Navy SEAL's Were Warned Not to Report Their Chief For War Crimes

Wishful

Wishful

"Land of the free, because of the brave..."
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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/...tion=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage

A mostly one-sided version as the other side was probably advised not to talk to the press before the trial scheduled in late May.

An observation: From the article: "When Chief Gallagher took over leadership of the platoon in 2015, SEALs said, he already had a reputation as a “pirate” — an operator more interested in fighting terrorists than in adhering to the rules and making rank." So if you do totally do the former, you're a "pirate", & if you totally do the latter, you're a self-serving hence ineffective leader. Can't recall ever reading about SEAL's where adhering to the rules & making rank is preferred over bringing the fight to the enemy. Could be viewed as a "can't win" situation. One has to lead from somewhere in the middle, obviously.

I have other thoughts about the supervisory dynamics mentioned in the article but want to hear from other posters who have more knowledge/experience.
 
I look at the NYT through filtered glasses. They do good investigative work, but sometimes the editorial slant comes in.

For the day-to-day reporting, I'd recommend the San Diego Union. The only downside is they're behind a pay-wall, though they do allow a number of free articles per month.
 
Not that we're in the same drinking circles, but I never met a frogman who cared about rank.
 
Wishful said:
Can't recall ever reading about SEAL's where adhering to the rules & making rank is preferred over bringing the fight to the enemy.
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There are rules: Don't slice a prisoner's throat open and send the pics to your friends.

And there are rules: Don't rat on your teammates.

Just a little food for thought for those Mids and Cadets who aspire to join SOF that operate in independent small teams and "enjoy" a very lean chain of command. They should picture themselves as a 28-29 year old O-3 commanding 11 enlisted men with multiple deployments to war zones. The preference may be to "break" rule #1 in order to make rank, which was not the choice made by 7 of Gallagher's Teammates, who chose to break Rule #2 at the risk of losing rank. You are the O-3, who may have been unaware of the throat slitting. So what do you do when the 7 come to you?
 
 
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Looks like I have some reading to do later. My godfather's best friend was a SEAL. He had a lot of fun teaching my cousins and I how to play "warrior" and we showed him all the ways that kids who aren't old enough for and ID card can get on base without Shore Patrol or the MP's being the wiser. I still call him "Uncle".

He never gave me the impression that rules mattered a whole hell of a lot to him. Getting the job done was more important to him. He paid for it later.
 
THParent said:
That is the first time I have read the details of this particular (completely unrelated to the OP) story.
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They are related by the quality of the prosecution in each case.

What was the punishment for murdering SSgt. Melgar?

How do you offer immunity to Corey Scott, who confesses to the crime on the witness stand?

Now than Gallagher is cleared of everything other than posing with a corpse, whose murder he bragged about on social media, Scott can recruit a team to argue for his exoneration.

I agree @Magna Venari about doing some reading.

In both cases, a few people can render worthless the quotes in the post script of your posts.
 
One of the more despicable chapters of the Vietnam War was the Mylai Massacre of March 16, 1968. Over 500 unarmed Vietnamese villagers were murdered by an infantry company of the US Army's Americal Division. It was supposedly reported as an engagement with the Viet Cong, though the only US casualty was a single GI who suffered a superficial wound from shooting himself. The "incident" was covered up repeatedly by the Army (including then-Major Colin Powell) & only became public due to GIs reporting it to a free & independent press. The Army reluctantly pursued an investigation.

The only charges ever pressed were against Lt. William "Rusty" Calley, whom was found guilty (deservedly so) at court martial but given a light sentence, allowed to serve house arrest (a private officer's room, allowed to travel off base to bars) while on appeal, then given an outright pardon by President Nixon. A shameful chapter in US history. As bad as Wounded Knee.

In the War on Terror (2001-t0-present) by comparison, the US military has had no hesitation in charging servicemembers with crimes, when appropriate, nor in proving those charged with legal counsel and afforded fair trials (court martials). A badge of honor. An example of how a free democracy policies its own. Covering up misbehavior, up to and including murder, is much worse than admitting it happened in the first place & bringing to justice the perpetrators.

Maybe the Chicago Police Department should study how the US Armed Forces have operated in Iraq & Afghanistan.
 
LurkingQuietly said:
cb7893 said:
I guess the next in line will be the prosecutors in this case:
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I'm not seeing how you are connecting the dots on these 3 articles. Staff Sgt Logan Melgar was admittedly murdered by fellow American's.
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And what was the punishment for their crime?

Navy Special Operations Chief Tony DeDolph and Gunnery Sgt. Mario Madera-Rodriguez are accused of taking part in the June 2017 assault on Melgar in Bamako, Mali.

The Washington Post previously reported that four U.S. troops, a British special operator, and a Malian security guard intended to bind Melgar and make a video of him being sexually assaulted.

The two other U.S. troops involved with Melgar's death have already pleaded guilty as part of plea agreements with prosecutors.

Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator Adam Matthews was sentenced to one year in prison, reduction in rank to E-5, and a possible bad conduct discharge. Marine Staff Sgt. Kevin Maxwell Jr. was sentenced to four years in prison, reduction in rank to E-1, and a bad conduct discharge.

The common thread is that each is an embarrassment.

We'll see what happens to DeDolph and Madero-Rodriguez. They were the apparent masterminds behind the operation.
 
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