1 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: Because it doesn't work. You're just not using enough. You're 2 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: listening to Software Radial, Special Operations, military news and straight 3 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: talk with the guys in the community. Were and everyone, 4 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: welcome back to Software Radio. I'm your host today, Steve Balistrari, 5 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: Software Radio on Time, on Target. We have a tremendous 6 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: guests with us today, somebody that we were all following 7 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: his case for quite a while and uh we have 8 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: Clint Lawrence, former lieutenant actually former captain in the United 9 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: States Army. And we'll get into all that in just 10 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: a second. But Clint was unfairly dealt a big blow 11 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:15,479 Speaker 1: by the Army and he was I'm i would say, 12 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 1: unlawfully convicted of a war crime in Afghanistan. But luckily, 13 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: after six years of spending time in Fort level Worth, 14 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: he was pardoned by President Trump. And we're gonna talk 15 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,479 Speaker 1: about all that, and we're gonna talk about his case. 16 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk about he just wrote a book called 17 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: uh Stolen Honor, and we're gonna talk about that as well. 18 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: And but before we do that, let's welcome Clint to 19 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: sawt Fare Radio. Clint, thank you, thank you very much 20 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: for taking the time today and talking with us. Well, 21 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: thanks for having me, Steve. It's really good to be 22 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: it's really an honored to be on the show. Well, 23 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: it's an honor for us. And we're so glad we're 24 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: talking to you as a freeman. Uh we were talking 25 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: offline just a minute ago, and you're getting ready to 26 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: start law school and uh, you know you're you were 27 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: talking about seeing deer in the distance and that's the 28 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: kind of atmosphere we want you to be seeing, not 29 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: the inside of a cell. But let's get into a 30 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 1: little bit. I I want you to fill in our 31 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: listeners about your early military career, as you started as 32 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: an enlisted man um and you know, we'll just talk 33 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: briefly about that. Phillison, about your early military career. Yeah, 34 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: so I always wanted to be a State trooper all 35 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: throughout in high school and I thought that was what 36 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: I was gonna do. And then, uh, you know, nine 37 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: eleven happened and I thought that, you know, maybe I 38 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: should go join the military and contribute. And so that's 39 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: what I did. And I intended on just doing a 40 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 1: couple of years and then you know, getting out and 41 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: then going back to Texas and being a state trooper. Um. 42 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 1: But you know, I got in the army and and 43 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: UH iron listened as any one UH and I I 44 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: just loved it. I I liked the camaraderie and and 45 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: e uh the way that UM the army, you know, 46 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: at least the units that I was in initially. UM, 47 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: we we had a brotherhood and we we took care 48 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: of each other, and we always had each other's back. 49 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: And I think that's something that is missing in the 50 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: military these days, UM, and it's definitely missing in general 51 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: society these days. UM. So I worked up to becaman 52 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: n CEO, you know, just like everybody does. And UM. 53 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: And when I once I made the six, I went 54 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: to UM UM r OKC down at University of North 55 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: Texas and UM did that for a couple of years 56 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: and and transitioned over to to be UH an officer 57 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: and went on to UM forbidding. You know, I had 58 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: stopped by there. And then I went up to Fort 59 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: Bragg and and then to Afghanistan. So UM. Then from 60 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: Afghanistan went to Fort Levenmouth and then UM and the 61 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: rest is history. Yeah. You know, UM, in your book 62 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: you talked after being in n c O and going 63 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: to college, I did that. I got when I was 64 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: still in n c O of the Army. Let me 65 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: go back to school for for a bit. And it's 66 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: a big transition, isn't it. I Mean, when you're used to, 67 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: you know, being in the army and then you go 68 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: back to the college life. It's it's kind of a 69 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: weird feeling, isn't it. It is, UM. And one of 70 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: the things that that I can remember is UM sitting 71 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 1: in the classrooms. You know, I would always sit in 72 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: the back and just kind of you know, watch everybody 73 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: and everything. And you know, there were a couple of obnoxious, 74 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: UM former marine guys that would would always talk about 75 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: their military service in classes and stuff. But UM, so 76 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: you know, I would always just sit there and kind 77 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 1: of think to myself because like you know, there are 78 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,239 Speaker 1: are very few people in this classroom that understand, UM, 79 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: the real threat that that you know, is being presented 80 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: to them that you know, they don't even have to 81 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: uh to ever encounter because there are so many people 82 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: men and women out there that are that are stopping 83 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: it before he ever gets to our shore. So yeah, 84 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: it's definitely am It's something that UM the perspective of 85 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: all these yahoo's, you know, running around in the streets 86 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: of Portland right now, and and uh, you know, all 87 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: these socialist type people they really just don't understand, um, 88 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: what life is really all about. And you know, thankfully 89 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 1: they have people like you and people like you know 90 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: a lot of your listeners who who they take the 91 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: front of that and um so so those yeah who don't, 92 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: they don't have to ever worry about it. So yeah, 93 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: it was definitely a a an experience. Um. You know, 94 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 1: I never really transitioned back into trying to be a civilian. 95 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: I couldn't do it. They're just, um, you know, they're 96 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: just not my speed of people. Um. But you know, 97 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 1: there I met some good people there at North Texas 98 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 1: UM and some you know, some people, A couple of them, 99 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 1: UM supported me with the ones that I was closest with, 100 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: supported me throughout the whole Um Leavenworth Ordeal and and 101 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: um even came to visit me there, and UM, yeah, 102 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: there's some really great people. UM. One of them, you know, 103 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: interesting enough for for your audience. UM. One of them, Uh, 104 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: one of the women that I went to RTC with 105 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: there became one of the first women to graduate from 106 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: Ranger School. So I know that might be a sore 107 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: topic with some of your listeners, But I thought that 108 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: was just I thought that was really cool. Um yeah, 109 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: I remember reading that in your book. I thought that 110 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: was awesome. I mean, you talked about a small world 111 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: and we're all kind of interconnected, and uh, you know, 112 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: because that was big news there for a while there. 113 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: And now we just had the first female graduate from 114 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: SF training and uh, oh my god, there's uh, there's 115 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 1: a lot of hard feelings among the a lot of 116 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: the SF guys with that. I'm of the attitude. I 117 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: wasn't there. I didn't put her through training, but I 118 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: know somebody that knows, somebody who was a SF instructor, 119 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,799 Speaker 1: and I from what I was told, she not only 120 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: met the standard, she exceeded them. They said physically, she 121 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: was in a much bigger stud than a lot of 122 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: the dudes were. So as far as I'm concerned, you know, 123 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: these women who make it through Ranger Training and now 124 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: SF hats off to them. It's gonna be tough for 125 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: them because we know that, you know, does that male 126 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: kind of dominated society and guys don't like people treading 127 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: on their turf. But I think it's awesome and I 128 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: I found that part of your book really fascinating, as 129 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: well as another area which resonated with me. You talked 130 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: about going through summer training with some of the West 131 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: Point officers, and I thought that was hilarious because I've 132 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: experienced that from the other side. I taught UH a 133 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: class one summer jump school to West Pointers and UH 134 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: fill our listeners in on some of that. I thought 135 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: that was great. Well, I'm sorry I had to deal 136 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: with them. I've got I've got. I can count on 137 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: one hand the amount of West Point officers that that 138 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: I could trust, UM and I know would have my 139 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: back and and that has or that have had my back, 140 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: and UM, you know that's that's what it all boils 141 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: down to me, is as loyalty and brotherhood. And so 142 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, UM, you know, if 143 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: you're in uniform, whether it's a police uniform or a 144 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: military uniform, you've got plenty of people who are willing 145 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: to be your enemy. So the men and women next 146 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:35,839 Speaker 1: to you, to your left and right do not need 147 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: to volunteer for that position. So the way I look 148 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: at it is, um, brotherhood is something that's very important 149 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: to being able to do your job and that's what 150 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: my book is all about. And you know, you know, 151 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: I appreciate Steve that that you guys took an interest in, 152 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: uh given me the opportunity to talk to your audience here, 153 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: and I really do because I think the people in 154 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,839 Speaker 1: your audience understand brotherhood. And so you know, in terms 155 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: of um, the the way that the military is today, UM, 156 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: in terms of the West Point guys that we were 157 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: talking about just a minute ago. UM, they espouse that UM, 158 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: that left leaning um position that brotherhood doesn't exist anymore. 