Making contemptuous comments about Bush a crime if you are in the military

[Generic Other]

US Army to Call Reporters in Officer's Case
Reuters

Tuesday 11 July 2006

Seattle - The US Army plans to call two journalists as witnesses to support charges filed against an officer who refused to fight in Iraq because of his objections to the war, the lieutenant's lawyer said on Monday.

First Lt. Ehren Watada is facing charges over his refusal to deploy to Iraq with his unit on June 22 and choosing to remain at the Fort Lewis base in Washington state.

Last week, the Army charged Watada with missing his deployment, conduct unbecoming an officer and contempt toward officials. If found guilty on all charges, he faces up to seven years of confinement, dismissal and forfeiture of pay.

To prove that he made "contemptuous" comments about President George W. Bush and therefore engaged in conduct unbecoming an officer, the Army plans to call two journalists to attest to comments Watada made during interviews, the officer's lawyer, Eric Seitz, told reporters.

In the charge sheet, the Army also said Watada made "disgraceful" statements about the president.


http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/071106R.shtml

[SensibleAmerican]

1. Yes, freedom of speech does not apply to the military

This has always been the case.

[WinkyDink]

2. Wasn't it always an offense to be openly contemptuous of one's CiC?

[beam me up scottie]

6. Yes.

One more reason I'm glad I never re-upped.

My two brothers, on the other hand, have the priviledge of gazing at *'s portrait each and every day.

Personally, I think I'd rather be in the brig.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Sieg heil!

I know some military types will come and say that if you are an officer, you can't say anything bad about the President. Funny, my brother, who was a career officer, said a lot of things about the presidents during the Viet Nam era, and it would blister a freeper's ears to hear what he says about the shrub now!

[formercia]

4. I'm not in the Army

so let me be contemptuous as I possibly can.


On second thought, i'm not going to lower myself to Fearless Leader's level.

[Canuckistanian]

5. In another report...

They called it "contempt for the Commander-In-Chief", as if it were an actual charge.

[Solly Mack]

7. Article 88 of the UCMJ. Applies to officers. "Contempt toward officials"

Doesn't matter if the remarks are true or not either.

The words in print...such as a widely circulated publication(newspaper)...serves to aggravate the offense. Makes it worse in the eyes of the military court.

Not saying I agree with the charge...only giving the facts of the charge.

[atreides1]

8. Doesn't pass the smell test

a : the act of despising : the state of mind of one who despises : DISDAIN b : lack of respect or reverence for something

The feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn.

Lt. Watada made "disgraceful" statements about the President, about as much as Captain Yee was transporting secret documents from Gitmo.

[ldf]

9. respect for the commander in chief

certainly wasn't in play while clinton was in office, was it?

:shrug:

[jody]

10. Watada is lucky he wasn't charged with desertion, punishment can be

execution if SCOTUS agrees Bush's war on terror is a legitimate war.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice says "Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct".

Two years ago Army Sgt. Camilo Mejia was found guilty of desertion for refusing to return to Iraq and a year ago Army Sgt. Kevin Benderman was found not guilty of desertion for refusing to go to Iraq.