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.

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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.

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To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.- Stephen Hawking

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.

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If there exists anything mightier than destiny, then it is the courage to face destiny unflinchingly. -Geibel

Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else. -Marcus Aurelius

Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever? -GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly

BigGov

Solitary is just as effective.

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One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

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?

__________________
If there exists anything mightier than destiny, then it is the courage to face destiny unflinchingly. -Geibel

Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else. -Marcus Aurelius

Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever? -GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly

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.

__________________
One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

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

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.

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Strive to be more curious than ignorant.

Bill O'Rights

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

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"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

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.

__________________
If there exists anything mightier than destiny, then it is the courage to face destiny unflinchingly. -Geibel

Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else. -Marcus Aurelius

Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever? -GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly

seretogis

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.

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seretogis - sieg heil
perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost
no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames

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.

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"Smite the rocks with the rod of knowledge, and fountains of unstinted wealth will gush forth." - Ashbel Smith as he laid the first cornerstone of the University of Texas

analog

Seconded. He's a dead man.