159 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: And that's the only thing that matters is that we 160 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,959 Speaker 1: quote unquote do the right thing. And you know, they 161 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: get to define what the right thing is. And so 162 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: you know, I'll just say up front, and I've said this, 163 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: you know, a million times because I sort of have 164 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: to say this, UM that you know, I don't think 165 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 1: anybody should ever get go into a combat zone and 166 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: just do whatever they want and just disregard the rules. UM. 167 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: And I think your audience probably agrees with that. UM. 168 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,199 Speaker 1: We've we've got to have rules. We've we've got to uh, 169 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: you know, represent America out well, and we have to 170 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: do that for the men and women who have died 171 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: before us were in that uniform, and for for our 172 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: sons and daughters who will put that uniform on, we've 173 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: got to make sure that we always respect that. And 174 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: I think you know, for you know, buy and large, 175 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: absolutely by and large, the men and women that that 176 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: wear that uniform, um overseas, then on our streets here, 177 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: the police officers here on our streets, you know, they 178 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: they do the uniform well, um, And so you know, 179 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 1: I think that, uh, in terms of those West Point guys, 180 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: the reason why I have so much animosity towards them 181 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: is because they believed during the Obama administration, they believe 182 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: that nonsense that um, it's okay to throw somebody under 183 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: the bus as long as it gets you promoted or 184 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: as long as I get my general star. And I don't, 185 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 1: I don't believe in that. I think that, you know, 186 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: the right thing is something that doesn't ever change, and 187 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: that is, um, you wake up every single day and 188 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: you try to be the best person that you can 189 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: possibly be, and if something terrible happens to you, you 190 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: don't pry about it. You put your boots back on 191 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: and you keep moving. And you know that's something that 192 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: you know, those West Point people, they want to sit 193 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: around and talk about it all day. Well, how could 194 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: we have done this better? How could we have done that? 195 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: They want to sit around and they expect you to 196 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: cry about it. And and one of them, you know, amazingly, 197 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: one of the lieutenant colonels actually asked me. He said, Uh, 198 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: I don't understand why you're not more upset about this? 199 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: Why are why are you? He he made the comment 200 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: that I might have been aloof And you know, I 201 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: had to go and get to go to the internet 202 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: cafe and look up the word aloof um, and so 203 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: I'm like, I'm thinking of myself. So this guy wants 204 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: me to cry over spilt milk, and that's just not 205 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: gonna happen. That's not the way I was raised, and 206 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: I don't think that's the way the American people expect 207 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: their military to be. And so that's just that. I 208 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 1: think that kind of gives you a little bit of 209 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: insight um into why I have so much um for 210 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: US stration towards the people that come out of West Point. 211 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 1: They're just two left wanning and I I just don't 212 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 1: get it. I don't understand how that can happen. I 213 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: think it's a doctor nation um, but um. I think 214 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: a lot of them meet their platoons, sergeants, and they 215 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: meet their senior n c o s, and they gradually 216 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: start to bring them over to you know, at least 217 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: to the center and give them a little bit of sense. Um. 218 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: But unfortunately, there are a lot of them that don't. 219 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: And those are the people that that I've identified in 220 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: the book as my uh enemies and the enemies of 221 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: of brotherhood and of the men and women who you 222 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:43,559 Speaker 1: know deserve to have a brotherhood. Yeah, And with that, 223 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: I want to get into, you know, the meat of 224 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: the subject, which was that incident that happened in Afghanistan, 225 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: because you know, when you at first glance, I mean 226 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: I remember reading about this as you know, the court 227 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: martial transpired, and I will so much of the material 228 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: wasn't presented, even though it was in the hands of 229 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: the army. And I want to get into that. But 230 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: you know, you were in Afghanistan for quite a while. 231 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,959 Speaker 1: You were on the battalion staff in the talk and 232 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: then uh, the lieutenant of a line platoon that was 233 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 1: at a strong point, he was wounded in an I 234 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: D attack and the battalion commander chose you to go 235 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 1: down there and take it over, and that I think 236 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: that's the important thing that people need to realize right away. 237 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: They had a choice of a bunch of different lieutenants 238 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: and they chose you, and that was something that came 239 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: out later on. I remember the battalion sargeant major making 240 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: a statement to the fact of that they could have 241 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: chosen anyone, they chose you. And so let's let's get 242 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: into this because explain to our listeners, uh, you know, 243 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: as quickly as you can. I mean we could probably 244 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: talk for a couple of days on this, but um, 245 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: you know the situation, how you came to be in 246 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: command down at that strong point, and then how things transpired. Yeah, 247 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: and thank you for mentioning the sergeant major. He's just 248 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 1: a great dude. He had not back the entire time 249 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: and unfortunately got overruled um by the you know, the 250 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: butt kissers, um that were officer senior officer rank. But 251 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: Sergeant Major Augustus and a just an amazing guy. Um. 252 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: I wish all leaders were like him. So you know, 253 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: to your question, um, what actually happened is real. Briefly, UM, 254 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: we were on a foot patrol and it was a 255 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: joint US Afghan foot patrol with the Afghan Army contingent 256 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: up front, and it was a squad plus size element. 257 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: We were crossing the road. UM. I was on our 258 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: radio talking to the helicopter and giving them stuff to do. UM, 259 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: and at the same time was trying to navigate an obstacle. UM. 260 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: And I was, uh as I was, you know, negotiating 261 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: this obstacle. I was on the blind side of this obstacle. 262 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: One of my soldiers yells back and says, you know, 263 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: he's frantically freaking out. And this this soldier is and 264 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: and he's um telling me that there is a motorcycle 265 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: coming at a high rate of speed. And you know, 266 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: I know in the back of my mind that I've 267 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 1: got half of my men across the road and half 268 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: of them still on this side of the road. And 269 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: there's some you know, obviously actively crossing the road. So 270 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: I know that we're in a vulnerable position. And so 271 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: you know, this this soldier who who um yells back 272 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: and you know, is asking me, you know, if he 273 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: can fire. I I know he is someone who has experience. 274 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: I know that he is someone who had been a 275 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: former civilian police officer. So I know that this is 276 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: a more mature guy. He's a private, I get it, 277 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: but he's a more mature guy. And I know that 278 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: because I had sat down with all of the eyes 279 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: when I first got there, and interviewed each and every 280 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: one of them, and I wanted to get to know 281 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: them as much as I could. And you know, I'm 282 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: not some you know, brilliant, you know, lead or anything. 