Conduct Unbecoming RE: (OPSec, Right Wing Group Trying to Swiftboat Obama)

[SunsetDreams]

By now, I'm sure, you've heard about the Special Operations Opsec Education Fund, a group of retired military officers trying to swiftboat President Obama for catching and killing Osama bin Laden. According to them, Obama should have kept the killing secret. By announcing that US forces had pulled off this dangerous mission, they say, Obama compromised classified operational procedures and endangered military personnel.


The right has always had a problem accepting the fact that Obama succeeded where Bush failed. I saw something like what's happening today coming on May 2, 2011, the day after Obama announced bin Laden's death, when a wingnut relative posted this to Facebook: "I'm so proud to be an American.... Thank you GWB for the amount of faith and bravery you showed, shipping our soldiers over to fight for us!!!! USA." That the right would try to find a way to denigrate Obama's accomplishment was a given. Sure, their efforts come across as pathetic and graceless, but as long as some of the shit they throw sticks to Obama, they don't mind looking small.

One of the first things the right did was to lie about what Obama said on the night bin Laden was killed. They said Obama claimed credit for the mission's success. They've repeated the lie so many times citizens of Fox Nation have come to believe it. It's nonsense, of course, easily disproven. Here's the video of Obama's May 1, 2011 White House speech; nothing in it supports this ludicrous claim. Obama said that "the United States launched a targeted operation against [bin Laden's] compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan"; he thanked "the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who've worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome" and "the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country."

Following that lie, another: Obama really had nothing to do with it and was merely an observer. I can sort of understand that civilians may not realize the military does not act without orders from the president, but when I hear this crap coming from veterans and active duty military members, I want to tell them they should be ashamed of themselves. They, of all people, know better. The US military is not autonomous. It does not carry out operations inside foreign countries—or even its own country—without orders from the very top. It does not shed blood without approval from the chief, and in this case that chief was President Obama.

A related lie is that Obama merely green-lighted a mission any other president would have approved; that, presented with the intelligence on bin Laden's whereabouts, he essentially had no choice. Of course he had a choice. George W. Bush famously chose not to pursue bin Laden. John McCain, during the 2008 presidential campaign, said he would not go into Pakistan to get bin Laden. Mitt Romney, during the same campaign, said the same thing. Obama always said he would, and when the time came he acted decisively and courageously, knowing full well he was risking not only American lives but his own presidency should the mission fail. Even the most deluded, fact-denying teabagger remembers what happened to Jimmy Carter when Operation Eagle Claw fell apart in the Iranian desert.

As for the assertion that Obama should have kept the killing of bin Laden secret, if that doesn't deserve an automatic and universal WTF? I don't know what will. Who didn't want bin Laden dead (other than the Taliban and our "allies" in Pakistan)? What president wouldn't have announced the capture and execution of the world's most infamous terrorist?

Operational details: President Obama never spoke of them, nor did any other high-ranking official. Granted, some innocuous details leaked out afterward, but whether those leaks came from people around Obama or from military and intelligence personnel who actually participated is anyone's guess. When a mission succeeds, some details always leak. Even if Obama had decided to keep the mission secret, the mere fact that we went into a country we were not at war with virtually guaranteed international headlines and consequent clamoring for details.

Now we come to the title of this diary, the thing that, as a retired military officer, I find intolerable: misusing the uniform to advocate for political causes. Officer or enlisted, active duty or retired, the UCMJ says you can't do that. Period. You can vote for whomever you like, and you can speak freely as a private citizen. But the minute you campaign for or against a political cause while putting yourself forward as a representative of the military, whether by wearing your uniform or introducing yourself with your rank and branch of service, you've crossed a line. Why? Because people will assume, at some level, that you are speaking for the military and thus the government, that what you say is sanctioned.

