WASHINGTON — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is criticizing the president’s decision to commute the sentences of two military prisoners and pardon a retired general officer.
“President Obama has upended the entire military justice system,” said VFW National Commander Brian Duffy. “To release from prison former Army Pvt. Bradley Manning, who was sentenced to serve 35 years for releasing three-quarters of a million classified and sensitive military and diplomatic communiques, is offensive to everyone who has ever honorably served in uniform.
“To change a death sentence to life in prison for former Army Pfc. Dwight Loving shows more concern for the convicted murderer than the families of the two dead taxicab drivers he killed. And to pardon retired Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, who was convicted of lying to the FBI and releasing sensitive intelligence information to reporters, certainly proves once again that rank does have its privileges,” he said.
“No one is above the law,” said Duffy, “and those who break the law must pay the price, regardless of who they are.”