I'm a Soldier, Not a Spy (Army Officer Commits Career Suicide in WaPo)

The Washington Post ^ | Friday, December 30, 2005 | Lt. Col. Grant Doty

[kristinn]

As Americans take stock of the news that the government has been involved in domestic warrantless eavesdropping as well as surveillance of "potentially threatening people or organizations inside the United States," many people are troubled, including me.

Although the government may be interested in my ACLU membership, my wife's participation in war protests or my affiliation with the liberal United Church of Christ, my real anxiety stems from the fact that I am a soldier and may now be under suspicion from my friends and neighbors.

Specifically, given the information slowly leaking out of Washington, it may not be farfetched for some to think that when I "stumble across people or information" that might be of interest to the government, I might report it to the Pentagon's three-year-old Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA).

While such a conclusion would be false (I hadn't heard of CIFA before reading about it in the news this month), in an Orwellian world, the protestations of someone labeled the "eyes and ears" of the state are reasonably suspect.

What makes me think that the people with whom I interact regularly will somehow believe I won't report suspect words and actions? ...SNIP... I attend night law school, frequently in uniform, and through the social network of law students know when the gay, lesbian and bisexual organization is planning to lead the picketing of Judge Advocate General Corps recruiters who come to campus.

Yes, I took an oath to defend the United States against all enemies "foreign and domestic," but the implication of domestic intelligence-gathering by the military, even by a limited number of soldiers, should be sufficiently disturbing for American citizens in and out of uniform that we think long and hard about crossing the line, even a little.

[kristinn]

The Post notes this is Army Lt. Col. Doty's personal views. It looks like he's ready for a career change.

[madprof98]

Although the government may be interested in my ACLU membership, my wife's participation in war protests or my affiliation with the liberal United Church of Christ . . .

I thought we weren't allowed to post stuff from The Onion.

[ken5050]

Possibly been passed over for the 3rd time...

[reluctantwarrior]

Article 85 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice

Failure to report acts contrary to good order or discipline or acts of a seditious nature.

He mouthed the words of the oath but he didn't truly take the oath.

[Irish Eyes]

.....my real anxiety stems from the fact that I am a soldier and may now be under suspicion from my friends and neighbors.

Yup.... I agree, a career change is certinly in order.

[Salvey]

Probably a sleeper, planted by the RAT-left in the military so that he could do as much damage as possible at the "proper time."

[rbg81]

Although the government may be interested in my ACLU membership, my wife's participation in war protests or my affiliation with the liberal United Church of Christ, my real anxiety stems from the fact that I am a soldier and may now be under suspicion from my friends and neighbors.

Hmmm...Sounds his ACLU and UCC "friends" have been pressuring him to stab the Army in the back. Being that he is a Lt Col (no doubt nearing retirement) and a law school student, me may have figured its time to do just that.

[rellimpank]

--Specifically, given the information slowly leaking out of Washington, it may not be farfetched for some to think that when I "stumble across people or information" that might be of interest to the government, I might report it to the Pentagon's three-year-old Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA).--

--if it pertained to national security, I would think it would be his duty to do so--

[Incorrigible]

There was another officer that wrote a similar letter (style if not substance) to Stars & Stripes recently as well.

Perhaps dressing like a woman (ala Klinger) wasn't getting the desired results.

[verity]

"Although the government may be interested in my ACLU membership, my wife's participation in war protests or my affiliation with the liberal United Church of Christ, my real anxiety stems from the fact that I am a soldier and may now be under suspicion from my friends and neighbors."

His career should have been over a long time ago.

[kristinn]

If this is the same officer, it looks like he hitched his wagon to the wrong star.

 Lakeland Community College will host an International Forum on Monday, May 1, 2000 from Noon to 1:00 pm in Room H-1095 on Kosovo, The Dilemma of Nationalism. Major Grant Doty, Special Assistant to the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs will be the speaker.

Major Grant Doty, 1999-2000 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow, is currently a special assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.  His portfolio includes Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo.  He is an active duty Army officer whose previous assignments included a tour as an Asst. Professor of International Relations at the United States Military Academy and various combat engineer troop assignments.  He received his BS from USMA in 1988 and a MA from Yale in 1996.

[snarks_when_bored]

He's probably got his eye on becoming a commentator on CNN after his term of service is over. Ambition has no political affiliation.

[2banana]

Yes, I took an oath to defend the United States against all enemies "foreign and domestic,"

And just what do you think a muslim fanatic calling his HQ in Yeman on what subway to bomb in America exactly is...?

[Leisler]

Here's the original letter (Grant redacted the author's name, even though it was published in Stars and Stripes):
From a little Googleing.

As a Marine colonel based in Iraq, I am offended that the supposed "newspaper" of the services would choose to include Doonesbury, that left-wing-subcutaneous slandering-piece-of-crap comic by Gary Trudeau. Can't Stripes find anything better on which to spend its money?
And here is Grant's reply, which the military paper has not yet published (although it has published several other letters defending the comic strip):


After reading the recent rant against the marvelously insightful, frequently irreverent, and always entertaining comic Doonesbury (i.e., "left-wing subcutaneous-slandering-piece-of-crap"), I am reminded of a quote from a small Vermont newspaper editor. While not intending to impugn the author of the rant, that Vermont editor wrote, "One of the values of the letters to the editor section of a newspaper is that it can open the mouths of fools." Keep Doonesbury and your letter to the editor section -- both provide a great service in support of freedom of speech and the press for which we are all fighting.
I'll give a big civilian salute to that.

[JimSEA]

Is there anyone delusional enough to think it possible for a person like this Lt. Col. to be by any means comfortable with a military career? How in the devil could he have survived to the point of becoming a LTC?

[smith288]

He has a swollen sense of importance if you ask me.

[Darkwolf377]

The legacy of Joe Wilson: Minor figures writing op-eds that scream "I'm actually a major player! Available for speeches and book deals!"

I can already see him on the book cover, in uniform, arms crossed, with the subtitle "How an Army Lt. Col. Defied a President...and Awakened a Nation".

[Tijeras_Slim]

He has a swollen sense of importance if you ask me.

Like that's rare with Colonels....

[paul51]

This twisted fool isn't fit to wear a uniform. I hope they run his ass out of the military. He can join his friends from the ACLU on the picket lines.