Trump issues at least two pardons to service members

[Cow Poke]

Trump issues at least two pardons to service members

[Leonhard]

Hmmm.. Meh.

[Cow Poke]

Hmmm.. Meh.

Still looking at this.

On the one hand, it rankles the chain of command, as the military as their own legal processes in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

On the other hand, Trump, as Commander in Chief, is head of that process, and has the right to override cases.

On the third hand, under Obama, there had been changes to the Rules of Engagement that, in a number of cases, put our soldiers at risk, or at least caused confusion.

Under Trump, Rules of Engagement were cleared up.

If we send soldiers to war, they need to know we're going to stand behind them, but we can't give them the impression they can get away with war crimes.

[seanD]

If I were Trump and I was really "playing 4-d chess" and I was strategically creating political chaos on the left, I'd issue a pardon to Bradley/Chelsea Manning just to expose the double standard and hypocrisy of the left, because you KNOW they'll find a way to chastise him for it. Assange has been thrown completely under the bus by the left because of what he did to Hillary, but Manning is still basically their whistleblower darling.

[shunyadragon]

Trump issues at least two pardons to service members

. . . convicted of serious crimes by military courts.

[Cow Poke]

. . . convicted of serious crimes by military courts.

Yes, do you know the backgrounds and details? You're surely aware that, even in civilian criminal courts, people are often wrongly convicted?

[Teallaura]

I like that Trump is willing to intervene - I just don't know anything about these specific cases.

[Cow Poke]

I like that Trump is willing to intervene - I just don't know anything about these specific cases.

I'm still digging into it, but it seems part of it was that in one case, exculpatory evidence was not allowed to be presented in defense, and in an other, the JAG lawyer serving as defense was not nearly as competent as the JAG lawyer tasked with prosecution.

In both cases, it seems, it had to do with Rules of Engagement which were much more fluid than they should be.

When a soldier goes to war, he ought to know exactly what is expected of him, and simply changing the Rules of Engagement "at the top" doesn't immediately filter down to the battlefield, and can be quite confusing in the time of war.

[JimL]

Trump issues at least two pardons to service members

Trump couldn't care less one way or the other, he's trying to deflect from his impeachment.

[Teallaura]

Trump couldn't care less one way or the other, he's trying to deflect from his impeachment.

If so, he's doing the Dems a favor. Now there are allegations against another witness.

[Cow Poke]

Trump couldn't care less one way or the other, he's trying to deflect from his impeachment.

While you seethe in your hatred of Trump and use this as a cheap attack, the families of the soldiers who actually served are extremely grateful, and thanked him profusely.

[NorrinRadd]

. . . convicted of serious crimes by military courts.

So what? Practically speaking, no different from a Presidential pardon of any conviction, no matter how serious, in civilian Federal courts.

[rogue06]

If so, he's doing the Dems a favor. Now there are allegations against another witness.

Linky?

[JimL]

While you seethe in your hatred of Trump and use this as a cheap attack, the families of the soldiers who actually served are extremely grateful, and thanked him profusely.

Of course the family members are grateful, what a silly argument for a pardon. They are convicted murderers, pardoned only because they are military, for political reasons. That's how Trump operates.

[shunyadragon]

Yes, do you know the backgrounds and details? You're surely aware that, even in civilian criminal courts, people are often wrongly convicted?

Yes, I know the details, and yes the trials were carried out with due process and accepted military legal procedures. I believe he should let the military system of justice be accepted and follow the legal course based on the Uniform Code of Military Justice in the military.