President Trump Tweets That Navy SEAL Charged With War Crimes Will Be Moved To 'Less Restrictive Confinement'

In honor of his past service to our Country, Navy Seal #EddieGallagher will soon be moved to less restrictive confinement while he awaits his day in court. Process should move quickly! @foxandfriends @RepRalphNorman

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2019

Daily Mail: Trump says Navy SEAL accused of murdering a 15-year-old terrorist and other war crimes will be moved to better jail conditions before trial

* Trump said on Saturday that Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher would be 'moved to less restrictive confinement' while he awaits trial for war crimes
* Gallagher is a 14-year Navy SEAL vet and is accused of murdering a 15-year-old ISIS militant in his care and opening sniper rounds at civilians
* The 39-year-old is jailed at the Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar in California awaiting his May 28 trial for his war crimes
* House Republicans filed a letter to Navy Secretary Richard Spencer last week to request Gallagher be transferred to another location
* The letter alleges there he lacks food, medical care, and access to his lawyers
* His family says that Gallagher as suffered 'abhorrent treatment' at the prison for the past seven months

President Donald Trump has said that a Navy SEAL who is accused of war crimes will be moved to better jail conditions while he awaits trial.

Edward 'Eddie' Gallagher, 39, is currently jailed in military prison Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar in California on charges of premeditated murder and aggravated assault.

'In honor of his past service to our Country, Navy Seal #EddieGallagher will soon be moved to less restrictive confinement while he awaits his day in court. Process should move quickly!' Trump wrote in a tweet on Saturday morning.

The president tweeted from Mar-a-lago in Florida, shortly before departing for Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

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WNU Editor: Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher has a lot of political support .... Lawmakers want Navy SEAL released from the brig ahead of war crimes trial (Navy Times).

More News On President Trump Saying That Navy SEAL Charged With War Crimes Will Be Moved To 'Less Restrictive Confinement'

Trump steps in to help Navy SEAL charged with murder -- AP
Tweeting Trump injects White House into SEAL war crimes case -- Navy Times
Trump intervenes in case of Navy SEAL charged with murder -- Politico
Trump says Navy SEAL charged with war crimes will be moved to 'less restrictive confinement' -- The Hill
Trump: Navy SEAL charged with murder moving to 'less restrictive confinement' -- CNN
Trump says Navy SEAL accused of war crimes will be moved to ‘less restrictive confinement’ -- FOX News
Trump says Navy Seal accused of war crimes will be moved to 'less restrictive confinement' -- The Independent
Trump says Navy SEAL accused of a brutal killing to be moved 'to less restrictive confinement' -- Business Insider
Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher ‘Will Soon be Moved to Less Restrictive Confinement:’ Trump -- Epoch Times

U.S. Navy Acknowledges That A Marine Offficer Was Fired Over A Massacre That Did Not Happen

Task & Purpose: The Marines Threw This Major To The Wolves Over A Massacre That Didn't Happen. Now His Record Is Clean

A Marine officer who was fired after false rumors that his special operations unit massacred Afghan civilians has been vindicated.

The Board for Corrections of Naval Records recently removed two adverse fitness reports from retired Maj. Fred Galvin's record: The first one came as a result of a March 2007 incident, during which he led Marine Special Operations Company Foxtrot in Afghanistan; the second came after he was relieved in 2011 for questioning a lieutenant colonel in Afghanistan who allegedly said he was "willing to sacrifice the lives" of Marines under his command.

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Update: Navy Acknowledges Railroading of Marine Operator Falsely Accused of War Crimes (Washington Free Beacon)

WNU Editor: Retired Maj. Fred Galvin has had to live with this cloud for almost 12 years. The Afghan war has had too much lawyering right from the very beginning, which is probably one of the many reasons why the war against the Taliban cannot be won.

No More “Bread And Water” Punishment In The U.S. Navy

Maritime Executive: U.S. Navy: No More “Bread and Water” Punishment

Changes to the U.S. Navy's Uniform Code of Military Justice from January 1 will mean that sailors can no longer be fed bread and water as a non-judicial punishment for minor offenses on board.

