Ex GITMO Detainees Leading Taliban Against our Troops

Move America Forward

 FORMER GITMO DETAINEES
LEADING THE TALIBAN IN MARJAH

 
Our troops in Afghanistan fought so hard to take the city of Marjah from the Taliban, now they are holding the city, but the Taliban have not gone away. They continue to plant roadside bombs for passing convoys and attempt to harass our troops efforts to rebuild and assist the local population.

Leading the Taliban fighters that are putting our troops in danger are a pair of ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees transferred back to Afghanistan where they were released from prison and went back to the Taliban where they assumed high ranking leadership roles.

Move America Forward actually sounded the alarm about Abdul Qayyum a year ago. We knew that former GITMO detainee Abdul Qayyum had been released and had returned to the Taliban, but now he is literally leading hundreds of Taliban fighters against our troops. Abdul Rauf is his second-in-command, another ex-GITMO detainee. Both were released and allowed to return to terrorism when they should have been kept safely in Guantanamo Bay where our troops can properly watch them.

Our troops in Afghanistan shouldn’t have to fight the same terrorists twice! They are serving so bravely and beating the Taliban, they deserve our thanks and gratitude. Send a care package to our troops serving bravely in Afghanistan!

CRITICAL IRAQI ELECTIONS
TODAY SET FUTURE OF IRAQ

As our troops in Afghanistan are fighting the Taliban today, our troops in Iraq are at a crossroads. Today Iraqis are going to the polls in the second ever parliamentary elections held in that newly democratic country. The last time our troops were providing security for nationwide elections, it was a bloody day and our troops today are hoping for a much safer, smoother election.

If the elections go well it is a sign that Iraqi security forces are close to being strong enough to ensure security by themselves and won’t need our troops to provide security any longer. But if the elections are marked by another day of violence, it might mean our troops have to be in Iraq longer than we had hoped. Our troops will be ready to continue their mission until it is complete, but they’ll need our support to do that.

Yesterday, even before the elections began, pre-election bombings killed 3 and injured almost 60, so there are signs that insurgents who have been beaten back for months are going to attempt resurgence today, but the Iraqi security forces have been trained by our troops for just this occasion. If the fighting gets too heavy, they may ask our troops for support.

We need to support our troops this important day! Their mission in Iraq is almost over but this will be an important day in determining when they can be finished. Send a care package with a message of support to our troops today!

  

Obituary from The Republic Newspaper

Jeremy Ryan McQueary, 27, Nashville

Jeremy Ryan McQueary, 27, of Nashville, Indiana, died Thursday, February 18, 2010, during a combat offensive in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. He was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps for seven years.

Born January 28, 1983, in Columbus, Indiana, he was the son, of Dallas Ray and Deborah Furnish McQueary.

He is survived by his wife, Rae Proffitt McQueary of Nashville; his infant son, Hadley North Mac McQueary; his mother and stepfather, Deborah and David Kleinschmidt of Columbus, Indiana; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Raymond and Julie Perkins Proffitt of Nashville; one sister and her husband, Rebecca and Scott Willison of Columbus; his grandfather, Joseph Furnish of Alexandria, Indiana; five nieces; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dallas McQueary.

A memorial service, including full military honors, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Seasons Lodge and Convention Center in Nashville. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. An informal celebration of life will follow the military honors.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) or to the National Humane Society, in care of Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home, 1682 State Road 135 North, Nashville, IN 47448.

Online condolences may he sent to the family at www.bondmitchellfuneralhome.com.

Please go to The Republic.com for this story.

Family reunited with fallen Marine

BY BRIAN SANDERS bsanders@therepublic.com 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Marine carry team carries a transfer case containing the remains of Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, of Columbus, Saturday at Dover Air Force Base, Del.



1LT Behenna

To the members of the Help 1st Lieutenant Michael Behenna Facebook group.

This obit was submitted by our good friend Capt. Kevin in honor of his friend and business partner, a Korean War hero.

