Rick Moran interviews soldier who spoke up at Yearly Kos "This Is Part Of The Battlefield"

Hot Air ^ | 8/5/07

[bnelson44]

His name is David Aguina and he’s an Army reservist. His UCMJ claims against Soltz seem thin to me — Article 88 prohibits “contemptuous words” directed at the president, not criticism, and Article 91 seems to apply only to lower-ranking soldiers and only when on duty — but it’s hard not to be moved by his story about his experience with Iraqis.

Meanwhile, via LGF, one of the yKos panelists parries right-wing criticism of the incident with some clever stammering about chickenhawks. Unmentioned in his post: Glenn Greenwald, Atrios, Max Blumenthal, Ken Layne, and the countless millions of other military-age liberals who all presumably support the war in Afghanistan and yet inexplicably haven’t beaten a path down to the local recruiting station after 9/11. Charles Johnson notes in an update an irony I noted myself in my post about this on Friday: Kos himself recently complained about the regs prohibiting vets from wearing their uniforms to political events. Here’s a further irony for you: the dKos diarist who wrote this is himself a member of VoteVets, a group which, like Vets for Freedom, explicitly seeks to derive political advantage from the fact that they’ve worn the uniform. And so I repeat my question from yesterday. Did anyone there really think Aguina was “representing the military,” especially given the fact that he was outnumbered in the room by vets who oppose the war?

 

[bnelson44]

An appeal to support the mission that active members of the military can sign:

[Free Vulcan]

Kos bitching about being called chickenhawks while hypocritically calling right-wing bloggers warmongers. Classic Marxist double standard.

[bnelson44]

When Sergeant David D. Aguina stepped up to the microphone at the YearlyKos forum on the panel on “The Military and Progressives: Are they that Different?” and began to quietly rebut many of the points that had been made about the failure of “The Surge,” he knew he wouldn’t have an easy time of it. That is why he prepared a four-inch thick loose leaf binder full of charts, graphs, releases from the Department of Defense, the State Department, and Central Command, as well as articles from the mainstream media.

But for all his preparation, he was still taken by surprise when one of the panelists, John Soltz, founder of the anti-war group Votevets.Org, took him to task and silenced him on the grounds that Aguina was wearing his uniform while expressing his political opinions.

[bnelson44]

ping

[Texas Eagle]

Aguina also pointed out that Stolz violated the code of behavior between a commissioned and non commissioned officer. “Article 91,” he said, forbids a commissioned officer from criticizing a non commissioned officer, and behaving in the “condescending” manner in which he was treated. “People in that audience didn’t have to see an American soldier be as rude and disrespectful toward another American soldier.”

Heh, heh. What's good for the goose.

[bnelson44]

“If I’m in violation of AR670-1 which is the regulation he brought up, then he’s in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 88 which says no commissioned officer can criticize a government official.”

Aguina also pointed out that Stolz violated the code of behavior between a commissioned and non commissioned officer. “Article 91,” he said, forbids a commissioned officer from criticizing a non commissioned officer, and behaving in the “condescending” manner in which he was treated. “People in that audience didn’t have to see an American soldier be as rude and disrespectful toward another American soldier.”

[mountn man]

Kos himself recently complained about the regs prohibiting vets from wearing their uniforms to political events.

So is Kos a political entity or not? The IRS and FEC would like to know.

[SandRat]

Interesting dog fight there.

[Tut]

I was reminded what the rules were on this.

when participating in activities such as public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, rallies or any public demonstration (including those pertaining to civil rights), which may imply Service sanction of the cause for which the demonstration or activity is conducted.

Sure enough, it said it But I'm wondering if I read that out of context. on page Chapter 11

It says the following.

11002. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DIRECTIVES PERTAINING TO UNIFORMS

1. Implementing 10 U.S.C. 772, the President, by Executive Order 10554 of 18 August 1954, delegated to the Secretary of Defense the authority to prescribe regulations under which persons may wear the uniform. The following excerpts from DoD Directive 1334.1 of 11 August 1969 outline these regulations:

a. Members of the Armed Forces (including retired members and members of reserve components). The wearing of the uniform is prohibited under any of the following circumstances:


(1) At any meeting or demonstration which is a function of, or sponsored by an organization, association, movement, group, or combination of persons which the Attorney General of the United States has designated, pursuant to E.O. 10450, as amended as totalitarian, fascist, communist, or subversive, or as having adopted a policy of advocating or approving the commission of acts of force or violence to deny others their rights under The Constitution of the United States, or as seeking to alter the form of Government of the United States by unconstitutional means.