283 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: I just copied the people that I look up to 284 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: when I was a private, and I had a staff 285 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: sergeant and then a captain do the same thing to 286 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: me when I was a private, and I really liked that, 287 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: so I just copied it. I think that's what we 288 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: all do, and we take little bits and pieces from 289 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: here and there and we try to make an inmt 290 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: to who we are. So we're as we're crossing this road, 291 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: I have a couple of things in my mind, and um, 292 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: the next thing, you know, this is all happening in 293 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: a matter of seconds, like very very quickly. Um, the 294 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: next thing you know, Uh, the Afghan Army contingent starts 295 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: firing and I don't know who's firing. And you know 296 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: a lot of people can they can tell the difference 297 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: and what an a K four to seven is in 298 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: an M sixteen and in floor and I can't, right, 299 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: I just don't pay that close enough attention, right, And 300 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: I may I may be able to if I had 301 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: more experience with it, but you know, I was pretty green. So, UM, 302 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 1: I I hear people up front firing. Um, I don't 303 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: know who it is firing. Um, I'm assuming that it 304 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: is the ask games because none of my guys have 305 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: have told me that they're firing or have asked permission 306 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: to fire until that very moment when the guy turned 307 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: around and started asking for permission to fire. So um, 308 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: I told him yes. And here's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking. 309 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 1: There's a hundred things going through my mind at the time, 310 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: and you know, I'm thinking to myself, I'm I'm a 311 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: new guy. I've got next to no combat experience. I'm 312 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: taking over for these guys who have been here several 313 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: months already and have a ton of experience, much more 314 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: than me. And this guy is turned around and asking 315 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: me if he can defend himself, And so who am 316 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: I to come in and tell somebody like that that 317 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:00,239 Speaker 1: they can't defend themselves? And so I say yes, right, 318 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: And so he takes a shot at the motorcycle. Now, 319 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 1: let me remind everybody, I can't see the motorcycle because 320 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: I'm still trying to get over this wall. And uh. 321 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: So you know, this is all happening very very quickly, 322 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: and it's not like I have time to actually you know, 323 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: uh litigate and you know, be deliberate. I you just 324 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,679 Speaker 1: don't have time. And you know that's one of the 325 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: things that came out in my court martial. And one 326 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: of the things my lawyer kept on saying is is, 327 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: uh is did you expect him to um, you know, 328 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: to hold an inquiry or to to you know, litigate 329 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: like a lawyer would. There's no time for that. And 330 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: I told hire um fired, uh And he did not 331 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 1: fire effectively. He missed UM. And you know, I don't 332 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: blame him. It was a very you know, uh kinetic situation. 333 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: It was often really fast, and there was a lot 334 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: of stuff going on. UM. And so I told, you know, 335 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: and when I went once I started here and somebody 336 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 1: else fire up front, and I sort of kind of 337 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: processing what was going on, I was like, all right, 338 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: I need to tell everybody just to chill out, and 339 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: we need to take control of the situation. So I 340 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: got on the radio and told everybody to stop fire. 341 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: And and then I ordered the gun truck, which I 342 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: knew had an overwatched position, to take a precision shot 343 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: and fire to make sure that we cut down on 344 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: um collateral damage. Because if we've got a bunch of 345 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 1: guys that are on the ground, Um, you know about 346 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: a bunch of riflemen on the ground, whether they're Afghan 347 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: Army or or American Army, and everybody's opening fire, I 348 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: think that's less uh, that's more of a collateral damage concerned. Then, UM, 349 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: when you have a you know, a guy at the 350 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: end of a behind the two forty bravo and that's 351 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:49,719 Speaker 1: mounted on a gun truck with you know, he's at 352 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: an elevated position he's got I think he's got a 353 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,640 Speaker 1: better position to fire, So I ordered him to fire. UM. 354 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: So essentially I was sent for what was twenty years 355 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: and they really um for issuing that order, right and 356 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 1: and I'm sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to 357 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: let our listeners know that the Afghans were well aware 358 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: of what happens when you approach the US unit either 359 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 1: on foot or in vehicles at a high rate of 360 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: speed on motorcycles. Am I correct? Yeah? Absolutely, And you 361 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: know there was there was contention in my court martial. 362 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:29,679 Speaker 1: I'm re loovant to call it a trial because it 363 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: really was kind of like a kangaroo court. It was 364 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: more of a um of administrative proceeding because they had 365 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: already decided what, um, what they wanted done before it 366 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 1: even started. UM, so we were just kind of there 367 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 1: to check the box. But UM so you know, in 368 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:51,120 Speaker 1: terms of UH the with the Afghans, UH by that time, 369 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: it was two thousand and twelve, so we're talking about 370 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: eleven years of dealing with American units in various different forms, 371 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: and NATO units and various different forms. And on top 372 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 1: of that, the road that uh they were trying to 373 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: go down was one that we had UH put concertina 374 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 1: wire up on on either side, triple stranded concertino wire, 375 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: and we put up science that that so this is 376 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: our road where this is restricted for military and police 377 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 1: use only. And the reason for that is because that 378 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: was our lifeline road. So we only had one truck 379 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: that we could use to shuttle back and forth to 380 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: where my UM senior headquarters was, my parent headquarters was, 381 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: and so you know, we were kind of uh, we 382 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,680 Speaker 1: were down. My my strong point was kind of down 383 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: by itself, um in the kind of the thick of things. 384 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:42,479 Speaker 1: And um, we had to have a way to go 385 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 1: back and forth and shuttle somebody just in case we 386 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 1: gotta somebody get hurt or um, you know, we need 387 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: to get supplies or go to some sort of dumb 388 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: meeting or something. We would use that road. Um. So 389 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: we wanted to make sure that road was always clear. 390 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: So we had signs up when we had concertina wire up. 391 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: So the guy was trying to we do that road. 392 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 1: So No, there are several different factors that I'm taking 393 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: into consideration, and that's one of them. So uh, you know, 394 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: after at that time, being you know, interacting with American 395 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 1: forces for eleven years, at that point, um, you know, 396 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: it would be a a reasonable assumption, um that most 397 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: of the people in Afghanistan would know how to deal 398 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: with American forces. And that is when they tell you 399 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 1: to stop or they shoot at you, you probably need 400 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: to stop. Um. Now look, I'm like, like you said, 401 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: I'm in law school, so you can't assume anything. Um, 402 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 1: So I get that, but I just want you know, 403 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 1: especially in this book, you can kind of see where 404 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: my my thinking was, UM, And there's it's it's not 405 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: a simple decision to make, and it's not a an 406 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: easy decision to make to to take a human life, UM. 407 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: But to me, UM, if it comes down to me 408 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 1: protecting my troops or um them possibly uh coming up 409 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 1: and detonating some sort of device dropping up, grenading our feet, 410 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: or you know, maybe have maybe haven't seefol only the 411 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: gas tank of the motorcycle itself. Whatever, there's so many 412 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 1: different possibilities if it comes down to them or my troops. 