war environments. So I'm left thinking the U.S. kills less innocents per dollar of GDP than other countries. It's a cold comfort.
Heroes do not commit war crimes. If he committed these crimes, he should go to jail. Commissioned and non-commissioned military leaders are supposed to lead by example and comport themselves with honor, ethics and integrity, and they are supposed to hold accountable both superiors and suboordinates who do not. Episodes like this undermine America’s credibility, sully the accomplishments of serving members, and make it exponentially harder for SOF veterans like me who are trying to find work in the civilian workplace and already have to contend with misperceptions and assumptions about our temperament and character. BZ to the SEALs who had the courage to step forward and lead by example.
4
Support the troops!
6
@Ed Ashland "Support the troops!"
Certainly. What particular type of support do you recommend for which particular troops in this case?
15
I'm confused. Is "supporting the troops" the same thing, in your mind, as supporting war crimes?
Or is your post meant to be sarcastic?
18
There are many soldiers in this story worth supporting--but a war criminal is no hero. At least the Navy SEALs tried to have him removed from command, unlike cops who fall in behind the thin blue line.
22
"There are things that I must not write, and that may not be printed in Great Britain, which would seem to show that this Western civilization of ours is merely a veneer over savagery."-Journalist George Lynch
13
@Shackleford ... And yet it behooves us to continue to struggle to maintain the veneer. Without it, what have we become?
How is ignoring accusations of gross malfeasance supporting the troops. Seriously, the knee-jerk nature of conservative commentators and right-wingers amazes me.
28
"Picking off a school-age girl and an old man from a sniper’s roost. Indiscriminately spraying neighborhoods with rockets and machine-gun fire" - war crime. The bigger crime is being advised to keep silent.
21
Every single person who covered this up should be jailed for life. Perhaps others in the military will learn from it.
19
Some of these acts are criminal. some are clearly taken out of context. I am also sure in my opinion, many are snap shots of time, like videos of police brutality that start after the perpetrators instigated the altercation. What bothers me the most is the enjoyment, the sense of accomplishment and unbelievable sense of success that the N.Y.T. always gets when they have an opportunity to take our military down. I don't know, but has anyone in the N.Y.T. upper management ever served? My guess is they just eat the fruit of everyone else sacrifice
2
@Colby allan They report the facts of our time, those "snapshots" you mention. And I doubt anyone in the news business enjoys a sense of accomplishment or success reporting crimes like those described by Chief Gallagher. The man is clearly unfit for command or to serve. Perhaps he was, at one time, a paragon of leadership under fire, a man of bravery and purpose. But he succumbed to some kind of bloodlust along the way.
What else could explain indiscriminate machine gun and rocket fire into neighborhoods? What else could explain the desire to plant his specially made knife into a wounded boy's chest, killing him. Or shooting old men and schoolgirls at a distance? What indecent cowardice! There is nothing collateral about the targeting of the innocent, the unarmed, the defenseless.
We should stand behind our military, but we need to salute those brave men who probably sacrificed their careers as SEALs to report an unfit warrior amongst them.
1
You mean like Trump's military service?
1
>>> "Some of these acts are criminal. some are clearly taken out of context."
In what "context" would you find killing children, at random, acceptable?
>>> " What bothers me the most is the enjoyment, the sense of accomplishment and unbelievable sense of success that the N.Y.T. always gets when they have an opportunity to take our military down."
That bothers you "the most," huh?
Bothers you more than gratuitously murdering children?
Bothers you more than murdering a wounded prisoner, in cold blood?
Bothers you more than randomly spraying a neighborhood with heavy machine-gun fire?
>>> "I don't know, but has anyone in the N.Y.T. upper management ever served? My guess is they just eat the fruit of everyone else sacrifice."
The behaviors you seek to excuse do not constitute "service." They are simply war crimes.
And it's been a very long time since our military misadventures produced "fruit" for ordinary Americans, unless we count the bitter, poisonous fruit of killing and dying for lies in service to our military-industrial complex.*
*See Eisenhower's farewell address to the nation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg-jvHynP9Y
3
There are several posts here that indicate the victims probably had it coming. People should remember, WE lied about Iraq and invaded them. We are the aggressors and the invaders. Gallagers actions have zero to do with American security but a lot to do with oil fields and Christian imperialism.
22
It seem this man who says his ultimate goal is to destroy terrorists became one himself.
16
Imagine this guy being found not guilty, leaving the service, and ending up as your next door neighbor. Chilling.
19
@john...Or on your local police force; even more chilling.
3
@john Yes and he’ll probably be hired by Fox
1
Sadly, our NYT supported the illegal invasion of Iraq. The brutality that followed - including the killing of tens of thousands of civilians and the birth of ISIS and other extremist groups throughout the region - was a direct consequence of the initial lies that led to the invasion. It did not stop the US/UK repeating the action in Libya and Syria under the banner of "spreading democracy".
6
Sounds like a modern day Col. Kurtz.
2
When any 'elite' unit is glorified, there is always a 'crazy' attached to their doings. In Viet Nam- troops were known to cut fingers and otherwise maim dead or seriously wounded so called enemies.
Look when your train killers and set them loose....this occurs.