Anthony Jaskiewicz

May 29, 1935 - February 15, 2010

Southington- Anthony “Tony” Jaskiewicz, 74, passed away on Monday at HCC at Bradley Memorial. He was the husband of Barbara (Nephew) Jaskiewicz. 

Born in Brooklyn, NY he was the son of the late Charles and Marjorie (D’Lia) Jaskiewicz. He served with pride and honor during the Korean Conflict with the 187th Airborne Division as Master Sgt. and received honors as soldier of the month several times. 

Tony retired from General Dynamics Electric Boat after 20 years. He also worked for Bradley Memorial Hospital where he retired after 10 years of service. 

He was a past member of the Rotary Club of Southington and the American Society of Safety Engineers. He enjoyed fishing and watching his UCONN Women’s basketball team. 

Besides his wife Barbara he leaves his daughters Denise (Nephew) and her husband HankGermaine, Michele (Nephew) Sukatski and her fiancé Hector Otero all of Southington, his four cherished grandchildren Ryan and Danielle Germaine, Jamie Sukatski and Jarrid Grimmett, his beloved sister-in-law Jeannette and her husband George Hatjakos and several nieces and nephews. 

Funeral will be Friday 11:30 a.m. at the DellaVecchia Funeral home 211 N. Main St. Burial will be private. Calling hours are Thursday from 4:30 -7:30 pm. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans 80 Hall Ave Meriden, CT 06450

You've got to crank up Thunderstruck to enjoy it properly. The AC 130 video is amazing at what our military is capable of. God bless the men and women of the United States Military!!!!!

Both of these are up at The Snooper Report and thanks to 23 EJ for turning us on to the AC 130 link. 

H/T to Matt from Project Patiot Action

 

Thank you again for your overwhelming support of an American soldier we proudly call our son.

Scott and Vicki Behenna              
www.defendmichael.com

H/T to The Snooper Report and to Hot Air

On Thursday, January 7th, the will be a clemency hearing for 1Lt. Michael Behenna in Washington DC. Several members of the Behenna family will be on hand, as well as his girlfriend, Shannon Wahl, to support Lt. Behenna at this hearing.

There will also be numerous others in DC to help support the Behenna family and to lobby members of Congress on this horrible travesty of justice.

As a Pastor and friend of the Behenna family, I am asking those who believe in the power of prayer and/or fasting to do so daily between now and the 7th. Be specific and ask that God allow Lt. Behenna to be released and able to go home with his family.

This post will stay at the top of the blog until the hearing on the 7th.

Cross-Posted from The Snooper Report from Pat Dollard and Bev Perlson

While Eric Holder Sets Voter-Beating Black Panthers Free: Lt Behenna Clemency Hearing Location And Time

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2009 AT 11:47PM

Show Host: TIGERBO & Rev. Don

Two Marines Locked and Loaded  

Special Guest Vicki Behenna the mother of 1st Lt. Michael Behenna who served with the 101st Airborne is now serving a 25-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth after being convicted unjustly of unpremeditated murder in the shooting death of Ali Mansur, a known Al-Qaeda operative.    

Check the archive of this show out. Another outstanding appearance by Vicki and Lt. Behenna's girlfriend Shannon Wahl.

There are several of us who will be driving and flying to DC on January 5th - 7th to help support the Behenna family as they attend Michael's clemency hearing on the 7th. We will be lobbying the folks on Capital Hill to get the story out to as many members of Congress as possible.  We also plan to spend some time at Walter Reed Hospital on one of the days we are there. 

Right now there are 7 people from our "cyber congregation" who will be with us. A very generous person has paid for 2 of our nights hotel  in DC. We will probably have two other nights to take care of along with the other expenses of the trip. We also have at least one other person who would like to go and will not be due to finances. 

I don't want anyone who wants to be a part of this to not come due to finances - so if you would like to help us out on this trip, you can donate by clicking the Pay Pal logo in the right column. The funds will be used to help the group as a whole. 

Those who have committed to the trip right now are (some will only be listed by their online nics): Mark "Snooper" Harvey, LTC John "Tiger Bo" Dawson, Stanger 73, Nony, Carrie Swartout, Annieb and I. 

