http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAhr4hZDJE

Most of you are aware of the facts in the case involving 1Lt Michael Behenna as detailed at www.defendmichael.com.  These facts in and of themselves are horrific and represent a total betrayal of a young man who truly fought for his country against a determined and ruthless enemy.  But few of you know the gut wrenching details that transpired after Judge Dixon denied the motion for a mistrial. 

It was a Friday, March 20, 2009, three weeks AFTER Michael was convicted of unpremeditated murder for the killing of Al Qaeda terrorist Ali Mansur.   Before we left Michael’s apartment to drive to the courtroom for the mistrial hearing, Michael gave his mother Vicki his billfold and car keys in case the unimaginable happened.  Michael seemed prepared for the worst since he had been disappointed many times during his trial. Yet the thought that the Judge would not declare a mistrial seemed a remote possibility to us that morning.  Based upon Vicki’s experience with such matters as a federal prosecutor this should have been an open and shut case for granting a new trial.  But at 2pm that afternoon our world came crashing down when the judge denied the motion for mistrial claiming that Dr. MacDonell’s testimony would NOT have changed the jury’s verdict.  He then told us that the defendant had thirty minutes to say good bye to his family.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC1DrrV_oDw

 Reflection – A Sign Of America’s Future?

While still in the US Army in November 1989, I was sent on a mission to West Berlin, Germany.  There was nothing really earth shaking about the trip…or so I thought…more of a business as usual initiative, in America’s fight against the communist totalitarian forces of the Soviet Union and East Block nations under Soviet control.

The night before my planned meeting, I participated in a pro-forma social gathering of sorts with others who would attend next day’s meeting .  I was driven to the site of the evening event by a West German national who worked for the U.S. government.  We engaged in light conversation about life in West Berlin being isolated and surrounded by East German and Soviet control. 

I posed a question to the driver, “Do you think East and West Berlin will ever be reunited…freedom ever be restored…will the Berlin Wall ever come down”?  His quick response was, “Never, the Soviets prop up the East German regime”.  

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Published on 03/23/10

By Mark Walker

NC Times

Gen. James Mattis, one of the most revered commanders in the Marine Corps, said Monday that he was never improperly influenced when deciding how to prosecute troops charged in the slayings of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq.

“I don’t recall a single time that anyone tried to influence me unlawfully,” Mattis testified in a Camp Pendleton courtroom, where the lone remaining Haditha defendant, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, is seeking to have the charges against him dismissed.

Mattis testified for more than 90 minutes. He said he independently reviewed all the investigative reports about the killings, which occurred after a roadside bomb killed one Marine and injured two others.

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