"I didn't join the Navy to . . ."

[markpkessinger]

[morningfog]

1. Succinct.

[CANDO]

34. Pretty sure he's retired.

The green ribbon on outside second row is Vietnam Service Ribbon. If by chance he's still active, I can't help but wonder why he hasn't made Senior or Master Chief. Since he is retired, he's free to express his opinions. Not so if he were still active, at least while wearing the uniform. Even retired, it's still inappropriate to do so in uniform.

[Arctic Dave]

36. I'm going to say he is retired also.

If you have gold on your sleeve and serving that long, you would have the other two rockers.

[Electric Monk]

38. That would make sense, yes. nt

[actslikeacarrot]

68. There are no more "rockers" to get.

Chief, Senior Chief and Master Chief are all differentiated by stars. It is possible this chief is still in.

[Arctic Dave]

74. Correct.

I was thinking of the "other guys".

He could be in, but if he has Vietnam era ribbon that would make you think he has been in for a while. As another poster suggested.

Since he is sporting gold on his sleeve and not red that means he is a good merit sailor. I would assume that a GM with good evals and that much time would be a SC or MC by now.

Just my two cents.

[Spider Jerusalem]

44. Nope, that's the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

He's got at least 22 years in but it's entirely possible that he's still an active-duty E7.

[HereSince1628]

57. Is that a Purple Heart with a device added?

I thought Navy and Marines used a sort of large star device on that for multiple awards

[pinboy3niner]

61. It's hard to tell from pics like these

Its high placement suggests that it may be a PH with a device indicating a multiple award. But the ribbon in a superior position to the left of the PH-looking one appears to be a Meritorious Unit Commendation--an award that doesn't take precedence over the PH.

Apart from the ones that are clearly identifiable (like the one noted by Spider Jerusalem), I don't even trust my own judgment about what something looks like.

[actslikeacarrot]

69. I believe that is a "battle E" ribbon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_E_Ribbon

[HereSince1628]

88. Maybe, it is hard to see. I didn't notice any yellow edge or ID the device

when I enlarged the image.

[CANDO]

64. Right you are!

My bad. It was hard to see it clearly on my smaller phone screen. Now I'm on the laptop. He has an impressive stack of ribbons nonetheless. For those who don't know the significance of his rank being in gold, that color recognizes good conduct throughout his career. If you could see on down toward his wrist, he would have series of slash stripes affixed there, each one signifying four years of service. I would guess this sailor has at least four and probably five or six. Five would be for 20 yrs service. If he had disciplinary actions against him at any point in his career, the color of the forearm stripes would've been in red, and the chevron and arch on his shoulder patch would be white. If I remember correctly, you'd have to attain at least 12 years good conduct for your stripes and chevron to turn gold. Senior Chief would be denoted by a single white star above the "crow" and Master Chief would be 2 stars side by side above the "crow".

[Jesus Malverde]

72. Interesting

I never knew they color coded conduct. I'll keep an eye out for the troublemakers with red stripes.

[CANDO]

100. Ironicaly, there are a ton of good service people....

who early in their career had a ucmj infraction. Sometimes the troublemakers made better sailors. You knew he/she wasn't possibly an ass kisser. Sometimes the ones with gold stripes were that kind of person. Just my .02$ anyway.

[MADem]

76. I don't think we have anyone left on active duty with a Vietnam Service Ribbon.

Certainly no E-7s. Up or out would have gotten him a LONG time ago. The Cheney drawdown would have eaten him up and spit him out--if he even lasted that long, and that's unlikely.

The last Army officer with Vietnam experience retired in 2010--and he was a four star general.

http://www.army.mil/article/40160/

Rick Shinseki who runs the VA was there, but he's out and has been since Bush bounced him.


I hate people who pull this kind of shit, using their UNIFORM to press a political POV. I didn't like it when assholes got up in the pulpit in uniform and tried to Jesus their way to fame, and I don't like it when this little turd hides behind a piece of paper and his uniform, and tries to pretend he's still standing watch underway and would even have a clue as to how to handle himself in today's active duty forces. Probably couldn't pass the PT test in twenty tries, is my guess.