Call to Fast & Pray

I am asking all the believe in fasting and/or prayer to do so each day from now until the 7th for the clemency hearing for Lt. Behenna. He needs to be home with his family and not in jail for doing the job he was trained to do. This is the most important part of this entire post - so if you can't listen to the show, if you can't go to DC, if you can't help financially, you can most certainly reach out to our Father in Heaven on behalf of all the Behenna Family.

More info on the Lt. Behenna story

www.defendmichael.com

The Michael Behenna Story by Carrie Fatigante

Clemency Letter from Oklahoma Congressional Delegation

LA Times article on Michael – Part 1

LA Times article on Michael – Part 2

SIGN PETITION

 The Testimony The Prosecutors Didn’t Let The Jury Hear (From Their Own Expert Witness)

MILITARY PROSECUTORS WITHHOLD EVIDENCE; ARMY RANGER GOES TO PRISON FOR 25 YEARS FOR SHOOTING AL QAEDA OPERATIVE

The Story

Michael Behenna

On March 20^th, 2009, Army Ranger 1^st Lieutenant Michael Behenna was sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing Ali Mansur, a known Al Qaeda operative while serving in Iraq.  Mansur was known to be a member of an Al Qaeda cell operating in the lieutenant’s area of operation and was suspected to have organized an attack on Lt. Behenna’s platoon in April 2008 which killed two U.S. soldiers and injured two more. Army intelligence ordered the release of Mansur and Lt. Behenna was ordered to return the terrorist to his home.

During the return of Mansur, Lt. Behenna again questioned the Al Qaeda member for information about other members of the terrorist cell, and financial supporters. During this interrogation, Mansur attacked Lt. Behenna, who killed the terrorist in self-defense. The government subsequently prosecuted Lt. Behenna for premeditated murder.

Not only is this a miscarriage of justice on the behalf of Lt. Behenna, who was acting to prevent further loss of life in his platoon, it is demoralizing to the U.S. troops who continue to fight on behalf of the freedom and security of our nation. Whether it is U.S. border patrol agents, members of the armed forces, or FBI agents, no individual who is serving on the frontlines in the War on Terror should be so blatantly mistreated.

We urgently need your help to correct this terrible wrong against a loyal and faithful soldier. Please contact your congressman and ask them to intervene on behalf of 1LT Behenna. Below is a brief recap of the relevant aspects of Lt. Behenna’s case.

• September 2007: 1^st Lieutenant Michael Behenna deployed to Iraq for his first combat experience
• April 21, 2008: Lt. Behenna’s platoon was attacked by Al Qaeda operatives. The attack resulted in death of two of Lt. Behenna’s platoon members, two Iraqi citizens, and wounded two additional soldiers under Lt. Behenna’s command.
• May 5, 2008: Known terrorist Ali Mansur was detained at his home for suspected involvement in the attack on Lt. Behenna’s platoon
• May 16, 2008: Army Intelligence orders the release of Mansur
• Lt. Behenna, who lost two members of his platoon just weeks earlier, was ordered to transport Mansur back to his home
• Lt. Behenna attempts a final interrogation of Mansur prior to his release
• During the interrogation, Behenna is attacked by Mansur and is forced to defend himself. During the altercation, the terrorist is killed.
• Lt. Behenna failed to properly report the incident
• July 2008: The U.S. Army charges Lt. Behenna with premeditated murder for the death of Al Qaeda operative and terrorist Ali Mansur.
• February 23, 2009: Lt. Behenna’s trial begins
• Government and defense experts agree on the trajectory of the bullets killing Mansur
• Prosecution expert Dr. Herbert MacDonnell initiated contact with defense attorneys explaining his agreement with the testimony of Lt. Behenna and his presentation to prosecutors supporting Lt. Behenna’s version of events.
• Dr. MacDonnell is not called to testify in the case and instead is sent home.  Just before leaving the courthouse he picks up his coat from the prosecution room and says to the three prosecutors (Megan Poirier, Jason Elbert, and Erwin Roberts), ‘The explanation that Lt Behenna just testified to was the exact same scenario I told you yesterday.  Lt Behenna is telling the truth.’
• Jack Zimmermann, defense counsel, asks prosecutors if they have any exculpatory evidence that should be provided to the defense (referring to Dr. MacDonnell’s demonstration). Prosecutors deny having any such evidence despite having been told by their own expert witness that Lt Behenna’s explanation was the only logical explanation.
• Prosecutors withholding of this evidence allowed them to argue that Lt. Behenna executed Ali Mansur while seated when the forensic experts, including Dr. MacDonnell, agree that Ali was standing with his arms outstretched when shot
• Lt. Behenna is convicted of unpremeditated murder and assault by a military panel of seven officers, none of whom had combat experience.
• Dr. MacDonnell contacts prosecution requesting that the information provided in his demonstration be given to the defense.
• Prosecutors provide such information after a verdict was rendered, but prior to sentencing.
• At the request of the presiding judge, Dr. MacDonnell provides his information to the court via telephone
• The judge orders both sides in the case to file briefs relating to a possible mistrial
• After reading the briefs the judge set an additional hearing and ordered additional briefs, including one from the defense requesting a new trial.
• On March 20, the judge denied defense motions to declare a mistrial and to order a new trial
• Lt. Behenna’s attorneys are appealing the verdict
• Lt. Behenna is currently serving a 25-year sentence

