Alarm after FBI arrests US army veteran for 'conspiracy' over protest against Ice
Source: The Guardian
The arrest of a US army veteran who protested against the Trump administrations immigration crackdown has raised alarms among legal experts and fellow veterans familiar with his service in Afghanistan.
Bajun Mavalwalla II a former army sergeant who survived a roadside bomb blast on a special operations mission in Afghanistan was charged in July with conspiracy to impede or injure officers after joining a demonstration against federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) in Spokane, Washington.
Legal experts say the case marks an escalation in the administrations attacks on first amendment rights. Afghanistan war veterans who know him say the case against Mavalwalla appears unjust.
Heres a guy who held a top secret clearance and was privy to some of the most sensitive information we have, who served in a combat zone, said Kenneth Koop, a retired colonel who trained the Afghan military and police during Mavalwallas deployment. To see him treated like this really sticks in my craw.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/02/fbi-arrest-us-army-veteran-ice-protest

BoRaGard
(7,526 posts)
aggiesal
(10,312 posts)Escurumbele
(3,896 posts)these arrests are the result of vengeance and they are illegal, they should have enough principles to not follow those orders.
When people value a job more than they value their principles, their dignity to allow themselves to carry out orders they fully understand are wrong, they do not deserve to be in those positions. I really hope that if/when Democrats take power that all these people will be made accountable of their actions, this cannot be allowed to be forgotten, excused, and least of all swapped under the rug. Democracy in the USA will never be back if the criminals in today's administration are allowed to go free after so much damage and criminality, that is what happens in banana countries, it should never happen in the USA if the USA wants to become a leader of the free World again. Without accountability the USA is no better than corrupt countries like Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, and others where corruption is the norm.
OldBaldy1701E
(9,043 posts)Well, you guys are the military...
Do something about it.
(You could, ya know.)
FakeNoose
(38,627 posts)This guy has a foreign-sounding name. That's the only reason.
The fact that he served a tour in Afghanistan in combat is irrelevant. The fact that he has the highest security clearance (meaning that he was already cleared by the FBI) is irrelevant. The fact that he's a US citizen BY BIRTH is irrelevant.
The only relevant fact is that his name sounds "foreign. "
The horror! How dare he or any foreigner protest against ICE?! How dare he disagree with Kristi Noem?
I'm sure that a good defense lawyer will get this case dropped, but it's just a slap in the face.
I think it was a double slap to ICE Barbie's figurative face in that the gentleman is in the military.
Remember, in the fever-dream delusions of the rethugs, anyone in the military would automatically do whatever Dear Leader wants, because he is the President.
To dare to question or protest anything he does is tantamount to treason in their eyes. It is hysterical that what he did is more in line with American values than being a mindless drone.
I guess those fascists don't know that.
surfered
(9,204 posts)Our Dear Leader and his collaborators will charge you with conspiracy to interfere with his dictates.
twodogsbarking
(15,741 posts)58Sunliner
(6,069 posts)twodogsbarking
(15,741 posts)58Sunliner
(6,069 posts)twodogsbarking
(15,741 posts)to perform the dirty work for a fascist regime, but they are.
Escurumbele
(3,896 posts)principles, dignity, and respect for themselves. When people engage in corrupt actions they don't value themselves, they have no respect for themselves.
It is also the lack of loyalty to their country, they know that what they are doing is wrong.
twodogsbarking
(15,741 posts)Joinfortmill
(18,915 posts)Martin68
(26,458 posts)progressoid
(51,909 posts)What kind of name is that for a "Real American?"