He didn't sign up to "fight in a Syrian civil war" and guess what? The self-aggrandizing little shit isn't gonna have to do that. So he needs to take his sign and shove it!

MAJOR Fail by a GENERAL Nuisance (to use a bit of joint service humor...).

[CANDO]

99. I suspect he's a Teabagger

Hiding behind a piece of paper.

[Rebellious Republican]

89. If your referring to this ribbon....

Its a MUC, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon. I have one. As a matter of fact I have several of the same ones he has.

Replace his Navy Surface Warfare badge......




I take special special pride in my Wings of Gold..

[ZombieHorde]

103. Why is it inappropriate? nt

[CANDO]

105. Many articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) either outright forbid it, or...

can be used to punish inappropriate political statements made by uniformed personnel. You are there to follow orders of your chain of command. You can and should refuse to follow an unlawful order, but standing there in uniform while making a political statement such as this sailor, will get you in trouble in a hurry.


Here is an article in the Army times discussing the matter... http://www.armytimes.com/article/20070827/BENEFITS08/708270305/Watch-what-you-say-Speech-limits-under-UCMJ

[ZombieHorde]

107. Thanks for the detailed answer. nt

[Arctic Dave]

2. Don't get yourself in trouble Chief.

You'll lose those gold Chevrons and Rocker.

[grahamhgreen]

93. Apparently, he's a soldier. Willing to fight.

[NuclearDem]

3. Damn straight.

One of my closest friends from Monterey is a marine attached to the Med fleet, and I'll be damned if I see him put in harm's way over this shit.

[Bay Boy]

6. Just curious as to

what you might do.

[NuclearDem]

7. I was a linguist with the AF.

The two of us went through language training together.

[bpositive]

4. Bullshit

You don't join the military to pick who you fight against. You serve under the Commander in chief . That is all.

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. Easy Skippy. His sign didn't say what he WOULDN'T do.

My guess is he'll follow whatever orders he's given.

Damn him for expressing an opinion you disagree with though, huh?

[Egalitarian Thug]

13. Back to whatever contract cave you came from. n/t

[LittleBlue]

18. We also live in a democracy

He's as much right as anyone to voice his opinion about potential war.

Obama is president, not a caesar.

[DissidentVoice]

43. Not really

You don't necessarily have all the rights of a civilian to express your opinions, especially where the Commander-in-Chief is involved.

Several Articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) restrict this:

Art. 88 - Contempt toward officials
Art. 117 - Provoking speeches or gestures
Art. 134 - General article (also known as the "don't be stupid" catch-all)

I learned this from my first night of Air Force basic training.

I'm not up on Navy-specific ribbons so I don't recognise some of the Chief's chest candy.

However, the outside second row sure looks like a Purple Heart.

He also has the Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti Gulf War 1990-91 service ribbons toward the bottom.

[whttevrr]

58. A Duty to Disobey All Unlawful Orders

http://www.omjp.org/ArtLarryDisobey.html

[wild bird]

66. And if the Congress votes for the AUMF,

at that point it wouldn't be an illegal order.

[DissidentVoice]

90. Definition of an "illegal order" is dicey

The UCMJ and the Law of Armed Conflict aren't very clear on that sometimes.

A lot of it goes back to the excuses that Nazis made at Nuremburg, "I was only following orders," especially in the cases of SS personnel.

It would, as I see it, definitely be an illegal order if an officer says to machine-gun civilians or prisoners of war (see SS-Standartenfuehrer Joachim Peiper http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joachim_Peiper#War_crimes).

However, is it an "illegal order" when a Military Training Instructor (USAF version of Drill Sergeant) orders a recruit to stand in the centre of the dorm in his underpants and sing "You Ain't Nothin' But A Hound Dog" over and over? That happened to a poor kid in my Basic Training flight...I saw it. The kid was red in the face, out of breath and looked like he was going to faint by the time the MTI allowed him to stop.