413 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 1: I'm going to protect my troops UM. And and that's 414 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:18,400 Speaker 1: just you know, I'll go back to for it, let 415 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: more than for another twenty years if I have to 416 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: make the same decision over with, it's that to me, 417 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:26,360 Speaker 1: that's you know, you've got to uh, You've you've got 418 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: to put a if you're gonna send American troops into 419 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: a combat zone, you've got to be able to protect them. 420 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: And you know, if you're if you're gonna send these 421 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: these young officers into um and put them in charge 422 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: of them, then you've got to let them make decisions 423 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: on the on the on the ground. And you know, 424 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: one of the things that I talked about in the 425 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 1: book a lot is is the micro management that was 426 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: going on, UM where you know, the Lighthouse was making decisions, uh, directly, 427 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: you know, battlefield decisions that we should have been making 428 00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 1: UM and and micro managing do such an extent that 429 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 1: we are were tied. So I think there's there's just 430 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,399 Speaker 1: a lot of different things that go into you know, 431 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: what happened with my case and and listen, Steve, I 432 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: don't I don't want anyone to ever look at me 433 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 1: as a victim because I'm not. And I can't stand 434 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 1: people with that victim mentality. UM. But there is something 435 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 1: The reason why I wrote this book is because there 436 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: is something wrong. When something that happened to me happens 437 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: to a member of the U. S Military, there's something 438 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: wrong with the system. And I wrote the book so 439 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: I could try to get exposures so so people would 440 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,920 Speaker 1: understand that stuff like this happens. And uh, and that's 441 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: another reason why I'm going to law schools. I'm gonna 442 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 1: try to fix it right. And you know, when the 443 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 1: this is where like you know, right at the time 444 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: of the firing, this is where everything should have been 445 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: cut and dried I mean, um, from reading you know, 446 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,919 Speaker 1: the transcript from your lawyers. I read the book. Uh. 447 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 1: The two men that were killed on the motorcycle, a 448 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: third got away, you know. Uh, they were immediately characterized 449 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: by the army, who did an immediate investigation as civilians. 450 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: But the fact was that these guys the army uses 451 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 1: what they called bio for our listeners out there that 452 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: may not be aware, the army uses what they're called biometrics, 453 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: and that's how they test for bombmakers. And all of 454 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: these guys had biometric data on them. They had left 455 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: fingerprints or DNA on bomb components, on I E. D s. 456 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,919 Speaker 1: All three of them had. And the army kind of 457 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: blocked that and they blocked out their names during the 458 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 1: investigation and they wrote and uh, they crossed out their 459 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 1: names and the charging documents and wrote in pen a 460 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: male of apparent Afghan descent, because if they had their 461 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 1: names on there, they would have been identified as Afghan bombmakers. 462 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: And this is where this whole trial comes right off 463 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 1: the rails. And it's amazing that our military allowed this 464 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: to happen. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to 465 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 1: cut you off there. I just wanted to fill in 466 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:11,440 Speaker 1: our our listeners on that that little bit. But tell 467 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 1: us more how than how everything transpired for you. Yeah, Steve, 468 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: you've obviously done your homework. I appreciate you bringing that 469 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: up because you know, one of the things that really 470 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: just kind of, um shocked me to my core is, uh, 471 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: the the DNA evidence, the biometric you know, the epithelials 472 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: and the DNA um evidence that they found, you know, 473 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: on these bombs. That these guys, the guys that we uh, 474 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: that I ordered killed and that that the one of 475 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,959 Speaker 1: the guys that you know, he we just shot him 476 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: in the arm. Um. You know, that wasn't my preference. 477 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:48,880 Speaker 1: But you know, my soldiers were a little bit more 478 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 1: to the left than I was. Um, so look, uh, 479 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:58,119 Speaker 1: these guys. There were six members of the United States 480 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: Army and the United States Marines who were killed with 481 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 1: the same But I'm trying to be careful here because 482 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:08,720 Speaker 1: my lawyers are on me about making sure the facts 483 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,119 Speaker 1: are right and everything. But there were six members of 484 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 1: the U. S Military who were killed by people associated 485 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 1: closely associated with these quote civilians unquote civilians. So the 486 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 1: Army is saying these guys are civilians, but these guys uh, 487 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 1: have made bombs that have named and killed American soldiers 488 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: and marines. And to me, that's something that's not cool, 489 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:36,000 Speaker 1: and it's not cool for the Army to say that. 490 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: Immediately The next day is the next day the Army 491 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: was saying these guys were civilians. And you can't anybody 492 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 1: that has any experience with the military and the militaries 493 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,399 Speaker 1: investigative processes and so on and so forth. You know, 494 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: flat out the military doesn't get much done in terms 495 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 1: of investigating and paperwork and all this stuff in twenty 496 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,359 Speaker 1: four hours. It just does not happen. Right, There's so 497 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:01,159 Speaker 1: many you know, seen Robster's butts that have to be 498 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: kissed before you know it can actually get down with 499 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:07,160 Speaker 1: the meat and potatoes off. Actually what happened. And so 500 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:11,199 Speaker 1: the way that uh, you characterize that, I think is 501 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:15,679 Speaker 1: extremely important. Um, because here we have let me just 502 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 1: be very you know, clear and concise. Um, here we 503 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: have an American unit, my unit that engaged with Taliban members, 504 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:35,439 Speaker 1: members of the Taliban who had American blood on their hands. 505 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: We killed those Taliban and within twenty four hours, my 506 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: own chain of command, the American Army chain of command, 507 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: charged me and some of my men with murder of civilians. 508 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:53,800 Speaker 1: Now to just let that sink in, Right, So I 509 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 1: was sent to Fort Leavenworth for quote unquote murdering civilians, right, 510 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: And you know, granted I didn't uh pull the trigger. 511 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 1: I didn't ever even use my weapon. I did use 512 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 1: my radio, you know. But look, I'm not ever gonna 513 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: try to put the blame on the soldiers who served 514 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: under me for seven or two hours. I'm not going 515 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: to do that because they were serving under my command. 516 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 1: It was my responsibility. And the only thing I said 517 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: in my court martial was that I take full responsibility 518 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 1: for the actions of my bed under my command, because 519 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: that's the way it should be. Well, I was the 520 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 1: only officer there. So if anybody is going to prison, 521 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:31,360 Speaker 1: and I've said this a million times, and I said this. 522 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 1: My lawyers hate it when I say this, but if 523 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna if anybody's gonna go to prison, it's gonna 524 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 1: be me. And so you know who the the the army, 525 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: um said bet and sent me to prison for tween years. Um. 526 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: So um, you know, there there are so many different 527 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: things that went wrong, um in my uh court martial, 528 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:55,640 Speaker 1: and but you know, and one of the things that 529 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 1: I write about in the book. And I think this 530 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,680 Speaker 1: really shocked me. Was the first day of my court martial. 531 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 1: The first day, Um, there was an Army captain who 532 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: came up to me and I've never seen this guy before. 533 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: They come up to me and he said, hey, Clent, 534 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 1: I need to get your PP sizes. And you know 535 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 1: that was back when we still had the gray and 536 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 1: black poteas. And uh, I'm like, well, why, you know, 537 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: why do you need about pts? And he's like, well, 538 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: because when you get transferred to Fort Leavenworth, you're gonna 539 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 1: be in T T s now. Listen. This was on 540 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: the first day. We hadn't even started the court martial yet, right, 541 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: So before we even start at the court martial, the 542 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 1: Army had sent somebody. The Chance of Command had sent 543 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 1: somebody over to get my PP sizes because they had 544 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 1: already determined that I was going to Fort Leavenworth. Now, 545 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 1: I think it's very important that you your listeners understand, um, 546 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: because look, I've always been a law and order type guy, 547 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: right I I you know, I'm a thin blue line 548 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: type guy. I support the police. I love the police. 549 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: You know, I said I'm going to law school for 550 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 1: God's for God's sake, I completely understand and support law 551 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 1: and order and pre doing the right thing and following 552 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 1: the rules. Right. That is why I'm so passionately um 553 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: involved and and and advocating for change of the military 554 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,239 Speaker 1: justice system, because it's not a justice system. It's an 555 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 1: administrative procedie proceeding. And you know, they they operate under 556 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: the guise of the justice system. And yeah, they walk 557 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: in and they wear the judge wears a black robe, um, 558 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: and you know, they have prosecutors and defense attorneys, and 559 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: you know they've been to law school and this, this 560 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: and this. But at the end of the day, everybody 561 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 1: works for the men and and that's the commanding general 562 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,680 Speaker 1: or or whatever they call the admiral that's in charge. 