Cover-ups always happen in units of police, military and other groups than move towards violence. So do gangs and cult militia members- all with justified explanations. The disregard for another human is the basic lost tenet here.
4
Twenty-five years ago, a local roofer working on my Cairns rental, who claimed to be ex-SAS (Australia not UK), described to me in graphic, convincing and disturbing detail how as a young soldier enlisted in the Australian Infantry in Vietnam, the machine gunner in his platoon had wiped out, just for the fun it, an old man walking behind his water buffalo in a Vietnamese paddy field.
He also told me how later, when he was a member of his Australian SAS squadron, during an Indonesian national election they had gone ashore to an Indonesian island, kidnapped a populist politician opposed to Suharto (after killing his bodyguards in his villa), hid in the jungle overnight, and then returned in their inflatable rubber boats with their captive to the US frigate or destroyer in international waters.
Using his satellite phone, the CIA liaison officer on the warship described the drugged captive to his superior in Washington. Once the captive's identity had been confirmed, the CIA officer pulled out his revolver and shot the captured politician in the back of his head. The corpse was then weighted down and dumped into the Pacific.
Were either of these stories true? I don't know but I've been trying to find out the truth of the latter for the last quarter of a century.
2
An old study (?) showed that those with psychopathic tendencies can hide in the military where their murderous actions can be covered up as actions of war.
6
Can these highly demanding jobs be at risk of hacking by the monsters amongst us?
@Clara Gonzalez Spinolo: Absolutely. And there is also a serious risk that they will create and train additional monsters -- who are then set among us.
The chief American war criminals in Iraq were George Bush, Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Don Rumsfeld and Condoleezza Rice. They have not been calked to account for their crimes.
By focusing on the lowest persons in the military uniform chain of command, this process ignores the senior command legal culpability doctrine established by the war crime trials at Nuremberg and Tokyo.
9
No surprise here. These are the attack dogs for the government. They are trained killers with a license. Special Forces are also the whitist unit in the military inculcated with a racist and violent culture. "Elite" units like these have been infamous for torture and murder long before there were "Seals." In Vietnam the 'Green Berets' organized with the CIA Phoenix Program to torture and murder some 50,000 Vietnamese. This trial is only because this guy free-lanced his murders. The government needs disciplined killers not yahoos.
3
They have been that way since at least Vietnam.
2
"Navy SEALs are regarded as the most elite commando force in the American military." Not by members of the 75th Ranger Regiment and brothers in CAG.
7
Is anyone really surprised by this? really?
6
Why does the GOP and the “Christian right” have no problem with the innocent beating hearts that this murderer has stopped? Rhetorical question. We all know why. To call it hypocrisy is an insult to hypocrites everywhere.
12
@ET The so-called Christian conservatives are neither Christian nor conservative. And they certainly aren't "right." Religion and their version of conservativism is a cloak for bigotry and ignorance.
1
@ET
Agree.
This type of repulsive behavior by our military forces our nation to either question our ideals or enforce the laws and rules they are based on. Bravo to the seven that stood firm against this monster!
7
This is clearly a case of an unhinged psychopath in a uniform, murdering with immunity and protected by a dysfunctional institutional culture!
Dehumanization is the default state - the enemies are dehumanized. And more often then not, the men doing the fighting in the uniform themselves become dehumanized.
That the US Armed forces sweep these disturbing incidents under the proverbial carpet is a shame. As a US Citizen, all I can say is Not in my name, not on my dime!
And why is maximum punishment for cold-blooded murders by Chief Gallagher just life-imprisonment? Either eliminate capital punishment or have a consistent standard. Cold-blooded intentional murder in uniform is still murder.
And why in the world are the so called conservatives always jumping to the defense of psychopathic murderers, especially when they happen to be men in uniform? Some Jesus lovers you guys are!
6
The fact that he has acted heroically and honorably in the past and served his country, does not excuse the fact that he is a sadistic, “violence for pleasure” seeking psychopath. He has brought dishonor to the uniform and to his country. The United States cannot have any moral authority in the world with people like this serving. He should be court-martialed and dishonorably discharged.
10
Another great story by the NYT!
1
If the allegations are true, Chief Gallagher is a disgrace to the service. Sociopaths might make good killers, but not good soldiers.
12
It’s not about choosing a side, it’s about choosing who you are.
6
That close-up of his face says it all.
2
Nearly half million died in our 'war of choice' in Iraq, much of it based on outright lies and deception and this is the best we can do in outrage?
1
It’s not about choosing sides, it’s about choosing who you are.
4
Recruiting football players because they're tough!
Training hard but somehow never considering common sense? Or values? Or decency?
As if SEALS murdering Green Berets is not enough, now we have an extensive network of senior SEALS refusing to act against those whose own comrades accuse of war crimes and murder!
What a brotherhood! No wonder the guy who claims he shot Bin Laden, immediately went on a book tour and media parade.
These guys are exactly what they appear: thugs for hire, trained and led by fellow thugs. With the decent among them threatened into silence.
Who gets a Medal of Honor for making s
5
This is the same kind of mentality that was on display with the unit 'Blackwater" in Iraq during a traffic jam. They just pulled out their weapons and killed 17 civilians in cold blood. Blackwater is the brain child of Erik Prince, brother of Betsy DeVos, both are part of Cadet "Bone Spurs" inner council.These are the people who are put forward as the face of this Nation. Blackwater changed it's name to "Academi", and continues to this day. What have we become? This is a National Disgrace!
