While Tom DeLay threatens to exact olde tyme fire and brimstone vengeance on the U.S. judiciary for maintaining its constitutionally mandated distance from le affaire du Schiavo, a military tribunal has basically let one of its own get away with murder. The officer in question, Capt. Rogelio "Roger" Maynulet, was found guilty of manslaughter of the Iraqi man. He could have been sentenced to 10 years in military prison.
Today, he walked.
His punishment? "Well, son, you're just not cut out to be one of us. You pulled the trigger on a defenseless man. And got caught. For shame. You bring disgrace upon the military. Because you got caught. Now, get outta here, you nut."
WIESBADEN, Germany - A U.S. Army captain convicted in the shooting death of a wounded Iraqi was dismissed Friday from the armed forces, but the military court did not impose a prison sentence.
..."You commit a serious crime, you are out of the Army. This is not what we do here," prosecutor Maj. John Rothwell said before sentence was passed. "What kind of institution does the U.S. Army become if assault with the intent to commit voluntary manslaughter is an honorable act?"
In an emotional plea to the court for leniency, Maynulet's mother, Carmen, said she was "very, very proud" of her son.
"Please let my son come home," the Cuban immigrant said tearfully.
How does the cult-of-life continue to countenance the sanctimonious, naked hypocrisy? You know - you just inherently know - that nearly every one of the cultists who have been braying for two weeks that all life is sacred are driving around in their SUV's plastered with flags and "support the troops" ribbons. And they would be the first to leap to Capt. Maynulet's defense.
I guess Capt. Maynulet didn't feel it necessary to consult with Tom DeLay or congress or Chimpy McFlightsuit before putting a bullet in the brain of the defenseless Iraqi man. If he had exhibited the same "compassion" to Terri Schiavo, he would have been strapped to a gurney and receiving a lethal injection by noon today.