563 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 1: That's the convenience order. And when whenever everybody works for 564 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 1: the same person and everybody knows that that same person 565 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: wants a certain outcome, then what do you think is 566 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: gonna happen? And so you know, that's the one of 567 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: the things that you know, I'm actually uh for one 568 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: of my law professors right now, I'm actually writing a 569 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 1: paper to that on on that subject, which is um, 570 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:01,719 Speaker 1: you know, there are certain things in the military justice 571 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 1: and that that have to change. And you know, one 572 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 1: of the key things is you've got to take it 573 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:08,720 Speaker 1: away from the commanders, the commanding generals. You've you got 574 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 1: to take it away from these people who um. You know, 575 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 1: if if if I Clint Lawrence, if I had stayed 576 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: in the army for forty years, I would probably have 577 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 1: been at least a pullbird colonel or a brigadier general 578 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 1: or something. Right now, that does not qualify me too. 579 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: Just determine whether or not a criminal lack has been 580 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:32,760 Speaker 1: committed or whether or not, UM, somebody needs to be 581 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: sent to a criminal trial and potentially sent to prison 582 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 1: for the rest of his or her life. That doesn't 583 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 1: qualify them. They don't have any legal training. They may 584 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: have a power point presentation here and there on you know, 585 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 1: the commander's um. You know, responsibilities in the legal process 586 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 1: and this isn't that. But they have been to law 587 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:55,240 Speaker 1: school for three or four years. They don't have that expertise. 588 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: And so there are so many things, Steve, And the 589 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 1: reason why I'm advocating so passionately for this is because 590 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 1: I actually went through it and I saw it. You know, 591 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 1: we it's kind of like when you open up that 592 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: closet underneath the stairwell and you shine a flashlot in there, 593 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 1: and and you see all this craftsmen in there forever 594 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 1: and you're like, well, this ain't right. Somebody's going to 595 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:16,800 Speaker 1: clean this up. Well, that's the same thing that has 596 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 1: to happen in the military justice system. It's got to 597 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:21,719 Speaker 1: be cleaned up, and it's got to be brought to 598 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 1: the same level as the federal court system. And it's 599 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: nowhere near that right now, right now, Steve, what the 600 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:29,880 Speaker 1: military justice system is right now is the same one 601 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: they have in North Korea, and the same one they 602 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 1: have in Russia, and the same one they have in China, 603 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 1: and all these places that that you know, Venezuela, all 604 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 1: these places that we think are terrible places with you know, 605 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:42,400 Speaker 1: without the rule of law, were the same thing that's 606 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 1: happening to men and women who wear the uniform of 607 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: the world's greatest military. And that's something that I don't 608 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 1: think we can we can abide by. I don't think 609 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:51,320 Speaker 1: it's that's something that we can allow to happen for 610 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 1: any longer. Exactly. And you know, in your book, when 611 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:58,160 Speaker 1: you talked about that incident with the Captain and your PTS. 612 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 1: I I when back and I reread that and I 613 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: was like that, I just read that, and I had 614 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:07,480 Speaker 1: to read it again. And it was amazing because this 615 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 1: was again before opening arguments had even been made for 616 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:16,520 Speaker 1: your for your for your court martial. They're they're already 617 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:19,439 Speaker 1: sending you to Fort loving Worth. I mean, they made 618 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 1: that abundantly clear. And then the judge you know, asked, 619 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 1: if oh, I have a soccer game to go do 620 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:31,399 Speaker 1: can we get this trial over with? And I remember thinking, oh, then, 621 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 1: you know, if if I'm sitting in urs here, I 622 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:42,719 Speaker 1: would automatically think the worst because obviously that the the 623 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,839 Speaker 1: die was already cast here. And you know, I think 624 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 1: it's important to uh, for our listeners to understand the 625 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 1: reason behind all this was because the Afghans were getting 626 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:59,279 Speaker 1: very sensitive to what they considered civilians being killed by 627 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,840 Speaker 1: the U. S. Mil terry, especially President cars I, and 628 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:07,799 Speaker 1: the attitude in Washington from the very top at the 629 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:11,920 Speaker 1: President's desk at that time came down through the military. 630 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,080 Speaker 1: They weren't going to, you know, put up with any 631 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,799 Speaker 1: of this. So if anyone was accused of that, they 632 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:23,319 Speaker 1: were going to throw them right under the bus. Yeah, yeah, 633 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:28,399 Speaker 1: that's absolutely right. And you know, political correctness, um, when 634 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 1: it takes root in the military, um, it does something 635 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 1: real special because you have a lot of senior officers 636 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 1: who want to get promoted to general and so they 637 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:39,800 Speaker 1: do everything they possibly can to make their commander happy. 638 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:43,720 Speaker 1: And so if that includes under President Obama, that included 639 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:47,319 Speaker 1: being politically correct, and that is that that's where they 640 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 1: took our military and and that's why you have situations 641 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:54,680 Speaker 1: like Bengali happening where you had these barrel chested freedom 642 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 1: fighters who were ready to go. They were sitting on 643 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:01,240 Speaker 1: Gane waiting on oh, but they it and go because 644 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 1: they had a weak stomach, a weak need. President and 645 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:08,319 Speaker 1: and and people that work for him and President Obama 646 00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:11,359 Speaker 1: that would not allow them to do their jobs. And 647 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:13,879 Speaker 1: and it's just absolutely sickening. And I think people are 648 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:16,400 Speaker 1: tired of it. But the problem is is the the 649 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:20,400 Speaker 1: attention span of the American people is not very long. 650 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:23,319 Speaker 1: So uh, you know, that's you know, one of the 651 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:27,279 Speaker 1: reasons I think that your podcast is so important and 652 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:29,200 Speaker 1: and that what that what you guys do is so 653 00:36:29,239 --> 00:36:32,000 Speaker 1: important is you gotta keep burning this stuff up or 654 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:34,200 Speaker 1: else people are gonna move on to something else and 655 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:39,360 Speaker 1: they're gonna forget. Yeah, I'm sorry, go ahead. Well, the 656 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:41,160 Speaker 1: next thing, you know, my son or my daughter is 657 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 1: gonna be uh, you know, subject to the same U 658 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:45,960 Speaker 1: C m J that I was subject to. That I 659 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 1: don't want that to happen. I want my my kids 660 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:52,239 Speaker 1: to be able to grow up and and join the 661 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:54,799 Speaker 1: military if they want to. I want them, you know, 662 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:57,720 Speaker 1: hopefully want of them to join the Space Force, right. 663 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:00,680 Speaker 1: I want them to be able to, uh, to serve 664 00:37:00,719 --> 00:37:02,560 Speaker 1: their country just like I did, and to be proud 665 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:05,759 Speaker 1: of that and and to be um, you know, to 666 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:08,880 Speaker 1: to to serve their long line and to join the 667 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:12,759 Speaker 1: long line of great Americans that have put that uniform on. 668 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:15,600 Speaker 1: But I would be afraid to send them to the 669 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:21,720 Speaker 1: military Steve under these conditions. And I'm telling you you know, uh, 670 00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:26,840 Speaker 1: it's if you haven't if you haven't interfaced with the 671 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:30,080 Speaker 1: military justice system, if you haven't had any contact with 672 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:34,239 Speaker 1: the military justice system, good on you, good for you, right, 673 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:37,600 Speaker 1: But the second you do, you're gonna wish you never 674 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:41,279 Speaker 1: had joined the military. And I'll tell you it's, uh, 675 00:37:41,320 --> 00:37:45,160 Speaker 1: it's if you're a bad soldier, if you're a bad actor, 676 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: then yeah, you deserve to to, you know, to get 677 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:52,640 Speaker 1: slapped down and to be punished. But that's not what 678 00:37:52,760 --> 00:37:55,680 Speaker 1: has happening exclusively in the military these days. You've got 679 00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:58,879 Speaker 1: good people. There are good men sitting in Fort leven 680 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:01,239 Speaker 1: Worth Prison right now. I can think of their names. First, 681 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:03,200 Speaker 1: Stargeant John Hatley is one of them. You know, are 682 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:05,800 Speaker 1: good men sitting in for leven With prison right now 683 00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:10,640 Speaker 1: because of President Obama. And you know, it's it's the 684 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:13,000 Speaker 1: reason why I fight. And it's just one of the 685 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:16,440 Speaker 1: think you know, everybody should be