7
This is, along with the what lieutenant Calley did in the unnecessary War in Vietnam, killing people for the sake of killing people is a really an evil thing for a person in the US military to do. This man needs to be held accountable as well as all of those who didn't want the actions reported. How can we say we have the best military in the world if these things are happening nothing is being done !!!!
3
This has happened in every war, in Vietnam it was "Kill 'em all. Let God sort it out." The idea of a war that is fought by rules is a myth, it spirals out of control - Atrocities by both sides, friendly fire killings, fragging (killing your own people, particularly officers), so called 'collateral damage', corruption, , picking out someone to be the designated 'war criminal' for that war, all happen in every war, every time. It is one of the reasons why war should be a rare event.
4
He's nothing but a paid murderer and it is as disturbing that other people protected him and allowed his sadist behavior to flourish. His commanders who protected him and tried to intimidate the brave men who complained about him, need life sentences. It doesn't take courage to shoot little girls, kill unsuspecting women and stab wounded youths to death but it does take courage to put their own careers on the line to make sure the law and humanity are followed. Gallagher is a monster and so are his protectors.
3
"...some conservatives have rallied to Chief Gallagher’s defense, raising money and pressing publicly for his release." So now being a conservative means condoning murder...oops I forgot about J. Kashoggi. The prez is all in on that. Anyway, these seven whistleblowing soldiers are the real heroes.
63
"Two SEAL snipers told investigators that one day, from his sniper nest, Chief Gallagher shot a girl in a flower-print hijab who was walking with other girls on the riverbank."
It's infantile in the extreme for any grown adult to pretend we're the good guys in white hats in the countless corners of the globe where we routinely draw blood. It's a sick joke. I hope they throw Blade (more juvenile behavior) in prison for life. What's Guantanamo for? Clearly, our hypervigilance and fight to prevent a fight policies simply perpetuate the misery.
Shame on us.
40
@Garrick
Couldn't agree more: Start an unjustified war in Iraq so that we can train our children to kill brown people all over the world in the name of "defending freedom"; i.e., "defending the freedom to kill ..."
3
@Dude Thanks Dude. Maybe all this madness we're experiencing is necessary to change the course. What's more disturbing than this Gallagher guy are the sycophants that defend his actions. Murdering children and old men with intention and this guys defenders are thrilled. It's horrifying. Praying for better days my friend.
2
We support our troops....who are trained to kill.
2
@george eliot We support our troops to kill our enemies. Young girls and old men are hardly enemies.
Many thousands of men and women in all branches of our services have served honorably in combat. They honored their oath, they maintained their traditions, and they served with honor. Unfortunately, there were a few who were unable or unwilling to serve honorably. It seems some of our SEALS were among them.
2
@george eliot
Need to end that support.
1
Kill whom? Certainly not non-combatant teens and old people! Especially if they r not providing cover or aid to the enemy!
I wonder how the people who work at Fox and promote criminals like this jerk (and Trump) can look themselves in the mirror.
17
And now, we will hear from our Tweater in Chief, making a lot of tough talk about how he prefers strong Navy Seals who hit the enemy hard to weak Seals who observe rules of engagement.
8
Yes, he does! In business the profiteer is the winner, regardless of dirty tricks or breaking laws. Of course, the profiteer-in-chief who wants to "win" everything at any cost.
The navy seals have a culture of prizing aggression huh? That’s truly shocking
2
"Navy SEALs are regarded as the most elite commando force in the American military."
This is fake news
4
@Matthew
It is attitudes like yours (assuming this isn't just a provocative fake entry) that encourage this alleged behavior. Let the court martial process play out in this particular case, but let's not be blind to the fact that this can happen and must be controlled, or USA's worsening reputation will mean more lives lost due to retributions and lack of cooperation from civilians in conflict zones.
Sure wish the New York Times hadn't included the photo/promo for the t-shirt fundraiser in this article -- the jury is literally still out on the case.
6
No doubt that Chris Kyle would have been proud of Eddie. Don't worry, it will be much easier when these psychos are all unaccountable mercenaries.
4
@Gord
Nothing like making a baseless accusation against a dead man. Classy.
Mandatory service by all 18 year olds would bring an end to all these wars in 3 years or less. When Mommy and daddy’s little babies are getting killed this would stop
19
You may be right. But I would see my grandchildren in Canada before I would let the serve with a criminal like this.
2
@Tommyno,
Rich mummy's little babies would get deferments and this would carry on.
@Tommy The problems with the all volunteer military were recognized by some when it was established. There are some real dangers in having a professional military service, especially when there are those in that service who see themselves as being separate and apart from the rest of the population. That's a problem that clearly has become a problem for our police departments. It's an even worse problem if it involves the military.
I'm a veteran, US Army, Vietnam era. Unfortunately, this alleged behavior has been going on for thousands of years and until politicians stop sending people to die, will continue to happen. Some human's emotional makeup lends itself to brutality and, their empathetic reasoning is dulled by violence and killing. I remember being taught in basic training there were actions you didn't take, no matter who ordered you to do them. You would think mankind would have evolved beyond heinous acts like those witnessed, however, we have not. I hope the guy is innocent but it doesn't sound like it. If it is proven that these events occurred, the men who came forward are the true hero- warriors. War is truly hell for all concerned.
