Obama ‘Concerned and Disappointed’ After Journalist Who Exposed US War Crimes Freed

[Red James Cash]

Obama ‘Concerned and Disappointed’ After Journalist Who Exposed US War Crimes Freed

Abdulelah Haider Shaye ‘put in prison because he had the audacity to expose’ deadly US drone strike

By Jacob Chamberlain
Common Dreams
July 26,2013

The White House is “concerned and disappointed” over the news that Yemeni Journalist Abdulelah Haider Shaye, who was kept in a Yemeni jail for three years per the request of the Obama administration after he exposed a deadly U.S. drone strike, was released Tuesday.

Following news of Shaye’s release, journalist Jeremy Scahill, who has written extensively about Shaye’s story, contacted the White House for a comment.

The White House’s response was brief and alarming:

We are concerned and disappointed by the early release of Abd-Ilah al-Shai, who was sentenced by a Yemeni court to five years in prison for his involvement with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

According to Scahill and numerous other journalists who have followed the story, Shaye’s only involvement with Al Qaeda was conducting interviews with their members for major news outlets that included the Washington Post, ABC News and the New York Times.

Shaye’s legal troubles only arose after he uncovered the deadly U.S. strike that killed dozens of innocent Yemeni civilians, after which he was thrown in prison. At one point Shaye was slated for early release, but a phone call from president Obama urged Yemeni officials to keep him behind bars.

“We should let that statement set in,” Scahill said of the White House’s response. “The White House is saying that they are disappointed and concerned that a Yemeni journalist has been released from a Yemeni prison.”

“This is a man who was put in prison because he had the audacity to expose a U.S. cruise missile attack that killed three dozen women and children.”

Watch Scahill in an interview with Democracy Now!, which aired Thursday morning:

Yemeni Reporter Who Exposed U.S. Drone Strike Freed from Prison After Jailing at Obama?s Request | Democracy Now!

 

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[davest]

What's your take on Bradley Manning and Eric Snowden, RJC? No cut and paste, but your own words.

I'd really like to know if you consider them heros or goats? Traitors or Whistleblowers?

 

[GMD52]

I can't answer for RJC, but this is my take.....Both Bradley and Snowden are from a country where they grew up with the freedom to express their views, and opinions.

Having said that....Bradley as a member of the military took an oath to uphold the Constitution, and protect his country from all enemies, foreign and domestic....He has if proven guilty become one of the other side, and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Snowden, also with his position, and clearance, was bound by the same oath....and should also be adjudicated according to our laws, and punished as our laws see fit.

Leeking information and data to the internet under the format of freedom of speech and expression just doesn't cut it. While we have more rights than any other country existing today, that doesn't mean that we abuse those rights, and cry foul when caught. THese acts of treason do not serve any purpose other than to draw attention to ones-self, and the agenda that they are pushing forward. This open society that we reside in today is definitely a two edged sword, and the younger generations just can't handle it. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but most of you don't pay any attention to history, and that that you do know has been rewritten 2-3 times......Good day.

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

G'afternoon GMD,, you posted --> .This open society that we reside in today is definitely a two edged sword,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi, perhaps I have missed something, but it is precisely because we 'no longer' have an open society or gov't that the whistle was blown and it is frankly shocking what has reluctantly crawled out of the woodwork.

It has been widely touted that if you see something wrong legally or morally in the military, or suspicious activity or actions in civilian life, it is your 'duty' to refuse to carry it out, and to report it. I.E. a massacre etc. "But where is the line drawn ?"

Illegal acts, whether in the military or any of the gov't departments should be exposed --- however -- I remember how Hitler and Stalin's reigns had children reporting on fictitious things in order to win a medal even if it cost them their parents lives or freedom.

So it apparently relies upon each individual case, in some cases a heroic, virtuous act, in others traitorous.

So I must look to my President for leadership and physical actions to show me the difference , but unfortunately ----.

A puzzled sniffing

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[Red James Cash]

What's your take on Bradley Manning and Eric Snowden, RJC? No cut and paste, but your own words.

I'd really like to know if you consider them heros or goats? Traitors or Whistleblowers?

Manning did his duty as did Snowden,they upheld their oath.Though I dont know alot of details about Manning, considering how the gov treats vets,citizens,etc nowadays,so most likely he is in the right.Snowden,the NSA spying went against constitutional law,therefore the NSA wasnt working in the best interest of the USA or protecting the constitution.Theyre both whistle blowers as far as I'm concerned and should be protected as such.

 

[davest]

that was my take as well.

 

[Red James Cash]

that was my take as well.

Very good davestYou saw through the B.S.I think these two cases are just the gov thinking they are above the law.I'm a whistle blower myself against a company i use to work for.Isnt it funny how theres a whistle blower protection act in labor and the gov bypasses it in these cases.Now you have to get yourself off of watching the idiot box davest.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Obama is so used to having the press "pimp" for him, when one of them actually tells the truth, he's shocked when they don't get "life" in prison.....LOL
Jim

 

[packerbacker]

I worked for the government for many years. There was a "Whistleblower Protection Policy" in place but most knew not to put much stock in it. Kinda like the protection our boys at Benghazi got if you know what I mean.

 

[GMD52]

Tramp,
Thank you for your response. My question, and my concern is that we cannot compare the world of the 50's and 60's with the world of today. We won the world wars, and that was mainly due to a code of "Need to Know", my opinion has always been that secrets exist for a reason, whatever that may be, and whether right or wrong. I do not believe that everybody needs to know everything, at all times.

In the today of insta-message, and the technology of the internet, we do know more, but I also want to say that just because you see it on the net, doesn't make it true, and falsehoods taken as gospel are more dangerous than the truth at times. I do agree that each incident must be taken separately, and judged on it's individual merits, and I do also agree that we have a Govt. based on our Constitution, that is sworn to be our protectors......and that is where it ends today......This Administration has violated and destroyed any ounce of trust by me, and it's a shame that all we have are public forums to air our concerns and discontent to each other, but that doesn't solve anything but getting all of us frustrated, and further alienated from that true mission, which is to take back control, and vote in a change of Govt. My opinion only, and lately seems it is definitely in the minority......It was good to let this out, but sure that it will amount to absolutely nothing.

Don Jose, as you always sign off, it's a pleasure, and the coffee is on me.