“I do not run for the Presidency merely to oppose any man, but to propose new policies. I run because I am convinced that this country is on a perilous course and because I have such strong feelings about what must be done, and I feel that I’m obliged to do all I can.” Robert F. Kennedy, March 16, 1968.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
By Tony Norman, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteSeveral months ago, Marine Cpl. Adam Charles Kokesh exercised his constitutional rights to speak out against an immoral, unjust and stupid war.
When he returned from his first tour, Cpl. Kokesh joined Iraq Veterans Against the War, a group of citizen soldiers who preferred to fight the instigators of the war here so that their fellow citizens wouldn't have to die there.
On the fourth anniversary of the invasion, Cpl. Kokesh and 12 other Iraq war vets staged a mock patrol in downtown Washington. As a result, Cpl. Kokesh's photo landed on the cover of The Washington Post's Style section.
He thought nothing of his newfound notoriety. After all, the ink on his honorable discharge from the Marines was still wet. His eight-year military commitment ends June 18.
Until then, Cpl. Kokesh, a George Washington University graduate student, considered himself a proud member of the Individual Ready Reserve. He was ready, willing and able to serve his nation if called upon to do so.
In the meantime, Cpl. Kokesh kept himself busy at anti-war protests. (And he famously heckled the Alberto Gonzales hearings in April, holding up a sign indicating how many times the U.S. attorney general uttered the phrase "I don't recall.")
Unfortunately, Cpl. Kokesh's superiors at the Pentagon weren't inspired by his March exercise of free speech. Despite the absence of Marine Corps insignia on his uniform, a military bureaucrat decided that Cpl. Kokesh had, in fact, marched in uniform on the war's anniversary.
In late March, an officer e-mailed Cpl. Kokesh, a prolific blogger and activist, about possible violations of Defense Department regulations regarding the use of a military uniform without authorization. In his return e-mail, the artillery unit reservist didn't mince words.
As if recycling an old Woody Allen joke, Cpl. Kokesh suggested politely to the officer that he "be fruitful and multiply" -- but not in those words.
Because he responded to the obscenity of the Iraq war with an obscenity of his own, Cpl. Kokesh found himself standing before the administrative separation board of the Marine Corps Mobilization Command in Kansas City, Mo., yesterday.
With two weeks left on his military contract, Cpl. Kokesh is facing a other-than-honorable discharge from the Reserve, a punishment that could result in the loss of some health benefits. He would also have to repay $10,800 in GI Bill college benefits.
But what does any of that matter when weighed on the scales of a moral and strategic catastrophe that is the Iraq war?
Cpl. Kokesh is, indeed, guilty of using common vulgarity in his response to a superior officer. Still, one has to wonder which is the bigger obscenity -- using a vulgarity familiar to every Marine at boot camp or sending thousands of young people to die in a meat grinder in Babylon?
Yes, Cpl. Kokesh, a veteran of Fallujah and many battles, violated military protocol by marching for peace in his insignia-less uniform.
But failing to protest the injustice of the Iraq war, whether in uniform or not, is a far more shocking violation of conscience to someone used to fighting for his ideas.
Fourteen Americans died in Iraq last weekend, kicking off what may be another grim record of military deaths in June. In May, 127 Americans were shipped home in flag-draped coffins, the third deadliest month since the occupation of Iraq began in March 2003.
Into this fog of war strolled the Iraq Veterans Against the War. Few demonstrators are as compelling in their denunciation of the war as those who have experienced it firsthand.
Because they've been there, they offer an invaluable perspective. They've witnessed the war's devastation and have suffered for it. Their wisdom is hard fought.
More than anyone, these citizen soldiers should be allowed to exercise their inalienable right to free speech. Even before they stepped foot on a battlefield, they had the right to be heard by virtue of their citizenship.
Yesterday, Marine Cpl. Adam Kokesh's lawyer reminded the tribunal sitting in judgment of his client that his many years of military service shouldn't abrogate his right to free speech. The irony of punishing someone who has served his country with honor and distinction for speaking out would not be lost on anyone watching the case, including the Iraqis he was fighting to liberate.
Maj. John R. Whyte, the officer who put yesterday's hearing into motion by e-mailing Cpl. Kokesh, testified that the Marine's discharge should be "other than honorable."
The board of the Marine Corps Mobilization Command disagreed, recommending an immediate discharge under general conditions. The decision is not final, however; the commanding general will make that within two weeks.