1^st Lieutenant Michael Behenna was an excellent officer. He received his call to serve his country while attending the University of Central Oklahoma. He is from a family of public servants, his mother being an Assistant United States Attorney and his father a retired Special Agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. He has served the Army and the United States with honor and dignity. To sacrifice the life of this Oklahoma soldier over the death of a known terrorist, is a breech of faith with all who are serving our country.

www.DefendMichael.com Wristband

We’ll send you this DefendMichael.com wristband with any donation of $20 or more.

» Donate Online

Support Michael

We need your support now more than ever.  The government has unlimited resources and has spent accordingly.  1LT Behenna and his family hired civilian counsel,  Houston lawyers Jack B. Zimmermann and Kyle R. Sampson, at their own expense.   This Legal Defense Fund has been established for the sole purpose of helping ensure that 1LT Behenna has meaningful access to experienced legal defense counsel in the military prosecution.  The value of having experience in a case like this became very obvious when the issue of evidence withheld by the prosecution was discovered.  All donations to this Fund will be used exclusively for attorney fees and expenses associated with this legal defense and will be maintained in an independently administered trust account.  Funds will not be distributed directly to 1LT Behenna.

If you are able to help defray these costs, please send contributions to the:

1LT Michael Behenna Legal Defense Fund
c/o Jack Dawson, co-trustee
100 Park Avenue, Second Floor
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102-8099

or Rachel Lawrence Mor, co-trustee
3037 N.W. 63rd Street, Suite 251
Oklahoma City Oklahoma 73116

Please read our Legal Disclosure before donating. Thank you for assisting Lt. Michael Behenna.

Got the following email from the Behenna's. Hope you can listen in.

Pastor Ed

Hey everyone,

A heads up that Vicki will talk about Michael's case on Joyce Kaufman's radio show (850 WFTL) in South Florida at 2:30 Tomorrow. Attached is a computer link to the show. Please pass this around! Call in if you feel the urge.

http://www.850wftl.com/LIVE-ON-THE-AIR---Joyce-Kaufman/1159824#news

Thanks,
Scott

Dear Editor:

While I'm eating my Thanksgiving dinner with my family this year, I'm going to have a hard time enjoying it knowing that our President is willingly allowing our men and women in Afghanistan to die while waiting for him to make up his mind whether or not to give them the resources they need for survival.

I was heartsick while reading a chat room that is sometimes visited by soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan, ask us to please pray for their safety because each day things get worse, and they don't know when they are going to get the help they need.  Pastor Ed Boston, Of Hope Wesleyan Church in Hope, IN works with deployed soldiers and veterans through an on-line ministry called Do The Right Thing.  He has confirmed the stories and the concerns of those currently serving.

