1LT Lieutenant Paul Rieckhoff (RY'-kawf) ARNG

[SandRat]

This Guard Officer who recently returned from Iraq saying the action was sadly planned and carried out first conspired with the Kerry campaign and then the Democratic Party and ultimately gave the party "SPIN" to President Bush's Saturday radio address.

This is well documented in New York Times May 2, 2004 edition headlined "National Guard Officer Offers Criticism Of Bush's Iraq Plans" by Anthony Ramirez.

Research of the many stories indicates that "this Officer" is now in Manhattan but that his former unit was Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, Florida National Guard.

I don't know what either the Florida or New York National Guard regulations are or which Adjutant General now is the "Courts Martial Convening Authority" over him but, were he still on active service, even as a Guard Officer, he would be facing an ARTICLE 32 hearing right now for his contemptible actions as a prelude to a General Couts Martial.

He has every right, once he is wholly a private citizen, to do what he did but, NOT as he and the lame stream media so like to loudly proclaim; "1st LT!"

If all you Freepers out there in New York and Florida would take the time to write their State Adjutant General to complain about this embarrassment of an officer, I think we can knock the "up and coming next generational Kerry Wanna-Be" off his high horse.

Provided for your thought are the applicable UCMJ ARTICLEs.

ART. 88. CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS 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.

ART. 92. FAILURE TO OBEY ORDER OR REGULATION Any person subject to this chapter who -

(1) violates or fails to obey any lawful general order or regulation;

(2) having knowledge of any other lawful order issued by a member of the armed forces, which it is his duty to obey, fails to obey the order; shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

ART. 133. CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN Any commissioned officer, cadet, or midshipman who is convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

[SandRat]

If retired military in NY and FL would write and complain to the State Adjutant General we might get some accountability placed on this 1LT with a 2LT's mouth and a KAY-dets brain.

Who knows, in discovery we might even drag the Kerry camp in for conspiracy to commit sedition?

Wouldn't that be fun to watch?!!!

[SandRat]

Time for a Courts Martial!!!!

[TrueBeliever9]

Some thoughts!

[68skylark]

Oh, would you give it a rest?

First, Guardsmen who aren't on duty have pretty much the same first amendment rights as other -- so he's done no crime.

Second, prosecution would just put him back in the news.

Lastly, the Adjutants General have real work to do. The country is at war. They don't need citizens pestering their office.

[Lucky Dog]

First, Guardsmen who aren't on duty have pretty much the same first amendment rights as other -- so he's done no crime.

You are incorrect. Any military member, active, reserve, guard, or even retired, is subject to the restrictions of the UCMJ cited in this post. The individual cited in this post publicly identified himself by his rank which removes any semblance of the protection you cited.

Finally, there is the issue of civilian control of the military. For military members to involve themselves in politics beyond basic citizenship rights of voting and a few other limited categories is to undermine this important principle. This separation is one the cornerstones of a free and democratic politcal process as opposed to juntas and coup-d'etat actions.

[68skylark]

I'm not going to argue with the nonsense I'm hearing on this thread.

[waRNmother.armyboots]

Thanks. I posted the contact numbers the other day for this Guardsman's unit and the post was pulled.

[waRNmother.armyboots]

Thank you for your post confirming what I had said on my thread that was pulled the other day. I gave contact info (phone numbers) for the Guard unit. I was verbally assaulted by several freepers who stated that he could do whatever he wanted. Thank you for backing me up. If you in the inactive or active military and the Guard is part of the military then you are not to be doing what this Guardsman is doing. It is a violation of the Hatch Act.

[aft_lizard]

I disagree. In fact there have been active reservist and Guardsmen who have ran for political office, including one from Tempe AZ here who ran as an openly gay man, of course he was reprimanded for being gay but not for being political.

[68skylark]

Well then you had better call Sen. L. Graham and tell him he's going to be prosecuted. You had better call Rep. Steve Buyer and tell him he's going to be prosecuted. You had better let Rep. Mark Kirk know he's going to be prosecuted.

All these great Republican politicians make political statements, and they all mention their reserve military status. If you want to try to get these people in trouble, I'm sure our friends on the left will love to help you out. You'll make their day.

[El Gato]

You are incorrect. Any military member, active, reserve, guard, or even retired, is subject to the restrictions of the UCMJ cited in this post. The individual cited in this post publicly identified himself by his rank which removes any semblance of the protection you cited.

Guardsmen are not, in general, subject to the UCMJ when not in a duty status. However use of one's affiliation for partisian political purposes is one exception to that statement, IIRC. (It's been a long time since I was a guardsman, and almost as long since I was an active reservist.)

[waRNmother.armyboots]

The problem is the use of his status as a Guardsman in the partisan political way and in addition to his public questioning of his Commander in Chief. Even active duty can attend political rallies, but they cannot identify themselves as active military or indicate that they are speaking on behalf of miliary members and they under no circumstances are allowed to attend functions that question or run contrary to the current mission of the military.

[SandRat]

There are also variations in each state but generally they follow the UCMJ, Service, DoD regs/directives especially what is identified as blatent political activity where your military rank is used for some form of self-gain.

[optimistically_conservative]

Paul's done nothing administratively or criminally wrong.

http://www.gordon.army.mil/osja/pamp.htm

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Happy2BMe]

This guy must have been studying Kerry's moves on Nixon in the early 70's.

It is widely believed that Kerry participated in rallies while still on active duty with the Vietnam Veterans Against The War (VVAW).

"I don't know what either the Florida or New York National Guard regulations are or which Adjutant General now is the "Courts Martial Convening Authority" over him but, were he still on active service, even as a Guard Officer, he would be facing an ARTICLE 32 hearing right now for his contemptible actions as a prelude to a General Couts Martial."

[devolve]

Such as when John Kerry signed out fraudulently while on active duty (not reserves!), put his civvies on, and flew Bobby Kennedy's former speechwriter and anti-war protest rally organizer to that NY VVAW rally?

source -- Harvard Crimson

Kerry's own confessed words to Crimson staff

[TrueBeliever9]

You are RIGHT ON H2B! He is modeling himself after Kerry! I saw him on TV the other day and I was very troubled by him! Another opportunist who will hurt our troops in combat to further his ambitions!

[SandRat]

Don’t know if First Lt. Paul Rieckhoff was under the authority of the NY AG or the FL AG at the time that he conspired with Sen. Kerry and the DNC to lambaste the President but, here are mail, phone and email addresses for both AGs for those of you in NY or FL who wish to express your outrage at his behavior in presenting himself as a representative of the National Guard endorsing using his Guard Rank to speak for a specific political party.

Major General Thomas P. Maguire
The Adjutant General/Commander of New York
330 Old Niskayuna Road
Latham, New York 12110-2224
(518) 786-4502
(518) 786-4325: Fax
thomas.maguire@ny.ngb.army.mil

Major General Douglas Burnett
The Adjutant General of Florida
P.O. Box 1008
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-1008
(904) 823-0100
(904) 823-0125: Fax
douglas.burnett@fl.ngb.army.mil

Just remember to be polite and that the LT is from Manhattan and gave his unit association as Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, Florida Army National Guard.

Be polite.

[potlatch]

Thanks for the ping and the information, SandRat!