CombatEffective - Where has my country gone?

:upset

I too hope they get hammered and if there is any piece of research the legal office needs done... I'd be more than happy to help out!

THAT really burns my ass! Have your opinion, voice your opinion and be passionate about your opinion - but do not discredit your uniform, service or the country.

And I can already see it coming so OTB... In response - It's a military thing... You wouldn't understand.

-BB-

It seems fashionabe to join the military for bernifits and presteige, a cool uniforn and instant respect of a proud tradition.. Probably seems pretty damn unfair when a war comes along.
Totally agree with BB

Those depicted in the photo have every right to voice their opinion about the war. What they do not have a right to do however is use the uniform of this nations armed services to protest its foreign policy.

Those on the left may call this an exercise of free specch. With every right we have that is protected by our constitution also comes a duty to exercise those rights in a responsible manner. The time to discuss US intervention in Iraq was in Summer, Fall and Winter of 2002. Once the decision was made and the our troops stepped over the line of departure, the discussion ends all of the arguments opposing it became moot. From that point on the only choices on the table was victory or defeat. From that point on, you either hoped we won, or hoped we lost. It is plainly obvious which choice those in this photo made.

Thanks for Blogrolling me

Darrell

I think the optimum word is "VETERANS against the Iraq War"...does not veteran infer that they are not in service, they have been discharged?

I think it's fantastic that they wear the uniforms, and another phenomena of this so called 'war' is Veterans who are running for office after their service, because they see the lies that this administration spew out to the general public, and want to make and effect change on a real basis. Instead of just bitching and crying about uniforms, they choose to make a change within their own communities. I think it's fantastic. The more people who choose to defy this traitorous Commander in Thief, and his band of slugs, the better.

...one does not have to seperated or retired to be a "veteran". Anyone who's served in Iraq or the theater is now veteran of OIF/OEF.

You would think it's fantastic. Like BissBoss said, it's a military thing. We're subject to a host of other rules, the Uniform Code of Military Justice...one of the provisions of the UCMJ is that while we can attend rallies, we cannot do so in uniform as it implies endorsement of a political cause by the service.

Instead of just bitching and crying about uniforms

Instead of just complaining about people complaining about uniforms, why don't you do something?

Rob

because I agree with anti-war march!Why would I object to Veterans marching against the war?

No military member will disagree with their right to march, anonymous guest. My post had nothing to do with agreeing or not; it was an observation to fellow military members about someone breaking one of the provisions of the UCMJ.

Rob

If one does not know the truth about what a veteran is, that thought might be correct...

Veteran
adj : rendered competent through trial and experience; "troops seasoned in combat"; "a seasoned traveler"; "veteran steadiness"; "a veteran officer" [syn: seasoned, veteran(a)] n 1: a serviceman who has seen considerable active service; "the veterans laughed at the new recruits" [syn: veteran soldier] 2: a person who has served in the armed forces [syn: vet, ex-serviceman] 3: an experienced person who has been through many battles; someone who has given long service [syn: old-timer, oldtimer, old hand, warhorse, old stager, stager]

If you have served in a capacity in which you were deployed to the "War Zone" and/or aided in an aspect outside your normal day to day home stations operations to further our (The United States) purpose and goal to were you can possibly benefit those comming in after you and who are currently fighting next to you, you are a VETERAN... (OTB)


When you enlist and say you will SUPPORT AND DEFEND this Nation you give up your right to voice you "PERSONAL" opinions and beliefs in an way that might bring discredit to the Military and The United States. This is clearly explaned to every individual befor and through out there enlistment.

And shame on any person who thinks it is right or okay to shame their uniform and Nation they once swear to serve!!! Retired, Discharge, or Seperated for any reason.

If you so believe it is "fantastic" for individuals who hold their word and oath in such an ignoble manner to attempt to change or fix what they presume so mightely to be corrupt, GOD help us all!

~A.P.

