The House of Representatives is mad as hell at the Pentagon and is not going to take it anymore. At least it's mad at what an amendment passed Thursday claims is the DOD's attempts to create propaganda to make the administration look good in the Iraq war.
The flash point for this action, which officially forbids the DOD from making "a concerted effort to propagandize" the American people over the war, apparently was a hefty New York Times article that ran last month. It said the Pentagon had a stable of retired officers who were coached to talk up the administration's performance while acting as war analysts for TV networks. The Senate hasn't acted on the House amendment, which isn't yet included in the authorization bill it must take up shortly.
Aside from the indignation voiced by House members, mostly Democrats, the New York Times article hasn't made much of a splash. What some might call a cynical-sounding blog in the Los Angeles Times claims there is a reason why the piece "has no legs:" The public takes government "manipulation" of information for granted.
Other views on the subject were in an April 21 blog of my own. It's all interesting reading and I urge watchful fans of the year's military-legislator battles to partake of the links herein.
Congress did WHAT?
So, let me get this straight:
The Congress passed a law that made it illegal for military retirees to say anything flattering of the war effort (and therefore the administration) on TV?
Or does the law make it illegal for PAO's at the Pentagon to coordinate with retirees when they speak on our behalf?
Sounds like an illegal restriction of free speech, and an unreasonable restriction of executive authority and the executive responsibility to meet the information needs of the public regarding an ongoing war - a war which some in Congress have been doing their best to undermine for some time now.
I personally would like to take the opportunity to say here that I will say whatever I damned well please regarding how Saddam was the worst mass-murderer in the history of the Middle East, or how we found thousands of chemical weapons (WMD) when we invaded, or how the invasion and liberation of 27 million Iraqis was one of the most admirable things our nation has done in fifty years. I will continue to speak out about the progress the Iraqis are making because it is the truth. I will talk of what I saw in Sadr City last month no matter what anybody in any suit may say, because it is truth and it is history, and it is unclassified, and because it materially helps real people to do it.
And those in the Congress can arrest me for it!
Seems to me that this is a Bill which if enacted, will restrict retirees First Amendment rights of free speech. Seems like more than that, some snot-nosed staffer in Washington thinks it's a neat idea to prevent these veterans from telling substantive facts to the people to inform them. The Congressional speechwriters and staffers can't argue effectively against the substance of the retirees' comments, and so they must SILENCE them with gag legislation so nobody will be able to learn the truth of our efforts here in Iraq.
Seems like the Soldiers who ensure our freedom are in line to be the first to have ours taken away.
Indignation?
The President, through the Pentagon, has a responsibility to inform the people of what we in the national defense are doing, and not just to answer the criticisms and negative questions -- but to positively present what we do. We are generally trashed in every venue - and all the time. Who better to help us make our case than retirees who have the time and the professional knowledge to do it?
Are these men being paid by the Pentagon for these functions?
If so, great.
I am tired of political games played at the expense of the national security, and more ridiculously, of the good name of our Soldiers at war. I am sick of people who hate their elected President more than they love their country -- making their attacks not on him, but on Soldiers, as a way to get to him. Literally anything they can think of to say is OK, while they simultaneously try to shut up those with the on-the-ground knowledge to comment definitively on these matters.
We saw this before, with John Kerry asked by certain members of Congress to testify before the Senate that Americans in Vietnam were "more than any other body... guilty of war crimes...on a daily basis... with full knowledge at all levels of command... as a matter of policy." They alleged the Vietnamese government was corrupt, and that our Army was criminal - and most of us stood silently in shock and amazement at the thing and watched these people destroy an army, and a country with their stinking politics.
Congress can make whatever law they want, and they can do whatever they want to do - but I will never shut up about the fundamental justice of this war, or the about good work our troops are doing.
If it is illegal to speak out in defense of the heroic actions of my fellow Soldiers, and to tell the truth about their good works here, then send me to jail.
Puff, Puff, Give
It's hard to argue with dilusionable people, so I won't try.
"We found thousands of chemical weapons (WMD)" Chemical, yes. Thousands, no. WMD, no. What was found was decades old and unservicable and unaccounted for. The Iraqi military kept no inventory, they had no idea what was laying around excess from 20 years ago. The munitions were in horrible condition and could never be used as intended.
"The invasion and liberation of 27 million Iraqis was one of the most admirable things our nation has done in fifty years." Where do you even begin to rebut nonsense like this.
You make statements about restrictions to Freedom of Speech, but will be the first to council a soldier for saying something negative about this illegal, unethical, unwinable war.
McBush looks forward to your vote.
You Need To Calm Down LTCJEFFWHITE
Actually “No” LTCJEFFWHITE, Congress did not enact a law to prevent retirees from saying anything flattering about the war effort on TV. I’ll enlighten you on that a little more later when I get the chance.
Meanwhile, if you really are a lieutenant colonel, you might want to keep your rantings against our Congress in check. Article 88 of the UCMJ prohibits you from using contemptuous words against Congress. The maximum punishment, if you are interested, and you really should be, is “Dismissal, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 1 year.”