81
@Robert Shaffer
Best comment of the lot!
"I hope the guy is innocent but it doesn't sound like it." I had the similar thoughts when reading and re-reading this article.
I have a deep appreciation for every Vietnam vets in part because my brother is one. Sincere gratitude for your service.
16
@Marge Keller
But what exactly did he fight/kill for and the many others who died were left physically and emotionally scarred?
How do you convince one poor farmer or mechanic to pick up a gun, fly across thee world, to kill another poor farmer or mechanic. Vets deserve our sympathy for being tricked, or in Vietnams case, forced to fight, more so than deserving our respect. For respect would condone the justification of the lies peddled for war in the first place.
2
@Marge Keller Uh, you have "deep appreciation" and "sincere gratitude" for his "service" in Vietnam? Please read Kill Anything That Moves by Nick Turse. What American troops did in Vietnam was despicable and not worthy of respect.
3
Not sure about SEALs, but the rest of the military depends on well understood standards and 100% accountability. Anything less is a leadership problem.
It is worth noting that no previous war has had troopers in sustained operations/serial deployments for this length of time. Incidences of this type (if true) seem thankfully rare, but inevitable.
30
After the Mahmudiyah incident, in which American troops gang-raped a 14-year-old girl and murdered her, her parents, and her 6-year-old-sister, nothing surprises me anymore. Our military and police are good ole boys clubs. They operate by their own set of rules and punish detractors. Conservatives, who pretend to stand for freedom from the state, who stockpile guns because they claim to fear authoritarianism, worship them. These hypocrites would offer their firstborn to the devil if he wore a Navy SEAL uniform.
A sadist who knows the top brass will protect him when he murders innocents is about as far from the “macho” ideal as you can get, a pathetic coward with no sense of honor. The true measure of a man is his ability to know and responsibly handle his strength and do what’s right, even at great risk to his life. Instead of defending Gallagher, conservatives should be celebrating the brave men who challenged the state to bring him to justice.
312
@Mssr. Pleure, and just Who says they aren't?
Dad.
Retired military.
Sheep dog.
1
@Mssr. Pleure
You paint with a ridiculously wide brush. All military? All police? All conservatives? That is the way bigots sound. What is your basis for your accusations? This guy was turned in by his own men. This conservative supports those who did. Your ugly generalizations would be easily recognized for the prejudice it represents had you written that way about Muslims, or about African Americans.
6
@VCuttolo. He is referring in part to the two score Republican elected officials mentioned in the article. And regarding the police, this brush is broad. I would narrow it to include only those sick types who would deface our national flag with a blue stripe. Most of those oath-keeper type sworn officers have an oath to a state government.
4
War brings out the best in men, and the worst. It's a fine line between disciplined warrior and indiscrimate killer. This man must be presumed innocent, but if he's convicted by court martial, he deserves a life sentence. We cannot have a repeat of Calley in My Lai.
88
You seem to forget or not know that the mass murderer Calley spent precisely 1 day in prison for organizing the slaughter of 500 women, children, and elderly Vietnamese.
1
The Intercept did a good piece on the SEALs a while back. Took with a pinch of salt at the time, but this rings true with it. Tales of extrajudicial killings, torture, mutilation, extreme-machismo fetish of violence and terror and far too many enjoying it.
35
He'll probably be exonerated.
And later he'll murder his wife, any SEAL who testified against him, and any Muslim American he encounters in the USA, including women and children.
He seems to enjoy shooting girls, which in itself is pretty disturbing, as sniper rifles fire .50 BMG cartridges that cause devastating wounds.
67
@JustMe2
Typical SEAL in that region would use a MK13, MK11 or even TAC338. None of those are .50Cal.
The Mk15 or M82 use a .50BMG but are for anti-material-vehicle or long range (a mile...) sniping. If the accused SEAL Chief used a .50BMG on innocents, then this is really disturbing (but doesn't meet with the details of wounds described). More like .300/.338.
2
@JustMe2, oh you were there? You witnessed this? He's innocent right now. So fo and enjoy your freedom in this Great country. Justice will hopefully prevail.
1
@U.Z.
That makes it OK?
2
It's easy to make assessments and point the finger at the soldiers who face horrible situations day in and day out so we can run up and down the Vegas Boulevard and take our families to the beach.
I think we all need to step back and acknowledge that these soldiers have some of the most difficult, stressful jobs on the planet and when hard calls need to be made, we count on them to make them.
Besides, who here really thinks that soldiers on either side or consulting the Geneva Convention book when they're trying to stay alive, give me a break.
When I was at recruit training with the Marines, we were told not to shoot an enemy combatant in a parachute until he touches ground, we were then pulled aside by our drill instructors and told that many rules don't apply and if we are ever in that situation we shoot them.
Thankfully, I never had to go to war but I'll certainly reserve my finger-pointing and assessments and simply thank those who have......