The New York Times notes that, in it's current form, the practice is limited to a maximum of three days, but in years gone by, it could have been up to 30 days and was used as a more humane punishment than flogging.

Congress outlawed flogging in 1862, but naval commanders could still call for a sailor to be shackled whilst on bread and water rations. In 1909, the 30 day limit was reduced to seven days, and the option of shackles was banned. By the 1980s, reports The New York Times, a medical examination was required before the sentence could be imposed. Sailors are also allowed three unlimited servings of bread each day.

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WNU Editor: Some "traditions and customs" take a long time to be discarded.

President Trump Says He Will Review The Case Of A Decorated Green Beret Charged With Murdering A Suspected Taliban Bomb Maker In 2010

At the request of many, I will be reviewing the case of a “U.S. Military hero,” Major Matt Golsteyn, who is charged with murder. He could face the death penalty from our own government after he admitted to killing a Terrorist bomb maker while overseas. @PeteHegseth @FoxNews

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2018

The Hill: Trump says he will review case of decorated Green Beret charged with murder of Afghan man

President Trump announced Sunday that he would review the case of a U.S. Army Green Beret who was charged with the murder of an Afghan man.

Maj. Matthew Golsteyn learned last week that he was charged in the 2010 shooting of a man he described as a suspected terrorist while serving in Afghanistan, and could face the death penalty.

“At the request of many, I will be reviewing the case of a ‘U.S. Military hero,’ Major Matt Golsteyn, who is charged with murder,” Trump tweeted. “He could face the death penalty from our own government after he admitted to killing a Terrorist bomb maker while overseas.”

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Previous Post: Former Green Beret Major Charged With 2010 Murder Of Suspected Taliban Bomb Maker (December 15, 2018).

More News On President Trump Reviewing The Case Of A Decorated Green Beret Charged With Murdering A Suspected Taliban Bomb Maker In 2010

President Trump reviewing case of former US service member charged with murder of suspected bomb maker -- ABC News
Trump says he’ll review case of Matt Golsteyn, a Special Forces veteran who faces murder charge -- Stars and Stripes/Washington Post
Trump says he’ll review case of serviceman charged in death of Taliban bomb-maker, calling him a 'hero' -- Washington Examiner
Trump Says He’ll Review Case Of Maj. Matthew Golsteyn, Green Beret Charged With Murdering Suspected Taliban Bomb-Maker -- Task & Purpose
'Ripped Apart By His Own Government': Wife of Charged Military Hero Defends Husband -- FOX News

Former Green Beret Major Charged With 2010 Murder Of Suspected Taliban Bomb Maker

Daily Mail: Decorated Green Beret is charged with murdering Afghan bomb maker who he suspected was responsible for the deaths of two Marines in 2010

* Maj. Mathew Golsteyn charged with tracking down and killing Afghan man known as Rasoul on February 22, 2010
* Golsteyn suspected that Rasoul was a bomb maker who was responsible for the deaths of two Marines
* Army report said the Green Beret previously confessed to burning Rasoul's body at the base
* Case first came to light in 2011, when Golsteyn told the CIA during a job interview that he killed the Afghan
* Army Criminal Investigation Command looked into the incident, but could never find anyone to corroborate Golsteyn's claim
(*In 2016, Golsteyn appeared on a Fox News special and told host Brett Baier he killed the Afghan because letting him go would have led to additional problems

A former decorated US Army commando has been charged with murder for allegedly tracking down and killing a suspected bomb-maker in Afghanistan in 2010 after the man was released from custody.

Army Lt. Col. Loren Bymer said in a statement Friday that Maj. Mathew Golsteyn is charged with killing the Afghan during his 2010 deployment to Afghanistan.

Bymer said Golsteyn's commander determined there was sufficient evidence to charge the former Army Green Beret with the crime.

Golsteyn, who was leading a team of Army Special Forces troops at the time, believed that the bomb-maker, known only as Rasoul, was responsible for an explosion that killed two US Marines - Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, 27, and Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson, 19.