[rickravenrumney]

115. Unlawful Orders. I Agree 100% with you.

Explain what an unlawful order is? Your CO orders you to risk your life to bring ammo to your comrades. Do you disobey because you may die. Better yet. I have seen people ordered to dumpster dive into a dumpster containing chemical waste residue to search for encrypted material that had not been shredded and burned. Do you disobey because you might get sick?

Ordered to Shoot Prisoners.
Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Abu Ghraib wasn't cruel and unusual punishment. Humiliating, yes. Although distasteful as it was, under FDR's administration they would have been shot on the battlefield as spy's and unlawful combatants. Remember FDR is the Lefts superhero.
Go to an American prison in New York or Cali and u will see cruel and unusual.
I could go on.
So as you ponder you're moral obligation in Leavenworth before you are court marshalled for disobeying an unlawful order from the President. Leave the the iffy's to the Lawyers, shut up and pass the ammunition.

I don't down the individual for questioning orders. But we all volunteered. Very few draftees left in service and if they are, they re-enlisted on their own dime.

Why would u enlist in the first place? Knowing over the years there have been questions. I joined in 1985 at 17. You mentioned Iran-Contra. I Went submarines. Subs do things. They did more things during the cold war because we had more of them. Should I have went to my CO and said, sir I refuse to man the stern planes because i believe the orders from SUBPAC are unlawful. I would have been zipped up in a mattress flash bag.

[DeSwiss]

25. You also swear to uphold the Constituion.

- That's the tricky part when you Commander-in-Chief isn't following it.

[icarusxat]

39. you must be thinking of the last guy...

[DeSwiss]

40. Him as well. n/t

[Dash87]

33. I thought you serve the country?

Defend from enemies foreign and domestic?

Syria is not our enemy. Al Qaeda is. We shouldn't be allying with them in a war with no purpose.

[treestar]

60. Yeah what did he join the Navy for

(if indeed he is a real member).

[Caretha]

101. Please post

your years in service, rank, branch so that we can add credence to your statement.

[Bay Boy]

5. I wonder if the NSA has identified this sailor yet?

I would be worried if I were him.

[Electric Monk]

10. There can't be very many sailors of that particular rank with the same combination of medals

and a very pale complexion who also wear glasses.

I'm thinking the combination of medals displayed would almost be like a fingerprint. Served in this, accomplished that, etc. Process of elimination, and, "Hello, sailor, we'd like to have a talk with you."

[Bay Boy]

19. That would carry greater weight if

you explained what you mean.

[Spider Jerusalem]

45. Pretty much

a chief gunner's mate with four awards of the Navy Achievement Medal plus expert marksman qualifications in both pistol and rifle and service in the first Gulf War; a quick Google search for those particulars returns what looks to me like a very probable match as the first result, it doesn't even take the NSA to find out who this guy is. (And if I'm correct then he's retired, not active duty, and works for a military contractor.)

[sarge43]

55. If he's retired, the UCMJ doesn't apply to him.

If, the only thing he might be rousted for is wearing the uniform while protesting -- a very mild protest. Would hardly seem worth the effort

[MADem]

77. Which is probably why he feels comfortable with his little protest, is my guess...

I find his use of the uniform gratuitous. As offensive as that asswipe Boykin preaching anti-Islamic hate from the pulpit....

[sarge43]

83. Protesting? Excellent

Putting on the uniform and hiding his face? Lacks conviction and inappropriate.

[MADem]

85. No guts, no glory, as they say... nt

[erikspartan]

95. Doesn't matter if he's retired or not

If he gets a paycheck, he's still subject to the UCMJ. Hope he gets hemmed up over that, you don't do that shit.

[Rebellious Republican]

96. Welcome erikspartan, enjoy your short stay here.

[sarge43]

98. Techinically Article 2 does cover retirees

However, DOD directive 1352.1 prohibits retirees being recalled solely for disciplinary action. If Captain John McCain, USN, Ret can routinely bad mouth the CinC, what has that mo-mo done that's so different? Wearing the uniform is tacky, but, if he's a retiree, he's earned the right to protest. One can build up a fair head of steam keeping a lid on it for 20. If he's AD, well I hope he's wearing a helmet,; that book is heavy. If he's neither, then he's garbage and should be locked in a room with some out to pasture zebras.

