Petty officer held in secret for 4 months

[RamboLiberal]

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=108646&ran=180358&tref=po

A petty officer has been in the Norfolk Naval Station brig for more than four months facing espionage, desertion and other charges, but the Navy has refused to release details of the case.

The case against Fire Control Technician 3rd Class Ariel J. Weinmann is indicative of the secrecy surrounding the Navy military court here, where public affairs and trial court officials have denied access to basic information including the court docket – a listing of cases to be heard.

After months of requests, the Navy this week provided The Virginian-Pilot with Weinmann’s name, rank and the charges he faces.

In an e-mail, Theodore Brown, a spokesman for Fleet Forces Command, said, “It is sometimes a challenge to balance the desires of the media, the public’s right to know, and the rights of an individual accused of a crime.”

[ThomCat]

1. It's starting to spread.

Secret detention, secret charges? If they can get away with this in the military it will spread to the civilian courts eventually.

[midnight]

2. Is this an example of military law for us civilians.

How did anyone know how to find this guy?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. foreboding, no?

this is what our future holds for us, especially those who disagree with Bush

[IndianaGreen]

8. Yes, this is what the GOP wants Congress to pass

This is what will happen to us when the Enabling Act is passed.

[mom cat]

3. The name definately sounds Jewish and one of the charges is

espionage. This might have some embarassing implications for Bush at this time. Time will tell.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Another Jonathan Pollard?

Israel always does what it is in her interests. It's about time we did the same regarding ours! We need an American foreign policy for the Middle East!

BTW, you can't go by how a name sounds!

[mom cat]

10. I know that you can't go by how a name sounds. That is why I was

so tentative in how I phrased my question. There could be a connection, but I need to see more evidence.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Hmm submarniner

USS Alburquerque is an LA Class fast attack sub....

Hmm, just becuase of the nature of the community it might have been done this way... and if desertions are spreading to the sub force we are having other problems... that said no good any way you slice it

[anotherdrew]

7. well, probably hadn't been in long...

probably not having a great time, probably everyone called him the little mermaid, may have just been a case of some kid acting nuts wanting to get out, and now they're piling on crazy charges to 'punish' him. I'd like to see some kind of evidence of anything...

[lpbk2713]

6. They took a gamble and lost.

They thought they could break him using threats and intimidation reducing him into submission before the matter became public knowledge. Now they will probably have to back off because it didn't work out their way.






"What we've got here is failure to communicate."