Now everybody on the left can jump in and ridicule this comment, thank you for your time
14
I agree, war is hell. However, it was members of his own unit who felt the need to report it. War is not an excuse for the murder of innocent civilians, a true warrior respects this.
76
@There So what did your DI say about shooting children? OK because it's a difficult, stressful job?
40
@There Please explain how shooting a little girl in the stomach with a sniper rifle makes us safer here at home.
52
Some misuse military positions by misappropriating their power & roles. Some seek the military because it affords them opportunistic access to role and places where they abuse others.
The elite SEAL who graduates training is a major financial investment for the Navy/DOD. After the investment is made, who in the elite fraternity and leadership structure will rat him out? This guy exhibited his character earlier in his career--he 'earned' red stripes on his uniform sleeve. And he remained in service & was emboldened.
War touchstone: My Lai was exposed/got press because the scale was large and broad, had many witnesses beyond the infantry company grunts who shot the villagers. The event was reported by a chopper pilot or door gunner, not from within the infantry company. But the SEALS are an elite fraternity with a tight code that contained its secrets. It hid its criminal violations and violators. The structure of the SEALS teaches us how and why this twit would hold his rank and be protected to continue his war zone crimes.
But truth outs. Of course the vulgarian celebrity in the oval office (a braggart of his own sexual abuse & assault) lionizes the barking SEAL and uses him, in carnival-barker fashion, as a military celebrity and hero. Run for the tent exits.
44
@Kathryn I don’t disagree. If Gallagher is brought to trial Trump would probably not only pardon him but make him a colonel.
Cowardly bullies like Trump idolize killers like this guy. The real heroes in this account are the seven guys who risked everything including their lives, to blow the whistle on this madman. They’ll probably be drummed out of the SEALS, lose their pensions, and be branded as rats. According to this report Gallagher has already referred to them as ‘traitors.’
12
@Kathryn Not just a financial investment, but a cultural investment, an ego, emotional investment. That is where the problem of military adventurism and recklessness lies. "If you build it, they will come." We've been fighting perpetual war for corporate greed and national hubris since WWII. Jim Mattis fought and led with dedication in Iraq, but he was astounded by the absurdity of the US decision to go in there at all.
2
The fact that he was accused by a large group of people in his own SEAL culture says it all.
133
A criminal wearing a military uniform is just another criminal. See Nuremberg trials.
210
Here they are, spreading "Almighty's gift to humanity". Thanks, Dubya.
30
This is *precisely why Police Forces like LAPD do their best to hire military Veterans. I am not "picking on" LAPD, I have a
family member on that force. My family has four cops in it,
three nephews and one niece. I myself was in the Military, during that Vietnam Fiasco. I "get" this Chief on ONE level. Committing War Crimes is actually elevated and ADMIRED in that Culture. The only thing that is NOT applauded among "insiders" is getting CAUGHT committing War Crimes.
These are OUR monsters people. We are a bunch of "Cowardly Chicken-Little Citizens" who will accept, encourage, applaud, and PAY FOR *any atrocity, so long as it makes feel temporarily and falsely "SAFE" !
Pity the people who equate living their lives hiding under their
beds with being "SAFE". Look at what it cost you in FREEDOM !
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
32
Truer words! This guy is not an aberration. He is the epitome of these "killer" units as formed, trained and protected. His only sin was killing on his own time.
2
My nephew and my niece’s husband serve in Army Special Forces. Both, I’m sure, would puke at witnessing outright murder by Command.
16
Gallagher is a murderer masquerading as a Seal. And to the 45 conservative Republicans who rushed to his defense before knowing all the facts - Why?
121
Why do good people compromise their declared morals/values in defense of bad people? You need to understand a world view that defines creation as a war between good and evil. In such a world it is always us against them. And in this war God does heinous things. Read the official literature if you doubt me, but one example is the willingness to kill innocent children to convince the pharaoh not to oppose God's will. With this kind of moral compass to guide your actions, warriors who have the courage to do the dirty work to defend the world defined by this view are heroes.
1
@gailweis They think it plays well to the base. That is how corrupt and fearmongered our culture has become. And it serves the big money well.
5
@gailweis
Why? “Thank you for your service” and flag lapel pin patriotism. That is what these 45 “patriots “ believe makes them special. They support the number one draft dodger, Don. You wouldn’t want any of them in your unit. We can thank Bush and Cheney for equating opposition to their wars as anti-soldier. Sadly, both of them were better than the current occupant of the White House.
Now they think supporting criminals is patriotic. As Don would say, “sad”.
8
War is hell. War is terror and murder, and bad things happen. To say otherwise, is disingenuous. Under the pressure of war and victory, bad things happen. To prosecute one man or one group, is also political. Why is it that OLD MEN keep declaring war and then send our young men and women to kill for their political agenda. To see how politicians create laws, declare war, and then hide behind it,like they have a moral purpose you only have to look at the horrible Civil War, brother against brother,all for politicians and money. Next time they call a war, let's no one go. let the old men go.
8
War is hell. That's why wars should be kept to a minimum. Anytime war breaks out, stuff like this happens. The blame, really, is on the politicians and so-called statesmen who failed to prevent war and so let others do the dirty work, knowing that war, inevitably, invites dirty work.