[erpowers]

8. Would Not Be Fighting For Al Qaeda

He would not be fighting for Al Qaeda if a strike was called. He would be working to prevent a leader from continuing to gas his people. Yes, Al Qaeda is in Syria, but they are not the only group fighting against Assad.

[Nevernose]

15. But by most reports

They are the main group left fighting. And also by most reports, they have killed the same number of civilians as the goverenment forces have, and by many reports have also at points used the same poison gas.

So, yeah. This situation -- like many/most situations -- is not as black and white as the military would like you to believe.

[DeSwiss]

26. So let me see if I have your ''thinking'' straight.....

...he would not be fighting for Al Qaeda if he's told to kill some Syrian people by the President, be he'd be doing so, so that Assad can't kill some Syrian people? Because our guy, would be killing the ''right Syrian people,'' instead of the ''wrong Syrian people'' like Assad would be doing. That about cover it?


- No wonder they're having such a PR problem pushing this war down people's throats. I see the main problem now. The people running it are idiots.....

[Dash87]

35. He would definitely be fighting for Al Qaeda - who do you think gets in power when Assad falls?

Al Qaeda with chemical weapons is the answer. They would be our allies in this war, and we would help make Al Qaeda even more powerful.

[David__77]

51. No, he would indeed be fighting for al Qaeda. He is right.

...

[JaneyVee]

9. I call bullshit on this photo.

[Bay Boy]

14. I kind of hope you are right

as another poster said the combination of medals is like a fingerprint and could easily lead to the sailor otherwise.

[Rebellious Republican]

91. Plus his Rate is on his shoulder, pretty easy to narrow it down for NIS.

On the Rank shoulder patch, in the Navy denotes your specific job.

[markpkessinger]

22. The photo may or may not be authentic (I don't know), but it raises a valid point either way . . .

. . . I mean, I've known plenty of people who have joined the military. Every one that I've known has done so out of a desire to protect our country. They have done so knowing that may mean making the ultimate sacrifice at some point. But I don't think any of them signed on because they wanted to help some other country settle its own, internal strife.

[cheapdate]

102. Maybe so, but it doesn't take a student of US foreign policy

over the last half-century to be aware that intervening in other country's conflicts is a lot of what we do.

[Union Scribe]

48. Any particular reason?

Or just because you don't like it?

[Bluenorthwest]

65. Based on what? Calling bullshit does not mean 'I shout bullshit' it means you point out HOW and WHY

it is bullshit. So sick of the intellectual dishonesty around here.

[JaneyVee]

108. Based on the numerous fakes of these kinds of photos. From the 53%ers, to the

"Teacher" who wrote Obama a letter. Seems most of these types of pics are fake/staged. Why hide your face?

[markpkessinger]

111. Is the statement the photo makes validated or invalidated . . .

. . . by the question of whether the photo is real or "staged?" This a statement about the reason our military service personnel join the military in the first place: because they are committed to defending the United States. However naive it might be for them to think that is the mission they are signing up for, it is what they believe. It points to the way our government has repeatedly abused the dedication and commitment of service personnel by deploying them in the service of missions that have nothing at all to do with defending the United States. And as President Clinton once said, "America cannot afford to be the world's policeman."

[Rebellious Republican]

92. Why, looks legit to me.

[sabrina 1]

12. The whole world knows it, why does the US Government not know it? Or worse

why would the US Government give air cover to Al Queda?

The game is up, people are awake. Let's hope Congress gives the President the out he so badly needs right now.

[markpkessinger]

23. American exceptionalism, don't you know! n/t

[DeSwiss]

28. Why, you ask?

[scooter rider]

16. Since it takes about 14 years to make "Chief"

I'm guessing this guy visited a costume shop.

[morningfog]

20. His hands look old enough.

[sabrina 1]

30. Why do you doubt that a 14 year veteran would oppose these foreign adventures?

I know plenty of far longer term veterans who are disgusted with these wars and have spoken out against them.