The military should have come down hard on General Boykin, the Christian fundamentalist who crusaded against Islam to civilian audiences while wearing his Army uniform. But it didn't, and now who's to tell another politically active general he or she can't speak out in uniform? So far General Boykin has been the exception, but how long will that last? Last week the US Navy and Marine Corps allowed servicemembers, for the first time, to wear uniforms while participating in a San Diego gay pride parade. Will military members cite that precedent to seek permission to advocate for other causes while in uniform? Inevitably, they will.

It's a short step from these examples to openly campaigning against the president while identifying yourself as a current or former Navy SEAL, which is exactly what's going on with the Special Operations Opsec Education Fund. The people behind this group are violating the UCMJ by abusing the uniform, engaging in conduct unbecoming, falsely suggesting to the American people that the US military opposes the current commander in chief. There will always be some in the military who do, but don't you believe for one minute these assholes represent anyone but themselves. They do not speak for the SEALs, the special operations community, or the military in general. "Opsec," as the group refers to itself, is totally partisan, a political action committee (which, like other PACs, does not have to reveal its donors) made up of GOP and tea party hacks hiding behind uniforms.

In fact this outfit isn't much different than the hateful Indiana tea party group that put up this billboard, openly calling for the assassination of the president while implicitly claiming military approval by citing the US Navy SEALs and depicting special operations forces in uniform:

Here's what a real special operator, Admiral McRaven, leader of Joint Special Operations Command that conducted the raid on Bin Laden's compound, had to say about President Obama and his role in the mission:

The president and his national security team—I’m not a political guy, but I will tell you as, as an interested observer in this—they were magnificent in how they handled it start to finish.

At the end of the day, make no mistake about it, it was the president of the United States that shouldered the burden for this operation, that made the hard decisions, that was instrumental in the planning process, because I pitched every plan to him.

You may hate President Obama. You're certainly allowed to. You can campaign against him (as a private citizen, not representing the military). Come November you can vote against him. But when it comes to killing Osama bin Laden, there's really only one thing you should say, and that is thank you.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/18/1121666/-Conduct-Unbecoming

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Group Attacking Obama On Leaks Has Deep GOP Ties
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1157689


Obama Campaign Response
"The Republicans are resorting to 'Swift Boat' tactics because when it comes to foreign policy and national security, Mitt Romney has offered nothing but reckless rhetoric," Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt told Reuters' Mark Hosenball last night. Taking a direct shot at the leaders of OPSEC, an Obama campaign official lambasted the group's accusations about national security leaks this morning. “No one in this group is in a position to speak with any authority on these issues and on what impact these leaks might have," said the official, speaking on background, "and it’s clear they’ve resorted to making things up for purely political reasons.



Lest we forget, President Barack Obama Full Speech that OPsec edited to suit their purposes.

All the Republicans have are distortions and lies. It is absolutely disgusting to use this one. President Obama ordered the operation to take Osama Bin Laden out, and he was prepared for whatever consequences should the mission fail. Osama Bin Laden was responsible for so much death and destruction on American Soil. We lost so many of our family and loved ones on that day, and could have lost so much more were it not for some brave souls aboard Flight 93. President Bush dropped the ball, he was not concerned about him anymore and even said so in 2003. Obama had the guts, strength and character to give the order, against his advisors, against his Vice President. It was his decision and his alone. The Republicans for years used Osama Bin Laden as a way to instill fear and gin up votes, and now they are using him in his death to instill outrage and votes all with disgusting lies.

Shame on the GOP, and those that they have used and bought off in this disgusting political ploy.

Conduct Unbecoming indeed.

[snot]

1. Wow, been working hard and hadn't heard about this; compare:

http://www.pixiq.com/article/us-marine-arrested-for-facebook-postings : Recently Discharged U.S. Marine Arrested for Anti-Government Facebook Postings.

I'm not clear on the facts in the latters case, but it will be interesting to follow.

[SunsetDreams]

4. I hadn't heard of that one yet

I'm not sure if they used the UCMJ on that or not. I'll have to follow that one as well.

[Cha]

2. Thank you, Sunset Dreams, for bringing this indepth

report on what really happened with the PBO & SEAL 6 TIMELINE. And the lies that are being hurled by So Jealous republicons that their teeth are green.

