10 LC
21 0722S (SCS)
Senate
Resolution 1035
By:
Senators Shafer of the 48th, Douglas of the 17th, Murphy of the 27th, Moody of
the 56th, Balfour of the 9th and others
ADOPTED SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the President to pardon the three Navy SEALs facing court martial proceedings in
the capture of terrorist Ahmed Hashim Abed; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
three Navy SEALs captured Ahmed Hashim Abed, the alleged planner of the March,
2004, ambush in Fallujah that resulted in the brutal killing of four American
contractors who were hung on the bridge over the Euphrates River after being
burned and mutilated; and
WHEREAS,
Abed evaded justice for over five years until Special Warfare Operators Second
Class Matthew McCabe and Jonathan Keefe and Special Warfare Operator First Class
Julio Huertas undertook a mission that resulted in the capture of this alleged
terrorist;
and
WHEREAS,
in the course of capturing Abed, it appears that one of the Navy SEALs may have
punched Abed in the stomach; and
WHEREAS,
these SEALs, by all accounts exceptional sailors as evidenced by the fact that
they had each been recently advanced in rank, are now facing court martial
proceedings, the penalties for which could include dishonorable discharge and
imprisonment;
and
WHEREAS,
these SEALs, at risk to themselves, captured an alleged terrorist wanted for
planning an attack that not only killed Americans but also maimed and mutilated
their bodies; and
WHEREAS,
prosecution in this case where there is no evidence of torture or abuse beyond
the single punch to Abed's stomach could confuse, demoralize, and negatively
impact all American service personnel who are placed in dangerous and often
ambiguous situations.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge
President Barrack Obama to personally review the case of these three Navy SEALs
for a presidential pardon.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the President of the
United States by certified mail and to send a copy of this resolution to each
sailor involved.