I believe he is one of many, many veterans who actually know something about all of this having seen it first hand, who oppose these wars.

Are you not aware of the various Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who have come home and tried to tell the truth about these disastrous wars?

[Rebellious Republican]

94. Thats not a costume dude or dudette, as the case may be!

[frazzled]

21. I guess he joined to support a murderous dictator

The choices aren't all that great. You didn't join the Navy to pick and choose your missions. Maybe (if you're real and that's not your Dad's old uniform), you shouldn't have joined the Navy.

PS: The Syrian opposition is not coterminous with Al Qaeda. So maybe you should go home and study up a bit about this conflict.

[sabrina 1]

31. I think you need to start reading more about the 'Syrian rebels'. There really is little

dispute about the strong presence of Al Queda now among the 'rebels'. The latest reports of them driving the Kurds out of Syria in the news leaves no doubt that these are Al Queda who have been going from Libya to Syria and Iraq joining these revolutions and getting support from Saudi Arabia eg. Our BFF over there.

This was ONE reason why many in the British Parliament refused to go along with this latest adventure, and even Cameron could not deny the presence of Al Queda in Syria but claimed he would 'ensure that any weapons they provide (why are they doing that in the first place btw?) would not get 'into the hands of the extremists'. Sure, thank the gods his Parliament didn't fall for that lie.

[frazzled]

67. I think you need to look up the meaning of "coterminous"

co·ter·mi·nous
kōˈtərmənəs/
adjective
1.
having the same boundaries or extent in space, time, or meaning.
"the southern frontier was coterminous with the French Congo colony"


I am perfectly aware of the presence of some Al Qaeda elements in the various groups opposing Assad. That doesn't mean the opposition consists entirely of Al Qaeda or that it is the same as Al Qaeda. I said in my post that the opposition was not coterminous with that group.

[ocpagu]

50. Oh, sure. The rebels are such great guys... n/t

[DeSwiss]

24. Boo-yah!!!!

- K&R

[UTUSN]

27. he didnt join to talk politics nt

[ocpagu]

49. Neither to be a mercenary. n/t

[gopiscrap]

29. Excellent

[Catherina]

32. K&R. Thanks Chief n/t

[all american girl]

37. I didn't read anything else here, but my husband didn't join the Army to fight in the Iraq war

But he did..... And I was the dumbass wife begged him not to go, and he did for 15 months. I don't think we should go to Syria....but FU for this one....and yeah,I was the dubass house mum that thought Iraq was wrong....... FU K YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

[HangOnKids]

41. Your post is kind of a mess

Exactly what are you trying to say?

[all american girl]

42. Sorry it's a mess, I'm actually upset about this, and typing on a silly iPad

Here is the deal, my husband has been in the Army for 23 years, and today we have been married for 22 years...yeah, it's my anniversary....I've lived thru Clinton years...and that completely sucked as a happy clappy liberal in the Army...I thought the Iraq war was wrong and I listen to people saying that how I thought was, well...I was a terrorists lover.... And then my broyher went to that crappy place, and next went my husband...he listen to me being upset about it, and he went off and did his duty...sorry when I saw that picture, I lost it. Far too many years, and all the crap made me lose it.

Sorry that what I wrote was a mess, but I'm still not over the crap-ass war, and the crap-ass attitude....yeah...There are days I'm a mess.

[mahina]

54. I'm with you.

Different war, same dynamic.

[pinboy3niner]

56. I don't blame you

People like your husband, and you and all the other family members, really have been put through the wringer. Even with all the stuff VN troops went through, they generally had to serve only one involuntary combat tour. And we didn't have to deal with things like 'Stop Loss,' either.

There's no need to apologize for expressing your frustration. Yours is a perspective that is worth hearing.