These brave men and women went where they were told to go and are doing their very best, so how deranged is it to send them there as sitting ducks while the elite politicians play golf in between paying off their friends for political favors.

There is something so seriously wrong with our government allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to get away with funnelling obscene amounts of money to his friends in the auto unions, not to mention the developing corruption story coming out of the Goldman Sachs relationship. Simultaneously, this administration is obsessed with taking over 1/6 of our economy through socialized healthcare!  All the while, as if they are invisible, the President is completely ignoring our brightest and best who are literally dying in Afghanistan.

These same politicians campaigned on how Afghanistan was the war we "should" be in, and most Americans agreed with them, and yet they have absolutely no conscience at allowing these men to be slaughtered when it is within their power to protect them.  It is beyond me how they sleep at night.

So we'll eat our Turkey and be grateful that we live in the greatest country on earth, but first I'll call and write to all of my legislators and plead with them not to sit down to their dinner until they have gotten our military the support they need, and stop sending our children to slaughter like the bird they are about to consume.

Cross-posted from The Snooper Report. I promised Snooper that we would get this done for him - so please go to his site and donate to this great American hero!

Pastor Ed

OK Folks! I Need The Tip Jar Hit and Hit Hard!

Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 1:00AM

On November 4th, I will be in DC with the Vets For Freedom.  Like we did for the men and women in Iraq, we will do for the men and women in Afghanistan because the Hootis won't.  I need airfare and I can sleep on a picnic bench seeing that all of the picnic benches in DC are registered with the powers that be.  That's a long story but it is true.

Under the two videos in the left-hand sidebar, I have a tip jar that looks like this:

Help A DAV Out

Please make a donation seeing that I am on VA benefits and long-term disability which is in the process of changing over to the Social Security...QUICK before it goes broke.

Help me out here.  I need approximately $800.

Thanks.

Snooper

Sign Up to Show Up on November 5th in Washington, DC

Dear Vets for Freedom members:

Last year, Vets for Freedom brought hundreds of veterans to Capitol Hill to support General Petraeus and the Iraq Surge. The result, our commanders and troops on the battlefield got the resources they needed, and we're winning the war in Iraq.

Now, we must do the same for the troops in Afghanistan! You signed our petition calling on President Obama to "Give the Generals What They Need," now join us on Capitol Hill to support General McChrystal.

This is another call to action. We are asking every Afghanistan veteran, and other veterans, who believe in defeating America's enemies to converge on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Thursday, November 5. It's time for the warfighters to tell their representatives--face to face--to give the Commanders what they need.

CLICK HERE to SIGN UP to join us in Washington, DC on November 5th! The sooner you sign up, the sooner we can schedule meetings for you!

We all hope that President Obama makes the right decision, by heeding the advice of his commanders and "surging" in Afghanistan. But in order to ensure he does--and shore up support for a troop increase in Congress--it is important to make our voices heard.

We will meet with Republicans and Democrats alike, making the case for a properly resourced counterinsurgency campaign, that allows the U.S. to defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda, complete the mission, and bring the troops home in victory.

SIGN UP NOW! More details are provided on the sign up page.

If you can't make it to Washington, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DONATE. We hope to raise enough money--from the supporters of Vets for Freedom--to ensure that everyone who makes the trip is reimbursed at some level. Every dollar donated to Vets for Freedom between now and November 5 will go directly to covering travel costs of veterans.

Lastly, please forward this email to everyone you know. Post it on your blog. Print it out and hand it out to friends. Get the word out, so we can get as many veterans on Capitol Hill as possible.

This is our mission. This is our moment. Join Vets for Freedom on Capitol Hill and do your part to support our commanders and troops in Afghanistan.

See you on the 5th!


Pete Hegseth
Vets for Freedom, Chairman and Executive Director

P.S. Please consider DONATING to cover the travel cost of a veteran. Every dollar you give will go to covering the cost of travel for a veteran.