Posted on 01/06/2009 7:35:55 AM PST by BGHater
A White House letter tells the father his request on behalf of Sgt. Evan Vela will be 'seriously considered.'
The father of an eastern Idaho soldier convicted of killing an unarmed Iraqi says the White House has confirmed that President Bush is considering a request for a pardon.
Curtis Carnahan said he received a letter from the White House last week.
"Please know that your views on this matter will be seriously considered," it said.
Sgt. Evan Vela,a 24-year-old U.S. Army sniper,was convicted in February and sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing an unarmed Iraqi civilian who stumbled upon him and five other soldiers sleeping on May 11, 2007.
Vela also was convicted of planting an AK-47 rifle on the dead man's body and of lying to military investigators.
Vela is serving his prison sentence at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Leavenworth,Kan.
Carnahan has mounted a campaign to get his son pardoned, recently sending 235 letters to the White House asking Bush to set aside Vela's conviction.
"We're still hopeful he'll do something," Carnahan told the Post Register newspaper.
Sen. Mike Crapo and Rep. Mike Simpson,both Idaho Republicans,last month sent letters to Bush asking him to pardon Vela.
Carnahan said the letter he received also noted there are other ways for his son to be released.One of them, he said, is for his son to be granted clemency.
Carnahan, who lives in the eastern Idaho town of Parker, said Vela's case will automatically move to the military appellate court.
"We're not going to stop until someone lets him go," Carnahan said.
Under the Constitution, the president's power to issue pardons is absolute and cannot be overruled - meaning he can forgive anyone he wants,at any time. Bush has so far granted 189 pardons and nine commutations.
(Excerpt) Read more at idahostatesman.com ...
There comes a point in the decay of governemnt that one is justified in taking actions necessary to protect one's own life, liberty and property.
Perhaps you would argue that a Blagojevich appointed judge should have tried him...? Of course one didn't, but it wasn't a George Washington appointed judge either, it was something in between. IMHO, the middle of the road between good and evil is evil. Enlisted grunts don't creat Bannana Republics, Generals, Presidents and Judges do.
It is a very sad state of affairs when our troops have to worry about the same kind of scmubag defense lawyers that have hounded our police forces for so many years, in addition to keeping themselves alive while killing our enemies. Now in addition to terrorists, they face criminal and civil lawsuits filed by CAIR and other TRAITORS upon return.
They now are as absolutley justified in covering up true mistakes and accidents as a rancher is in dealing with wolves on his land. SHOOT, SHOVEL AND SHUT UP !
SENTINEL = SGT USMC Desert Storm
Yes, I did form my opinion based on the reporting in a news article.
And now I guess I’m expected to CHANGE my opinion based “a couple of lines” in your comment on a thread at Free Republic?
Do you have sources for your accusations against the U.S. Army justice system and command structure, or are you just jumping to conclusions based on “a couple of lines” in some blog or internet news report that happens to be aligned with your pre-conceived notions?
I think justice would be served quite well by your solution.
Where can I do this?
I DID read the article I was commenting on. Can you lead me to another article about this case that disputes the statements in this one, or are you just an arrogant jack-ass?
Reading comments by a few posters, you’d think they reside in the Rainforest Cafe.
I think you should just ask bigheadfred and nahanrac who they are....before you throw out anymore names.
One of the best sources a man can have. My BROTHER has kept me informed, from Day 1, thru his 3 trips to Baghdad, to the present day, in the effort to save HIS SON.
And you have every right to your opinion. I just happen to strongly disagree.
I also want to personally thank all the FReepers who have given their time, love, and money :-), in the defense of Evan.
There was a story in the July Esquire magazine. There is a website that was written on the behalf of Sgt. Vela. The web address is freeevanvela.com. On the left had side of the website are links to media stories. I think the Esquire link is there.
Thanks Lily, THROW US to the wolves. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Amen! I believe almost nothing I read in the papers about our soldier’s actions in Iraq.
And I think you should MYOB, actually.
For you see, my post was not addressed to bigheadfred OR to nahanrac.
They have yet to unjustifiably insult me for posting my opinion. (Please go back and read the original post by “beandog” relating to my first post. Then read the article. You should be able to see that the insult was not justified).
I based my original comment on the information provided in the news article posted above, which I DID read.
If someone else has additional information about this case which I CAN read which will further enlighten me, then I wish they would just post it instead of insulting people.
Thanks.
We have learned that there are those even in the military who refuse to stand behind our troops, because their own careers come first.
Excellent. nahanrac has provided me with a a link to additional information on this case. I shall be reading up on it and I look forward to having an opportunity to possibly chnage my mind about the case.
PS - I DO hope you have at least read Comment #23.
Thanks for the info.
The links at post #13, #14, My homepage has links. Search using keyword Vela on FR
Thanks.
You know, I really appreciate your willingness to read and perhaps change your mind. (Again that is what FR is about...factual reading) so when you post things that are not true, call freepers less than flattering names, I just didn’t want to see you dig a bigger hole for yourself.
Imagine who has the bigger sentence....Vela doing time at the USDB or a wife with 2 kids making a new life to be closer the her husband? Nobody is whining...nobody wanting a pity party..they just want the truth to be told.
There is currently an Appeal in the works.
To help us pay for the cost of that Appeal. I BEG that anyone and all to send a DONATION NOW, in Evan's name, to the
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