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More News On A Former U.S. Green Beret Major Being Charged With 2010 Murder Of Suspected Taliban Bomb Maker

Former decorated Green Beret, after years of investigations, charged in death of suspected Taliban bomb maker -- FOX News
Former Green Beret charged with murder of suspected Taliban bombmaker -- ABC
Green Beret charged with murdering Afghan man -- NBC
Decorated Green Beret charged with murder of Afghan man -- The Hill
Former Army commando charged with murder of suspected bomb-maker -- CBS/AP
Green Beret charged with murder after confessing to killing Afghan man in TV interview -- The Telegraph
Decorated US soldier 'admitted murder in CIA job interview' -- BBC
Former Green Beret major faces murder charge for 2010 Afghanistan incident -- Army Times
Army Charges Green Beret With Murder For Killing Suspected Taliban Bomb-Maker In 2010 -- Task & Purpose

Court Overturns Marine Sniper's Conviction For Urinating On Dead Taliban Fighters Due To Unlawful Influence of Former CMC Amos

On Wednesday, however, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the conviction, ruling that there was apparent unlawful command influence in the case

Marine Times: Marine who pissed on dead Taliban wins in court

A military court has dismissed charges against a former Marine scout sniper who pleaded guilty to urinating on Taliban corpses, finding that former Commandant Gen. James Amos had illegally interfered with the legal process at the outset.

Staff Sgt. Joseph W. Chamblin was reduced in rank to sergeant and ordered to pay $500 after he pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the 2011 incident in Afghanistan, which became a national scandal after video of the Marines urinating on the bodies was posted on YouTube in January 2012.

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More News On The Court Overturning A Marine Sniper's Conviction For Urinating On Dead Taliban Fighters Due To Unlawful Influence of Former CMC Amos

Marine who urinated on three dead Taliban fighters in shocking 2012 video has his conviction thrown out after high-ranking general 'meddled' in the case -- Daily Mail
Court overturns Marine sniper's conviction for urinating on dead Taliban fighters -- Fox News
Court Reverses Marine Sniper's Conviction for Urinating on Dead Taliban Fighters -- The Epoch Times
Conviction Against Marine Sniper in Taliban Urination Case Overturned Due to Unlawful Influence of Former CMC Amos -- USNI News

Decorated Green Beret Will Not Be Discharged From The Army Because He Confronted A Child Rapist

FOX News: Army retains decorated Green Beret it planned to kick out over confronting Afghan child rapist

EXCLUSIVE: In a stunning reversal, the U.S. Army decided late Thursday to retain a decorated Green Beret it had planned to kick out after he physically confronted a local Afghan commander accused of raping a boy over the course of many days.

Sgt 1st Class Charles Martland, confirmed the Army's decision to retain him when reached by Fox News, who has been covering the story in depth for the past eight months and first broke the story of the Army's decision in August to kick out Martland over the incident, which occurred in northern Afghanistan in 2011.

"I am real thankful for being able to continue to serve," said Martland when reached on the telephone by Fox News. "I appreciate everything Congressman Duncan Hunter and his Chief of Staff, Joe Kasper did for me."

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WNU Editor: His case is still ongoing .... but at least he now has a reprieve on his discharge.

What Military Prison Life Will Be Like For Bradley Manning

U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning is escorted into court for the second day of the sentencing phase in his military trial at Fort Meade, Maryland August 1, 2013. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan

Monotonous, Rigid Military Prison Life Awaits Manning -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Bradley Manning, the soldier convicted in the biggest leak of classified information in U.S. history, faces the prospect of years of monotony with no Internet access in a small military prison cell but he would likely be allowed to mix with other inmates and exercise outdoors.

The 25-year-old Manning, who has yet to be sentenced, would be able to nominate friends and relatives for visits pending official approval. A handshake, a brief kiss or a hug that does not involve touching below the waist are allowed during visits, and visitors and inmates may hold hands, according to regulations. Prisoners are allowed to telephone friends and family through payphones that may only be used at set times, but they are not permitted to send email or browse the Internet.

A military judge on Tuesday found the former low-level intelligence analyst guilty of 19 criminal charges, including espionage and theft, for giving about 700,000 classified diplomatic cables and war logs to the anti-secrecy WikiLeaks website in 2010 while he was serving in Iraq.

