US Soldier Faces Court Martial - Aiding Al Qaeda

[Sun Tzu]

SEATTLE — A U.S. soldier accused of trying to help Al Qaeda has been ordered to stand trial at a court-martial. The trial for Spc. Ryan G. Anderson) was ordered June 9 by Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano, commander at Fort Lewis, south of Seattle, but was not made public until Wednesday. Anderson, 26, who was raised as a Lutheran but converted to Islam, was arrested in February and charged with five counts of trying to provide the terrorist network with information about U.S. troop strength and tactics as well as methods of killing American soldiers.
At a hearing in May, prosecutors presented a secretly recorded video showing Anderson meeting with two undercover military officials who were posing as members of Al Qaeda. In the meeting, Anderson offered information about weaknesses in the M1A1 Abrams, the military's primary battle tank, according to the video. He could face life in prison if convicted. Fort Lewis spokesman Joe Hitt said Soriano would not give any public explanation for why he decided not to pursue the death penalty.

An arraignment is set for Friday.
Anderson is a member of the Washington National Guard's 81st Armor Brigade, which is now in Iraq. Anderson's attorney, Maj. Joseph Morse, and the prosecutor, Maj. Chris Jenks, declined to comment on the case, Hitt said Wednesday. Anderson grew up in Everett, where former classmates at Cascade High School have described him as a paramilitary enthusiast who was passionate about guns. He began studying Islam while attending Washington State University.

** Link **

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I understand that some service members strongly disagree with the policies that bring them to where they are in their military careers. In this and and IMO this guy deserves capital punishment. He's crossed the line in the worst kind of way. Im puzzled as to why the death penealty isnt being sought after here. I have my ideas, but I wont speculate any further that that.

[whocarz]

He is a traitor and should be put to death. My guess as to why they won't? Political. That's the guess off the top of my head.

[BigGov]

Solitary is just as effective.

[whocarz]

Explain that. He won't get "solitary" anyway. He is facing life in prison. Maybe he will be put into solitary confinement for small amounts of time for unruly behavior, etc. But, he conspired to aid the enemy. That is treason, and the punishment for treason is death in most cases. We don't know the full story, so maybe there are extenuating circumstances, so they decided not to persue the capitol punishment. But, for now, I believe it's an effort by the military to not upset Muslims. Just my opinion.

As a side note, I don't believe life in prison is "as effective". He will no longer be a productive member of society, and will cost the government tens of thousands of dollars to house. Death by lethal injection is much more cost effective. I mean, after all, aren't we in deficit?

[BigGov]

Ok, imagine throwing him inside a military prison. I'd put good money on him being murdered within his first year there. That is, unless he's put in solitary, then he's given somewhat of chance as long as the guards don't kill him.

I'm with you on the just killing him part if he's guilty. I'm just hoping the droves of people argueing that executing costs as much life in prison just avoid this topic.

Either way, if he's guilty, he's dead. If he's innocent, well, good luck to him.

[Seaver]

No, arguments about cost of execution will not pile up.

It would be taken care of in a Military manner, if he's found guilty it will be done (maybe allowed one appeal), and done quickly.

Personally I would love to have this bastard dead if found guilty, this is the 3rd-4th? traitor found helping these murderers, and should all be executed civilian or not.

[onetime2]

Originally posted by Jimmy4
Ok, imagine throwing him inside a military prison. I'd put good money on him being murdered within his first year there. That is, unless he's put in solitary, then he's given somewhat of chance as long as the guards don't kill him.

Ditto. And perhaps the convict that gets him will shave some time off his sentence for service to country. This guy is a scumbag traitor who was willing to help get his fellow soldiers killed. Screw him. He doesn't deserve leniency.

[Bill O'Rights]

Lethal injection my sweet maiden aunt's ass! Firing Squad. Brought to bear by the 81st Armor Brigade.

[whocarz]

Well, I'm actually more for medieval style executions, and I'd say crucify him, but that might have too much religious signifigance for people. Anyway, I'm being realistic. No way they'd do something as "inhumane" as a firing squad.

[seretogis]

Originally posted by whocarz
No way they'd do something as "inhumane" as a firing squad.

If I'm not mistaken, a firing squad is still completely legal in some states and someone has been executed in the US by firing squad as recently as 1996.

[Zeld2.0]

I think firing squads are still legal but the last state to do so has already stopped and has chosen other methods that are more efficient and easier (cause cleaning up a mess isn't too fun)

[Seaver]

The executions used by the military (5 years ago, may have changed) are firing squad or hanging.

[analog]

Originally posted by Jimmy4
Ok, imagine throwing him inside a military prison. I'd put good money on him being murdered within his first year there. That is, unless he's put in solitary, then he's given somewhat of chance as long as the guards don't kill him.

Either way, if he's guilty, he's dead.

Seconded. He's a dead man.