Calling All Pitchforkers! Show Support for SEALS Unfairly Caught Up in Legal Tsunami

This latest outrage has been making the rounds among milsupporters, and I happily join in to spread the word. Three of our nation's finest SEAL operatives have been caught up in a legal tsunami that threatens to punish them after they completed a dangerous mission on our behalf.

Background: Three Navy SEALs took part in the capture of Ahmed Hashim Abed, one of the most wanted enemy agents in Iraq. Abed is believed to have orchestrated the brutal murder and desecration of four Blackwater USA operatives, two of whose bodies were hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River. After he was captured, Abed - who clearly knows his ICC regs well - complained that the SEALs roughed him up a bit.

Predictably, the US Government pressed criminal charges - against the SEALs.

The charged men are as follows.

Matthew McCabe, a Special Operations Petty Officer Second Class (SO-2), is facing three charges: dereliction of performance of duty for willfully failing to safeguard a detainee, making a false official statement, and assault.

Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe, SO-2, is facing charges of dereliction of performance of duty and making a false official statement.

Petty Officer Julio Huertas, SO-1, faces those same charges and an additional charge of impediment of an investigation.

The three will be arraigned on December 7 at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, VA.

Supporters within easy reach of Norfolk will convene December 7 to show support for the accused SEALs. The hearing is open to the public, but there may be issues with courtroom space and judicial discretion. There has been a lot of public interest in this case, and the judge could at some point decide to shut the doors.

If you plan to go, keep in mind that before you get inside the courtroom, you first have to get on base. You will need either a Military ID (active or veteran), or a valid drivers license and vehicle registration. For security reasons, your vehicle must be registered in the name of one of the occupants. In other words, no rental cars! Also, don't forget your courtroom manners. If you raise a fuss or do anything that would cause your momma to glare at you in, say, a church service, you are out of there.

For more info, check in with the FB support group. I will post updates here and on the Pitchfork Brigade page as I receive them.