Congress riled over those TV military analysts - Rebuttal
Let's see...LTC Jeff White is "dilusionable," according to HerHusband, and JetTX has elected himself Sheriff of the Blog sidewalk. You two need to get a life. TV is bogus, as is anything said by bimbo talking heads (both genders) whose only claim to fame is the knowledge they exist only so long as a 'viewer' doesn't push a button. Not a particularly high calling, in my view. So, enjoy your self-righteous laurels, posture all you want, and rattle your sabre for all the good it will do you. Exactly what is it you intend to do about it, JetTX? Call the word police and have him arrested? Well? I'm waiting. The world needs more LTC Jeff Whites, and less of you. When the next great wind of change comes blowing across this land, who is going to protect you? I won't. And while I'm on my stump, why would any young person (both genders) want to join today's military? From what's said on TV nowadays, all they have to look forward to is hard labor in far away filthy, hot, dirty, and dusty lands, intense and hateful critisism from those they are supposed to be 'protecting,' and threats from people like you anytime they attempt to speak up - and lest I forget, if they actually encounter an enemy combatant and kill him - they'll surely face murder charges from all like you who don't possess the personal courage to come and do it yourself. And the best you can do is castigate the one or two individuals with enough courage to actually speak out in a positive sense? I'm in my third year in Iraq. Like it or not, there are GOOD people here who truly desire our help - whether you choose to believe it or not. Strange, HerHusband, that I do not hear any of my Iraqi counterparts and friends using terms such as "illegal, unethical, unwinable war." I do hear them say "thank you for your dedication and for being my friend - for sharing our dangers and helping our families." And NO, I do NOT want to come home and abandon these people like our Government abandoned the Vietnamese. And I have the courage to sign my actual name. John C. Hudson, Colonel, USAR (Ret)
Rebuttal? There Is No Debate. You Are Dead Wrong Hudson.
Great, another proclaimed colonel with reading comprehension problems. Elected myself sheriff? I don't think so Hudson. I am just telling what the UCMJ says. If LTCJEFFWHITE can't play by the rules he needs to get out of the service. Art 88 exist for good reason. I am sworn to protect and defend our Constitution, and by extension the congress, the American people, and freedom of speech. That is what you and I have dedicated 20+ yrs of our lives to do. However, freedom of speech also has it's limits by law, and even more limits by the UCMJ for those of us protecting it. We can't just say whatever the hell we want to. Did you let your troops do that?
I have done plenty of time in "far away filthy, hot, dirty, and dusty lands" defending our nation, our Constitution, and protecting you, regardless of your glib drivel, belligerent insults, and hostile politics. But you say you won't protect me because I corrected LTCJEFFWHITE when he misrepresented the issue and because I warned him to be careful about violating the UCMJ? If you think you can pick and choose which Americans you will and will not protect, then you have been in the wrong line of work all those years Hudson. Because that is not what we do. We protect ALL Americans with all of their differences, opinions, and their right to free speech WITHIN THE LAW. Perhaps, you should get off your stump and open a copy of our Constitution and get reading.
And no, I will not sign my real name. On public electronic forums we have user names for a reason. LTCJEFFWHITE should not have been so foolish as to give his real name. Do you think he can now effectively lead his troops into battle while at the same time accusing their elected representatives of undermining the war effort, illegal legislation, and then inviting Congress to arrest him for his contempt?
I would give JetTx a clue..
..but then my response would no doubt be deleted. A liberal can always spread rot freely. Not so with a conservative. We have freedom of speech in our "media" today?
Never in a blue moon.
Was That Major (Ret) Hamilton?
Make that 2 colonels and 1 major with reading comprehension problems.
Hamilton, your comments deserve deletion if you can’t write within the decency and rules of this forum. You and your brass buddies seem to think you don’t have to play by any rules. We live in a free society, not in an anarchist society. Figure out the difference smart guy.
As far as your liberal/conservative diatribe, conservative politics are in such crises in America today that you should be embarrassed to associate yourself with conservatives spreading anything about now.
Stick a pacifier in your mouth, JetTx
and be grateful I am not there to shove it somewhere else.
Waaaaah!
You liberals just hate it when anyone else has anything to say you don't agree with, don't you? Get a decent education and a clue about critical thinking.
And wipe that baby drool off the keyboard before your mommy discovers you've been naughty again.
Lost our rag have we Hamilton?
Oh dear...I seem to have touched a nerve.
It's a lucky thing I stuck to thoughtful logic and left my "three brass stooges" punchline off my last post. Then you might really get mad and threaten to shove something up my "****" or something; that is if you had the guts to say it.
By the way Hamilton...
...I wonder what our Ombudsman, Mr. Mazzarella, thinks of his blog descending into a forum for political rivals to trade insults and macho-threats.
I am glad your comments are allowed to remain posted. They are not so much offensive as they are telling. I appreciate that not all conservatives follow your miscreant logic or resort to such ignorant rants as yours when they disagree, but there certainly is an “ilk” who do. And you Sir are of that ilk.
And what’s more, your ilk are making the history that Americans will one day look back upon, and reflect upon; and from the moral high-ground that they will have then taken, they will study and write and debate and judge this era; and the conduct of your ilk. And your ilk are on the wrong side of history. I predict that you will be judged as the McCarthys and Hardings and Mussolinis of this age. That will be the company that your legacy will keep.
Someone once said, “Everything he writes is consigned to posterity." So keep writing your contributions so that our future generations can strive to understand the mental state and posturing of your ilk that brought about the mess we now find ourselves in. And the death of thousands and the grief of thousands more that has followed.
Besides, your contributions keeps this blog interesting.
Blah!
What a liberal! Ascribing all the woes of the world to me? I am flattered, but would say the demise of the world is more owing to miserable, know-it-all liberals who have nothing on their useless hands but time to whine at retired or active-duty officers who have served their countries well.
Get a life!