Military Justice: Is There Any?
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In a move to punish a veteran of the Iraq war, the Marine Corps is trying to force the early retirement of Cpl. Adam Kokesh, who participated in an anti-war protest.
Cpl. Kokesh attended the protest in fatigues without insignias, which appears to be an infraction of military code. The Marine Corps, however, is taking the stand that the corporal needs to be given an other-than-honorable discharge and released early from his service. The early release would cost partial benefits, and perhaps force the repayment of over $10,000, used for college tuition.
The attorney for the corporal raised the objection that the corporal’s active duty had ended, and he is simply a reservist awaiting the end of his commitment period. The Marines had originally wanted a dishonorable discharge, but now are trying to get the corporal out of the military early on a ‘general’ discharge. This is the equivalent of ‘damning with faint praise.’
This is truly ridiculous, and I believe goes much further than infraction of a military code. This is abridging free speech and right to assembly. As Cpl. Kokesh brought up himself, he had to be identified by picture, and then charges filed. What a waste of government money to make a very small, vindictive point.
The military, and this government, are getting very thin skinned about criticism. This is very strange since one of the tenets of the system set up by the framers of the Constitution was the individuals’ right to examine and criticize the government, for any reason.
Each day we see a little more of our freedom taken away. I do not advocate violence of any kind, but will continue to exercise my right to free speech, and vote against those who would limit our freedom.
Each and every citizen should do the same.
See the original article here.
[tags]freedom, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Marine Corps, AOL, AP[/tags]
2 Comments
Stacey
October 8th, 2007
at 2:28pm
I am not sure why the process of the General Discharge takes so long in the Marine Corp. My son was in the process of receiving his. My 21 year old son was in a lot of distress-had actually went on unauthorized leave for 11 days in San Diego-came back to the base or they went and found him not sure. He was then admitted to a 30 day in-patient alchol treatment program (while he was in the 30 day program we had no idea). My son left again on unauthorized leave this time he traveled back to Louisiana. Two weeks after he left the Sgt called looking for him. We managed to locate him at one of his friends houses. He told us of the unkind treatment he had received since his wish to receive a general discharge. He was intoxicated, lots of anxiety, etc. As parents we told him he needed to return to the base to face his disipinary fate. He had to return within 30 days or the fate was inprisionment. I had plan to fly him on a Friday when he had a Grand Mal seizure and was hospital-diagnosed with depression, fatigue, anxiety, and alcholism. When it was time to have him discharged-we requested that he stay with family for an additional 30 days to go in-patient for his multiple dx (not just the alcoholism) After waiting for an answer from them-they said “no” he would have to come back to California. We received a call on a Monday night that he would have to return on Weds. On Tues morning our only son committed suicide! (The Sgt and General stated that when Justin would return he would not get the horrible treatment that he received after he decided to get his General discharge and actually denied any wrong doing) After his passing we are receiving all types of letter about how Marines take care of their own and if there is anything they can do. Well-how about this (reevaluating the discharge time and identify when a marine has a mental disorder that requires immediate treatment. Well?
the oracle
October 9th, 2007
at 8:42am
Stacey, anything I’d say would be useless. I feel for you.