I remember reading a story about Michael Behenna some time ago. I remember feeling pain, and thinking that it was yet another story about injustice awarded to a member of our military, or law enforcement (including CIA officers), for their action in fighting our current enemy.
I am not unbiased. I have chosen sides. I do not believe it should be a fair fight.
When you are in a fight for your life, when you are protecting your family, your family's freedom, it's future - you must fight to win.
I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of the United States military. However, I have held them in awe ever since I was a child. I had a great childhood. The best! In my house, we had the Internet decades before it was formalized. We called it the Wold Book Encyclopedia. I used to spend hours reading about the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, and looking at the pictures.
After 9/11, a lot of things changed. I have blogged about this before...initially, the talk around Washington was that we were going to take the gloves off. We were going to stop treating terrorism as an issue for law enforcement, and start fighting the war that they had been fighting against us. We were also going to un-handcuff our National Security officials, and let them fight too.
Sometimes I think we are losing the fight.
That brings me back to Lieutenant Michael Behenna. He is one of those who joined the military after 9/11. He knew exactly what he was signing up for, exactly what the consequences may be. Or did he?
READ ABOUT HIS STORY HERE. Interesting note - that my father pointed out to me - Michael's mother is an Assistant United States Attorney, and Michael's father is an employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the world's premier Law Enforcement Agency.
Now, that is his side of the story. In my job (seeking Justice), I must remain objective. The Lieutenant broke some rules, which ultimately led to the other man's death.
I also believe strongly in the idea of 'the totality of the circumstances.' We can not make judgements without looking through this lens. With all things considered, Michael Behenna is a United States Army Ranger...and the other man was an Al-Qaeda fighter, who had been involved in the death of American soldiers.
What decides who wins a war and who loses? Are we going to vanquish completely the jihadists and haters of freedom? Is that our goal? What are we asking our soldiers to do?
Michael Behenna needs to be freed.
**Please go back and look at the website for things you can do. In the least, he receives letters and they matter to him. I learned this Christmas, that even a short, stay-at-home housewife, with ten kids and a propensity for melodramatics...can make a huge difference.
(I didn't use inappropriate capitalization, or superfluous exclamation points, so you know it is ALL IMPORTANT!!!!!)
5 comments:
WELL DANGIT I MAY BE SKINNY BUT I AM STROOOOOOOOONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so there. p.s.name that movie.
My heart is aching, it feels twisted....just like our justice system. If I were of age to sign up to join our fighting men and women I certainly give it a second, third and fouth thought. Is someone going to be watching my back, or stabbing me in the back, standing with me or do I have to look over my shoulder to see who is there watching my every move to bring charges against me. God is watching and the ultimate justice WILL be served.
To answere Patti's question: was it some movie Peewee Herman was in, or Barney Pfieff?
I have fought in large and small wars next to some incredibly brave men - and in a different sense, women. I've been involved in the investigation and prosecution of some incredibly bad people outside of 'war'. And through that time I've seen the United States fight with one hand tied behind its back. For some reason that eludes me, we delight in 'eating our own'. The prosecution of those SEALs accused of 'rough handling' of a terrorist was a travesty as this is.
I seen it, and it disgusts me. The enemies of this nation have very clearly identified themselves and LT Behenna is NOT one of them.
When we go after our own with zeal and unholy glee it discredits our system of jurisprudence and makes us consider who we as individuals would accuse more carefully that we don't end up in the same position as the stuffed shirts as those who would discredit or imprison LT Behenna.
planes trains and automobiles...
Signed the petition for Michael - hopefully justice will be served.
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