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Marines Drop Case Against Anti-War Iraq Veteran
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Marines won't kick out an Iraq war veteran who made anti-war statements in a speech and wore part of his uniform at a protest, the service said Friday, despite a recommendation to discharge him early.
An investigating officer had recommended in May that Liam Madden, 22, of Boston receive an other-than-honorable discharge, the worst discharge possible under non-court martial conditions.
Madden is part of the Individual Ready Reserve, which consists mainly of those who have left active duty but still have time remaining on their eight-year military obligations. He is scheduled to be discharged in 2010.
Madden was accused of making ``disloyal statements'' during a speech in February in New York in which he accused President Bush of betraying service members and called the fighting in Iraq a ``war crime.'' The speech was posted on the Internet.
Madden also was accused of a uniform violation for wearing a camouflage, button-down shirt and jeans at a demonstration in Washington in January.
The Marines said in a news release that they were dropping the case because they had ``received sufficient indication'' from Madden that he would no longer wear his uniform when engaged in political activities. They also determined that his statements did not warrant further action.
Madden insists he never reached an agreement with the Marines and planned to keep wearing his uniform at protests. He did write in an e-mail to the Marine Corps on Tuesday that he would agree to stop wearing his uniform at protests if the corps put in writing ``that my statements are neither disloyal nor inaccurate.''
Madden said he never received the letter he requested on Marine Corps letterhead and had no further conversations with the Marines.
``I think it's a total victory,'' Madden said, speaking on his cell phone from Columbia, S.C., where he is participating in a bus tour of East Coast military installations. ``The country is on our side, and it really puts the Marine Corps in a bad light if they try to intimidate'' us.
The Marines did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
Madden was one of at least three Marines investigated for their protest activities. Another, Adam Kokesh of Washington, D.C., was kicked out of the Marines earlier this month with a general discharge for wearing his uniform during a demonstration and using an obscenity in an e-mail to an investigating officer.
Kokesh's attorney said the other-than-honorable discharge could affect health benefits, but Madden said his attorneys did not think it would because he previously received an honorable discharge from active duty.
An other-than-honorable discharge would affect employment prospects and ability to obtain a security clearance, Madden's attorneys said.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press
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17 Comments so far
Show AllWho or what was he being disloyal to?He gave an oath to defend the country and the Constitution.He took potshots at people not the ideals of the country.
HOW ?
How can we have a birthday celebration that is about freedom when fear is the motivating factor of a nebulous security outside the protection of the Constitution?
With a patriot act and a military commissions act to lead the way to tyranny; is this cause for celebration or for reflection on what we would give away since that first birthday?
Do we have the right , yea , the moral right to give away what belongs to our children and generations into the future? It was given to us to pass on, used but intact, It is our obligation.
When it comes to the Constitution "nothing should be off the table". To use this rational for war but not for the Constitution is obscene to the extreme.
Reflect on our obligations that go along with the rights written all these many years ago.
Tony 6/29/07
The "disloyal statements" aspect of this issue sheds light on something I uncovered in recent research: DoD, specific to proposed attempts to strengthen its "deception detection" capabilities, plans to train Defense investigators and polygraph examiners in what it's calling "The Psychology of Traitors." While it's somewhat fascinating, for lack of a better word, that the Pentagon will attempt to accomplish this task, it's simultaneously troubling -- particularly as it leaves the term "traitor" undefined. For more on this matter, check out "'Traitor Psychology' Getting Expanded Role in DoD 'Deception-Detection' Training" at ThePeacockReport.com (direct link to article: http://tpr.typepad.com/thepeacockreport/2007/06/traitor-psychol.html)
I agree that he should not have publicly attended or spoke at a protest in the uniform unless he was there on official duty.
The punishment proposed was stupid and way overboard. He should have been told it was inappropriate to appear at any political event in uniform.
That said, he has every right to attend and speak as long as he doesn't imply he is speaking for the government.
One small victory for the 1st AMMENDMENT, one giant leap towards the modernization the U.S.CODE of MILITARY JUSTICE. The Oath taken says ".....to defend the country against ALL enemies, foreign AND DOMESTIC." Unfortunately the biggest enemies in the AFGHAN/IRAQ WARS are the Prez and his Administration. Quite a dilemma for active military members of conscience.
BTW, how goes the search for OSAMA ? Does the Bu$h Administration believe he's in Iraq ?
If I read correctly in other articles; in the cases of ex-marines and general forces who have taken part in rallies counter to the wars in the Middle East, they wore the basic uniforms without ensignia nor badges.
Consequently, it would be like you or I going to the Army/Navy and buying an old uniform and wearing it to a rally. I have my late father's old uniforms from his Cdn. AirForce duty and can wear those whenever I wish. They are not representative of anything beyond their old service when they bore the ensignias and medallions of that service.
To condemn soldiers who disagree with their government's actions in war is unpatriotic. They were there, they acted bravely, survived and returned to warn the rest knowing that they would be castigated and possibly convicted for truth telling. Who could be more patriotic but one who experiences injustice first hand and returns to denounce it and his/her government's policies?
The Bush administration realized that this was growing bigger and hairier. A Marine hearing had already discharged Mr. Kokesh honorably. Mr. Madden is right. It is a total victory. Though I wouldn't put it past Karl Rove, etal to pursue another method of quiet revenge and intimidation a little later.
