[jeffkrol]

General McChrystal

(Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice states that "any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.")

Right Now - Conservatives start to react to McChrystal story

[Parallax]

It is no secret how I feel about Obama, but I feel even more strongly about the responsibilities of military officers and NCOs. Particularly their responsibility to the President, whoever he may be. The General should be fired, and face charges.

[Phil1]

A few thousand more should speak out.

[Ratmagiclady]

A few thousand more should speak out.

Ffffffht.

And conservatives were calling *civilians* traitors for criticizing Dubya.

Yah, yah, Phil, we see how that goes.

[jeffkrol]

Apparently he has tendered his resignation......
Michael Tomasky: McChrystal resigning, says CNN | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

[Parallax]

Apparently he has tendered his resignation......
Michael Tomasky: McChrystal resigning, says CNN | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

That's a start, now when the Secretary of the Army, or Secretary of Defense convenes a Court-Marshal, everything will be on track.

Apparently he has tendered his resignation......
Michael Tomasky: McChrystal resigning, says CNN | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Of course Obamarama doesn't have to accept it. And in fact in his campaign speech today he left himself the opening NOT to fire him nor accept his resignation.

[shooz]

Aren't you supposed to be looking for the fish president obama took from you?

[GingeM]

Yep... That's right... Court Martial the man... Demonstrate that Freedom of Speech is dead. How dare anyone not think well of an elected official. How dare a lifelong military man, a special forces man to boot, laugh at someone whose physical ability as demonstrated by his throwing a ball at a baseball game indicates he probably couldn't hack even the most basic military training, (he throws like a girl but not even as well as one if you need that explaining).

You kids are a laugh a minute. You proclaim you are all for the little guy and freedom and rights but you want anyone who disagrees with you, or Him, silenced.

Obama isn't worth McChrystal's toe jam, lets be quite honest.

[Oldschool]

We have a concept in this country, the military reports to the civilian government. I'm not sure what it's like where you're from, but that's the way it works here.

[Phil1]

This is really pretty sad and funny too since the Obama voting General didn't really say much but most of his staff did. Lets see if the Pres who could probably not pass a security check gets rid of half the Afgan staff. Hey he is a four star with a great retirement ahead, why put up with the BS?

[opiet70]

Yep... That's right... Court Martial the man... Demonstrate that Freedom of Speech is dead. How dare anyone not think well of an elected official. How dare a lifelong military man, a special forces man to boot, laugh at someone whose physical ability as demonstrated by his throwing a ball at a baseball game indicates he probably couldn't hack even the most basic military training, (he throws like a girl but not even as well as one if you need that explaining).

Obama is a spare...no question about it. BUT, he is the commander-in-chief, elected by the people of the US, and the top regional commander must not ever put his men and women in a situation where they think they can disobey orders. I respect McCrystal's background and ability - but he is treading down a dangerous path. People in the line of fire cannot (must not) feel they can disobey an order just because they disagree with the person giving it - that leads to good people dying. UCMJ outlines the details around this very well. The oath military personnel take details this well. The command structure outlines this very well. McCrystal violated that.

Perhaps Obama will ask him to a basketball game so they can hug and make up. Perhaps McCrystal will be man enough to look him in the eye and tell him to go where the sun doesn't shine. Perhaps if Obama had been communicating effectively this would never have happened. Either way, it doesn't matter. What is done is done. McCrystal is best leaving. His personnel will be harmed by that departure - but less than if he stays.

[jeffkrol]

Yep... That's right... Court Martial the man... Demonstrate that Freedom of Speech is dead. How dare anyone not think well of an elected official. How dare a lifelong military man, a special forces man to boot, laugh at someone whose physical ability as demonstrated by his throwing a ball at a baseball game indicates he probably couldn't hack even the most basic military training, (he throws like a girl but not even as well as one if you need that explaining).

You kids are a laugh a minute. You proclaim you are all for the little guy and freedom and rights but you want anyone who disagrees with you, or Him, silenced.

Obama isn't worth McChrystal's toe jam, lets be quite honest.

did you miss this MILITARY LAW......... forget how to read???......

(Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice states that "any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.")

Maximum punishment

Dismissal, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 1 year.

Elements

1. That the accused was a commissioned officer of the United States armed forces;
2. That the accused used certain words against an official or legislature named in the article;
3. That by an act of the accused these words came to the knowledge of a person other than the accused; and
4. That the words used were contemptuous, either in themselves or by virtue of the circumstances under which they were used.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_toward_officials
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Code_of_Military_Justice

[Phil1]

Article 88???? Never happen.

Blago is looking for a job....maybe Clinton can offer him Afganistan to run. Could happen.

[yucatanPentax]

did you miss this MILITARY LAW......... forget how to read???......



Contempt toward officials - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uniform Code of Military Justice - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jeff, Ginge's concept of law in the United States is about as flimsy as the Deepwater Horizon's blowout protector turned out to be: practically non-existent.

Ginge: members of the US military are not permitted to disparage their commander-in-chief. That is long-standing military law as Jeff has shown you. Today's US military is a wholly volunteer force, so when you sign up, you are agreeing to keep your mouth shut about a variety of things.

Mocking the president of the United States to a reporter from a music magazine is about as low as a general can stoop. But this general has stooped plenty low in the past.

He was part of the coverup of Pat Tillman's death and wrote that it would be best not to disclose that Tillman was killed by Americans because "it would embarrass the president." Except in that case, it was President Bush. He lied and continued to lie about an American's death in friendly fire, so as not to "embarrass the president." Wow.... that takes a very special lack of honor.

So... He understands "embarrassing the president" and he just went out and behaved like a fool. Hard to imagine that was all 'by accident.'

He should be dismissed and prosecuted to enforce the discipline of military law and reinforce the subordinance of the military to our civilian commander. If he is allowed to resign and not prosecuted, he will have gotten off far too easy.

Remember, Rumsfeld "early retired" (read: "canned") General Shinseki for daring to speak the truth about the number of troops required to maintain order in a proposed occupation of Iraq, when questioned by Congress. Turns out Shinseki was correct. Sad to say, it didn't help the Iraqis any during the sectarian murder spree that followed our invasion.

All Shinseki did was speak the truth as taught in war college. He didn't make fun of the president's plans or competence or temperament for the job. And he was canned.

McChrystal needs to go.

EDIT: Just to make this clear: Any general on active duty who mocks any president - Republican, Democratic, Tea Party, Green or whoever gets elected by the People of the United States -- needs to be court martialed. This has nothing to do with Obama or Bush. This is a long-standing principle of our nation. No military officer should ever think he is above military law or able to skirt civilian control of the military. If Shinseki had told Congress that Bush was a dumb-ass and Rumseld was dumber and then given the correct stats for Iraq, he should have been fired too. But he insulted no one. He only gave his professional opinion, based on the manpower calculations taught in war college.