Victim on 9/11 military trials: “It was a military act.”

Eddie Bracken spoke about his sister Lucy Fishman who died at the World Trade Center on 9/11. [Screen snip from government video]As the 9/11 trials got underway at Guantanamo Bay, Eddie Bracken addressed media to talk about his sister Lucy Fishman who died at the World Trade Center.

Bracken said he didn’t think the 5 suspects facing a military trial “have any souls.” He said if they’re convicted and not executed, they should never again “see the light of day.” He added, “Lockdown. Solitary confinement forever.”

Asked about the military trial vs. a civilian proceeding, Bracken said he preferred the military proceeding—“It was a military act.” Bracken, like countless other Americans, views the 9/11 attacks as an act of war.

Media reports suggested the suspects hammed things up—praying at inappropriate times, making a paper airplane and turning to face family members who watched as the accused flashed them a thumbs up.

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Alleged Ft. Hood shooter Hasan awaits decision; officers face discipline

The US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs produced the report "A Ticking Time Bomb" after the Ft. Hood shootings.A new commander is taking over at Ft. Hood and attorneys for Maj. Nidal Hasan want Lt. Gen. Robert Cone to refrain from ruling on Hasan’s court martial and whether the alleged shooter will face the death penalty. Cone was at Ft. Hood on Nov. 5, 2009 when 13 people were killed and more than 24 others were wounded.

Hasan’s attorneys claim they doubt Cone’s ability to be impartial; the attorneys want a decision by the new commander.

The Houston Chronicle said, "Cone has been nominated to be a four-star general and to lead the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va."

Hasan isn’t the only member of the military to face consequences for his actions. The Military Justice Gazette said, “[N]ine officers who failed to recognize and report that Hasan presented a danger or was otherwise unfit for military service face disciplinary action.” [MJG, April 1, 2011; pg. 2]

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Yon says Rolling Stone committed ‘literary crime’; boycott called for

Updated on Friday, April 1, 2011 at 2:57PM by Kay B. Day, Editor

War correspondent Michael Yon files dispatches from around the globe. Yon is a widely published correspondent who has authored several books about his experiences.War correspondent Michael Yon said Rolling Stone magazine committed a “literary crime” and he’s called for a boycott of advertisers in the publication long associated with the entertainment business.

The magazine also does sporadic investigative journalism about issues like the foreclosure epidemic, a piece that was well-written and documented.

On other occasions the magazine does political hit jobs. Yon’s criticism was sparked by a cover story ‘The Kill Team: How US Soldiers in Afghanistan Murdered Civilians for Sport.’

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Capt. Carl Bjork’s verdict—a study in trickle down policy from Washington

By Kay B. Day

Capt. Carl Bjork served with honor in Iraq.Capt. Carl Bjork came onto our radar at The US Report last year, after the government charged him with two counts of premeditated murder and other charges. The charges stemmed from accusations levied by a man named Col. Ibrahim Hamid Jaza, and a few of Hamid's fellow former Iraqi police who were detainees in prison.

The crimes allegedly occurred  in Hit during Bjork’s 2006-2007 deployment. It took the government almost three years to bring charges and then the government asked for delays.

Bjork’s trial was this week; his parents traveled to Iraq.

This week news of the verdicts trickled in—Bjork was acquitted on two charges of premeditated murder. Those charges could have led to life sentences.

Bjork, however, was convicted of two counts of  negligence in the deaths—those charges carried a max sentence of 3 years each. He was also convicted on the charge of reckless endangerment for allegedly setting a booby trap of a weapons cache, a charge that could carry a one-year sentence.

Having followed this case since its inception, I can honestly say I would not have convicted Bjork of anything.

In this morning’s email, Bjork’s sister Erica Bjork Manning responded to a message I’d sent her. I had closed  by telling her I prayed for her brother last night. And thousands of people at the Facebook support group for Bjork have done the same many times.

Erica said, “All of your prayers have born fruit.”

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SEAL: NOT GUILTY!

Breaking News

Navy SEAL Matthew McCabe has been found not guilty.

To say we are happy is a serious understatement.

More thoughts on this tomorrow.

And remember, although all the SEALs were found innocent, charges for their civilian defense attorneys must still be paid.

The conservative weekly Human Events said the jury deliberated for one hour and 40 minutes. A not-guilty verdict required two thirds of the jury to agree on each of the charges.

The US Report sends best wishes to all the SEALs and their families. We regret they were forced to deal with this in the first place. [Filed by Kay B. Day]

Prosecution to offer rebuttal in SEAL trial

Breaking News

Fox News' Steve Centanni gave an update on the trial for Navy SEAL Matthew McCabe at approximately 11:25 a.m. on Thursday. Centanni said the prosecution will offer a rebuttal to the defense. That means we may get a verdict today, but it's more likely to come later.

Centanni said SEAL Julio Huertas testified from Iraq. Huertas, who was cleared of all charges related to the detention and treatment of alleged terrorist Ahmed Hashim Abed, contradicted testimony from the government's key witness Kevin Demartino who is also a sailor but not a SEAL. Huertas is one of a number of witnesses who dispute Demartino's account.

Ongoing coverage of the SEALs' trials is archived at The US Report. We thank Fox News, one of the only major media outlets offering balanced continuous coverage of these trials. Excellent coverage of McCabe's military trial has been provided by Dwight Sullivan at CAAFlog. [Filed by Kay B. Day]

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[Editor's Note: For more information and regular updates, visit Support the Navy SEALs who Captured Ahmed Hashim Abed. To contribute to funds for the SEALs’ civilian defense, visit Maritime Tactical Security. The US Report has covered this story extensively. To read previous columns about the SEALs, enter the words 'Navy SEALs' in the search box in the right column.]

CAAFlog blogger covers SEAL trial with finesse as defense duels with prosecutor

By Kay B. Day

CAAFlog blogger Dwight Sullivan is a rare bird. He has a legal background, but he writes like a seasoned journalist and in this rare case, I am using ‘seasoned journalist’ as a compliment. Sullivan has been posting firsthand accounts of the trial of SO2 Matthew McCabe’s legal battle to defend his honor and his freedom.

McCabe faces minor charges over the detention of an alleged terrorist in Iraq, but the most serious charge he’s dealing with is an accusation he did ‘unlawfully strike [the alleged terrorist] in the midsection with his fist.’ The alleged terrorist is Ahmed Hashim Abed who is suspected of planning and implementing the murders and desecration of bodies of private contractors in Iraq.

Sullivan has covered McCabe’s trial in a Norfolk (Va.) courtroom from the first day on Monday. I’m betting a lot of his readers are like me. Each day I’d check the CAAFlog site multiple times to see if there was anything new.

Sullivan’s last update on McCabe's trial implied the defense had a good day on Wednesday. It appears McCabe’s civilian defense attorney Neal Puckett and his associate Haytham Faraj are successfully picking apart ‘evidence’ such as very questionable eyewitness testimony from sailor Kevin Demartino and a recording  of a deposition of another eyewitness, the alleged terrorist.

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