These men are not robot's that Bush seems to think they are. That you can wind up and expect to say what you have programmed them to say. You can only mistreat them for so long and they are going to start fighting back. I don't know why there isn't more anger in the military the screwing Bush has given them. Between cutting benefits, extending tours into the stratosphere, and the out and out lie's these men have been told about why they are over there. I don't know why there anger hasn't reached the boiling point where they have started to rebel against superior's! Bush has screwed the military worse than he has the American people!
Would recommend the film "Sir! No Sir!" about soldiers during the War in Vietnam refusing to fight. Just Google it.
If only half the marines had the courage of Madden, the country would be safe from the criminals who run it.
Bush is being disloyal to his chain of command - the American people. I suggest that we give him a dishonorable discharge straight into the slammer.
Yes sir, No sir, blah, blah: Bring back the draft!, that will stop the war.
As a retired military person, and an Iraq war vet myself, I vociferously applaud the actions of these young men. I encourage all young people, including veterans, to learn to think critically. The Marine corps doesn't have a clue what the real world looks like. Just because a person is in the military does not mean they have to be a non thinking robot. Our military has changed. It was never liberal. But before the gulf drive by during bush the smarter the military was much more diverse. Now the military is practically a monolith. Dissenters are retaliated against. It happened to me, and continues to this day. But our democracy is far more precious than my comfort. Or anyone else's. Todays military is populated by and run by people just like the shrub and company. Small, not too bright, cowardly people. I'm not surprised the corps backed down. Bullies usually do when confronted with courage.
Lest anyone get the wrong idea, I was a water boy in Saudi Arabia. Never saw combat. I don't want to misrepresent myself as some kind of hero. I'm damn glad I never went "up north".
And another thing. I attend demonstrations with my local Veterans for peace chapter. Most of us wear pieces and parts of our uniforms. It give us street cred and the cops and "counter protesters" don't screw with us. Just thought I'd share that with you.
"It give us street creed and the cops and "counter protesters" don't screw with us. Just thought I'd share that with you."
Happy to see it framed this way, because this issue has been bugging me.
If I was once committed to war, but now resign myself to peace, police and counter protesters will treat me differently than other protesters? Let me get this right. By serving in the armed forces, I earn societies unsaid social acceptance to protest unmolested? However, if I protest and never served, I get no respect?
Maybe everyone needs to wear the uniforms of militarism and protest. I wonder if the act would nullify the values attributed to the uniform.
Today camo is hip. 35 years ago, it was unacceptable to be unofficially in uniform. Actually, as I understand it, military personnel are allowed to wear their uniform outside of duty "work hours" when they are going to and from work, or attending a sanctioned event (wedding, funeral, sports arenas when on duty). Mom is in uniform at Suzy's baseball game or dad is at the grocery store because they just got off work and haven't been home yet.
What if everyone wore military uniforms at antiwar rallies -or just in general- perhaps the importance and the values attributed to the uniform would finally dissolve. Some states in the Union have created laws making it illegal to impersonate the armed forces. The law is for someone who is attempting to commit fraud. There is a big legal difference between political protest or social parody and attempting to fool someone into giving special treatment.
I say, go to the thrift store and pick up a uniform today. Change the id tag out and put "never served" -or do something to indicate a political, social distinction to keep it legal. Wear it with pride.
rob price:
Fascinating idea for culture jamming. Imagine wearing military uniforms while protesting military recruiters' activities at a high school, for example. Emblazon the uniforms with anti-Iraq/Bush admin/military slogans, as the way to indicate the social distinction.
What about Bush wearing the full USN flight suit uniform for his "Mission Acomplished" photo op? First time a US president dressed up like Castro, Qaddafy, Saddam, Benito or Hitler. Nice group of predecessors - gives him street cred. How come the military isn't suing him and taking back his honorable discharge? Oops, I forgot - he never got one, he just walked out on his oath to his uniform and his country.
But wc, George W. is the Commander In Chief, he can wear any uniform he likes. He was there to tell all, that the "Missson Was Accomplished"!! It was appropriate. He was a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot who served his country during war time. He's a hero, a decorrated hero. Everyone who served during the Vietnam wa___ uh__conflict, recieved a medal. I got one and a whole bunch more.
What do you mean he walked out? So what, don't you know who his daddy is. Besides, he had important functions to attend. We should all give him his just dooze.___ Booze, sorry.
thiswoman said:
"To condemn soldiers who disagree with their government's actions in war is unpatriotic. They were there, they acted bravely, survived and returned to warn the rest knowing that they would be castigated and possibly convicted for truth telling. Who could be more patriotic but one who experiences injustice first hand and returns to denounce it and his/her government's policies?"
'
Thomas Albright said:
"It give us street cred and the cops and "counter protesters" don't screw with us. Just thought I'd share that with you."
'
This has been the salient feature of this round of anti-war activism that is so different. Since before the war even started, since before Shock&Awe, there have been active and retired military involved with the protests. Since Cindy Sheehan brought Gold Star Mothers to the Nation's attention, they and Iraq Veterans Against the War have been in the forefront of the "movement". This time there is no division between the veterans and the protesters and that has been a real breakthrough for us long term anti-war activists.
As far as appearing in public in uniform, Remember Gen. Boykin? "My god is bigger than his god"? He was touring wingnut churches, in full uniform, making political speaches, where's his less-than-honorable?