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My Comment:  Bradley Manning is only 25 .... spending the next 20 years (or more) in such a confinement is a prospect that I am sure he never thought would be his fate.

Air Force General’s Promotion Blocked Over Her Dismissal Of A Sex-Assault Verdict

Photo: Lt. Gen. Susan Helms. US Air Force

General’s Promotion Blocked Over Her Dismissal Of Sex-Assault Verdict -- Washington Post

An Air Force general has run afoul of Congress for granting clemency to a convicted sex offender without any public explanation, the latest case to raise fundamental questions about how the military justice system handles sex crimes.

The case is the second this year in which a three-star Air Force general has raised lawmakers’ hackles by effectively pardoning an officer found guilty of sexual assault, a crime many experts see as a growing problem in the military.

This time the general is a former astronaut who has served as a role model for other female officers as she climbed into the upper ranks of the Air Force.

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Update: Claire McCaskill Puts Hold On Susan Helms Nomination Over Overturned Conviction --AP

My Comment: Washington is demanding accountability and explanations from the generals for their decisions and actions .... this is certainly going to upend how military justice is applied.

U.S. Army Seeking Death Penalty For Staff Sgt. Robert Bales

US Army

Army Seeking Death Penalty For Sergeant Accused of Killing Afghan Civilians -- New York Times

SEATTLE — The United States Army will seek the death penalty against Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, who is accused of killing 16 civilians in Afghanistan, officials said on Wednesday.

Sergeant Bales’s court-martial will consider 16 counts of premeditated murder, six counts of attempted murder and seven counts of assault, among other charges, but no trial date was set.

The Army has charged that Sergeant Bales, 39, who was serving his fourth combat tour, walked away from a remote outpost in southern Afghanistan and shot and stabbed members of several families in an ambush in two villages in the early morning hours of March 11. At least nine of the people he is accused of killing were children.

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More News On The U.S. Army Seeking The Death Penalty For Robert Bales

Robert Bales: Court martial for US sergeant over Afghan deaths -- BBC
U.S. soldier referred to court martial in Afghan killings -- Reuters
US Army seeks death penalty for Robert Bales, accused of Afghan villager massacre -- Christian Science Monitor
US Army Seeks Death Penalty in 16 Afghan Killings -- ABC News/AP
Death penalty sought for Afghan massacre soldier Robert Bales -- The Australian/AFP
U.S. soldier to be court-martialed, could face death penalty -- CNN
Army seeks death for Sgt. Robert Bales in Afghan shooting rampage -- L.A. Times
US Army Seeks Death Penalty for Soldier Over Afghan Massacre -- RIA Novosti
Death Penalty Possible In Court Martial Of Army Sgt. Accused Of Afghan Killings -- NPR
Army seeks death penalty in Afghan massacre case -- Seattle Times
Military Seeking the Death Penalty for One Its Own for First Time in 50 Years -- The Atlantic

U.S. Troops To Be Punished Over Koran Burning, Urination Video

Three Marines received nonjudicial punishment for their involvement in a video in which they are seen urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

U.S. Troops Punished Over Koran Burning, Urination Video -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Monday it was disciplining U.S. troops over two incidents that provoked outrage in Afghanistan early this year, one involving a video depicting Marines urinating on corpses and another over burned copies of the Koran.

The military said the punishments were administrative, which could include actions such as a reprimand, reduction in rank or forfeiture of pay. Neither incident so far has resulted in criminal charges, however, something that may fail to satisfy Afghan demands for justice.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai branded the Marine's actions in the video as "inhuman," and he initially called for a public trial for the soldiers over the Koran incident.

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More News On U.S. Troops To Be Punished Over Koran Burning, Urination Video

Troops punished for Koran, corpse incidents -- CBS/AP
U.S. to Discipline Nine Soldiers in Afghan Incidents -- Wall Street Journal
No criminal charges to be laid against U.S. soldiers for burning Koran and urinating on corpses in Afghanistan -- National Post
Troops to be disciplined for Koran burnings -- UPI
No courts-martial in Marine urination scandal -- Army Times
Marines punish three for urinating on Taliban corpses; punishment due soon in Quran burning -- NBC