Hackworth: Military brass trying to censor soldiers in Iraq

[mainer]

So the brass have reverted to the weapon they’ve used to silence warriors since long before Caesar was running Rome: intimidation. The troops are being warned: Shut up; and if you don’t button it, you’ll be drummed out of the service.



Sgt. Al Lorentz wrote a piece from Iraq (See “A Sergeant Speaks the Hard Truth,” Special Reports, Sept. 30, 2004, SFTT.org). He now faces disciplinary action for “disloyalty” and “insubordination.” He could end up with 20 years in the slammer if found guilty.



An officer in Iraq who has asked to remain anonymous says: “The establishment here wants to present the picture that everything is A-OK when it’s too often not the case. Soldiers shouldn’t be punished or made to feel like they’re disloyal, not part of the team, troublemakers, whiners, dissenters, malcontents, etc., etc., just because they give somebody a true sitrep on certain things going on over here. But sadly this is the case.”



Then there’s the personal attack on anyone with a point of view that’s different from the party line: You’re un-American; or you’re supporting the enemy or not supporting the troops. The latest tactic is to say you’re sending out mixed messages that hurt troop morale. But according to our soldiers in Iraq, this is just not true. They say their morale is in the toilet because of how badly the war’s been handled, not because of what’s being reported or debated by politicians.






http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Hacks%20Target%20Homepage.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=87&rnd=59.362165130727284

[Nordic]

1. hell, I'd make a lot of noise and deliberately get drummed out

seems like maybe that's the only way you CAN get out these days.

It's like an old joke we have in the film business about terrible jobs: "who do I have to blow to get off this job?"

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Just horrible. George W. Bush has brought Fascism to America.

Bush IS Hilter!

:puke:

[The Traveler]

3. Nonsense

Hitler had semi-competent advisors with a grotesque global vision. These guys are just black hearted idiots.

But, on the other hand, "If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, it might be a fuckin' duck." By this logic, I expect to see Rumsferatu and company start goosesteppin' in those neat boots they like to wear ....

[necso]

4. The Colonel has really been on target.

The man has a great deal of courage... physical and moral.

" “I resent the fascist-style approach that tries to paint any objection of current policy as traitorous,” says Ken Druhut. “I am a proud vet and gratefully enjoy the freedoms that our military has provided. But this Gestapo stuff has to stop.”

Amen."

[The Traveler]

5. Defense issues

are my No. 1 reason for registering with the intention of voting the straight Democratic ticket. For the first time in 30 years, I will not consider Republicans. This shocks my Republican friends. Tho I have always been "liberal on social issues" I have always advocated maintaining the strongest military in the world. I just want it used wisely, precisely, and as gently and justly as possible.

FLIP-FLOP ... time was Democrats were way behind the defense power curve and that forced me to make difficult choices. The choice is now easy. The Republican Party, drunk with power, has abused, misused, misled, bullied and worst of all politicized our military and intelligence communities. For the first time in decades, I have heard and read (in credible articles) the words "U.S. military" and "mutiny" in the same sentence.

Now, contrary to the propaganda and commonly held public perception (at this point a conviction retained mostly out of habit), the Democratic Party is the party which is way out in front of Defense issues. That is why our ranks have swelled with retired military people including many flag officers openly endorsing Kerry.

For me, this feels good. With one deft motion, I can support a strong and sane defense policy, civil rights for all Americans regardless of sexual orientation, a woman's right of choice, environmental protection, forward looking energy and science policies with little to no conflict.

[Selatius]

6. Gotta do something

This is definitely something bad, and something has to be done. Thank God it hasn't gotten to the point yet where soldiers are so unhappy that they're purposely fragging their own officers as seen during Vietnam.

[knowbody0]

7. stalin just shot his guys

[ArtVandaley]

8. Some republican called my uncle . . .

. . . indignant that my uncle had a Kerry sign and a "Support Our Troops" sign on his front yard. My uncle suggested this guy actually talk to some troops if he thinks that Bush really gives a shit about them at all.
Bush is a spoiled rich kid. He views veterans and soldiers as chumps that couldn't get out of service like he did. Never once at college republican meetings do Bush or his flunkies ask them to enlist. He just wants the poor kids in their doing the fighting and dying so his buddies can get rich. Bush is truly disgusting and deserves to be condemned in the history books as the most fascist president in US history.