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner

[markpkessinger]

110. You have every right to be frustrated and angry . . .

. . . But, with all due respect, I think your anger towards this photograph is a bit misplaced. Assuming the person in the photo truly is in the Navy, I think the point he is making here is about getting folks to think about the ways in which our country abuses the dedication of its military personnel. This guy isn't refusing to go to Syria, nor implying that he will refuse to do so. He isn't criticizing other military for personnel for doing so. He is pointing out that he, like (I assume) most others who join the military (and I suspect your husband as well), joined the Navy because he believed that by doing so he would be doing his part to help protect the United States. You are right -- Iraq, Afghanistan were "crap-ass wars." This person, be he an authentic sailor or not, is making a statement in the hope that by doing so, he might be able to help persuade us from getting involved in yet another "crap-ass war."

[bluedeathray]

46. If society is on a trend towards enlightenment

(BIG if)

Then more people are going to become aware of Americas status as an imperial power, and the military's role in pushing that agenda for that benefit.

The waste of lives and resources. The debt. The lack of progress in socially progressive areas. All are becoming more well known by more people. To what extent, I don't know.

But I hope we (as a nation) wake up in time to avert the real disasters that are heading our way. And cease following the path of eternal growth, expansion, and consumption.

[pinboy3niner]

47. Zbigniew Brzezinski sees increased resistance to war a result of a ‘Global Political Awakening’

DeSwiss posted a thread about int in GD:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023574545

[bluedeathray]

53. I pray Mr. Brzezinski is correct.

The world has been terrorized by politicians long enough. And there are too many other issues to fix. Not even counting making any fucking progress. It angers me much to witness the devolution of America. All for a buck.

[Historic NY]

63. We are not the World's Policeman...

its time for other countries to assume the role, if they feel so strongly. Thousands are killed each day in countries around the world, its been happening for centuries.

[HardTimes99]

112. Brzezinski, imho, bears as much responsibility for the mess in the Middle East and Central Asia as

any of the Bush Junta war criminals and lackies. To wit, Brzezinksi has bragged openly about using the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan to lure the USSR in to back up its client, thereby giving the USSR its own Vietnam. When asked whether the loss of 3,000 civilians on 9-11 was worth it, Brzezinski didn't seem to lose a lot of sleep over the attacks in NYC. Instead, he projected the attitude that the downfall of the USSR more than justified the deaths of 3,000 civilians.

It was one of the more cold-blooded performances I have ever witnessed, right up there with Madeleine Albright saying that 500,000 Iraqi children dying entirely preventable deaths b/c of sanctions on dual-use items was 'worth it.'

Each of these (Brzezinski and Albright) were proximate causes of 9-11 - in the case of the former, the Mujaheddin is where OBL got his start with assistance from our CIA and. in the case of the latter, OBL listed the deaths of the Iraqi children as one of the grievances in the fatwa he issued to justify the 9-11 attacks.

Albright and Brzezinski are both cold-blooded psychopaths who would as soon kill us as look at us and who wouldn't give a flying fuck if we were killed, if it advanced their global "chess game" (Brezinski's metaphor, not mine).

[David__77]

52. Don't know if this is a legit thing here, but the statement would be correct.

The armed forces would be using to give aid and comfort to al Qaeda and allied terrorist groups. Of course, they don't get to decide. That's why they're the military...

[treestar]

59. I wonder if he was against Iraq?

I bet he wasn't. Amazing! I've never seen a military person do this since 2001. Wow.

that is, if he really is a real military person.

[DustyJoe]

62. Hmmmmmmm

The US Navy is now handing out US Army 'Combat Infantry Badge' awards now I see. Okie Dokie.

[actslikeacarrot]

70. I am fairly certain that it is a...

...surface warfare insignia. Otherwise known as the "swo pin".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_Warfare_insignia

[DustyJoe]

78. Correct

Yes, I can see that. Thanks for that link.
Seeing only a half of it looked like a CIB, but can see now it isn't.

[ctsnowman]

80. I served in both

and wore medals from both. You are allowed to just FYI.

