www.defendmichael.com

On Dec. 2-3, 2009, FIRE Coalition Rhode Island Director Jeremy Doucet and I accompanied Band of Mothers founder Beverly Perlson and Vicky Behenna, (Lt. Behenna's mother) to Washington, D.C. for two days of meetings on Capitol Hill with numerous Members of Congress in both houses, and participated in a briefing with 13 additional Congressional offices regarding the plight of Army Ranger 1st Lt. Michael Behenna.

What does this have to do with immigration reform and enforcement, one might ask? Well, Lt. Behenna's predicament is a mirror image of the Ramos and Compean case, except now it is our military that are being thrown under the bus for political reasons.

There needs to be a change in the "rules of engagement" that our armed forces are required to work under, and that is in addition to getting this war hero out of prison.

The FIRE Coalition is not interested in any blame games, or punitive actions against the Army, DOD, or State Department leadership. We merely want to draw attention to his case, to get him out of prison, and to encourage a change in the rules of engagement our armed forces are required to follow that undermine their ability to accomplish their missions.

Below is the latest article from the Defend Michael website. Please send this officer and gentleman who joined our military AFTER 9/11/2001 a letter of support, and call, write, fax, AND visit your Congressman and Senators about the injustice done to Lt. Behenna. He should not be in prison for doing his job.

Merry Christmas to the many friends and supporters of Michael,

An update about Michael is difficult because this time of year is all about being together with family and friends.  While we will be able to see Michael over Christmas, our family will not feel complete until Michael is freed from Leavenworth.

Several things are happening toward that end and we are eagerly anticipating a favorable outcome.  Michael's appellate brief will be filed in December with the Army Court of Appeals and we know Michael's lawyers will make a powerful and compelling argument to reverse his conviction.  Please say a prayer for Michael's attorney's in their quest to present a document that will allow the Appellate Court to see the truth.  Also Vicki and some supporters traveled to Washington DC the first week of December to meet with numerous Congressmen and Senators.  The meetings went extremely well and some Congressmen and Senators are writing letters to the Clemency Board.   Some Congressmen are considering Congressional  hearings on the military's "detention and release" policy that is responsible for 77,000 out of 87,000 detainees being released back to the battlefield for our soldiers to fight again and again.  As one Lieutenant Colonel in the Marines told Vicki on her trip to DC, this policy has cost the lives of American soldiers.  It is imperative that we stop putting our soldiers in harm's way whether it is in the form of a terrorist's bullets and bombs or prosecutors who want to lock these heroes up for defending themselves in a war zone.

Michael's clemency hearing is January 7, 2010, and we will represent him at that hearing. The Secretary of the Army, John McHugh,  has the responsibility for clemency and has the power to reduce or eliminate Michael's sentence.  If you have not done so already, please consider writing a letter to the Secretary to give clemency to Michael. McHugh's address is:

Secretary of the Army John McHugh
1400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC  20301-1400

We also ask that you consider sending a quick note to Michael to let him know the support he has behind him and the groundswell that has begun to cast light on the current military policies that put our soldiers in harm's way. Michael can only receive written materials (letters, cards, books), but you can also send a money order to Michael which he can use to purchase some items with his commissary account.  Money can only be sent via MONEY ORDER and it must list the payee as  "MICHAEL BEHENNA #87503".  All correspondence and money orders should be sent to :

Michael Behenna
1300 North Warehouse Road
FT. Leavenworth, Kansas  66027-2304

Below is a link to a biggovernment.com article that hits right at the heart of Michael's case and has produced many inquiries :

http://biggovernment.com/2009/12/12/army-officer-kills-al-qaeda-operative-imprisoned-after-prosecutors-ignore-own-expert-witness/

Thanks again for your overwhelming support and may God bless your families this Christmas season.

Peace,

Scott & Vicki Behenna Proud parents of 1LT Michael Behenna
www.defendmichael.com