Soldier faces possible court martial for radio comments

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.illinoisleader.com/news/newsview.asp?c=9790

ROCKFORD -- A National Guard based in Rockford who blasted President Bush on a local radio talk show on Friday may face court martial for her public comments, the Illinois Leader learned today.


On Monday morning, the husband of Sergeant Jessica Macek, who returned from leave back to Kuwait on Saturday, told WNTA 1330 AM's talk show host Chris Bowman that his wife says she may be court martialed for the comments she made on the radio Friday.


Illinois Leader.com's Rockford correspondent David Hale heard Macek's comments on the Friday morning show, then wrote a story for the Illinois Leader <"Commander-in-chief blasted on Rockford air waves, November 7, 2003"> concerning Macek's comments on the air.


In the story, Hale says that Macek said the President lied about the reasons America military was in Iraq.


On the radio air on Monday, Bowman argued that Hale's reporting was inaccurate and biased, saying the story was published on an "ultra-conservative news source Illinois Leader.com."

<snip>

Remeber: Dissent supports terrorism.
Sheesh.

[number6]

1. Bush is a liar.

whats the problem ?

[kayell]

7. Oh you are in SUCH big trouble now

is that ashcroft knocking at your door?

What could possibly be wrong with that soldier? Doesn't she know that one must never speak against our beloved Big Brother? Just another nasty instance of thought crime.

[el_gato]

2. but bush is a fucking liar

she was just pointing out the truth
is there a law against that?

[Scott Lee]

5. "The truth is a lie"

Orwellianism #32.

[leetrisck]

8. Much to my dismay, I'm afraid there is

Certain military people got away with it for years while Clinton was pres (the snicker behind the hand) and I really think these people now think it is okay. Feel very bad for her but all it took was for some right winger to hear her say that publicly - she may very well be kicked out - do you suppose anyone is going to come to her defense the way they have Boykin.

[saigon68]

22. MY TRUMP--CHIMPANZEE A MOTHERFUCKING LIAR

Back to you///

[arcane1]

3. she was upholding her honor by pointing out the TRUTH

a medal would be more appropriate

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Well soembody should tell the trooper

Boykin is getting away with speaking policy while in uniform

They were not

They should have never said they were Guard though,

They have no Freedom of Speech as you or I do

Hence why we become their voices

[Lefta Dissenter]

6. I do hope that the Sergeant doesn't meet with 'random gunfire'

or other such unwitnessed demise back in Kuwait. I would NOT be brave enough to make such comments publicly, knowing that I had to go back into the clutches of the military. Shows what a coward *I* am.

Only slightly related: while my husband was serving during the VietNam war, he was almost court martialed for a... get this... for a sunburn!!! :grr: While he was on leave, he fell asleep in the sun, got burned to a crisp and had to be hospitalized. His commanding officer visited him in the hospital, in order to tell him that he would be court martialed for "damaging Government Property." I guess they finally figured out that they would rather get him back into combat, rather than waste everyone's time with a c. m.

Well, I wish the best for Sergeant Macek.

Katy

[BiggJawn]

9. So, is "Josh" ready to testify at a Courts Martial?

Hey, Joshy, here's your big furkin' chance to play like you're on an episode of "JAG", and that's "Judge Advocate General", not "JAG" as in "Jag-off", which is what you are, Joshie-boy....

So, all they got is some anonymous freepie named "jopsh" who "thinks" he heard Chimp-O called a liar "several" times....

WEAK! WEAK! WEAK!

[skewthat]

10. It's sad when speaking your mind becomes a heroic action.

I hope she continues to give'em hell!

[maxrandb]

11. Not too up to speed on the UCMJ, but

I think the article only applies to commissioned officers. There is no Conduct Un-becoming an enlisted member.

Officers are specifically barred from criticizing the pResident, SecDEF, any superior in their chain of command, or the Governor of a state in which they are serving.

That being said, I think they could come up with something to charge her with. Trust me, this was never prosecuted for "enlisted" members when Clinton was President, but there were a few Officers that did quietly retire after they dissed the big dog.

[Bandit]

16. Yes I agree. Unless they have changed UCMJ that only applies to Officers

Enlisted personel can say anything they wish as they cannot be considered speaking for the government. Who should be court marsheled is the General who said our mission was religious.

[leetrisck]

18. You're right - misspoke

there - let's see what happens to her though - will be interesting after such a big deal is made out of it and don't forget what happened to the NCO's that spoke out in Iraq against Rummy, bush and the war. Truth is, I don't know what happened to them other than they were definitely told to shut up and do it now.

[Flaming Meaux]

25. You forgot about Article 123a

The 'catch all' article. Basically, it's anything that pisses off the commander, but isn't explicitly verboten by any other article. Usually, you get offered and Article 15 (nonjudicial punishment) for that. Whether you take it depends on whether you think a court-martial will agree with your old man on what he says you did to piss him off.

Then there is the usual practice of forbidding soldiers' talking to the press without permission from the commander. That'll get you busted under Article 92 (disobeying orders). Either way, you're screwed.

[Flaming Meaux]

26. The entire UCMJ can be found HERE:

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ucmj2.htm#SUBCHAPTER%20X.%20PUNITIVE%20ARTICLES

[0007]

20. The soldiers that died in their sleep.....

I wondered at time what could have brought this on, or is it payback time when one sleeps?

[samsingh]

12. bush did lie.

should'nt bush be court marshalled for lying?

[TAH6988]

15. Can't be

he's not in the military. And it's court "martial" not "marshal."

[qb]

13. You sign your rights away when you join the military.

I was in a midwestern Army Reserve unit (medical), but they made it clear we talk to no one without approval of the PR officer. You diss the commander-in-thief and you're toast (it does only apply to Repuglican residents).

[bushisanidiot]

14. Gee, Can Military Personnel be court martialed if they don't vote for AWOL

in 2004?

AWOL and his regime are nazis. I wouldn't put it past them to monitor the military's voting and make sure they either vote for the right candidate or their vote get's lost..

[roguevalley]

17. If I were her, I would subpeona the 'documents' that * and Co. said

show WMD. If they can't, or won't, she walks. Humiliate
the bastards and show it's all true. Can't courtmartial
the truth.

[Okole]

19. That is really sad..nt

[proud patriot]

21. Her duty is to Defend The Constitution

Which she did .

[arcane1]

23. against enemies "foreign and domestic"

what threat did Saddam pose to the Constitution, vs Bush?

[northzax]

24. er, did anyone read this?

she's not being courtmartialed. First off, under UCMJ, she's not eligible for CM for this offense.

second, it would never happen anyway.

third, the radio show reported that another guardsman said it wouldn't happen.

let's not get our panties in a twist, huh?

[DoctorMyEyes]

29. er... do you see "the big picture"?

That the right are bent on squashing dissent, and these self-appointed *patriots* their best to get her court martialed?

eager fascists get my panties in a twist.

"When they kick at your front door
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun

When the law break in
How you gonna go?
Shot down on the pavement
Or waiting on death row"

The Clash

[NNN0LHI]

27. Busch really did lie n/t

[DoctorMyEyes]

28. what's with these wingnut fucking tattle tales?

whether she really could or would be in trouble - what I find most disgusting is the length that these right wing idiots will go to to squelch ANY dissent, anywhere.

It isn't enough for them that she's over there serving while they're home playing on the internet, listening to the radio and giving Bush a rim job - they go out of their way to play orwellian junior fucking spy games!

You know they're just sick that there's no law (yet) that they can use to have regular citizens arrested for disagreeing with Bush.