When you enlist and say you will SUPPORT AND DEFEND this Nation you give up your right to voice you "PERSONAL" opinions and beliefs in an way that might bring discredit to the Military and The United States.When you enlist and say you will SUPPORT AND DEFEND this Nation you give up your right to voice you "PERSONAL" opinions and beliefs in an way that might bring discredit to the Military and The United States.


So when you join the military, you give up your right (even though these guys in the pictures could possibly be discharged and OUT of the military) you give up your right to free speech? Give me a break, even I don't believe you when you say that or even believe that. What a load.

These guys got out of the military (and theres nothing to prove that they are ACTIVE DUTY) saw the vomit inducing administrations plan for Iraq and now are marching against it. Too damm bad that they are wearing uniforms. Not much you can do from your website is there.

When you wear that uniform...YES...

You become a voice, an image, a representative of the country and the ADMINISTRATION running it. By law you can not participate in a public demonstration "In Uniform."

All you are doing is blowing smoke. No one can prove if these guys are active military or not. All previous statements involving retaliation soly pertain to Active Duty.

And yup i is "Too damn bad they are wearing uniforms."!

Hey OTB,
No, we don't give up our freedom of speech when we enlist (thus, the blog). We do agree to a few restrictions, though. One such is that we cannot speak on behalf of a political cause while representing the service. Take a look through the "milblogs". You'll see a common disclaimer...something to the effect of "the views expressed in this blog do not represent those of the United States military, etc."
All we're saying is that the guys in the picture, retired or not, veteran or not, shouldn't be protesting in uniform. There's not even really a question here. They're doing so is not in compliance with the oath they took. Point of fact. It's like running a stop sign. Illegal. Can't argue with it.
Another thing. You're on this trip about "not doing anything from my website". Well, there's not a whole lot I can do but maybe by posting the image, the guy's chain of command will see it or something. Or whatever. I didn't say I was going to hammer them. I said "I hope they get hammered". You've said or implied quite a bit recently that I'm something of an armchair quarterback and quite frankly, you're off-track. The whole point of a blog is to express one's opinions/comments/thoughts on current events. To rail this blog for doing so is...dumb.
I noticed on your site you'd written the Queen of England a couple of times. What the hell did you think to achieve with that? She has zero political power; she's a drain on the British taxpayer dollars...a figurehead. Did you have any realistic notion she'd be able to do anything?
No, I bet. But you wrote the letter anyway.
Do you see what I am driving at here?
Last thing, then I'm hitting the sack. You've been treated with respect here. No one has called you any names (other than liberal), but even then, I don't think anyone's been deragatory. I - we - have tried to express our viewpoints in a calm manner, with the exception of a few retalitory CAPS statements. How has this been met on your end?
With "F*&A yourself kindly", "Too damm bad", "bitching and crying about uniforms". Your conduct here hasn't matched the character you highlight yourself as. I don't know quite what I expect to hear back from you on this. Probably tell me to screw myself or something.
Anyway, g'nite all. (It's a different time zone here in Europe).

Rob

I actually wrote the queen first when I was in high school, it was a high school project. Then, I started a letter writing campaign to all the leaders of the world, and that spawned an activist side of me that hasn't stopped yet. I wonder how many letters you've written to your congresspeople, or senators...oh thats right you dont live in the US, so you don't have representation. Do you come back for elections? have you renounced your citizenship. I find it sort of ironic that a person who doesn't even live in the US, criticizing from the 'armchair' of his oh so pretty place in Europe. Must be nice.

Several, actually. Definitely not as many as you, but then I'm pretty new to the activist world.

Um, Bill, I'm a military member stationed overseas. I vote via absentee ballot. Why the heck would I renounce my citizenship? I don't even know what that would do to my enlistment.

Europe is very nice; very beautiful.

Once again you selectively reply to what you want, say what you want. I've coined a new term for you - "drive by commenting".

Rob