Vets: Military is attacking free speech

Protesters in uniform could be downgraded, lose their benefits


The young combat veteran stared at the letter in disbelief when it arrived in his mailbox a few months ago.

The Marine Corps was recommending him for "other than honorable discharge." The letter alleged he had violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice by wearing part of his uniform during an anti-war rally. Furthermore, the letter accused him of being "disloyal," a word hard to swallow for a man who had risked his life to serve his nation.

"All this because I have publicly opposed the war in Iraq since I came back from it," said former Marine Sgt. Liam Madden, 22.

Madden is not alone.

At least two other combat veterans who have returned from tours in Iraq and become well-known anti-war advocates have seen the military recommend them for less-than-honorable discharges. One of them is a young man 80 percent disabled from two tours who was threatened with losing his veteran's disability benefits if he continued to protest in uniform.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-protest_bdjun24,1,3980880.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

What the hell were they thinking? That the Bill of Rights applied to them? Ha!

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

An enlistee is supposed to support and defend the Constitution, not to bask in its rights and enjoy the freedoms it offers!

They have to remember that they serve at the President's pleasure. In fact, we all serve him and our Glorious Government.

(Do I need the sarcasm thingie here?)