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American soldier charged with helping Al Queda

post #1 of 9
2/19/04 at 6:03am
Thread Starter 
story here

This makes me sick to my stomach.
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post #2 of 9
2/19/04 at 6:20am
Shocking!!.

And his picture is up for all to see. I would'nt want to be in his shoes!!
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post #3 of 9
2/19/04 at 7:38am
"The charge sheet said Anderson, who also went by the name of Amir Abdul Rashid"!!!
What the...why in the world would anyone in the armed forces do such a thing? Now he is facing the death penalty. He just threw his life away trying to help terrorist organization.
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post #4 of 9
2/19/04 at 8:38am
I find it disturbing that we are getting in line, using language which assumes the guilt of a person who has been merely accused of a crime. In the military, as in the civilian's world, a person is deemed innocent until proven guilty. Military personnel have constitutional rights just like you and me.

Along these lines, the Army is not doing too well these days with charges brought against Muslim-American servicemen. As an example, consider the charges brought against the Army chaplain, Captain James Yee. The Army has charged the chaplain with mishandling classified material. The military equivalent of a grand jury proceeding in his case had been scheduled to begin on December 2. It has now been postponed by the Army five times and is now scheduled for March 10. The postponements were prompted by the Army having to review the material Captain Yee is charged with mishandling to see if it was in fact classified. Again, this review comes AFTER the charges were filed, not BEFORE.

Those interested in the latest on this case might take a look at today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...lim%20Chaplain

I hasten to add that I will be one of the first in line to condemn Specialist Anderson if he is convicted of these awful charges, but not until then.

All the best to all,

Jim, with Ann, Miss Kitty and, soon, Samwise, on a Texas beach
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post #5 of 9
2/19/04 at 9:02am
Thread Starter 
the thought (and not the actual guilty verdict) that someone who has made the choice to protect and serve with thier life (wether it's in return for college tutition, or a sincere desire to protect and serve) while actually placing people in peril that is a disturbing and sickening thought.

'The charge sheet said Anderson, who also went by the name of Amir Abdul Rashid, communicated with U.S. military personnel posing as members of al Qaeda. The charge sheet paraphrased Anderson's message to the supposed al Qaeda members as "I wish to meet with you, I share your cause. According to the sources, law enforcement personnel were monitoring the chat room looking for people who might try to give up information, and came across Anderson allegedly trying to offer information to al Qaeda'

Certainly not saying he is guilty yet, but if what is in the CNN article is true, that's scary. My reaction was based on the article.

My S/O of 7 years is in the army reserves and spent 12 years in active service. It looks like he is going to Iraq, so I personally have trouble with the suggestion of leaks within the military that will threaten my mans life. It hits very, very close to home for me. I'm scared enough of what is going to happen from our enemies, with out having to worry about what a fellow soldier will do to compromise their strength. It's very real for me and makes me sick to my stomach to think about.

I'm not saying he's guilty, it's just the entire situation that is bothersome to me. the fact that is a very real threat (american soldiers telling the enemy how to kill us and what our weak spots are). they wouldn't be setting up sting operations if it weren't a concern.
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post #6 of 9
2/19/04 at 9:16am
Quote:
Originally posted by airprincess
the thought (and not the actual guilty verdict) that someone who has made the choice to protect and serve with thier life (wether it's in return for college tutition, or a sincere desire to protect and serve) while actually placing people in peril that is a disturbing and sickening thought.
I must apologize, AirPrincess. Indeed, so you said. I have a failing, demonstrated here before, of thoughtlessly over-generalizing. I tend to get bound up in a subject matter and forget what started it all, which is not something to be proud of.

Sorry,

Jim
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post #7 of 9
2/19/04 at 9:24am
Thread Starter 
No problem Jim. I always find your posts stimulating and am glad you particpate in this forum
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post #8 of 9
2/19/04 at 10:47am
"Yee is currently free, and the most serious allegations have been replaced by the lesser ones of adultery and possession of pornography.

The only formal charges against Yee are mishandling classified material, failing to obey an order, making a false official statement, adultery and conduct unbecoming an officer for allegedly downloading pornography on his government laptop. The last two were added since his release from the brig.

If court-martialed and convicted on all charges, Yee could face up to 13 years in prison."
©1996-2004 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The above excerpt illustrates why it isn't wise to rush to form an opinion as to someone's guilt or innocence before the "facts" have been presented. There I really have to agree with Jim.

That said, I really don't find the Anderson case shocking in view of the fact that Timothy McVeigh was a Gulf War veteran, apparently served his country in an honorable fashion, and then turned around and blew up a federal building, murdering 168 of his fellow citizens. Terry Nichols, incidently, is trying for a plea bargain regarding the state charges which could get him the death penalty. There are "bad eggs" in any large organization, be it the military, FBI, CIA, LAPD, NYPD, etc., etc.. Though most people would never dream of betraying their country, family, friends and neighbors, there are enough people who have no scruples, conscience or sense of duty to anyone but themselves.
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post #9 of 9
2/19/04 at 5:52pm
Quote:
Originally posted by jcat
There are "bad eggs" in any large organization, be it the military, FBI, CIA, LAPD, NYPD, etc., etc.. Though most people would never dream of betraying their country, family, friends and neighbors, there are enough people who have no scruples, conscience or sense of duty to anyone but themselves.
I just noted a quite timely article in the Baltimore Sun verifying your observation, jcat.

"WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2004 - An internal FBI report kept under wraps for three years details dozens of cases of agents fired for egregious misconduct and crimes, including drug trafficking, attempted murder, theft and consorting with prostitutes."

The article goes on to report that 8 or 9 FBI agents were dismissed EACH YEAR between 1986 and 1999 for serious misconduct or criminal offenses. More can be read at http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nat...orld-headlines

I will admit, for what it is worth, that my lifetime of experience in and around our criminal justice system gave me justifiable cause many years ago to stop giving law enforcement officers the benefit of the doubt, not even those wearing the mantle of Elliot Ness.

Cheers,

Jim, with Ann, Miss Kitty and, soon, Samwise, on a Texas beach
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