"I hope they Mirandized this Ahmed Hashim Abed guy before they punched him." -- Rush Limbaugh
On March 31, 2004, a small convoy guarded by four American civilian contractors was ambushed at Fallujah, Iraq, and the guards were killed. The bodies of the four Blackwater security guards were burnt, hacked, and two of the mutilated bodies were hung for display on a bridge over the Euphrates river.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that in " a macabre and murderous town fete, locals cheered as one corpse was attached to a car tow rope and pulled triumphantly up and down the main road...."
The article noted that "In terms of its sheer bestial violence, the attack on the Blackwater operatives was unprecedented...."
The ambush, and desecration of the bodies were all videotaped by Islamic extremists, and subsequently disseminated world-wide as anti-American propaganda.
This incident, believed to have been planned by Ahmed Hashim Abed, is widely held to have led directly to the first Battle of Fallujuh, that began four days after the guards were murdered.
All four of the American guards worked for Blackwater, out of Moyock, N.C.
Blackwater (now called Xe -- pronounced "zi") was founded in 1997 by former Navy SEALs, Eric Prince, and Al Clark, (Clark later left to start
Special Tactical Services).
One of the murdered guards, Scott Helvenston, was also a former SEAL.
In 2007, the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, headed by Henry Waxman (D-CA), laid all of the blame for the slaughter at Blackwater's doorstep. Their report does not mention Islam, terrorists, Muslim extremists, war, radicals, insurgents, or atrocity.
Reading the House report, one could be excused for thinking that the Blackwater operatives ambushed themselves.
This past September, the purported leader of the Fallujah ambush -- "one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq" -- was captured by Navy SEALs.
Ahmed Hashim Abed, code named "Objective Amber," was briefly held at Camp Baharia (Dreamland), a Marine base adjacent to the main compound of Camp Fallujah, located about 2 miles southwest of the city. (
Source)
Ahmed Abed
alleges that while under the watch of Navy SEALs, he was punched, and suffered a bloody lip. Three SEALs are now facing court-martial charges.
A court-martial is defined as "a military court to try members of the armed services who are accused of serious breaches of martial (military) law."
The three SEALs have turned down the opportunity for a captain's mast (also known as an admiral's mast, or flag mast), which is not a trial, but a non-judicial discipline hearing.
Perhaps they are curious about the Pentagon's pusillanimous pandering to political correctness. Or perhaps they would like to see real proof of their CIC's citizenship.
Whatever their reasons, I salute their bravery, and service to our country -- as I'm sure all patriotic Americans do as well.
Hooyah!