Military Double Standards on Radical Muslims, Freedom of Political Speech

Via Paul Hair at Foreign and Domestic Intelligencer.

U.S. Troops have been getting in trouble for political speech during the past few months. First, there was the Soldier who appeared on stage in uniform at a Ron Paul rally. Then, a Marine got in trouble for his opinions.

It’s interesting how things change in just a few years. You see, a few years back U.S. Muslim Soldier Nasser Abdo appeared on Al-Jazeera TV (in full uniform) to denounce the U.S. Abdo never got in trouble for doing this; he only got in trouble after the government allegedly found him in possession of child porn and later still after he allegedly planned to massacre U.S. Troops a la Nidal Hasan.

On or about the same time, U.S. Muslim Soldier Zachari Klawonn went on Al-Jazeera TV (in full uniform) to denounce the U.S.

And if CNSNews.com is accurate, not only did Klawonn not get in trouble for doing this, the Army actually approved his right to do what he did.

From CNSNews.com:
“A spokesman for Fort Hood told CNSNews.com that, as an American, Klawonn had a right to express his views and that he had informed his commanding officer that he was going to appear on Al-Jazeera. The spokesman said the Army did not agree with what Klawonn said.”

Also from CNSNews.com:
“Chris Haug, Army branch chief of media relations for Fort Hood, told CNSNews.com that Klawonn has the right to share his personal opinions with the media, even though the Army disagrees with the statements Klawonn made, which Haug said were “inaccurate.”
“He’s an American citizen” Haug said. “As long as there is no security risk, the military can’t stop him from speaking to groups like Al-Jazeera or saying these type of things.”

Haug said Klawonn informed his battalion commander that he would be speaking to Al-Jazeera.

“(Klawonn) informed Lt. Col. Douglas White about this interview on August 24th at 8:23 a.m.,” Haug said. “He expressed an interest in raising the Muslim awareness around the post–to express a positive image for Muslims, and so forth. He’s been working directly with our spiritual fitness center. There’s been quite a bit of movement in terms of movement in the Muslim community in a very positive way.”

That was 2010. The rules are no longer the same.

Various Milbloggers have ridiculed and/or condemned the Soldier at the Paul rally and the Marine who expressed his opinions, saying that Troops do not have the same free speech rights as civilians. And I’m sure people will find minor details on how Abdo’s and Klawonn’s cases are different from what the Paul supporter and Marine did, and therefore they will claim the Muslim Soldiers were right while the Paul supporter and Marine were wrong. I get that. And I get that there used to be a standard for what Troops could and could not do.

Any Milblogger who thinks the muslims are right has a shit factory for a brain, especially in light of the terrorist acts that back up the muzzies’ incendiary rhetoric. Islam is a violent theocracy that advocates the overthrow of the West for a new Caliphate. The Koran teaches them that Christians, Jews, ‘infidels’, and ‘unbelievers’ should be killed in the name of allah. Muslims should be barred from serving in the United States armed forces, regardless if they attempt to enlist or whether they convert afterward.

But what we are witnessing is Alinsky-ism at its finest: use our own morals/standards to destroy us. In other words, the left is counting on conservatives and others who are Right-of-left to condemn and destroy anyone (Right or left) who speaks contrary to the leftist agenda while currently serving in the Armed Forces (even while not in uniform). At the same time, the left will never do the same. The left is counting on conservatives saying, “Just because they aren’t doing the right thing doesn’t give us the right to do the wrong thing too. We’re better than that.” This behavior is entirely acceptable and correct in civil society or when dealing on an individual basis. But it is completely unacceptable—indeed, suicidal—when reacting to a tactic that is being used as a weapon in a war (yes, a war) to destroy us in a completely uncivil society. And that is exactly what is happening in America today: leftists are forcing conservatives to play by a set of rules designed to cripple and destroy us even as they have no intention of doing the same.

Thankfully, some conservatives seem to recognize this tactic. OneNewsNow reports on how the American Civil Rights Union (ACRU) is voicing support for the Marine (and noting double standards). And The Marine Corps Times is reporting on how Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)—himself a Marine veteran—isn’t ready to roll over on this issue either. Congratulations to these conservatives; it is encouraging to see that not all of us are yet ready to surrender on this issue.

Personally, I have thought about how U.S. Troops can avoid this new crackdown on speech—at least how Reservists and Guardsmen can. Running for office provides a Reservist or Guardsman a whole lot more leeway of what he can and cannot say; what he can and cannot do. And with this in mind, for such Troops who realize what is going on and what is at stake, running for office (even if one thinks his chances of winning are slim) is a legal and moral way to get the same speech rights that American civilians enjoy . . . including American civilians who regularly cheer for our death and defeat, and otherwise hate our guts.

His point about Reserve/National Guard versus Active Duty is correct. Weekend warriors have a lot more room for freedom of speech.  They can express their opinions and campaign for causes and politicians from their civilian positions.  Active-duty personnel aren’t that lucky. When I was deployed to Bosnia in 1999, I  approached a JAG officer over a letter I wanted to write to a newspaper editor that was highly critical of Bubba Clinton’s wag-the-dog war, Chinagate treason, Travelgate, and Filegate. I was told point-blank that I would have to wait until the scumbag was out of office before I could publish it.

When it comes to certain forms of free speech, the military tends to pick and choose what it tolerates.  The in-your-face gay rights faction finally got DADT eliminated and can now serve openly in the armed forces. Radical muslims bad-mouth the United States and other religious denominations on MEMRI and Al Jazeera, without getting called on the carpet by their commanders. Christian chaplains, on the other hand, have been pressured to remove any mention of Christ from their prayers.

Article 89 of the UCMJ states:

“Any person subject to this chapter who behaves with disrespect toward his superior commissioned officer shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”

Directive 1344 4.1.2. A member of the Armed Forces on active duty shall not:

4.1.2.1. Participate in partisan political fundraising activities (except as permitted in subparagraph 4.1.1.7.), rallies, conventions (including making speeches in the course thereof), management of campaigns, or debates, either on one’s own behalf or on that of another, without respect to uniform or inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement. Participation includes more than mere attendance as a spectator.

4.1.2.6. Participate in any radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.

The muzzies seem to have slipped past the military censors on that bolded section of the regulation.

This whole selective oppression by the military hierarchy has some pretty despicable anti-American overtones.   Pandering to Islamo-thugs has been part of SOP since 9/11.  Muslim terrorist operative Anwar al Awlaki was recruited by the Army to train muslim chaplains.  An Ohio Army Reserve public affairs unit paid a friendly visit to a mosque that is a known terrorist sponsor.  The DOD classifies muslim acts of terrorism against the military as “workplace violence”. The Pentagon leadership, Obama, and military commanders have all shamefully embarrassed the United States by kowtowing over Koran burnings.

Gawd, I really hope Romney gets elected in November. If he does, one of the first orders of business should be to call in the commanding generals of every branch of the armed forces and tell them in no uncertain terms that the Dhimmi bullshit over ‘offending’ muslims is hereby shitcanned.  All of them should remember that we are at war with the very Islamo-swine they ass-kiss.  If they can’t deal with that, it’s time to submit their retirement papers.

Related articles

• Military Makes Special Exceptions for Muslim Soldiers’ Political Speech (atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com)
• Free Speech for Muslims in US military, but not non-Muslims (creepingsharia.wordpress.com)
• http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2012/03/30/military-excuses-muslim-soldiers-political-speech-in-uniform (Breitbart)