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Anti-war Marine gets general discharge (Adam Kokesh)

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Barrett808

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:07 PM
Original message

Anti-war Marine gets general discharge (Adam Kokesh)

Source: Associated Press

Anti-war Marine gets general discharge
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, Associated Press Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An Iraq war veteran will be kicked out of the Marines with a general discharge after he wore his uniform during an anti-war demonstration, the military announced Wednesday.

The military said Lt. Gen. John W. Bergman agreed Monday to give Marine Cpl. Adam Kokesh the general discharge, one notch short of honorable. The decision was in line with a military panel's recommendation last week.

Kokesh got in trouble after The Washington Post published a photograph of him in March roaming the nation's capital with other veterans on a mock patrol.

A superior officer e-mailed Kokesh, saying he was being investigated because he might have violated a rule prohibiting troops from wearing uniforms at protests.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070613/ap_on_re_us/military_protest_hearing

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ThomCat

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:10 PM
Response to Original message

1. It is total bullshit that they could do this.

x(

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BOSSHOG

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:11 PM
Response to Original message

2. That sucks

The Corporal's record shows he HONORABLY served his country. If he wore that uniform waving a flag and supporting bush the Marines would put him on a recruiting poster. A "superior officer" my ass. Just a little pencil dicked Major trying to make a name for himself.

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HiFructosePronSyrup

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:14 PM
Response to Original message

3. They kicked out a general for wearing his uniform at a peace rally?

Sounds like something out of Blackadder.

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TwilightGardener

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:15 PM
Response to Original message

4. A general discharge isn't that bad--the military is very specific

about uniform wear, and he shouldn't have worn his to engage in protests or anything political--clearly against regs. If I were him, I'd accept this and move on.

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HiFructosePronSyrup

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:15 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. Do you realize how incredibly stupid the whole thing is?

Just how fucked up do their priorities have to be?

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TwilightGardener

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:17 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. I agree that they should have much bigger fish to fry. I'm willing to bet

this was pursued and publicized to keep other military folks in line, especially as the war gets more and more unpopular within the ranks.

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Disturbed

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:26 PM
Response to Reply #6

7. Theere were a lot of others that did the same thing.

He was picked out as an example to show that the Marine Corp isn't pleased with anti-Iraq Occupation Opposition within their ranks. Had he been demonstrating in support of the Iraq Occupation does anyone believe that he would have gotten less than an Honorable Discharge?

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TwilightGardener

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:33 PM
Response to Reply #7

9. Yep, I do believe he was made into an example.

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RubyDuby in GA

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:47 PM
Response to Reply #4

14. I thought he removed all traces of identification from it?

I was watching him on Democracy Now and they showed a clip of his "patrol" - it looked just like any pair of fatigues that you could get at an army navy surplus store.

This is completely about sending a message to the people at home - stay in your place and do as you're told or we'll get you. Oh Big Brother - were that you were only watching...

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Breeze54

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Wed Jun-13-07 05:06 PM
Response to Reply #14

17. He had removed all traces of identification from it!!

That major was PO'd about an e-mail Kokesh sent him about the war!

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Pastiche423

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:29 PM
Response to Original message

8. Does he get to keep his pension

or whatever it's called?

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TwilightGardener

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:33 PM
Response to Reply #8

10. I don't think he was a retiree, was he?

Edited on Wed Jun-13-07 03:34 PM by wienerdoggie

As far as other VA benefits, he would get to keep them, I think.

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Pastiche423

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:44 PM
Response to Reply #10

11. Almost

From the artucle:

His IRR service had been scheduled to end June 18; Kokesh had received an honorable discharge from active duty in November.

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silvermachine

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:47 PM
Response to Reply #10

13. It depends...

Edited on Wed Jun-13-07 03:48 PM by silvermachine

...there are 2 types of general discharges: a "regular" general discharge, then there is also something called a general discharge under honorable conditions. With the former, I think it does impact your benefits. The latter does not and you can petition for the "general under honorable conditions" to be upgraded to a regular "honorable discharge" after a waiting period of a couple of years.

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petunia.here

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Wed Jun-13-07 03:45 PM
Response to Original message

12. This sets a terrible precedent.

He got to keep his benefits but who knows what will happen to the next soldier?

Gotta keep those boys and girls in line.

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demnan

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Wed Jun-13-07 04:14 PM
Response to Original message

15. I had the pleasure of meeting Adam

he accompanied us to Congressman Davis' office to discuss impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney (see website below). Adam is a wonderful and personable young man. The Iraq Veterans against the war are a dedicated group and the Veterans for Peace also backed Adam. This is outrageous!

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Breeze54

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Wed Jun-13-07 05:04 PM
Response to Original message

16. What a load of crap!! This is BS!!!

This pisses me off!!! He deserves Honorable!!

That's what he already had!! :grr:

He was already honorably discharged and only had two weeks to go!!

They reactivated him just to bust him down!! Fuckers!!! :nuke:

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