This blood is as much on the hands of Dubya and members of congress who started this whole stupid shooting match. Shame.
15
@August West
Sorry, doesn’t let sociopaths like this off the hook. Letting these people get away with their crimes is how a society loses its moral compass and ends up with people like Cheney and Trump in power to begin with. There are grey areas when it comes to fighting a war. However, what this guy allegedly did was out of the grey and beyond the pale. And exposed his troops to unnecessary risk. He needs to be held accountable at the same time the politicians do.
1
@John
Absolutely. I will not let sociopaths like Bush and Cheney off the hook.
Not surprising that conservatives would rally behind this (alleged) murderer. They defend the Criminal in Chief in the White House, so morality to these people is nonexistent.
42
@MMD
"Conservatives"? There are more than 100m conservatives in this country. How many have defended him? (Not that he has been found guilty to this point.) Bigotry is nothing to be proud of. Don't engage in it.
1
What is not reported here that has been reported elsewhere is that Gallagher (I won't call him Chief) views his role in the SEALS in these "wars" as waging a personal biblical Christian jihad or crusade against Muslim infidels. All Muslims, evidently.
Allowing warped psychopaths on the battlefield is a double-edged sword. Like having a tiger by the tail. Who is managing our military?
61
@Rocky
Allowing warped killers onto the battlefield is the best way to prevent PTSD though.
1
Thank you to the brave soldiers who have spoken up. It takes incredible courage, I know. My brother is an Iraq war vet and saw some terrible things. I know it is hard - but the right thing to do - to bring this into the open. Much respect.
448
"But the account of the March 2018 meeting and myriad other details in the 439-page report paint a disturbing picture of a subculture within the SEALs that prized aggression, even when it crossed the line, and that protected wrongdoers."
As someone who knows active Navy SEALs, I would say jt paints the opposite picture. These men went outside the chain of command when they didn't get the result they needed. They did not stop when they knew they were right. And that is a testament and a tribute to these men. Navy SEALs are some of the finest human beings on the planet. Don't use one bad one to paint them all.
161
Apparently, from what I read here in this article, within the SEALS you have those that follow the rules of engagement in wartime; and those that are protecting a psychopath who has his own warrior ethos that is sick and evil. The three unlawful deaths attributed to Chief Gallagher and described in this article are cowardly and unjustifiable. The texts he communicated with his “buddies” are evidence he is sick in the head, immoral, and a criminal. Those that protected him should be removed from the chain of command. It’s the same leadership failings that lead to Abu Ghraib prison atrocities. Sadly, there is a morally bankrupt segment of the white male US population that repeatedly finds shelter in other corrupted US institutions: The Republican Party & Fox News. The US will be better off when these finally collapse under their own failings, or with a push.
13
The subculture they are referencing is the lack of action taken by his superiors when the evidence of wrongdoing was brought to their attention. Although you make a good point.
1
@Mike Well, there were quite a few "bad ones" if the accusations are to be believed. As you mentioned, they had to go outside the chain of command - certainly that wouldn't be necessary in a group of the finest human beings on the planet.
9
A very disturbing & distressing account. If true, then the full weight of the law should be brought to bear on this individual. In previous campaigns such an individual would have been an ideal recruit for the German SS. The intentional killing of unarmed civilians and prisoners is murder and a war crime. Again if true, then this ‘warrior” has sullied the reputation of all the US Armed Forces.
79
@Charles Stevenson the wars in the Middle East are no different than the Vietnam War. We shouldn't be there to begin with. These men just want to do their jobs, kill the enemy, that is the goal, and come home. These political men who got us into the war, and never go, nor their children,,,are responsible. War is hell, and guerilla warfare has one just moral goal: to kill the enemy. Reminds of how upset the British were that Americans in the Revolutionary war did not fight like gentlemen. British wore their bright red uniforms and we hid behind rocks...War is hell. period. Don't like the terrible things,,,let's stop war.
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@Starr3214
Yes, for sure, in the heat of battle, war is hell. I've read it multiple times in these comments.
But, if you're a sniper, hidden in a rooftop nest, calmly delivering death to civilian women and children, what is that? The work of a sick murderer, if true.
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There is no inherent difference between the psychology or the prevalence of German or American psychopaths.
Only in the degree of denial.
2
"... the troop commander, Lt. Cmdr. Robert Breisch, said in the meeting that while the SEALs were free to report the killings, the Navy might not look kindly on rank-and-file team members making allegations against a chief."
The U.S. Navy, perhaps especially the clearly gifted members of SEAL teams, should not look kindly on rank-and-file team members who choose not to make allegations against a chief whom they know, or have a rational reason to believe, perpetrated war or other crimes (such as sexual assault of another service member or defrauding the government).
Indeed, failing to report such information could be seen as aiding and abetting or conspiring with a (war) criminal.
Beyond risking court marshal, those coerced (or who freely choose) into silence after witnessing not just severe violence, but criminal acts of severe violence are also at risk of devastating and life-threatening psychological injury. In that way, the perpetrator of violent war crimes and his defender-enforcers also commit a form of "unfriendly fire" against their fellow service members and thus against the US military as a whole.
The kind of soul-rot such crimes both display and, when witnessed, also cause -- especially when witnesses are silenced or ignored -- affects not only the individual service members involved, but also quickly can infect and afflict the unit, team, brigade, and service branch as a whole.
