Posted on 08/31/2021 9:39:55 AM PDT by Red Badger
Top leadership at the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) informed active duty and retired service members that they cannot condemn President Joe Biden amid the chaotic — and now deadly — pullout of American troops from Afghanistan.
In an email from the ONI’s Chief of Staff, ONI members were reminded that per a Uniform Code of Military Justice and Department of Defense Directive clause they cannot disrespect senior government leadership. This includes the President, Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, and more.
The email reads:
Given the heightened political and social atmosphere surrounding Afghanistan, it is important to remind our uniformed personnel (active duty and reservists on temporary active duty) and military retirees of their responsibilities and obligations under Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Department of Defense Directive 1344.10. While it is vital to protect the constitutional right of freedom of expression for these groups, consistent with mission accomplishment, national security, and good order and discipline, it’s important to remember certain limitations. Namely, uniformed personnel and military retirees are prohibited from disrespecting senior government leadership (e.g. the President, Vice President, Congress, Secretary of Defense, Service Secretaries, etc.).
Per the same uniformed personnel policy, ONI members cannot participate in partisan political activity or distribute partisan political literature. An internal ONI member told The Daily Wire that these policies were more relaxed under the Trump administration and recalled retired officers condemning the former President.
The email continues to claim that the policy extends to ONI “civilians” as well. These members were specifically directed to avoid “being too vocal in criticism of, say, the President.”
The email reads:
Even for civilians, you are reminded of the danger that your public comments will/could be attributed to ONI or the Department of Defense. While you are entitled to your opinion and to share your opinion amongst those you know and trust, being too vocal in criticism of, say, the President or members of the military and civilian leadership may reflect poorly on ONI. It is important to share your opinions, if you choose to do so, in a professional manner that does not call into question your employment, the Department of Defense, or the federal government as a whole.
The direction for ONI members to stay silent was delivered on August 23. The directive has not shifted following the death of 13 U.S. service members in a suicide bombing near the Kabul airport.
In other portions of the email, ONI members are reassured that their investment in the Afghanistan war was not a waste of time. They were also directed to military crisis lines if they needed help following the fallout.
“After Kabul fell to the Taliban last week, the scenes of chaos and desperation have been hard for all Americans to watch, especially for those of us in the national security establishment, as well as those who served selflessly in Afghanistan over the last 20 years,” the ONI Chief of Staff said. “Watching the Taliban sweep back into power after two decades of investment can be a bitter pill to swallow”
The Department of Defense did not immediately to the Daily Wire’s request for comment. This article will be updated accordingly if comment is received.
The ONI is now in the awkward position of having to enforce its missive.
First in with But trashing President Trump was just fine?
They CAN disrespect him, and do. They are NOT ALLOWED to disrespect him.
I understand active duty, but retirees or veterans is BS.
Forced respect for the leaders. Very soviet of them.
By having sensed the need to give that message - they’re ADMITTING that the ill will is THERE, and sufficiently felt to REQUIRE the message!😲
So sayeth the Commissariat.
Trash him? They didn’t even obey his orders!
Bookmark
In other words coverup for the incompetence or lose your job
Next, they’ll issue a directive to...
obey or get beheaded, or get sent to an American Gulag.
If you eat from their table....
A smart Veteran knows how to humiliate someone without showing disrespect.
Many retired intelligence officials - I don’t know whether any were specifically INI - criticized Trump either publicly or off the record, and I don’t recall anyone in the active intelligence community telling them they needed to shut up.
They can disrespect the senior active duty Naval officers who went along with Biden's insane withdrawal strategy.
The last thing we need is a lot of decent officers resigning or being discharged. This would leave the entire military in the hands of woke generals.
Actually watching them sweep into power in two days after having been there for 20 years meaning we never controlled anything they didnt want us to think we controlled is the bitter pill to swallow.
I get the active duty stuff, Art 88 and all, but how do they claim control over retirees? They can court martial a retiree for something done while on active service, but for something done as a private citizen, I don’t see it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.