up and arms about it. 686 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:20,360 Speaker 1: But here's the thing, Steve. If if they're not African American, 687 00:38:20,960 --> 00:38:23,960 Speaker 1: if they're not a Black Lives Matter type, you know, 688 00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:29,640 Speaker 1: socialist nonsense, all that nonsense, then nobody cares about them 689 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:32,440 Speaker 1: if they're in prison wrongfully. And I said this on 690 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:36,719 Speaker 1: a radio show in Chicago, and that they just about 691 00:38:36,719 --> 00:38:40,080 Speaker 1: booed me off the air. Was was look, just because 692 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:43,319 Speaker 1: I'm I'm a I'm a white male who who was 693 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:46,359 Speaker 1: in who was who was in the military, and got 694 00:38:46,360 --> 00:38:50,120 Speaker 1: sent to a military prison because of some politically correct 695 00:38:50,600 --> 00:38:55,000 Speaker 1: nonsense that came out of the Obama administration, then none 696 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:57,799 Speaker 1: of the uh, none of the a c o U 697 00:38:57,880 --> 00:39:00,239 Speaker 1: type people who are always you know, chomp about the 698 00:39:00,239 --> 00:39:02,719 Speaker 1: bits and and and and yelling and screaming all the 699 00:39:02,719 --> 00:39:04,560 Speaker 1: time about letting people out of prison. And this is 700 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:07,080 Speaker 1: not none of them. People were anywhere to be found, 701 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:09,960 Speaker 1: none of them. And so you know, it took a 702 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:12,759 Speaker 1: president like President Trump getting elected and and as soon 703 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:15,080 Speaker 1: as somebody told him about it, you know, he did 704 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:17,520 Speaker 1: his homework on it. But but as soon as they 705 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:19,560 Speaker 1: told him about it, he started looking at it. But 706 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:24,320 Speaker 1: he's one guy, and he's got plenty of other fights 707 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:26,799 Speaker 1: to fight. And so I think that, you know, the 708 00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:28,600 Speaker 1: reason I wrote this book, and the reason I think 709 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:30,600 Speaker 1: it's so important for people like you to keep speaking 710 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:34,680 Speaker 1: out is because these things are happening. And just because 711 00:39:34,760 --> 00:39:37,600 Speaker 1: the Washington Post and the New York Times and the 712 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:40,920 Speaker 1: mainstream media are not covering it or don't care to 713 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:44,600 Speaker 1: cover it, nobody cares about it. And so, you know, 714 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:47,839 Speaker 1: there are just so many people who only believe what 715 00:39:47,920 --> 00:39:50,520 Speaker 1: they read or see in the mainstream media. And I 716 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:52,680 Speaker 1: feel sorry for those kind of people because there's so 717 00:39:52,760 --> 00:39:56,480 Speaker 1: much stuff happening in the dark in this country that 718 00:39:56,480 --> 00:39:58,360 Speaker 1: that needs to be we need to shine a light on. 719 00:39:58,440 --> 00:39:59,920 Speaker 1: And that's the reason why I wrote this book, and 720 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,960 Speaker 1: that's the reason why I I appreciate so much you're 721 00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:06,680 Speaker 1: bringing me on here well and and see that that 722 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:09,759 Speaker 1: was the whole point is because okay, even if you 723 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:13,959 Speaker 1: know the Afghans complain that civilians were killed, the army 724 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:18,440 Speaker 1: does an investigation. Okay, do an investigation, but do a 725 00:40:18,480 --> 00:40:22,320 Speaker 1: real one. So you know, they never they never actually 726 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:26,200 Speaker 1: interviewed you. They only interviewed the soldiers that served under 727 00:40:26,239 --> 00:40:30,759 Speaker 1: view and from what I read, I got a uh 728 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:35,040 Speaker 1: something from your lawyer. Basically they they threatened all of 729 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:37,560 Speaker 1: them with U C m J and court martialed themselves 730 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:40,520 Speaker 1: unless they made a statement, which kind of leads you 731 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:43,880 Speaker 1: to believe that you know, they separated you from them, 732 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:48,480 Speaker 1: and they basically said it's either you or those guys. 733 00:40:48,680 --> 00:40:52,400 Speaker 1: So they kind of put that right in there. They 734 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:56,319 Speaker 1: blocked out the uh you know, the identities of the 735 00:40:56,360 --> 00:40:59,960 Speaker 1: Afghan bomb makers. They got a statement from the lieuten 736 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:03,280 Speaker 1: it that your replaced it was, you know, severely wounded 737 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:06,680 Speaker 1: by an I E ed. And you know they lined 738 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:10,640 Speaker 1: out the areas that you know, uh where he talked 739 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:13,400 Speaker 1: about you know, he would never let a motorcycle in 740 00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:17,759 Speaker 1: close proximity to his his his unit, which was your 741 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:21,640 Speaker 1: platoon because of how they operate. And this is a 742 00:41:21,640 --> 00:41:24,080 Speaker 1: guy that I believe he lost an eye over this. 743 00:41:24,719 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 1: And then you know, there was another there was an 744 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:31,399 Speaker 1: Army signac report that said that your platoon is being 745 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:35,680 Speaker 1: scouted for an impending tack uh an impending attack. And 746 00:41:35,719 --> 00:41:40,759 Speaker 1: then there was another individual later on who I mean 747 00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:44,920 Speaker 1: there was I believed they had satellite or maybe it 748 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:49,200 Speaker 1: was a drone up above, and he reported that watching 749 00:41:49,239 --> 00:41:54,000 Speaker 1: the Afghan motorcycle drivers, that your platoon is being cited 750 00:41:54,040 --> 00:41:59,400 Speaker 1: for an ambush. And they the Army had all of 751 00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:02,799 Speaker 1: that MATI aerial, they had all of that evidence, and 752 00:42:02,840 --> 00:42:07,200 Speaker 1: they blocked it from your defense. And that's the kind 753 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:11,240 Speaker 1: of thing that can't ever happen to us. As you said, 754 00:42:11,480 --> 00:42:13,920 Speaker 1: this is stuff that happens in North Korea, not in 755 00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:18,319 Speaker 1: North Carolina. And it was shocking to read all this. 756 00:42:19,080 --> 00:42:22,839 Speaker 1: That's why we were felt so strongly about it. Obviously 757 00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:27,200 Speaker 1: we didn't go through what you did, but you know, 758 00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:31,800 Speaker 1: it's it's uh, this whole you know, court martials should 759 00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:35,000 Speaker 1: have never taken place. And you know, if they had 760 00:42:35,040 --> 00:42:37,959 Speaker 1: just done an investigation like they claimed they were doing, 761 00:42:38,239 --> 00:42:42,439 Speaker 1: it would have never happened. Yeah, and Steven, I think 762 00:42:42,520 --> 00:42:44,040 Speaker 1: you know, I just I've been writing some points down 763 00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:46,080 Speaker 1: as you've been talking. You've really done your homework. I 764 00:42:46,120 --> 00:42:48,200 Speaker 1: appreciate that. It's really rare to have somebody do to 765 00:42:48,280 --> 00:42:50,520 Speaker 1: homework these days. They usually just read whatever the title 766 00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:52,600 Speaker 1: of the article is from the New York Times, and 767 00:42:52,640 --> 00:42:54,719 Speaker 1: then they just believe it because it's gospel, right, it's 768 00:42:54,719 --> 00:42:57,319 Speaker 1: the liberals say it's true, it must be true. So 769 00:42:57,480 --> 00:43:00,480 Speaker 1: what what you said? They blocked it from blocked all 770 00:43:00,480 --> 00:43:03,520 Speaker 1: that evidence from my defense council, which is true. That's 771 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:06,920 Speaker 1: that's what's called a brave violation in legal terms. But 772 00:43:06,960 --> 00:43:11,759 Speaker 1: they also blocked it from the jury. So the the 773 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:16,560 Speaker 1: majors and lieutenant colonel and colonel that the ones that 774 00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:19,439 Speaker 1: were sitting on the jury panel, you know, half half 775 00:43:19,440 --> 00:43:21,279 Speaker 1: of more sleep half the time. To be honest with you, 776 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,839 Speaker 1: they already knew what they were gonna rule, so they 777 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:26,800 Speaker 1: blocked all that information from the jury though, so the 778 00:43:26,880 --> 00:43:29,040 Speaker 1: jury never heard any of that information. So you know, 779 00:43:29,080 --> 00:43:31,440 Speaker 1: how do you think they felt about me? And and 780 00:43:31,840 --> 00:43:33,279 Speaker 1: you know they're here and all this one side and 781 00:43:33,320 --> 00:43:36,120 Speaker 1: stuff and makes me look like some kind of maniac. 782 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:38,520 Speaker 1: But and another thing, i'd like to One of the 783 00:43:38,560 --> 00:43:40,560 Speaker 1: things you brought up, and I appreciate you bringing that up, 784 00:43:40,680 --> 00:43:44,160 Speaker 1: is this intel of the guys, the guy that was 785 00:43:44,200 --> 00:43:46,480 Speaker 1: in charge of the blimp, that he was the blimp 786 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:50,360 Speaker 1: oper reader and he had all the he had the camera, 787 00:43:50,560 --> 00:43:55,560 Speaker 1: the footage literally watching these Taliban operatives as they are 788 00:43:55,640 --> 00:43:59,040 Speaker 1: putting there. They're setting in a crude ambush around our position. 789 00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:01,839 Speaker 1: Now look, full disclosure, I did not know that because 790 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:04,320 Speaker 1: I couldn't see them. I didn't know that was happening 791 00:44:04,360 --> 00:44:09,840 Speaker 1: at the time. Um. The Afghan Army sergeant that was there, Um, 792 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:11,520 Speaker 1: he came up to me at a certain point and 793 00:44:11,520 --> 00:44:12,759 Speaker 1: I say this in the book. He came up to 794 00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:14,160 Speaker 1: me a certain point and he was like, sir, we 795 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:16,799 Speaker 1: gotta go right now. And I'm like, well, why, you 796 00:44:16,800 --> 00:44:20,319 Speaker 1: know what what's wrong? And he was this is you know, 797 00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:22,360 Speaker 1: we were already at the end of the objective. We 798 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:25,279 Speaker 1: had already clear through the objective. We're already done, and 799 00:44:25,320 --> 00:44:26,799 Speaker 1: we were kind of just hanging out. But that the 800 00:44:26,800 --> 00:44:29,160 Speaker 1: sergeant cames up to me and he's like, we gotta go. 801 00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:32,000 Speaker 1: He's like the Taliban they're coming. So you know, I 802 00:44:32,040 --> 00:44:34,640 Speaker 1: look around and and you know it's the conditions are 803 00:44:34,719 --> 00:44:37,319 Speaker 1: We've already achieved everything with that we were sent out 804 00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:39,239 Speaker 1: there to achieve. So I'm like, all right, well let's 805 00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:43,799 Speaker 1: go um. And so you know that, I think that 806 00:44:43,960 --> 00:44:47,080 Speaker 1: kind of verifies what you know, Mr Hubrew was saying. 807 00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:49,080 Speaker 1: The guy that had the camera footage of them putting 808 00:44:49,080 --> 00:44:52,240 Speaker 1: in the Taliban putting in the uh the ambush, setting 809 00:44:52,239 --> 00:44:54,520 Speaker 1: in the ambush. Now, look, I'll take on the Taliban 810 00:44:54,600 --> 00:44:57,719 Speaker 1: head to head any day, right, But at the fact 811 00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:00,640 Speaker 1: of the matter is that when you're fighting with one 812 00:45:00,680 --> 00:45:03,799 Speaker 1: hand behind your back like we were in the Obama administration, 813 00:45:03,840 --> 00:45:06,960 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna put my men in harm's way unnecessarily. 814 00:45:07,360 --> 00:45:10,399 Speaker 1: So look, and Steve, if I can just address one 815 00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:13,239 Speaker 1: more thing that that the Washington Post isn't just ridiculous. 