Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi

[ggclfan]

Is anyone else as disgusted as me at how long it took the U.S. to get Sgt. Tahmooressi out of the Mexican prisons (214 days)? For those not familiar with the story, he is the decorated former marine (who suffers form PTSD) who took a wrong turn into Mexico by accident last March. He had three guns in his truck which is a felony in Mexico. He immediately told the Mexican police that he took a wrong turn, that he had the guns and that he just wanted to go back to the U.S. The Mexicans put him in prison and beat and tortured him...threatening to kill him multiple times. He was just released after 7 months.

 

It seems to me that President Obama could have made a phone call to the Mexican president and had him out in about two days. Instead he did nothing. Kerry did nothing. I just don't understand why Obama would turn his back on a former marine? Obama sent five terrorists back to the front lines to get one guy out that most of his former fellow officers say was a deserter...but he totally ignored a former respected decorated marine.

 

This story upsets me more than anything else Obama has done or not done. In my opinion, he could have made one phone call and gotten this guy out almost immediately...and he totally turned back on him. He should be ashamed of himself on this. Kerry, as a former military man, should be as well.

 

Agree or disagree? Am I missing something here??

[bballfamily]

I believe a judge set the Sgt. free, the US government had nothing to do with his release. I believe this was also a nail in the Dems coffin Tuesday.

[ggclfan]

You are right. I don't know if Obama has even called him since he was released. For some reason, he seems to have disdain for him. I cannot figure out why. Is it because he had guns in his truck and Obama does not like guns??

 

I just don't get why the POTUS would treat a decorated marine like he has...shameful.

[SportsGuy41017]

This has happened other times in the past. There was little doubt that he would be released , it was just going to take time.

[ggclfan]

Not buying that SportsGuy. He was in prison for 7 MONTHS for no reason. He was tortured. He actually tried to kill himself. Obama could have gotten him out in no time if he cared even a little bit.

 

Best joke I heard about the story: Tahmooressi is the only guy in Mexico that wants to come to the US that Obama actually won't let in...would be funny if it was not true.

[SportsGuy41017]

Not buying that SportsGuy. He was in prison for 7 MONTHS for no reason. He was tortured. He actually tried to kill himself. Obama could have gotten him out in no time if he cared even a little bit. Best joke I heard about the story: Tahmooressi is the only guy in Mexico that wants to come to the US that Obama actually won't let in...would be funny if it was not true.

Maybe if he didn't lie about a few things he would have been out sooner. And what do you mean you don't buy it? You don't buy facts that other military personal crossed the boarder and were arrested and a few months later they were released?

[ggclfan]

I am not sure about the other military personnel - will take your word for it. What I am not buying is the ho-hum attitude that its no big deal, that he would get out at some point. You don't seem to be upset about it at all. I am. He could have very easily died down there. He has PTSD. He is even now facing a lot of counseling after all he has went through. Our president could have made a phone call and saved him many months of mistreatment. He was a decorated marine veteran. Obama totally let him down. I wish I knew why.

[Clyde]

How do we know what did or did not take place?

[ggclfan]

Well, I have seen a lot of reporting on the story. Greta Van Susteren has done a lot on it. I have seen his interview. Not sure what you mean Clyde. Do you mean what took place in Mexico or what took place in the US trying to get him back?

[SportsGuy41017]

How do we know what did or did not take place?

Agreed! I'm still highly upset that so much info was released on the mission for Bin Ladin, as well as the couple of loud mouth Seals who need to keep their mouths shut! But that is society today, people think they have the right to know everything and as soon as it happens, and others want to show off and tell things that should not be told which also may risk the lives of others.

 

People don't know, not they should know about any US involvement in a release.

[ggclfan]

Don't see the correlation on some Seals talking about Bin Laden and trying to get a marine out of a Mexican prison - totally different situations. I agree the Seals should not be talking about the Bin Laden deal...just like the Obama Adm., which was the source of a lot of leaks on Bin Laden as well.

 

I have not even heard Obama mention Tahmooressi one time. If he has, correct me. He certainly had no trouble announcing to the world about getting the deserter out - by giving the terrorists five of their guys back and having a White House press conference about it.

[Clyde]

Well' date=' I have seen a lot of reporting on the story. Greta Van Susteren has done a lot on it. I have seen his interview. Not sure what you mean Clyde. Do you mean what took place in Mexico or what took place in the US trying to get him back?[/quote']

 

The govt is not going to tell us what they did or did not do. So how do we know they did nothing?

[SportsGuy41017]

I am not sure about the other military personnel - will take your word for it. .

The most recent before this one was about 3 years ago. Interestingly enough' date=' the last one was also from Florida.

What I am not buying is the ho-hum attitude that its no big deal, that he would get out at some point.

They have been released in the past, it just took some time.

You don't seem to be upset about it at all.

I knew he would be released' date=' as others have been after a few months. I also understand that no matter who you are, when you are out of the country you are no longer playing by US rules. It may even state that on your passport. I know mine spells it out. If I am out of the country and I get caught in another country doing something against their laws, I know I am in a lot of trouble. If you happen to work for the US government in anyway, you are in serious trouble.

He could have very easily died down there.

yes. As anyone else could have as well.

Our president could have made a phone call and saved him many months of mistreatment. He was a decorated marine veteran. Obama totally let him down. I wish I knew why.

As I mentioned in my last post, no one knows what was or what wasn't done. Also, the US has sent billions of dollars to Mexico to help them support and uphold their laws, which he broke (by accident but still broke them). So now after we urge them to follow their own laws and we send billions to them to do so, we expect them to all of a sudden to not follow their own laws? Again, he lied to the Mexicans from the start, he stated he had never been in Mexico before, when in fact he had been in Mexico several times in the past, one being several hours earlier that day when he walked over the boarder and checked into a hotel. This didn't help his cause or story either. I'm not trying to argue, just stating facts. And if you break a law in another country there very well may be little that the US can do for you. And of you work for the US government, expect even less help that the US can do. I recall several months ago I said on here that he would be released but it would take a few months. But we all can agree we all are thankful that he was released.

[ggclfan]

Because it took seven months when it should have taken ten minutes. Whatever the US govt did (if anything), it did poorly. The guy was chained to his bed, beaten often, and even tried to kill himself. Decorated marine veterans deserve more.

 

Maybe I am alone as a BGP poster that is incensed on this one. I am surprised about that though. On an unrelated matter - how bad is Dalton tonight?!?!?

[lawildcat]

Why wouldn't the government say what they have or haven't done to help? It's not like this guy was a Navy Seal on a mission or a prisoner or war whose release we were negotiating. This was an American citizen who got himself into trouble and needed help from his country. Isn't that why we have embassies in other countries? Why we have diplomatic relations with other countries?