Defending our Defenders.....

Old 05-18-2010, 05:04 AM
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Default Defending our Defenders.....

To all Michael Behenna supporters,

Today is Michael’s 27th birthday. While he won’t be ‘celebrating’ it in any real sense (no cake and candles in prison), his spirits have been incredibly lifted by the hundreds and hundreds of cards of letters he’s received in the just the past week alone. He is overwhelmed by your support and personally wanted us to tell you how much it means to him.

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we are still eagerly awaiting the Military response to Michael’s appeal, which will allow Michael’s appeal to be docketed and hopefully, by this summer, be argued before the Army Court of Appeals. In the meantime, we continue to encourage Michael’s supporters to contact their Senators and Congressmen. These Congressional Delegations will be vital to ensure the Army handles Michael’s case properly moving forward. Your assistance thus far has produced many important connections and unleashed scrutiny of Michael’s case we would not have thought possible.

It is estimated that more American soldiers have been charged with war crimes related to the war in Iraq than in previous wars combined! Many believe that this is the result of the current Washington policy to prosecute members of the military for a political purpose—pandering to the Iraqi government. In an effort to build awareness to this perversion, we are considering organizing a motorcycle/vehicle Rally to Ft. Leavenworth in early fall, 2010. Michael is among ten decorated soldiers (coined the Leavenworth 10) in Leavenworth prison who have been wrongfully charged and convicted for murdering Al-Qaeda or insurgents. Their convictions are not publicized, but we have come to know each of their stories and they all answered the call of their country to defend our values and way of life against an enemy who wishes to destroy us. After defending themselves or their fellow soldiers/Marines in a combat zone, they have fallen victim to untenable Rules of Engagement, demoralizing “Catch and Release” policies, and political correctness that left them abandoned by the country they fought for.

Many of Michael’s supporters have contacted us for additional ways to help. This rally will aid Michael and the other Leavenworth 10 in creating awareness for those who have not heard their stories. We envision this Rally to begin in at least the following 12 states; Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee, and culminate in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Due to the significance of 9/11 to these soldiers call to duty, we are considering holding the event the weekend before, on Labor Day 9/4/2010. Before we finalize our plans, we would like to know if you would assist in the following areas:

Help put together the event in Leavenworth

Help coordinate a state leg of this journey to Leavenworth

Design and maintenance of a web site

Help sponsor the event (not necessary to attend)

Graphic Design (t-shirts, signs, flyers)

Most importantly - make the ride to Leavenworth (motorcycles and vehicles would be welcome)

Please reply about your interests and we will build a database of who can help us on this event. We are also very interested in your thoughts and ideas about this event! The size of this event is dependent upon those involved and our ability to attract other concerned Patriots. This rally is a way to show these soldiers that we appreciate their unselfish service to our country and they are not forgotten. Please consider being a part of the show of support these men never received from our country when they returned home from war.

The proud parents of an American hero. Happy Birthday Michael!!!

Scott and Vicki Behenna

http://defendmichael.wordpress.com/
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Old 06-14-2010, 06:04 AM
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To the thousands of Michael Behenna supporters:

The New York Times recently reported (see link below) that the US military has initiated a policy to “reintegrate” imprisoned Taliban fighters to their Afghan communities. These Taliban fighters were caught with evidence that they had killed our soldiers, but are released to their families in an active war zone with merely a ‘pledge’ that they will not return to the Taliban. This appears to be the latest attempt to win the hearts and minds of our enemies and taking the ‘catch and release policy’ to a whole new level.

This brings us to Michael’s case. Michael has been incarcerated by the Army for over a year now. We have asked at every level that Michael’s constitutional right to a fair trial be granted so that all the evidence is disclosed to the jury. Doesn’t seem too much to ask for an American citizen who fought for his country does it? Yet Michael’s request for a new trial has been stranded. The Army seems to be in no hurry to have Michael’s case in front of the Army Court of Appeals as they have yet to file their response to Michael’s brief which was filed back in December 2009.

There is a double standard in play here where enemy combatants are given mercy, but our soldiers/Marines are denied mercy. For example, Marine SGT Larry Hutchins whose conviction was overturned several weeks by the Navy Appellate Court is STILL IN CUSTODY while the Navy appeals the decision to the next appellate level.

