Marine Andrew Tahmooressi Freed

[Ranger Psych]

Did you not also read about how he entered mexico in the nothing-to-declare lanes vs the declaration lane (which does make a difference, believe it or not) as well as his prison escape attempt?

He also attempted suicide while there, which probably elongated his stay due to having to undergo medical care as well.

He put himself a open pit latrine then tried to dig his way out. Generally doesn't work. Welcome to reality: Different countries have different penal processes and what's kosher here, isn't there.

Compared to some northern european countries, our prison system is torturous and draconian... and ours are a gleaming beacon of righteousness compared to others. Fuck, I've known since I was a kid that you didn't want to get stuck in a mexican prison, and San Quentin was a more hospitable place.

 

[Brill]

Agree @Ranger Psych, that he's not the best and brightest but I'm saddened that the USG didn't do more or at least APPEAR to be doing something. Hell, he should have sent Biden!

A letter to the Ayatollah but not POM?

 

[Brill]

It was all political, perhaps?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29967561

Two Americans who were being held in detention in North Korea, Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae, have been released and are on their way home.

US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is accompanying the men, the US has confirmed.

Mr Miller, 24, had been sentenced to six years' hard labour in September for what North Korean state media described as "hostile acts".

He had been in custody since 10 April when, according to North Korean sources, he destroyed his tourist visa and demanded asylum.

 

[TLDR20]

It was all political, perhaps?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29967561

Two Americans who were being held in detention in North Korea, Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae, have been released and are on their way home.

US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is accompanying the men, the US has confirmed.

Mr Miller, 24, had been sentenced to six years' hard labour in September for what North Korean state media described as "hostile acts".

He had been in custody since 10 April when, according to North Korean sources, he destroyed his tourist visa and demanded asylum.

What does this have to do with Tahmooressi?

 

[Brill]

What does this have to do with Tahmooressi?

That Tahmoressi didn't meet the threshold for USG intervention but a guy who travels to NK rips up his passport while asking asylum does.

 

[Salt USMC]

That Tahmoressi didn't meet the threshold for USG intervention but a guy who travels to NK rips up his passport while asking asylum does.

It is really strange that the DNI would escort these guys back to the US. For one, unless these guys have some great intelligence value I don't see the need for him to even be in the same room as them. Perhaps he was in South Korea for an unrelated matter, and upon learning that they were going to be released, wanted to put a public face on it. Instead of having Faceless Diplomat #327 bringing them back, have the DNI do it. Besides that, I don't really have an explanation.

To be fair, there was this little blurb

One US official told Associated Press news agency that nothing was offered in return for the releases.

 

[Ooh-Rah]

...and he's back in jail.

Drugs are a bitch...

A Marine veteran who became part of an international controversy when he was arrested after accidentally crossing into Mexico illegally is in trouble with the law again.
Andrew Tahmooressi, 27, is serving a one-month jail sentence after being arrested Thursday in Dearborn County, Indiana, for possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, court documents say.
His family is trying to find Tahmooressi an attorney, who can re-open the case, said Jonathan Franks, a family spokesman who issued a statement on behalf of Tahmooressi's mother Jill on Monday.

Border-crossing Marine arrested again

Marine vet who was held in Mexico now jailed in Indiana

 

[TLDR20]

To me this shows a pattern of misbehavior, whether or not mental illness is at play, this guy obviously isn't afraid to break laws. He probably wasn't the best model to hold up and pretend POTUS hung him out to dry.

 

[DA SWO]

To me this shows a pattern of misbehavior, whether or not mental illness is at play, this guy obviously isn't afraid to break laws. He probably wasn't the best model to hold up and pretend POTUS hung him out to dry.

He could also be suffering from his time in a Mexican Jail.

 

[Ooh-Rah]

He could also be suffering from his time in a Mexican Jail.

Knowing no more than what has been written, I'm inclined to agree with @TLDR20 .

There are just some folks who feel above the law and that the rules do not apply. I never fully bought his border crossing story, and this does nothing to make me feel any different. Glad he's no longer in a Mexican jail, but that's the extent of it for me.

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

I've got no doubt he has issues, but when you get a second chance, smart people do not piss it away....

$.02

 

[TLDR20]

Ok, I'm the odd man out here, but let's put this in perspective. He had 2 tours in OEF, he was undergoing treatment for PTSD, and he had less than 30 grams of pot on him and maybe a pipe or roach clip. He got a month in county for "a small amount of marijuana."
Why a month in jail for such a small amount? Maybe he couldn't pay the fine.

He didn't beat anybody up, didn't steal anything, didn't commit a major crime, wasn't dealing drugs. Ok, so he should have known better but guess what, he's another fucked up vet who makes dumb decisions and pays for them. I wonder how many other war veterans are driving around with a little pot in their car for personal use?

I agree our drug policy should be different. I have argued here many times that I think MJ should be legal. BUT!!!!!! It isn't. If he was just some random dude, whatever. But this is a high profile dude who should fucking think about the second order effects of him getting busted. It again shows that he isn't afraid to do the wrong thing, and shows a pattern. Like I said maybe he wasn't the best example to show of POTUS fucking over the troops or whatever people were trying to say.

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

I'm not hatin on the dude, just no pity. He lucked out getting out of Mexico, that was his chance to say "I got fucked here and I'm never gonna give someone a chance to fuck me again", instead he gets busted with pot. Here is an idea leave that shit at home, do it in the privacy of your home.

The 30 days in jail sounds like a "I ain't paying your fines or dealing with your probation, I'd rather sit in jail".

Anyway, I hope the dude straightens out his life, but he will get no pity from me.

 

[SpitfireV]

I once dealt with an Aussie guy who had been in Texas and was nicked with about the same amount. He was given a month in County then a few weeks in a detention centre before being deported.

 

[Marauder06]

It was all political, perhaps?

North Korea detainees Miller and Bae arrive back in US - BBC News

Two Americans who were being held in detention in North Korea, Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae, have been released and are on their way home.

US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is accompanying the men, the US has confirmed.

Mr Miller, 24, had been sentenced to six years' hard labour in September for what North Korean state media described as "hostile acts".

He had been in custody since 10 April when, according to North Korean sources, he destroyed his tourist visa and demanded asylum.

I know this is a necro-post but I somehow overlooked it when it was first made. DNI going to escort some random Americans back home from North Korea?? There's a book deal associated with the backstory on that situation :-/