816 00:45:14,120 --> 00:45:16,400 Speaker 1: They just they just did an article and they you know, 817 00:45:16,520 --> 00:45:19,480 Speaker 1: they have decided, you know that the bottom of the 818 00:45:19,480 --> 00:45:24,160 Speaker 1: barrel uh in that platoon. Um that they found about 819 00:45:24,239 --> 00:45:26,680 Speaker 1: the bottom of the barrel of that platoon, And anybody 820 00:45:26,719 --> 00:45:29,760 Speaker 1: that served in the military can look at the character 821 00:45:29,840 --> 00:45:32,239 Speaker 1: of the guys who who interviewed with the Washington Post 822 00:45:32,239 --> 00:45:34,480 Speaker 1: and they can tell what kind of soldiers they were. 823 00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:38,360 Speaker 1: Very quickly and I've been very reticent to uh and 824 00:45:38,600 --> 00:45:41,320 Speaker 1: very reluctant to ever say anything bad about those soldiers 825 00:45:41,320 --> 00:45:42,640 Speaker 1: because at the end of the day, they were just 826 00:45:42,680 --> 00:45:45,680 Speaker 1: as much uh screwed over by the army as I was. 827 00:45:45,760 --> 00:45:49,040 Speaker 1: Because you said just now, Steve, that that you know, 828 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:52,800 Speaker 1: the army threatened them with prosecution as well, that's very true. 829 00:45:53,040 --> 00:45:57,319 Speaker 1: They actually worked up charge sheets for murder for a 830 00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:01,239 Speaker 1: couple of those guys, right, So know, they charged me 831 00:46:01,239 --> 00:46:03,240 Speaker 1: with murder, They charged me with all kinds of nonsense. 832 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:06,680 Speaker 1: They charged me with using harsh language toward Afghans, which 833 00:46:06,680 --> 00:46:09,120 Speaker 1: I kind of laughed at, you know, but so you know, 834 00:46:10,080 --> 00:46:13,279 Speaker 1: but here's the thing, right, so it was very true 835 00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:15,839 Speaker 1: what you just said. So they brought all of those 836 00:46:15,840 --> 00:46:18,960 Speaker 1: soldiers that I had known for seventy two hours. They 837 00:46:18,960 --> 00:46:22,160 Speaker 1: were complete strangers to me seventy two hours ago. I 838 00:46:22,239 --> 00:46:25,600 Speaker 1: knew these guys for three days. They brought these soldiers 839 00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:28,319 Speaker 1: into to the a tent and they put them all 840 00:46:28,360 --> 00:46:31,160 Speaker 1: around this big table, this series of tables, and they 841 00:46:31,960 --> 00:46:33,880 Speaker 1: they told them all, they said, they gave them all 842 00:46:33,960 --> 00:46:36,640 Speaker 1: to one statements twenty threes and they said you're all 843 00:46:36,719 --> 00:46:38,640 Speaker 1: you all gonna write Swimer sweet and start right now. 844 00:46:38,800 --> 00:46:40,719 Speaker 1: I was the only person not in that room, So 845 00:46:40,760 --> 00:46:42,640 Speaker 1: what do you think happened? They all got on the 846 00:46:42,680 --> 00:46:45,080 Speaker 1: same page, quite literally, And that's something you know, I 847 00:46:45,120 --> 00:46:47,319 Speaker 1: kind of write more detailed in my book about. So 848 00:46:47,560 --> 00:46:50,160 Speaker 1: you know, those guys, they didn't know me. I had 849 00:46:50,160 --> 00:46:52,880 Speaker 1: been there for three days, for seventy two hours, and 850 00:46:52,960 --> 00:46:55,279 Speaker 1: now the Washington Post wants to come out and try 851 00:46:55,360 --> 00:46:58,440 Speaker 1: to make me look like a bad person because I 852 00:46:58,520 --> 00:47:01,360 Speaker 1: told Sean Hannity that I don't even remember most of 853 00:47:01,400 --> 00:47:06,640 Speaker 1: their names. But look, see, I would challenge anybody anybody too. 854 00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:09,759 Speaker 1: In the military, you meet a lot of people, right, 855 00:47:10,160 --> 00:47:12,839 Speaker 1: So I would challenge anybody to go to go back 856 00:47:12,840 --> 00:47:17,120 Speaker 1: in their memory and to to rewind eight years, To 857 00:47:17,200 --> 00:47:20,160 Speaker 1: go back eight years and remember the names of four 858 00:47:20,360 --> 00:47:25,000 Speaker 1: men that you met for three days eight years ago. 859 00:47:25,719 --> 00:47:29,560 Speaker 1: It's almost impossible. And let's act serve with It's not 860 00:47:29,600 --> 00:47:32,759 Speaker 1: gonna happen. So unlet's actually serve with these people for 861 00:47:32,880 --> 00:47:35,600 Speaker 1: more than three days. You're not gonna remember all of them. 862 00:47:35,640 --> 00:47:38,120 Speaker 1: You're just not right. I just to be completely completely 863 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:41,120 Speaker 1: honest with you, They're not that. They were not that 864 00:47:41,239 --> 00:47:44,759 Speaker 1: memorable of people to me. And I know that's unpoable. 865 00:47:44,840 --> 00:47:47,520 Speaker 1: That that's unpopular for me to say, but anybody that's 866 00:47:47,520 --> 00:47:50,520 Speaker 1: gonna turn on one of his brothers is not that 867 00:47:50,600 --> 00:47:54,239 Speaker 1: memorable of a person to me, And so to to 868 00:47:54,239 --> 00:47:57,560 Speaker 1: to put this a different way, And I write about 869 00:47:57,600 --> 00:47:59,480 Speaker 1: this in the book too, and I'm kind of the 870 00:47:59,520 --> 00:48:01,399 Speaker 1: gloves are kind of coming off at this point because 871 00:48:01,440 --> 00:48:04,640 Speaker 1: I'm sick and tired of dealing with the Washington Post 872 00:48:04,640 --> 00:48:07,840 Speaker 1: and the New York Times going over and tampering those guys, 873 00:48:07,880 --> 00:48:10,480 Speaker 1: those crappy soldiers and trying to make them feel like 874 00:48:10,520 --> 00:48:13,640 Speaker 1: they're war heroes. And by the way, I can't stand 875 00:48:13,680 --> 00:48:15,640 Speaker 1: it in anyway he tries to call me that. Right, 876 00:48:15,840 --> 00:48:17,600 Speaker 1: I'm just a normal guy who was putting a really 877 00:48:17,640 --> 00:48:19,839 Speaker 1: crappy situation, and I found a better way to deal 878 00:48:19,880 --> 00:48:22,400 Speaker 1: with it, which is not to turn on my my 879 00:48:22,480 --> 00:48:25,560 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters. So but at the end of the day, 880 00:48:25,760 --> 00:48:28,120 Speaker 1: what we have to look at here is there is 881 00:48:28,200 --> 00:48:31,880 Speaker 1: a that that narrative that was started with the Obama administration, 882 00:48:32,400 --> 00:48:35,600 Speaker 1: who are liberals, allies the Washington Post in the New 883 00:48:35,680 --> 00:48:38,200 Speaker 1: York Times, they continue to this day to try to 884 00:48:38,239 --> 00:48:40,720 Speaker 1: make me look like some kind of you know, crazy, 885 00:48:40,800 --> 00:48:44,080 Speaker 1: wild haired war criminal. And they called me that as 886 00:48:44,160 --> 00:48:46,640 Speaker 1: much as they possibly can, and you know, I try 887 00:48:46,640 --> 00:48:48,880 Speaker 1: to ignore it as much as I possibly can. But 888 00:48:49,000 --> 00:48:52,880 Speaker 1: here's the thing. What these these soldiers, these few soldiers, 889 00:48:52,960 --> 00:48:54,719 Speaker 1: this is this is the last point I'll make. I'm you, 890 00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:56,920 Speaker 1: as you can tell, I'm kind of passionate about this stuff. 891 00:48:57,239 --> 00:49:01,480 Speaker 1: These soldiers who continually emails and New York Times and 892 00:49:01,560 --> 00:49:04,440 Speaker 1: the Washington Post and all the liberal media they can 893 00:49:04,520 --> 00:49:10,080 Speaker 1: possibly get to listen to them. They were several of 894 00:49:10,120 --> 00:49:12,719 Speaker 1: them there, and granted there's only a handful of that 895 00:49:12,760 --> 00:49:16,319 Speaker 1: platoon that has even cooperated with the press at all. 896 00:49:16,440 --> 00:49:18,239 Speaker 1: Most of them, most of the forty guys of the 897 00:49:18,239 --> 00:49:20,160 Speaker 1: platoon said no, I don't, I don't want anything to 898 00:49:20,200 --> 00:49:22,319 Speaker 1: do with this, right because maybe they have a little 899 00:49:22,320 --> 00:49:25,400 Speaker 1: bit of a shred of loyalty uh left in their bodies. 900 00:49:25,600 --> 00:49:29,279 Speaker 1: But there's a few of them that and and it's 901 00:49:29,280 --> 00:49:31,680 Speaker 1: just amazing to me. A couple of these guys were 902 00:49:31,719 --> 00:49:34,360 Speaker 1: not even there. They were not even on that patrol. 903 00:49:34,680 --> 00:49:37,640 Speaker 1: And so what I was saying on Sean Hannity was 904 00:49:37,640 --> 00:49:40,719 Speaker 1: was that specifically, I don't remember their names because they 905 00:49:40,719 --> 00:49:43,799 Speaker 1: weren't even there. So, you know, eight years later, they 906 00:49:43,840 --> 00:49:46,960 Speaker 1: come out on this Washington Post YouTube video, and I'm 907 00:49:47,000 --> 00:49:48,399 Speaker 1: looking at it and I'm like, who in the hell 908 00:49:48,440 --> 00:49:51,239 Speaker 1: are you. I've never seen you before. And so just 909 00:49:51,239 --> 00:49:55,680 Speaker 1: just because you just right, so, just because you were 910 00:49:56,120 --> 00:49:59,600 Speaker 1: on paper assigned to that platoon doesn't give you the 911 00:49:59,680 --> 00:50:02,040 Speaker 1: right to be an expert in what happened there because 912 00:50:02,080 --> 00:50:05,319 Speaker 1: you weren't there. And so I look at it and so, 913 00:50:05,480 --> 00:50:08,439 Speaker 1: but the Washington Post doesn't care about that because they 914 00:50:08,440 --> 00:50:12,760 Speaker 1: can use me, Clint Lawrence, to make President Donald Trump 915 00:50:12,760 --> 00:50:15,279 Speaker 1: look bad. So that's what they're gonna do. And so 916 00:50:15,320 --> 00:50:17,960 Speaker 1: that's what they're continuing to do. And so and the 917 00:50:18,000 --> 00:50:20,520 Speaker 1: last thing I'll say here is, Steve is I've gotten 918 00:50:20,560 --> 00:50:23,319 Speaker 1: over the last eight years, Since two thousands twelve, I've 919 00:50:23,360 --> 00:50:29,200 Speaker 1: gotten thousands, tens of thousands of letters and messages from 920 00:50:29,239 --> 00:50:34,200 Speaker 1: people in the military and members of police departments around 921 00:50:34,239 --> 00:50:38,840 Speaker 1: the world. There there are even military folks in the 922 00:50:38,880 --> 00:50:42,520 Speaker 1: little tiny country of Cyprus who are have been writing 923 00:50:42,560 --> 00:50:45,120 Speaker 1: to me and given me their support. They all support me, 924 00:50:45,160 --> 00:50:47,480 Speaker 1: and they all say the same thing, this is bullshit. 925 00:50:47,760 --> 00:50:52,080 Speaker 1: The guys that turned on you were cowards. Right the 926 00:50:52,120 --> 00:50:54,920 Speaker 1: police officers and YPP police officers right to me and 927 00:50:55,000 --> 00:50:57,480 Speaker 1: send me a little tiny police badges and send me 928 00:50:57,520 --> 00:51:00,360 Speaker 1: all kinds of like baseball caps and everything else, telling 929 00:51:00,360 --> 00:51:03,120 Speaker 1: me the same exact thing. Those guys were cowards. They 930 00:51:03,120 --> 00:51:06,759 Speaker 1: don't understand brotherhood. But Steve, there's a tiny little a 931 00:51:06,800 --> 00:51:08,640 Speaker 1: tiny little bit of people and I can count on 932 00:51:08,760 --> 00:51:12,480 Speaker 1: probably uh both hands and both the the amount of 933 00:51:12,719 --> 00:51:17,920 Speaker 1: people who have UH sent me messages that are not supportive, 934 00:51:17,960 --> 00:51:20,680 Speaker 1: that are saying sent things along the lines of, UM, 935 00:51:20,760 --> 00:51:24,359 Speaker 1: you're a coward, war criminal. This isn't that. And one 936 00:51:24,400 --> 00:51:26,319 Speaker 1: of them I responded to, just one. It was. It 937 00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:31,040 Speaker 1: was a girl who sent to me a message and UM, 938 00:51:31,080 --> 00:51:33,160 Speaker 1: I wasn't doing anything at that moment, so I replied 939 00:51:33,160 --> 00:51:36,439 Speaker 1: to her and UM, I asked her some details about 940 00:51:36,440 --> 00:51:37,799 Speaker 1: the cases. She was like, well, I don't really know 941 00:51:37,840 --> 00:51:40,160 Speaker 1: anything about the case. I just know that I read 942 00:51:40,360 --> 00:51:43,480 Speaker 1: I read the title. She didn't even read the Washington 943 00:51:43,520 --> 00:51:46,440 Speaker 1: Post article. She read the title of the article and 944 00:51:46,480 --> 00:51:49,000 Speaker 1: then decided that I was a war criminal. So that's 945 00:51:49,040 --> 00:51:51,120 Speaker 1: what I'm dealing with. That's what I deal with in 946 00:51:51,239 --> 00:51:54,479 Speaker 1: my daily life. And so you know, I talked about 947 00:51:54,520 --> 00:51:57,360 Speaker 1: this a lot more in detailed about the nonsense that 948 00:51:57,400 --> 00:52:01,799 Speaker 1: I'm still dealing with um in the book. But you know, 949 00:52:02,040 --> 00:52:05,080 Speaker 1: I'll just say that, and yeah, I'm sorry, I didn't 950 00:52:05,080 --> 00:52:10,839 Speaker 1: mean interrupt. The book is released, I believe September, right, Yeah, yeah, 951 00:52:10,880 --> 00:52:13,160 Speaker 1: And and Steve, there's just there's a lot more at 952 00:52:13,160 --> 00:52:18,160 Speaker 1: play here then law and order than A and B 953 00:52:18,719 --> 00:52:21,279 Speaker 1: led to see. There's a lot more than black and 954 00:52:21,280 --> 00:52:24,359 Speaker 1: white here, right, There's a lot more going on here. 955 00:52:24,400 --> 00:52:25,839 Speaker 1: And so that's one of the things the reasons why 956 00:52:25,840 --> 00:52:28,239 Speaker 1: I wanted to write this book. And I really appreciate 957 00:52:28,280 --> 00:52:32,760 Speaker 1: you you actually caring about this. Well, we, like I said, 958 00:52:33,080 --> 00:52:37,080 Speaker 1: when we learned about what was actually behind the scenes 959 00:52:37,280 --> 00:52:41,560 Speaker 1: going on because we were following the the case through 960 00:52:41,640 --> 00:52:44,800 Speaker 1: your lawyers, That's why we felt so strongly. But we 961 00:52:44,880 --> 00:52:47,960 Speaker 1: wrote a bunch of articles on this and we try 962 00:52:48,040 --> 00:52:50,719 Speaker 1: to bring attention to it because again I'm gonna go 963 00:52:50,760 --> 00:52:54,600 Speaker 1: back to the battalion sergeant major. I mean, I look 964 00:52:54,680 --> 00:52:58,880 Speaker 1: at you know, this is n c O with career 965 00:52:58,960 --> 00:53:06,960 Speaker 1: military probably years to become Italian sergeant major. And he says, clearly, 966 00:53:07,000 --> 00:53:10,480 Speaker 1: the division commander, the brigade commander, and the squadron commander 967 00:53:10,520 --> 00:53:13,880 Speaker 1: aren't gonna take responsibility. The chain of command failed this 968 00:53:14,040 --> 00:53:17,200 Speaker 1: young man. They used him as a scapegoat at a 969 00:53:17,239 --> 00:53:20,120 Speaker 1: time in Afghanistan when the commanding general in country was 970 00:53:20,160 --> 00:53:24,520 Speaker 1: looking to hold someone accountable because of other civilian casualties 971 00:53:24,560 --> 00:53:28,040 Speaker 1: that occurred in other locations. And I think that hits 972 00:53:28,080 --> 00:53:32,560 Speaker 1: it right on the head. And uh so, I know 973 00:53:32,760 --> 00:53:34,799 Speaker 1: we're kind of running short on time because you have 974 00:53:34,920 --> 00:53:38,200 Speaker 1: things you have to do, but I just wanted to 975 00:53:38,200 --> 00:53:42,320 Speaker 1: touch on you. You went to you went to Fort Leavenworth, 976 00:53:42,480 --> 00:53:46,120 Speaker 1: You did six years behind bars there. We won't get 977 00:53:46,120 --> 00:53:48,800 Speaker 1: into all that right now because we're kind of short 978 00:53:48,840 --> 00:53:52,760 Speaker 1: on time, but tell me the failing when you actually learned, 979 00:53:53,239 --> 00:53:56,240 Speaker 1: and tell our listeners a little bit about the phone 980 00:53:56,239 --> 00:53:58,759 Speaker 1: call you received when you found out you were going 981 00:53:58,840 --> 00:54:02,759 Speaker 1: to be part I'll just say this, Uh you know, 982 00:54:04,000 --> 00:54:06,040 Speaker 1: so life, you know, they have a lot of these 983 00:54:06,040 --> 00:54:07,799 Speaker 1: little things that I can't stand up when people use 984 00:54:07,800 --> 00:54:10,680 Speaker 1: these little sayings, but this one really applies. Life is 985 00:54:10,719 --> 00:54:13,160 Speaker 1: what you make it. Right. So, when I got to 986 00:54:13,200 --> 00:54:17,880 Speaker 1: Fort Leavenworth, I i i I realized that I was standing 987 00:54:17,960 --> 00:54:21,640 Speaker 1: up against a a solid concrete wall, and I knew 988 00:54:21,920 --> 00:54:24,080 Speaker 1: that I could deal with it in one of two ways. 989 00:54:24,520 --> 00:54:27,479 Speaker 1: I could stand there and feel sorry for myself, or 990 00:54:27,600 --> 00:54:29,840 Speaker 1: I could do everything I can to get through that wall. 991 00:54:30,200 --> 00:54:32,840 Speaker 1: And so that is I took the second one and 992 00:54:32,880 --> 00:54:36,160 Speaker 1: I got through that wall. But but look, so here's 993 00:54:36,239 --> 00:54:40,240 Speaker 1: here's the crux of the issue. There are so many 994 00:54:40,320 --> 00:54:43,960 Speaker 1: Americans out there who voted for President Trump, and there 995 00:54:44,000 --> 00:54:48,880 Speaker 1: are some on the left. One of my biggest UM supporters, Uh, 996 00:54:48,920 --> 00:54:52,200 Speaker 1: while I was in Fort Leavenworth fought for me like crazy, 997 00:54:52,280 --> 00:54:55,239 Speaker 1: was a former Air Force criminal investigator who was a 998 00:54:55,239 --> 00:54:59,120 Speaker 1: hardcore Democrat. UM. And you know, she just she saw 999 00:54:59,600 --> 00:55:03,520 Speaker 1: what was ang and uh, she write she did her homework, 1000 00:55:03,600 --> 00:55:05,840 Speaker 1: which is I think the discriminator. You gotta do your homework. 