[rickravenrumney]

114. Navy does not hand out Army CIB Badges, and neither does the Army.

Last edited Sat Jul 4, 2015, 11:21 PM - Edit history (2)

It is my understanding the Navy Equiv. to the CIB is the Combat Action Ribbon And just like the CIB, it is EARNED, not given away. I believe the criteria is close to identical. 30 days under enemy fire. Unless the guy was prior service Army and retired, he might wear one on a Navy Uniform, but might be frowned upon. In that case he would wear the Combat Action Ribbon. I was in submarines and i guy I knew left and the the Coasties and he not allowed to wear his Dolphins. However seeing that someone posted that it was a skimmer warfare badge, I understand the mistake and makes this post moot. If you want to see one that really can be confused check out the the Navy WW@ Sub War Patrol Badge.

"http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_Combat_Patrol_insignia&h=99&w=350&tbnid=glvD4sxEA8ePOM:&zoom=1&docid=S4UDTQ0auRv9yM&ei=VKKYVab9GoquyATT3bn4Cw&tbm=isch&ved=0CB8QMygCMAI&biw=1366&bih=634"

[LaydeeBug]

71. um...yes he did. nt

[bvar22]

73. I salute this patriot!

[Zorra]

75. Yes he did. He signed up to fight for the Carlyle Group, Shell Oil, Monsanto, and

every other major transnational corporation. Whatever they want him to do is exactly what he signed up to do. He should not have joined the military if he claims he did not have a clue as to what it is all about.

He signed himself up to be a punk for multinational private interests to use and abuse and use and abuse in any way they wish to use and abuse him.

We've been telling people just like him over and over about it for decades. I feel sorry for him, but making a deal with the devil is never wise.

We keep telling people just like him, over and over. And over, and over, and over, again...and they never see the writing, or the names, on the wall.

So, here it is, once again, for all you kiddies considering joining the military...

[L0oniX]

79. +1

[MineralMan]

81. Running down the source of that photo, the first place

it appeared was on infowars.com, Alex Jones' nasty conspiracy site.

I don't trust this at all, and suspect it is a bogus photo from the start.

Posting stuff from infowars.com is not really a DU thing.

If you disbelieve me, check http://www.infowars.com/naval-officer-i-didnt-join-to-fight-for-al-qaeda/

Do an image search on the url of the OP here on DU and you'll see that the only instances of this photo occur on CT sites.

[russspeakeasy]

82. Yours should be the final post on this, because I believe you

are correct. ...so hahahahahahaha to those who disagree..

[Ocelot]

84. Yeah, so?

Obama has called Ronald Reagan his favorite President too.

Enough with the strawman bullshit. It can be played any way the wind blows, and most people realize that.

[KittyWampus]

109. #1. Obama never called Reagan his favorite President. #2. You don't know what a straw man is.

[quinnox]

86. K&R. This patriotic soldier in the photo has it exactly right. (nt)

[pasto76]

97. soldiers are Army, and uh, he couldnt be more wrong

for whatever reasons any of us enlisted, we all follow the orders of our commander in chief. I was holding up signs like this before we invaded iraq.

All of us in uniform are in the war business, like it or not. And when the time comes to do that thing, everyone needs to be focused on the missions, not politicking it up on DU. besides the first response has this guy pegged as retired... so its kinda of bullshit anyway.

[sibelian]

87. OMG! THAT'S NOT HOW NAVY PEOPLE WRITE SIGNS! LOL!

THEY WRITE THEM TOTALLY DIFFERENTLY! WE CAN'T SEE HIS EYES! HE'S A COWARD! IT'S SO PHOTOSHOPPED!

[Catherina]

104. More are coming forward (New pic)

[ProSense]

106. It's really interesting to see disingenuous RW propaganda being hyped.

Kewl!

[markpkessinger]

113. All the right-wing outlets I've seen today . . .

. . . have been hammering the President for "abdicating authority to Congress" on this issue. McConnell the other day said Republicans would not support a strike unless it included a plan to take out Assad.

Perhaps the original source was some right winger: God knows they'll scream bloody murder no matter what the President does. I mean, if the President had gone ahead without consulting Congress, they would be calling for his impeachment for overstepping his authority. You know that as well as I do, Prosense. And your ceaseless attempts to smear anybody and everybody who expresses any criticism of the President as being right wingers, either directly or by implication, are just really, really tiresome. And pathetic.