(2) During or in connection with the furtherance of political activities, private employment or commercial interests, when an inference of official sponsorship for the activity or interest could be drawn.

(3) Except when authorized by competent Service authority, when participating in activities such as public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, rallies or any public demonstration (including those pertaining to civil rights), which may imply Service sanction of the cause for which the demonstration or activity is conducted.

(4) When wearing of the uniform would tend to bring discredit upon the Armed Forces.

(5) When specifically prohibited by regulations of the department concerned.

[ishabibble]

Here is another soldier taking on Moran and Murtha at a townhall meeting. Look at these fools!

http://michellemalkin.com/2006/01/07/video-a-veteran-tells-off-murthamoran/

[lentulusgracchus]

So is Kos a political entity or not? The IRS and FEC would like to know.

Seeing that they injected themselves into the Democratic primary in Connecticut to deny Joe Lieberman renomination for the Senate, a fair-minded person would have to say yes.

[TNdandelion]

What I don't understand is their (Kos') concern over military personnel speaking in uniform.

Which leads me to think that either they are wimpy wannabees who couldn't hold a candle to the Jane Fondas and John Kerrys of the '60's era politicos or they are full of $h*t when trying to claim that their concern was that him speaking in uniform was illegal and it had nothing to do with what he had to say.

Since when did following the letter of the law matter when it comes to bashing this administration and politicians/policies they disagree with?

[drpix]

"This Is Part Of The Battlefield"

Truer and more urgently needed words have never been spoken!

Communist Vietnamese Generals like Giap knew it.

Jihadi Al-Qaeda leaders like Zawahiri know it.

About time ALL America knows it!

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Gee, all this because one of his “brothers and sisters in uniform” showed up uninvited just think what Kos would do if a “mercenary” showed up.

[VMI Marine]

Which leads me to think that either they are wimpy wannabees who couldn't hold a candle to the Jane Fondas and John Kerrys of the '60's era politicos or they are full of $h*t when trying to claim that their concern was that him speaking in uniform was illegal and it had nothing to do with what he had to say.

It doesn't matter, the fact is that SGT Aguina set himself up to be easily silenced by violating AR 670-1. If he had shown up in civilian clothes and been ignored, then you could say that it was because they didn't want to hear dissenting opinions. But by violating Army and DOD regulations, he gave them the high ground. It was a bad move on his part.

[Hot Tabasco]

Votevets.Org, took him to task and silenced him on the grounds that Aguina was wearing his uniform while expressing his political opinions,

I feel for the guy, it was a lose/lose situation for him. Had he not worn his uniform he would have been called a phony........thats just the way that socialist hypocrites work.

[kcvl]

VoteVets.org is “part of a coalition of liberal groups organized by Americans United for Change that includes labor unions and liberal groups

VoteVets.org has both a political action committee (PAC) and non-profit 501(c)(4), which primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on behalf veterans and their families.. It was co-founded in 2006 by Jon Soltz and Jeremy Broussard.

Maybe we should check out their ‘non partisan, non profit’ status.

[kcvl]

Contributions to a 501(c)(3) organization can be claimed against income tax but donations to a 501(c)(4) entity cannot.

From a fundraising point of view it is much harder to raise money for a 501(c)(4) group, because individual donors cannot deduct the contributions from their taxable income. However, such organizations are free to spend as much of their funds as they like lobbying on legislation.

However, what constitutes lobbying - defined as urging a vote on legislation - and educational activities is one of gray zones that is constantly debated.

civic 501(c)(4) organizations, federal law prohibits direct contributions to candidates in federal races

Civic 501(c)(4) organizations can take some steps to endorse or oppose candidates, as long as these steps are not the primary activities of the organization.

[TNdandelion]

I don’t disagree except to that it’s laughable that this particular group cares about military/DOD regulations. There’s no doubt he gave them room for a legitimate argument but who would believe it?

[MSF BU]

Kos is an interesting dude; hung out at Fort Sill for a few years and promptly took his benefits and got a poly sci degree. There’s money well spent!