Feral Jundi

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Industry Talk: Blackwater Contractors Have Been Pardoned!!

Filed under: Industry Talk,Iraq — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 4:49 PM

This is fantastic news and thank you President Trump for making this happen! Merry Christmas to the friends and family of Raven 23!!!  –Matt

Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard – Today, President Trump granted full pardons to Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard. The pardon of these four veterans is broadly supported by the public, including Pete Hegseth, and elected officials such as Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Ralph Norman, Rep. Bill Flores, Rep. Brian Babin, Rep. Michael Burgess, Rep. Daniel Webster, Rep. Steve King, and Rep. Ted Yoho.

Mr. Slatten, Mr. Slough, Mr. Liberty, and Mr. Heard have a long history of service to the Nation. Mr. Slatten was inspired to serve his country after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and served two tours in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. Mr. Slough served in the United States Army and deployed to Iraq with his National Guard unit. Mr. Liberty served in the United States Marine Corps and protected United States Embassies abroad. Mr. Heard served in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

These veterans were working in Iraq in 2007 as security contractors responsible for securing the safety of United States personnel. When the convoy attempted to establish a blockade outside the “Green Zone,” the situation turned violent, which resulted in the unfortunate deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians. Initial charges against the men were dismissed, but they were eventually tried and convicted on charges ranging from first degree murder to voluntary manslaughter. On appeal, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that additional evidence should have been presented at Mr. Slatten’s trial. Further, prosecutors recently disclosed—more than 10 years after the incident—that the lead Iraqi investigator, who prosecutors relied heavily on to verify that there were no insurgent victims and to collect evidence, may have had ties to insurgent groups himself.

Link to statement here.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Legal News: Simon Mann, Nic Du Toit, and Others Pardoned in Equatorial Guinea

Filed under: Equatorial Guinea,Legal News — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 12:32 PM

The former special forces officer apologised, saying he was not the most senior coup plotter.

Mann had implicated Sir Mark Thatcher and Lebanese businessman Ely Calil as organisers of the plot.

Sir Mark, who now lives in southern Spain, was fined and received a suspended sentence in South Africa in 2005 for unknowingly helping to finance the plot.

After Mann’s verdict, Sir Mark reiterated to the BBC that he had had no direct involvement.

He said he had known nothing about any plan to overthrow the government and added that he had already faced justice in South Africa.

Upon Mann’s release, Sir Mark released a statement, saying: “I am delighted that Simon will be reunited with his family at last.”

Mr Calil also said he was “thrilled” at the news, adding: “I’m sure that friends who have been praying for his safe return since this nightmare began will rally around.” 

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   Oh really?  I hope Sir Mark and Mr. Calil will have a nice fat ‘pain and suffering’ bonus, ready to give to all the members of this team? If not, stand by for the legion of book deals that the various members will write, all telling ‘the other side of the story’.  It could get interesting with this one.

   Also stand by for any new info about Spain’s or the UK’s involvement with this coup plot.  Hence why Scotland Yard is probably involved. Of course they would like to find out Thatcher’s involvement, but they probably want to know what else Simon knows.  Like I said, this could get interesting and I am thinking that many folks probably wished that Simon Mann and company just stayed in prison.

   On another note, I wonder if Simon Mann will fire up Sandline International again?  The URL for his company is still active. –Matt

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Pardoned coup plot Briton freed

November 3, 2009

Former British soldier Simon Mann, who had been sentenced to 34 years for a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, has been freed.

Earlier Mann and four South Africans jailed with him had been pardoned by the country’s president and were told to leave within 24 hours.

Mann, who was sentenced in July 2008, had admitted to conspiring to oust President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.

Mann’s family said they were “absolutely delighted”.

Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador to the UK Agustin Nze Nfumu told the BBC World Service’s Focus on Africa programme that Mann was now with his brother and sister who had travelled to the country for his release.

(more…)

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