48" x 60” 2020

In 2017, Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, a decorated Navy Seal, was accused by his own team soldiers, of stabbing a wounded ISIS teenager in Iraq. He was also accused of attempted murder of Iraqi civilians and obstruction of justice. After a highly publicized trial, he was convicted of one charge of posing in a photograph with the captive’s body.

President Trump subsequently pardoned Chief Gallagher. Navy Commanders tried to strip Gallagher of his Trident pin, a badge of honor, and expel him from the Seals. Trump intervened a second time allowing him to keep his Trident pin.

In my imagined scenario, the roles are reversed (an ISIS fighter is holding the decapitated head of Gallagher) and the Trident pin has been deconstructed.

ISIS soldiers are wearing images of the pencil renderings drawn by Guantanamo prisoner Abu Zubaydah of his torture at a secret CIA prison.

This is a nod to the fact that criminal war acts by U.S. soldiers (especially those that go unpunished) inflame the anger and retribution of our opponents.

The title is from a text that Edward Gallagher sent after the killing.

I Got Him With My Hunting Knife:

I got him with my hunting knife.jpg