1001 00:55:05,840 --> 00:55:07,839 Speaker 1: If you don't do the homework, then you then you're 1002 00:55:07,920 --> 00:55:10,960 Speaker 1: left just believe whatever the New York Times says. Right, 1003 00:55:11,280 --> 00:55:15,239 Speaker 1: So if you do your homework, you see something's wrong. So, UM, 1004 00:55:15,480 --> 00:55:18,360 Speaker 1: I had those people to bring me through Fort Leavenworth. 1005 00:55:18,719 --> 00:55:20,880 Speaker 1: There were so many thousands of people who wrote to 1006 00:55:20,880 --> 00:55:23,160 Speaker 1: me over the years and kept me going, and I 1007 00:55:23,200 --> 00:55:24,960 Speaker 1: write about them a lot in the book, about the 1008 00:55:25,000 --> 00:55:28,759 Speaker 1: specific ones who really motivated me. And so you know, 1009 00:55:28,800 --> 00:55:33,000 Speaker 1: when I when I President Trump got elected, I knew 1010 00:55:33,080 --> 00:55:35,640 Speaker 1: that President Trump was somebody who really don't give a 1011 00:55:35,680 --> 00:55:40,920 Speaker 1: hoot about um what the mainstream media says about him. UM. 1012 00:55:40,960 --> 00:55:44,560 Speaker 1: And he doesn't really care about Uh, he'll he'll ruffle 1013 00:55:44,600 --> 00:55:46,440 Speaker 1: feathers if if, if it's the right thing to do. 1014 00:55:46,880 --> 00:55:49,160 Speaker 1: And so I knew the moment that he got elected, 1015 00:55:49,200 --> 00:55:51,799 Speaker 1: I went and told one of my friends there, Uh, 1016 00:55:51,840 --> 00:55:54,160 Speaker 1: we were talking about it, and he said, don't don't 1017 00:55:54,160 --> 00:55:56,279 Speaker 1: you think President Trump is a good thing for for you? 1018 00:55:56,320 --> 00:55:58,919 Speaker 1: And I said, uh, well, what are you talking about? 1019 00:55:58,920 --> 00:56:01,000 Speaker 1: And he was like, well, are you serious. President Trump 1020 00:56:01,040 --> 00:56:02,200 Speaker 1: is gonna get you out of here. Man, I know 1021 00:56:02,280 --> 00:56:04,560 Speaker 1: he is. And so that's what really kind of got me, 1022 00:56:05,000 --> 00:56:08,560 Speaker 1: you know, all thinking along those lines. And I started 1023 00:56:08,560 --> 00:56:10,840 Speaker 1: paying closer attention to the President and what he was 1024 00:56:10,840 --> 00:56:12,840 Speaker 1: saying and so on and so forth, and I was like, 1025 00:56:12,880 --> 00:56:14,600 Speaker 1: you know what, this guy is gonna do something. He 1026 00:56:14,719 --> 00:56:19,800 Speaker 1: is And so we we tried to um focus our campaign, 1027 00:56:20,480 --> 00:56:24,720 Speaker 1: uh you know, my my freedom campaign on on trying 1028 00:56:24,760 --> 00:56:28,239 Speaker 1: to get my case in front of the president. And 1029 00:56:28,480 --> 00:56:32,479 Speaker 1: once we finally did achieve that, um, the President saw 1030 00:56:32,480 --> 00:56:34,400 Speaker 1: it and he did his homework. And you know a 1031 00:56:34,480 --> 00:56:36,359 Speaker 1: lot of people say things about the President. They say 1032 00:56:36,400 --> 00:56:39,160 Speaker 1: that he's you know, doesn't pay close attention, he doesn't 1033 00:56:39,200 --> 00:56:41,839 Speaker 1: like details. That's wrong, It's absolutely wrong. I've met him 1034 00:56:41,840 --> 00:56:45,200 Speaker 1: twice the man cares about people, and that is what 1035 00:56:45,280 --> 00:56:48,200 Speaker 1: he lives his life by. He cares about the little guy. 1036 00:56:48,719 --> 00:56:54,120 Speaker 1: And um, he definitely cares about people that the Democrats 1037 00:56:54,160 --> 00:56:57,440 Speaker 1: don't care about because he sees that. And so, you know, 1038 00:56:57,520 --> 00:57:00,840 Speaker 1: talking to him on the phone, UM, I was just 1039 00:57:00,840 --> 00:57:02,640 Speaker 1: sitting in my prison cell on some men see okay, 1040 00:57:02,640 --> 00:57:03,879 Speaker 1: I'm and got me and said, you know, you got 1041 00:57:03,880 --> 00:57:06,240 Speaker 1: a phone call. And I talked about this more in detail, 1042 00:57:06,680 --> 00:57:09,640 Speaker 1: uh in the book, but um, you know, when I 1043 00:57:09,640 --> 00:57:12,480 Speaker 1: actually got on the phone with the president, UM, I got, 1044 00:57:12,719 --> 00:57:18,160 Speaker 1: the first impression of him was that he stops all time. Uh, 1045 00:57:18,200 --> 00:57:22,360 Speaker 1: and he he he blocks out everything around him when 1046 00:57:22,440 --> 00:57:25,080 Speaker 1: he wants to focus on one thing and one person. 1047 00:57:25,360 --> 00:57:27,280 Speaker 1: And he did that. It's like he it's like he 1048 00:57:27,360 --> 00:57:29,680 Speaker 1: posted you know, I'm not saying he did this, but 1049 00:57:29,720 --> 00:57:31,480 Speaker 1: this is what it seemed like. It's like he posted 1050 00:57:31,520 --> 00:57:33,640 Speaker 1: secret Service agents at his office door when he was 1051 00:57:33,680 --> 00:57:35,560 Speaker 1: on the phone with me and said, don't let anybody in. 1052 00:57:35,600 --> 00:57:38,400 Speaker 1: I'm I'm making a phone call. And so there was 1053 00:57:38,440 --> 00:57:40,760 Speaker 1: no interruption. It was like I had his full and 1054 00:57:41,240 --> 00:57:44,880 Speaker 1: undivided attention, and I could not believe that the President 1055 00:57:44,920 --> 00:57:47,560 Speaker 1: of the United States took you know, over ten minutes 1056 00:57:47,600 --> 00:57:49,920 Speaker 1: of his time to do that, and at the end 1057 00:57:49,920 --> 00:57:51,680 Speaker 1: and he was you know throughout the whole time, and 1058 00:57:51,720 --> 00:57:54,200 Speaker 1: the Vice President was there and and and I just 1059 00:57:54,200 --> 00:57:56,920 Speaker 1: thought it was just amazing and and you know, you know, 1060 00:57:56,960 --> 00:57:59,040 Speaker 1: I talked about some of the fight that we had 1061 00:57:59,080 --> 00:58:02,000 Speaker 1: even after the President him signed the part um to 1062 00:58:02,000 --> 00:58:04,640 Speaker 1: to still get out because the de Pentagon was refusing 1063 00:58:04,680 --> 00:58:06,080 Speaker 1: to let me out. And you can read about that 1064 00:58:06,120 --> 00:58:09,000 Speaker 1: more in the book. But um, you know, talking to 1065 00:58:09,040 --> 00:58:12,440 Speaker 1: the president, uh and and being able to actually meet him, 1066 00:58:12,480 --> 00:58:15,000 Speaker 1: and you know, he actually invited me on stage to 1067 00:58:15,520 --> 00:58:19,120 Speaker 1: uh talk And luckily, I'm kind of a boy scout, 1068 00:58:19,160 --> 00:58:20,680 Speaker 1: so I always have something prepared, so I had to 1069 00:58:20,680 --> 00:58:24,000 Speaker 1: speak prepared just in case. Um, so you know, he 1070 00:58:24,120 --> 00:58:27,000 Speaker 1: was a he he let me have his podium for 1071 00:58:27,000 --> 00:58:31,000 Speaker 1: for thirteen minutes or so, um eleven or thirteen minutes, 1072 00:58:31,040 --> 00:58:32,880 Speaker 1: and I just thought that was amazing. And at some 1073 00:58:32,960 --> 00:58:35,040 Speaker 1: point I turned around and he's standing behind me back 1074 00:58:35,040 --> 00:58:38,760 Speaker 1: there with major that Matt Golstein, and uh, I asked him, 1075 00:58:38,760 --> 00:58:41,160 Speaker 1: I'm like, I I good, Mr President, Like I don't 1076 00:58:41,160 --> 00:58:43,920 Speaker 1: want to think and he's just like he's kind of 1077 00:58:44,000 --> 00:58:45,400 Speaker 1: just ways to be honest, Like yeah, I keep going 1078 00:58:45,480 --> 00:58:50,240 Speaker 1: kids do its side. But uh, he's just I'm telling you, 1079 00:58:50,400 --> 00:58:54,680 Speaker 1: he's just uh, just a good dude. He's somebody who 1080 00:58:55,240 --> 00:58:58,880 Speaker 1: um and I've said this before too, he kind of 1081 00:58:59,000 --> 00:59:01,320 Speaker 1: I think he he know and he realizes that he's 1082 00:59:01,360 --> 00:59:03,800 Speaker 1: the president and you're not the president, and so he 1083 00:59:03,880 --> 00:59:06,800 Speaker 1: wants to make you feel comfortable, um and so. And 1084 00:59:06,920 --> 00:59:08,840 Speaker 1: I think he does that because he wants you. He 1085 00:59:08,880 --> 00:59:10,880 Speaker 1: doesn't want He doesn't like people kissing his butt, which 1086 00:59:10,920 --> 00:59:12,880 Speaker 1: I think is why the Pentagon doesn't like him, because 1087 00:59:12,880 --> 00:59:15,840 Speaker 1: they have a butt kissing mentality, right, So he doesn't 1088 00:59:15,840 --> 00:59:17,800 Speaker 1: like it when people do that. He wants people to 1089 00:59:17,800 --> 00:59:20,800 Speaker 1: tell him how things actually are, and he wants people 1090 00:59:20,880 --> 00:59:23,360 Speaker 1: to to to drop all the fancy nonsense and tell 1091 00:59:23,440 --> 00:59:25,960 Speaker 1: him exactly what's going on. And I think that's something 1092 00:59:26,000 --> 00:59:28,120 Speaker 1: that makes him different from from any of the other presidents. 1093 00:59:28,200 --> 00:59:32,480 Speaker 1: They want to hear all the fancy nonsense. Well, I 1094 00:59:32,520 --> 00:59:34,680 Speaker 1: think that hits it right on the head. And I 1095 00:59:34,760 --> 00:59:37,160 Speaker 1: know you have something you have to do this afternoon, 1096 00:59:37,200 --> 00:59:39,880 Speaker 1: so we're gonna have to Unfortunately we have to cut 1097 00:59:39,880 --> 00:59:43,120 Speaker 1: this short. But we want to once again thank you 1098 00:59:43,160 --> 00:59:47,160 Speaker 1: for joining us, and we encourage all our listeners and 1099 00:59:47,200 --> 00:59:51,240 Speaker 1: readers out there for soft Rap UH by Clint's books 1100 00:59:51,320 --> 00:59:54,840 Speaker 1: that's coming out. It'll be out in September. We were 1101 00:59:54,880 --> 00:59:57,200 Speaker 1: lucky enough to get an advanced copy of it so 1102 00:59:57,240 --> 01:00:00,320 Speaker 1: we could talk about it here on the podcast. It 1103 01:00:00,360 --> 01:00:03,600 Speaker 1: will be a quick page turning for you, folks, because 1104 01:00:03,640 --> 01:00:05,840 Speaker 1: once you start reading it, you won't want to put 1105 01:00:05,840 --> 01:00:07,840 Speaker 1: it down. And there's a lot of things in there 1106 01:00:08,320 --> 01:00:10,720 Speaker 1: that are going to be very uncomfortable. I'll just leave 1107 01:00:10,760 --> 01:00:13,600 Speaker 1: it at that, and you've heard some of them. We've 1108 01:00:13,680 --> 01:00:16,160 Speaker 1: we've kind of glossed over some of the stuff today 1109 01:00:16,520 --> 01:00:20,520 Speaker 1: just because of the time shortage. But Clint, we're so 1110 01:00:20,640 --> 01:00:23,960 Speaker 1: glad from all of us here at soft Rap that 1111 01:00:24,120 --> 01:00:27,360 Speaker 1: we're talking to you now as a freeman and you're 1112 01:00:27,400 --> 01:00:30,400 Speaker 1: able to get back to your life and you know, uh, 1113 01:00:30,680 --> 01:00:33,440 Speaker 1: you're you're now in law school. We wish you all 1114 01:00:33,480 --> 01:00:36,040 Speaker 1: the best and thank you once again for joining us. Uh. 1115 01:00:36,280 --> 01:00:37,960 Speaker 1: We would love to do this again with you some 1116 01:00:38,040 --> 01:00:40,960 Speaker 1: other time. Sure, Thank you, Steve. It was great to 1117 01:00:40,960 --> 01:00:42,320 Speaker 1: be on with you, and I'll be around if you 1118 01:00:42,360 --> 01:00:45,120 Speaker 1: ever want to talk again for sure. All right, Well, 1119 01:00:45,160 --> 01:00:48,560 Speaker 1: good luck in uh in law school. I know that 1120 01:00:48,720 --> 01:00:53,600 Speaker 1: won't be easy. Um, that's that's beyond some of us 1121 01:00:53,600 --> 01:00:56,280 Speaker 1: who are sitting here right now, that's beyond my scope 1122 01:00:56,280 --> 01:00:58,840 Speaker 1: of things. So uh, I wish you all the luck 1123 01:00:58,880 --> 01:01:02,280 Speaker 1: with that. Um but you know I and I wish 1124 01:01:02,280 --> 01:01:04,520 Speaker 1: you all the luck with the book coming out. I 1125 01:01:04,560 --> 01:01:07,560 Speaker 1: think it's something people need to read. It's something people 1126 01:01:07,600 --> 01:01:11,880 Speaker 1: need to know about because, um, it should have never 1127 01:01:11,920 --> 01:01:15,200 Speaker 1: ever happened. And uh, well, I agree with you. We're 1128 01:01:15,200 --> 01:01:17,480 Speaker 1: gonna fix it, man, And I think the first the 1129 01:01:17,600 --> 01:01:20,120 Speaker 1: first step to warn fixing it is to get people 1130 01:01:20,160 --> 01:01:22,320 Speaker 1: to read that so they don't know what's what's actually happening. 1131 01:01:22,360 --> 01:01:26,160 Speaker 1: So I appreciate you having me on. Okay, well, thanks again, 1132 01:01:26,320 --> 01:01:30,640 Speaker 1: and uh we'll we'll be obviously talking again in the future. 1133 01:01:30,720 --> 01:01:33,640 Speaker 1: But from all of us here, it's Software Bradio, myself, 1134 01:01:33,680 --> 01:01:36,439 Speaker 1: Steve al Jeri, our guest Clint Lawrence. Thank you all 1135 01:01:36,480 --> 01:01:40,600 Speaker 1: for listening. Uh, Software Bradio on Time on Target. We'll 1136 01:01:40,640 --> 01:02:00,240 Speaker 1: be back with another podcast real soon, The Little Anning 1137 01:02:00,320 --> 01:02:01,720 Speaker 1: to Self Red Radia