Everyone knows I'm willing to give US soldiers the benefit of the doubt when it comes to questionable things they may or may not have done during the heat of battle.
However, if what they are accusing Lt. Colonel William Steele of doing is true, he should never get out of jail for treason.
The most serious charge he still faces is that of aiding the enemy. He is accused of providing an unmonitored mobile phone to detainees. The other charges are failing to obey an order, unauthorized possession of classified information and maintaining an inappropriate relationship with his interpreter.
We have fine men and women over in Iraq right now and if he did provide unmonitored cell phones to detainees, there's a good chance that they used those phones to coordinate attacks against US soldiers, warn insurgents, or other horrible things.
But of course, his defense attorney is trying to spin it another way with a laughable defense:
The defense sought a motion to dismiss the charge of aiding the enemy, arguing that giving a mobile phone to detainees did not fall into the legal definition of supplying "arms, munitions, money and other things."
It's not "other things"? How can it not be? Any idiot can see what this guy is accused of would be considered aiding the enemy.
The presiding judge, Lieutenant-Colonel Timothy Grammel, denied the request but said the prosecution must prove that the detainees Steele was helping qualified as "enemies" and not former enemies.
Well I'm at least glad that Judge Grammel can see through the bullshit.
Of course, it does get worse:
At his pre-trial hearing, Steele pleaded guilty to wrongfully storing classified information in his quarters, improperly marking classified information and possession of pornography, which carry a maximum sentence of two years' each.
Possession of pornography, I could care less about, unless it's child or illegal porn. In fact, I think our guys and girls over there should get unlimited porn while they are there, but that's not the point.
In June military prosecutors dismissed charges alleging he had an inappropriate relationship with the daughter of a detainee.
So, he's nailing the daughter of a detainee, giving them unmonitored cell phones, illegally storing classified information, improperly marking classified information (redacting documents maybe?) AND other charges?
That's a pretty hefty list of things this guy is accused of doing. I hope that prosecutors are wrong, but if even half of these things are true, he should never get out of prison.
Travis
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