Gen.: G.I.s who rip leaders will pay

New York Daily News ^ | 7/17/03 | HELEN KENNEDY

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON - The military will punish demoralized soldiers in Iraq who are bluntly venting their frustration to reporters, the Pentagon said yesterday.

"None of us that wear this uniform are free to say anything disparaging about the secretary of defense or the President of the United States," said Gen. John Abizaid, head of Central Command. "We're not free to do that. It's our professional code. Whatever action may be taken, whether it's a verbal reprimand or something more stringent, is up the commanders on the scene."

This week's abrupt cancellation of homecoming plans for the Army's 3rd Infantry Division unleashed a remarkable and widespread flood of fury from troops who are hot, homesick and hunted by guerrillas.

"If Donald Rumsfeld was here, I'd ask him for his resignation," Spec. Clinton Deitz of the 3rd Infantry's 2nd Brigade told ABC News.

"I've got my own 'Most Wanted' list," said a 2nd Brigade sergeant. "The aces in my deck are Paul Bremer, Donald Rumsfeld, George Bush and Paul Wolfowitz."

Many soldiers are openly asking why they are in a country that wants them out. They complain that their commanders have gone home. Frustration with the powers in Washington is a main theme.

"I can guarantee you they've never stood out in a checkpoint in the heat of the day, day after day, full battle rattle, always wondering if today's the day somebody's going to shoot me. Do they even care?" one soldier told a Knight Ridder reporter.

The 2nd Brigade, in the Persian Gulf since September, had been told it would be home by May, then July, then August. When the announcement came that the deployment was being extended until at least September and maybe beyond, "you could hear a pin drop," said Sgt. 1st Class Eric Wright of the 64th Armored Regiment.

The Code of Military Justice bars officers from using "contemptuous words" against civilian or military leaders. Punishment is rarely stringent, said military law expert Eugene Fidell.

"People always grumble in the trenches," he said. "Typically, administrations are extremely well advised not to throw gasoline on the fire by creating martyrs."

The White House took no public offense at the soldiers' gripes. "We know that they are making significant sacrifices," said spokesman Scott McClellan. "We are going to do everything we can to support them and get them home as soon as we can."

Originally published on July 17, 2003

[Cacophonous]

Well, finding a wife at Ft Stewart whose husband is in Iraq would not be that hard...

[genefromjersey]

I'm sure there will be at least one Freeper who pouts about perfumed princes of power, but the general is absolutely right !

The soldiers who permitted themselves to be televised for the purpose of stirring up bad feeling against the administration and the army should be charged with violation of Article 134:bringing discredit upon the service.

As to the reporters who did this hatchet job, I think they sould do the right thing: resign their posts and go to work directly for the DNC.

[ArneFufkin]

Check out the dateline Leni.

This item is presented as a first person reporting of a news event that included precisely worded quotes attributed to specifically identified subjects.

Either this reporter was involved in some organized teleconference access to a managed showcase of provocative statements offered by six enlisted grunts in Baghdad, Iraq, or she misrepresented the authenticity of her original reporting.

So, this thing was teleconferenced? Or, did this reporter fabricate her exposure to the persons and statements?

How can anyone conduct their professional duties with such ethical disregard?

[Happy2BMe]

"There's no doubt our enemy is within."

Speaking of that, has anyone heard any news of the raghaed Marine who fragged and killed several of his own troops?

Is there a hush-hush on that story?

[boxerblues]

I read this morning that these 6 will be disiplined, but the what is going to be left up to the unit commanders.

Considering this is was suppose to be the one week they were expecting a lot from the Iraqi's due to the holiday, I'm not surprise the leftist media put this show one.

[George W. Bush]

This is an old damn story. Haven't any of you heard of the "Wanna-Go-Home" Riots in the late 1940s?

No. Got a link? Or just some info?

[Tijeras_Slim]

He's heading towards a courts martial. There was a thread yesterday that he is being charged with two counts of premeditated murder and several counts of attempted murder. Death penalty possible. His lawyer is whining about him being persecuted because he's a muslim (big surprise).

[Lion Den Dan]

The unidentified stripe hanger was probably a Nation of Islam puke.

[Vaduz]

Your right but to many people do not understand what honor and duty and love of country is all about.

[boxerblues]

He is up court martial

[verity]

Disloyal media alert.

[Poohbah]

Actually, he was in the 101st.

The reason why you aren't hearing anything is because the Army ain't in the habit of publicly commenting on impending courts-martial, and the guy's lawyer is more competent than Mark "Throw it on the wall and see if it sticks" Geragos.

[Happy2BMe]

" Death penalty possible. His lawyer is whining about him being persecuted because he's a muslim (big surprise)."

Yep - the raghead was persecuted all right. Hell, he should be allowed to just go into the barracks and start cutting infidel throats for tension release.

This is a hugh backfire on the PC crowd inside DoD.

They intentionally promoted Muslims inside the Chaplain Corps of all branches - some are even the top chaplains for their entire service (AF?).

PC bites again.

[ArneFufkin]

Never mind, I see she identified ABCNews and Knight Ridder. She picked up the Pentagon Press Release and transcribed that, then she faithfully recounted as an assumed truth the ethically context and properly attributed quotations published in stories written by other reporters for other media outlets ... hey that's a journalistic effort worth a featured byline.

[wasp69]

Wow, wow, wow. I can't believe I'm reading this.Same here. I know in my division and shop, we complain to each other and all but this was way out of line. I know if this particular senior NCO worked for me, I would probably be the first to officially bring back fan room counseling.

[wasp69]

Hey!!!!!!! Walt! Glad to see you back from time out. I'm glad it wasn't permanent.

[SerpentDove]

>>"I've got my own 'Most Wanted' list," said a 2nd Brigade sergeant. "The aces in my deck are Paul Bremer, Donald Rumsfeld, George Bush and Paul Wolfowitz." <<

That has got to be actionable. That's outrageous.

[Happy2BMe]

"The reason why you aren't hearing anything is because the Army ain't in the habit of publicly commenting on impending courts-martial, and the guy's lawyer is more competent than Mark "Throw it on the wall and see if it sticks" Geragos."

Tnx - Poobah!

Hey - will he be permitted to interview any of the fragging survivors or their relatives to prepare his defense case?

/sarcasm

[Feckless]

This is not new, sinister, or suprising to me or the soldiers involved. I almost bit my tounge off during the Carter administration.

After I retired in '92 my wife had to stay IRR to receive her annual VSI payments. At her reenlistment ceremony in '96 I pointed out to the Cpt administering her oath that the lines "support and defend the constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic" and "obey the orders of the president" were totally incompatible.

As a retired NCO I have the freedom to express my opinions. All AD personnel and retired Regular Army officers are bound by the UCMJ to not make disparaging remarks.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Akbar is a raghead soldier not a Marine.