US War criminals damage our own military and must be accountable for that too.
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All Gallagher's superiors swiftly swept his behavior under the rug and implicitly threatened the SEALS who were reporting this. This makes me think that this is an inherent part of the elite force culture and that there are probably many more Gallaghers out there. We should be grateful to these whistleblowers for getting it out here. Rot starts at the top, and the entire chain of command needs to be investigated.
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Sadly he could have been a great leader, but clearly a psychopath, destined to be what he is from birth.
The military loves these types, especially on the battlefield; what is more terrifying than a terrorist in American military uniform, able to operate with impunity.
"Psychopathy is among the most difficult disorders to spot. The psychopath can appear normal, even charming. Underneath, he lacks conscience and empathy, making him manipulative, volatile and often (but by no means always) criminal. They are objects of popular fascination and clinical anguish: adult psychopathy is largely impervious to treatment, though programs are in place to treat callous, unemotional youth in hopes of preventing them from maturing into psychopaths.
The terms “psychopath” and “sociopath” are often used interchangeably, but in correct parlance a “sociopath” refers to a person with antisocial tendencies that are ascribed to social or environmental factors, whereas psychopathic traits are more innate, though a chaotic or violent upbringing may tip the scales for those already predisposed to behave psychopathically. Both constructs are most closely represented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as Antisocial Personality Disorder. The DSM uses neither "psychopathy" nor "sociopathy," though these terms are widely used in clinical and common parlance."
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/psychopathy
17
Meanwhile, RADM Collin Green still has his job. What ever happed to the concept of absolute responsibility?
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@Stoch
The CIC (trump) still has his job. Who has already expressed sympathy for this guy...putrification begins at the top...get rid of him for a start. Impeachment? Art. 25?
>>> "What ever happed to the concept of absolute responsibility?"
That concept has never applied, in reality, to people in positions of power.
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@Stoch You're butting up against the blue line. See those stars? They're the insignia of a self-protective society of stars.
Our country (and most media) seems to be controlled by small group of people. We have lost a great deal of morality and sense of decency as a result. This article seems to show this.
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@Midwest Guy You're on to something. Plutocracy and oligarchy inherently flout social mores.
1
The damage done by these kinds of war crimes reverberate for decades, fueling violence and anti-American hate for generations. These crimes are terrorist acts that undermine American interests and strengthen enemies.
Equally important, many Seals who spoke up -- ignored repeatedly by the command structure, threatened with retaliation, publicly defamed as whiners and traitors -- have no doubt suffered great moral injuries. Balancing honor and core beliefs against instant decisions made in combat can be hard for any soldier when there are unintended deaths. But when you report ongoing premeditate murders by your Chief -- and you are ignored and rebuffed by the leadership above -- it is a deep betrayal of code, honor and beliefs.
These wounds go deep. Damage from untreated moral injuries also reverberate for decades, hurting veterans and affecting families and others for generations. These wounded Seals need more than our thanks. They need understanding, respect from our leaders and access to any and all support needed to help with healing these serious injuries.
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There is bad here but also good. There are some who continue to 'do the right thing' by outing this guy. And tenacious about it despite the consequences and push-back.
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Very serious accusations, and if true an undignified end to a to Chief Gallagher and his service to his country. The red stripes on his dress uniform might have indicated length of service - gold service stripes are authorized for dress uniforms after a member reaches 12 years of consecutive honorable service.
I will always stand up for our Special Warfare communities, even though some of their work might seem wrong in the eyes of those of us safe in our homes thousands of miles away from where they are conducting their duty. For each Chief Gallagher, there are hundreds of Special Warfare and Seal personnel that are conducting their missions honorably within the political constraints put on them, and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our safety here at home.
For a sobering look at Seal commitment to our country, if you're in San Diego, visit Danny's Palm Bar in Coronado, where the names and faces of all Navy Seals lost in combat since the 9-11 attacks are prominently displayed.
I will wait to hear the ruling on Chief Gallagher before I pass judgement.
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@TonyLederer In fairness, if Iraq didn't want to be invaded, they should never have let the SAWEDI royals, aka Dubya and tRump's BFFs, attack us on 9/11. Or let them create and fund al queda, ISIS and the Taliban. That 15 y/o and the little girl clearly needed to be held responsible for things another country did before they were born.
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@TonyLederer
What exactly are you waiting to hear? I served this country in a war where other soldiers somehow felt entitled to behave with brutality and, in some cases, commit murder.
I detest this 'special secret club' nonsense that encourages otherwise brave soldiers to look the other way while men who see themselves as 'elite' do whatever gives them pleasure.
Many soldiers are called to commit necessary violence, and those I respect did it with distinction and without self-aggrandizing glee.
I'd look for another fan club if I were you.
This type of thing is an old story in war. Men like him were in Vietnam too. He should have been mustered out long ago.
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@Etienne
It was Col. Mustard with a gun in Iraq
The Seals who spoke up about what they saw as an out-of-control chief are the true heroes of this story. They risked their careers and endured the scorn of their more cowardly comrades. In standing up for American values, they show themselves to be genuine patriots.
