Should 1LT Clint Lorance be granted clemency?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 12:13:57 -0500

Evidence has emerged, since his trial last year, that the two civilians on motorcycles that were charging 1LT Clint Lorance's position were, in fact, linked to terrorism. Additionally, it seems the government knew about the intelligence that showed these two men were linked to terrorism and might have been bomb makers and failed to present this while determining whether or not to proceed with a courts martial.

http://archive.armytimes.com/article/20130801/NEWS06/308010044/1st-lt-found-guilty-Afghan-shootings-gets-20-year-sentence

http://video.foxnews.com/v/ [login to see] 001/calls-for-clemency-for-soldier-locked-up-in-leavenworth/?playlist_id= [login to see] 001#sp=show-clips/daytime

A few questions...

If the evidence is true, should 1LT Clint Lorance be granted clemency?

Are the rules of engagement appropriate or does it present an unnecessary level of risk to the war-fighter?

Given the RoE, does the revelation of this evidence even matter?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2014 1:55 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 13:55:09 -0500

If the evidence is true, I believe 1LT Lorance should be granted clemency. The RoE that were in place seem to have been a danger to 1LT Lorance and his troops.

Your third question, SSgt Private RallyPoint Member, is probably key. Even if the evidence is true, 1LT Lorance could be SOL because of the RoE.

Response by SGT Edward Thomas made Dec 16 at 2014 2:28 PM

SGT Edward Thomas — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 14:28:38 -0500

If they are 100% proved to have had ties to terrorist groups he should have all charges dropped and be cleared of any wrong doing. He should be reinstated and promoted if he had missed his due promotions if there are/were any.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 16 at 2014 4:06 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 16:06:19 -0500

If the evidence is true, then any statements that came out of their mouths have no weight whatsoever. Absolute clemency!

Response by CSM Michael Lynch made Dec 16 at 2014 4:47 PM

CSM Michael Lynch — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 16:47:54 -0500

I agree with all of the above statements and don't see how the could have railroaded this young LT for taking care of his troops and especially if the one they captured was associated with the Taliban, are they trying to tell us the others weren't? He should get clemency and an opportunity to continue his career, if he desires, if this is true

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2014 5:20 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 17:20:27 -0500

yes, without hesitation.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2014 5:42 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 17:42:19 -0500

If true, yes.

Response by SPC Todd Fitzgerald made Dec 17 at 2014 9:13 PM

SPC Todd Fitzgerald — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:13:45 -0500

There is no evidence, new or old, proving they had any ties. He should not be granted clemency for any reason, not only was he directly responsible for the needless deaths of two local nationals but he attempted to cover up evidence of it such as telling the unit to forget that identification was found on the bodies after they were searched. Don't believe the hype, Fox news is far from a reliable source.

edit: To caveat why he shouldn't receive clemency, his actions not only endangered the mission and any relations built with the locals but also the lives of everyone there.

Response by SPC Todd Fitzgerald made Dec 17 at 2014 9:56 PM

SPC Todd Fitzgerald — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:56:39 -0500

I think, given the context of the situation, it wouldn't make any difference. There wasn't any reason to engage, no intent, no action. The men weren't charging the position, they were simply riding their bike back to their village, I don't know where this misinformation comes from.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 24 at 2018 10:10 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 22:10:35 -0400

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member Absolutely! Please see my post re: LTC (r) West’s petition for pardon post!

Response by SPC Todd Fitzgerald made Sep 26 at 2021 11:12 AM

SPC Todd Fitzgerald — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 11:12:12 -0400

It turns out that the "evidence" cited linking Lorance's crimes to terrorists was completely fabricated and the two men were indeed innocent civilians (like I had been saying). See California Sunday's "The Last Patrol" or Annie Jacobsen's "First Platoon" for reference. Not that I'm surprised.