They have nothing to brag about so they lie about what Dems are doing and try and take credit..and the corporatemediawhore$$$ who are helping them should be lost in space.

[SunsetDreams]

5. No problem

This lie needs to be exposed far and wide. These people are truly disgusting. They can't win on policy, so they resort to lies and distortions. They can't win when all the votes are counted, so they resort to denying people the right to vote.

[freshwest]

3. Thank you, Sunset Dreams, for the excellent OP. A serious question, though:

Since the military does not seem to be enforcing this rule in regard to the Tea Partiers and others engaging in this conduct, is there a deeper reason in your opinion?

At the very worst, are there individuals in the military who would, as the 'patriot' types claim, would stage a coup to put Obama out of office?

I'm not asking this lightly of you. Because I remember when the famous MacArthur and higher ups were given smack downs; Boykin only got a slap on the wrist, in my opinion, as have some of these others who have availed themselves of the tax payer's dollars and benefits of service for themselves and their families, yet appear to now disrespect the civilian government that made their careers and in so doing, those of us who paid their way.

I certainly love military people who respect the rights of others and support the uplift of society from the government they swore an oath. But we have the Oiiver North types and this latest crop with nothing but disdain for government and the voters, yet are rewarded, never brought to task.

I believe the military is largely loyal, see many of them supporting Obama and also doing the right things. I think the privatization culture has been harmful to the military and government service in general. I'm anxious to hear your opinion if there is a meaning to the fact these individuals are being allowed to get away with this behavior.

Is the government afraid of these men?

[SunsetDreams]

8. No problem

I'm not sure if there are individuals in the military who would stage a coup. I hope not, but it's not surprising why anyone would question that. In the case of Boykin, look who was in charge at that time? Bush even tried to distance himself from those remarks and Rumsfeld defended them. I think they may indeed treat active military different than retired.

I don't think the government is afraid of these men at all, I do think there has to be sufficient evidence of wrongdoing on their part in order for an action to be taken. It's also a matter of the Military being aware of what the infraction is and that takes citizens, media etc shining a light on it and/or reporting it.

I come from a long line of Military, both personally and professionally. In my experience, Military are always respectful of the CIC whether they are active or retired, it is something that is ingrained. Will those same Military vote against that CIC or privately discuss something with their wives/husbands about that CIC? Sure, but they tend to keep that to themselves, and not go public.

These people here have taken their criticisms too far, and what lies behind it, is both political and attacking the CIC personally with character assassination...ie birther nonsense. I thank them for their service, but I do not respect them. I think they have forgot the basic code of Military conduct. They have sold out to money all for their underlying hatred of the CIC. I'm glad that they no longer are in the Military...I don't want someone like that who cannot respect the CIC that the American Voters elected.

[pinboy3niner]

6. (Soledad) O’Brien lays waste to anti-Obama Navy SEAL’s claim of ‘non-partisanship’

On Friday’s edition of “Starting Point” O’Brien challenged “OPSEC” or “Operational Security group” spokesperson and former Navy SEAL Scott Taylor’s purported “non-partisan” status.

“I know you know some of the criticism and it is that, even though you claim to be nonpartisan, that this group is actually very partisan,” she said. “You’re a Republican, you ran for Congress in 2010 in Virginia’s second congressional district. You have a rep in your group who worked for the Bush administration, you share office space with Republican groups. How do you answer that claim of being partisan when you claim that you’re not?”

“I answer that claim by first saying this is an American issue. You yourself have reported extensively on leaks, so have ever other network that’s out there,” Taylor replied. “I understand the criticism will say, people will say, you’re a Republican. Well, I’m an American first. I’m an American before I’m a Republican.”


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/08/17/obrien-lays-waste-to-anti-obama-navy-seals-claim-of-non-partisanship/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story%29

[caveat_imperator]

7. "I’m an American before I’m a Republican."

Your attempts to hand-wave away your President's achievements says otherwise, Mr. Taylor.