Note: The following is a letter to President George W. Bush on behalf of Sgt. Evan Vela, the Idaho soldier convicted of murder. For details on how you can help Vela, visit www.freeevanvela.com.

Dear President Bush,

The Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., military prison holds a man in his 20s convicted of murder ­— Army Sgt. Evan Vela of southeastern Idaho. The conviction was wrong, and we are asking you to pardon him.
Mr. Bush, Vela is not a war criminal. He is a political prisoner. Here’s why.
Vela did kill Iraqi civilian Genei Nasir al-Janabi. We do not deny this. But we invite to you take a look at the circumstances surrounding the incident. It was not a random act of violence or rage.
Vela was part of a five-man sniper team in Iskandariya in May 2007. The team stumbled onto al-Janabi and his son.
Staff Sgt. Michael Hensley, Vela’s commanding officer, ordered him to shoot al-Janabi, and Vela followed the order.
Your first reaction to this may have been, “What was Vela thinking? How could anyone, soldier or not, shoot a civilian...