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@VoiceofAmerica
What if they just pretended to have bone spurs to, you know, avoid the genecide.
4
@Ann The heroes and genuine patriots are those who fled the US to avoid participating in America's genocide in Indochina.
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@VoiceofAmerica
1. The Vietnam War was a half a century ago. Move on.
2. "Genocide"?? The US fought along with the South Vietnamese to repel the communist takeover of that country. Do you understand the meaning of the word "genocide"?
3
People would like to see a clean war, a nice gentlemen duel with the best man left standing o’er the ne’er do good scoundrel, having showed him the rightfulness of his convictions.
But that is not war.
For those of us who went past the wire (or as they say now, down range), war was never a clean intelligent discussion.
It was all the horrors you can imagine, and all the horrors you refuse to imagine. It was all that, and much much worse.
It was a reality only those who were there can discuss with any reality at all. Ask war reporters, they have witnessed it too. It’s just worse for those taking active part.
It is because of this that this matter should have been handled and kept inside Navy command.
Bringing in to the light of a public forum will not resolve this, will not repair the damage, and in fact, will weaken our resolve.
The public forum will ravage the soldier, criticize the military and demand justice.
There is no justice possible. The chief was asked to engage a horrible enemy who did much worse, and he seems to have gone off the reservation by doing this. The Navy should have dealt with him inside the Navy.
But pillorying him, his group, his military for the public to throw digital tomatoes at him will only result in a larger divide between those who went there, and those who criticize them.
3
@AutumnLeaf
Wow. You have drunk the Kool Aid. You don't believe in some sort of line in the sand when it comes to using weaponry? Sure there are grey areas. But the picture painted here is one of a madman with a psychopathic blood lust.
And perhaps you need to be reminded that we started the Iraq war. We invaded their country on false pretenses. Virtually every civilian this lunatic shot was an innocent.
No, wars are not clean. But at some point we need to act better than savages randomly shooting, knifing and destroying.
2
@AutumnLeaf
In the United States the military is under civilian command. Service men and women serve at the behest of the people. Our taxes pay for their training and equipment, housing, food and transport. Their actions are taken in the name of the American people. It is well known that war involves killing and savagery yet even so it is every citizen’s duty to become aware of actions taken, purportedly at our behest. Your view that it’s best for us not to know (or pretend not to know) is deeply mistaken.
2
@AutumnLeaf One of our founding principles is civilian control of the military. The military at every level is acting on our behalf as citizens and taxpayers. We have not just the right but the responsibility to pay attention to what is done on our behalf. And no one should be immune from scrutiny for criminal actions, because that kind of secrecy inevitably breeds corruption throughout any organization.
2
A couple of items stood out to me, (retired Captain):
The CPO would wander away from his team and set up as a sniper.
The CPO would man a truck on a bridge and fire HMG rounds into buildings for no apparent reason.
The CPO shot at least one unarmed child apparently without taking fire from the location.
The CPO almost certainly killed a prisoner with a knife and bragged about it. In an email, no less.
His team was in advisory and assistance role and the CPO wanted to kick doors in, and his platoon resisted the added risk.
The Chiefs are the backbone of the service (yep, not the officers.) To wear the anchor is turn the corner from follower to leader, from labor to management, if you will. This CPO was having his private war, not leading his men. And he assumed his community, who held him in the highest regard, would cover for him.
One last observation: he’s been deploying there since 2010? Seven times? His court-martial will have to wrestle with a question: whether CPO Gallagher brought his crazy to the Navy, or if the Navy gave it to him on a platter.
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@Mjxs That crazy is either a big part of why he got the job or why he kept it.
6
well put!
3
How disappointing and grotesque that men like Chief Gallagher are vigorously protected by the system and actually defended by 40 Republican members of Congress. Stabbing a defenseless teenage captive to death. Picking off a school-age girl and an old man from a sniper’s roost. Indiscriminately spraying neighborhoods with rockets and machine-gun fire. These are the behaviors we're fighting against on so many fronts. This man needs to be rehabilitated in a jail cell, to ensure others are clear that similar behavior will never be tolerated. That is what makes America great.
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@Radio Guy
Slow down, Cowboy. This country believes in innocent until proven guilty. If he is convicted, then have at it.
1
@VCuttolo You're right, V. But the charges are so horrific, and there were witnesses and all those texts. But you are right. Innocent until proven guilty.
2
The real heroes are the whistleblowers who risks their reputations and careers to report these atrocious acts over and over again until they found someone who would finally listen.
48
After all these years, isn't it understood that there's no one who is able to self-police? Be it meat packing, Wall Street, the military, or that sweet talking Lothario at the bar, there has to be checks and double checks. On everything.
The military is notoriously bad at self-policing, be it war crimes or sexual assaults. There MUST be outside oversight with rigorous criteria and corrective actions for all areas of government and business.
19
We stand behind our service members that have integrity and represent the values that we hold dear. In this case means full support to the platoon members coming forward. Let justice be. Our men and women in uniform or serving us as law and order should be the best that our society has to offer. To many times instead holding a gun instigates the lowest of our instincts. Then I feel the pain, for the innocent victims but also for the guilty ones when the punishment is so much greater than the crime (like being killed for selling contraband cigarettes).
8