If only we had more Americans like Adam Charles Kokesh.
Please take a look at
UK Indymedia - Wave of Repression against anti-G8 structures
solidarity group | 09.05.2007 13:49 | G8 Germany 2007
Think Progress » We need more 9/11 attacks to appreciate Bush.
This sounds like some idiot on Pal Talk we know.
Arkansas GOP chief Dennis Milligan: “At the end of the day, I believe fully the president is doing the right thing, and I think all we need is some attacks on American soil like we had on [September 11], and the naysayers will come around very quickly to appreciate not only the commitment for President Bush, but the sacrifice that has been made by men and women to protect this country.
One of my favorite songs of all time as sung by Judy Collins. Some folks need to take a hint from the lyrics.
From Fox News and Think Progress
First the Brit Hume Story
Valerie Plame Sues the CIA
Former CIA officer Valerie Plame has accused high-ranking government officials of leaking her covert identity to the press, so you'd think she'd be especially sensitive to exposing classified information.
But Plame and the publisher of her upcoming memoirs are suing the CIA for refusing to let her write about her undercover work during her years at the agency.
An intelligence source says the manuscript as written would damage CIA operations, saying "the issue is her desire to talk about things she did which remain legitimately classified."
Plame announced the lawsuit at a New York trade show, where's she's promoting her new book.
Now the Story as posted on Think Progress
The CIA itself, however, has previously publicly and voluntarily disclosed the very information in question. In February 2006, the CIA sent an letter to Wilson that was subsequently entered into the public domain when it was published in the Congressional Record. The letter, though supposedly classified, remains available online from government websites today.
Plame’s suit argues that the CIA cannot unfairly target her as the only person who is not allowed to publish this information:
“Defendants cannot unring the bell by asserting that their documented, authorized and voluntary disclosure was just a mistake,” the suit said.
“There simply is no basis for the CIA to maintain in effect that Valerie Plame is the only person in the world who is not entitled to publish this information,” it said.
As author David Wise explains, “there are, apparently, good secrets and bad secrets, and it may depend in part on who’s telling them.” While the Wilsons are being censored, Wise notes that vocal advocates of Bush’s policies, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates and former CIA Director George Tenet, “have discovered that selling their secrets to the public between hard covers can reap big bucks.” For them, he adds, “It’s a slam dunk.”
You Messed Up My Bed, You Make It!
I was never much of a Beatles fan till Rubber Soul came out. I was staying with some friends in LA when I first heard John's A day in the Life on the radio. I remember it clearly as I do every time I hear that song. I was tripping on some really good acid when I heard Johns great Piano Crescendo that took me to some pretty weird places in my head as I fell off the chair I was sitting on. Note - I stopped doing heavy drugs in 1982. The album has always been fun to listen to, even as I approach the age of 64. (later this year)
Here are some facts about the album from the BBC. Give a listen at the Beatles Site.
Chavez's crackdown: Right on schedule - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
There are two major newspapers in Pittsburgh, PA, The Post Gazette and the Trib-Review which is owned by Richard Mellon Scaife. A while back I wrote an article about this right wingnut so I won't go in to it here. I am posting this editorial (btw no author given) so you can see the slant and spin of the right wing media.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez frequently runs his mouth that the United States is looking to overthrow his socialist regime. Given his latest move, perhaps he should start fearing his own people.
Mr. Chavez fancies himself as the leader of a new socialist revolution in South America. Never mind that history graphically documents socialism's failures, Chavez has been busy nationalizing industries, confiscating private property and railing against the evils of capitalism.
In the process, he's put the Venezuelan economy on the road to destruction. The failings of his schemes exposed, he's now stifling dissent.
Chavez's latest move came at midnight Sunday as his government pulled the plug on Radio Caracas Television. The nation's oldest private television operation was a bastion of opposition to the government's ever increasing confiscatory policies. Large protests followed.
Yes, Chavez's grand socialist revolution is right on schedule. Can the true people's revolution be far behind?
Chavez labeled RCTV as a "subversive" backer of a 2002 coup against him. He said replacing it with the newly state-funded TVES was democratizing the airwaves. The new "public" network features pro-Chavez music and government ads touting "Now Venezuela belongs to everyone."
Yes, Chavez's grand socialist revolution is right on schedule. Can the true people's revolution be far behind?
Please Read Why Doesn't Bill Talk about Richard Mellon Scaife?
What's Fair in Coverage of RCTV Shutdown?
and watch THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED
