Don Brown: It's time for Trump to clean out corruption in the military justice system

Fox News ^ | June 14, 2019 | Don Brown

[jazusamo]

When I served as a Navy prosecutor in the early 1990s, the military justice system served America well. We stood alongside warfighting commanders to instill good order and discipline, with a goal of victory in combat.

If a Marine did not report for duty, we prosecuted him. If a sailor disobeyed a lawful order, a court-martial followed. If a Bo Bergdahl deserted the Army and conspired with the enemy while Americans died looking for him, we would prosecute the hell out of him and then throw away the key.

All of this supported a sharp, buffed-up, well-oiled military without extra fat, built to defeat the enemy.

How things have changed.

These days, corrupt military investigators and prosecutors follow a simple formula: prosecute a high-profile case, make national news, and then punch your ticket when you leave the Judge Advocate General's Corps.

Cha-ching, cha-ching.

This prosecutorial ambition is only part of the cancer. Outright corruption is a bigger problem.

This month in San Diego, Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher’s defense team exposed tons of prosecutorial corruption, revealing that Navy prosecutors spied on defense lawyers. (Gallagher is on trial for the "murder" of an Islamic State terrorist.) They made a mockery of the Fourth Amendment. Defense attorney Tim Parlatore also exposed Navy criminal investigators in the process.

When hauled before the military judge to explain the alleged spying, three Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents retreated like cowards and refused to testify. Imagine that! criminal investigators sworn to uphold the Constitution decided to hide behind the Fifth Amendment to cover their own tracks.

Navy Captain Capt. Aaron Rugh, the military judge, chided the NCIS agents, saying the "lack of candor or cooperation in this process, I think, could be huge as a sign of culpability."

No kidding.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The author is not wrong.

But I would not make it one of his top 500 priorities.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Eight long years of the ineligible Kenyan from Indonesia usurping the office of President has had many deleterious effects.

The Kenyanesian Usurpation could not have happened without the full cooperation of the GOP.

[DoughtyOne]

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[ClearCase_guy]

What worries me the hope some of us have that the Swamp will be drained through the mechanism of military justice. The belief is sometimes stated that the military has high loyalty to the presidency, expects the Constitution to be followed, and will not tolerate traitors.

But, if military justice itself is corrupted, then what hope do we have?

[wastoute]

We always seem to beleive some one else is going to come along and do it for us. We seem to be as stupid as libtards at times.

[rlmorel]

"...When I served as a Navy prosecutor in the early 1990s, the military justice system served America well..."

That assertion is open to discussion.

[DoughtyOne]

We’ve got a guy that is tackling some of the worst problems the nation has right now, and is fighting almost everyone to do he right thing for the nation, and yet some folks cannot find satisfaction in that. They want him to address 5,000 things at once. And if he did, they’d urge him to increase it to 5,013 things, then more.

You know, that’s a good way to make sure nothing much is completed.

Trump has duties that don’t include some of the fixes he’s working on. He has a full plate.

I think the guy works as hard as any president has. He reportedly doesn’t sleep all that much and he’s off on Twitter at odd hours getting his thoughts out so people know where he stands, absent twisting by the media.

He’s done some things I don’t care for, but he’s also doing his best on some issues nobody else would have even attempted.

I fear the time comes when he’s no longer at the helm.

The press will destroy the next guy we put in, if we can get them in.

I’d advise folks to enjoy these moments, because they won’t last forever. Even if you don’t like Trump now, you’ll soon learn how badly you screwed up by not savoring these moments while you had them.

Ugly times ahead...

[jazusamo]

MAGA!

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[rlmorel]

I personally have seen cases where justice was not the primary consideration, it was the preservation of the reputation of The Naval Service.

If you get caught in those finely grinding wheels, you may be unjustly ground up. And this is nothing new. Military justice is often more interested in the reputation of the military branch than being fair.

Not saying it is always unjust, just that it is not always just.

[ClearCase_guy]

Indeed. Who watches the watchmen?

[eyeamok]

This prosecutorial ambition is only part of the cancer. Outright corruption is a bigger problem.

This amoral behavior has permeated every facet of our society

[rlmorel]

It think it is always good to keep in mind the possibility that the military investigative services might be more interested in finding a bug to put a pin through than in making sure they have the right bug!

Not saying they will, but...wise to consider.

[JBW1949]

I believe the “rank and file” military has loyalty to the President...I can’t say that for the higher levels of command....

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

But I would not make it one of his top 500 priorities.

I would.

If you are going to have a good military you have to have a good military justice system.

[DesertRhino]

Also, the military justice system and it’s personnel was not deeply integrated with operational decisions. Now they get to approve targets, stand in judgement over infantry fights, etc.

They have become like political commissars in the Red Army of WWII.

If today’s military justice system was around in WWII, half the USMC in the pacific would have faced charges. Half of the US Army fighting invading Normandy and killing nazis would have faced charges.
They are part of a broad scheme to destroy the military and have largely succeeded. Fill it with women, homos and trannies. Promote officers based on globalist political alignment. Harass it with constant lawsuits. Make the shooters frightened to fight like soldiers by second guessing every move they make.

[PROCON]

When soldiers hesitate to defend themselves, fearing prosecution, they often come home in body bags.

I fear this occurred on many occasions.

[DesertRhino]

Oh yeah, it is not worth cleaning out a system where our warfighters are investigated like city cops every time they fire a round at the enemy.
Who could -ever- think stopping these prosecutions of innocent soldiers, marines and sailors should be a priority? /s

[DesertRhino]

True. That’s a fact.

[JonPreston]

I’d advise folks to enjoy these moments

Yes, indeed. I have awful thoughts about what will follow DJT. I pray I remain healthy enough to resist like the countless brave American patriots have before me.