During the past year we have come to know the families of the other soldiers/Marines who have been charged and convicted of ‘murder’ of Al-Qaeda or insurgents while in a combat zone. We have watched as these soldiers/Marines and their families prepare for clemency hearings before the military clemency boards. (The Armed Forces have a procedure, independent of the appellate process, where an incarcerated soldier/Marine can appear before a clemency board and ask for a reduction of his sentence, or if the individual has served at least 1/3 of his sentence they may request parole.) We have heard the hopelessness in the voices of the families when they learn that their son or husband will not receive ANY reduction in their sentence. It is difficult for these military families to know that based on a ‘solemn’ pledge Taliban fighters are released by the SAME US military leadership and allowed to return home to their families. What message does the US military send when we punish our own soldiers more harshly then we punish the combatants who have killed our brave men and women on the front lines of this war on terrorism?

Many of the soldiers/Marines I am speaking of, including our son, would never find themselves involved in the criminal justice system but for their combat experience. These soldiers/Marines do not have previous criminal histories, and their military records are replete with honorable service including purple hearts, bronze stars, and multiple deployments in defense of our country. Some of these soldiers fell victim to the military’s ‘catch and release’ policy that returns enemy combatants to the battlefield where they return to fight our soldiers time and time again. Yet others were protecting themselves or their men in a combat zone. Even if they made mistakes in judgment during war, should they be sentenced to 10-40 years while the enemy is totally forgiven? Why shouldn’t the SAME military leadership afford our combat soldiers/Marines a second chance!

If the US military will release Taliban fighters simply on a pledge by their families that they will not rejoin the Taliban then we ask the same for our troops. These soldiers/Marines are not a threat to our society and deserve to be home with their families. We ask that you the American public stand with us. Our request is that each of you vouch for these soldiers/Marines and demand that our military extend the same mercy to them as they did to the enemy combatants who are trying to kill our soldiers every day.

Please write a letter to your Senator, Congressman, and the Secretary of Defense and advise them that this double-standard will not be tolerated.

Bless you for your continued support,

Scott and Vicki Behenna

http://www.defendmichael.com


NY Times Article - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/wo...le.html?src=mv

Diana West Article on releasing the Taliban - http://www.dianawest.net/Home/tabid/...ur-Troops.aspx

Please use this link to find you Congressional Delegates:

http://contactingthecongress.org/cgi...e=ctc&state=ok

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

1400 Defense Pentagon

Washington DC 20301-1400
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Old 10-04-2010, 06:17 PM
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To the thousands of Michael Behenna supporters,

A lot has transpired since our last update.

1) Michael's case has been fully briefed with the Army Court of Appeals and we are waiting patiently for an argument date to be set by the court. We are hopeful it will be before the end of the year.

2) Michael has another Clemency Hearing coming up - most likely in December (yes it has been a year since the Clemency Board reduced Michael's sentence to fifteen years.) Once we know the date of Michael's Clemency Hearing we will send out another update asking people to write letters to the Clemency Board.

3) The Leavenworth 10 Rally over Labor Day Weekend was more successful than we could have ever imagined. We knew our target date was short notice, but it came together thanks to a lot of hard work from countless volunteers. I especially want to express my heartfelt thanks for the generous donations from UECUS Inc and the Seals Warrior Fund as well as the hundreds of individuals who gave. Your support helped pay for a tremendous event that built exposure for these 10 men who have been charged for protecting themselves or their men in a war zone. Soon on the L10 web site www.L10freedomride.com we will be including all the Rally photographs and videos available for you to watch. In the meantime the web sites below have many videos to review:

http://conservativetvonline.com/index.php (Home page halfway down on the left side)

http://kansas.watchdog.org/5121/leav...their-stories/

http://kansas.watchdog.org/5103/leav...-freedom-ride/ (video of the Ride through Leavenworth)

4) Michael's website www.defendmichael.com has a whole new look. We will be adding even more information and helpful links to assist Michael's supporters as we continue our fight for his release. Also, here is the newest video put on the DefendMichael.com website: “A Mother’s Fight” by Gregory Gullbert. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZAVAR6WrRI

And finally, PLEASE CONTINUE TO WRITE LETTERS TO MICHAEL. The government's delay in filing their brief and the delay in setting the date for oral arguments has left Michael feeling discouraged these past few weeks. Michael lost his freedom almost nineteen months ago and it is your encouragement and support that truly sustains him through this injustice. Send your letters to:

Michael Behenna 87503

1300 N. Warehouse Road

Ft. Leavenworth, KS 66027-2304


Bless you for your continued support of an American hero we proudly call our son,

Scott and Vicki Behenna

www.DefendMichael.com
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