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Arnold's Austrian Military Record Raises Questions [AWOL]
KTVU.com ^ | 09/19/03

Posted on 09/19/2003 3:13:26 PM PDT by gubamyster

POSTED: 7:51 a.m. PDT September 19, 2003

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- At a time when the world was enveloped in the Cold War, Austrian teenagers were required to spend at least one year in the military. Among those young men was Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Now, a decision he made in those days may come back to haunt him during his recall campaign to replace Gray Davis.

KTVU has learned that the actor turned candidate went AWOL from the Austrian Army when he was 18 years old. Schwarzenegger climbed over a wall and attended a body building competition without permission from his superiors. He was imprisoned for seven days in a military stockade.

When asked about the incident at a campaign stop in Sacramento on Thursday, Schwarzenegger chose to let spokesman Sean Walsh speak for him.

"He broke the rules and he was punished for breaking the rules," Walsh said. "Some kids jay walk, some kids drive too fast and some kids break some infractions…He was a young, young man."

The revelation is just the latest incident involving Schwarzenegger, who also has been linked to smoking marijuana as a young man and also a magazine piece in which he admitted to using women merely for sex. U.C. Berkeley Political Scientist Jack Citrin said characater questions are becoming a growing problem for Schwarzenegger.

"You're talking about a person who's entire campaign to become governor is predicated upon his personal qualities," Citrin said. "His personal character, his strength, his ability to stand up to pressure…his willingness to do his duty. And so any news that chips away at that image is bound to have potential political consequences."

While admitting it was a serious violation, Austrian Consul General Donald Burns downplayed the incident.

"When his commanding officer found out about what had happened (Arnold won the competition) he said 'This is so good for the army, you can now train as an official part of your military experience.'"

Copyright 2003 by KTVU.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: arnold; awol; recall; schwarzenegger
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1 posted on 09/19/2003 3:13:26 PM PDT by gubamyster
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To: gubamyster
"Some kids jay walk, some kids drive too fast and some kids break some infractions…He was a young, young man." Since when AWOL has become a child's mistake?
2 posted on 09/19/2003 3:15:55 PM PDT by TopQuark
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To: gubamyster; BlackElk; TheAngryClam; churchillbuff; ElkGroveDan; Gophack; kellynla; ...
Alright look the other way everyone. If you say anything about this, or even mention that Arnold's pants were wrinkled yesterday, YOU are a Bustamante supporter.
3 posted on 09/19/2003 3:17:11 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (It's time for Arnold to stop splitting the Republican vote and step aside for the good of the party)
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To: gubamyster
And BustaMecha belonged to a radical latino seperatist group that sought to take back the south western United States by force if neccesary.

The point is?

4 posted on 09/19/2003 3:17:44 PM PDT by Weimdog
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To: TopQuark
A non issue. I don't rank an AWOL as nearly as bad as desertion or draft dodging.
5 posted on 09/19/2003 3:19:17 PM PDT by Enterprise
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To: gubamyster
Oh PUH-Leeeeesse....

If that's the best they can do, they better pack it in. Seven days AWOL?

Funny how character questions become such a vital issue when the candidate is a Republican (even if considered a RINO by most) but nothing but vile character assassination when a Republican questions a Democrat.

I wasn't eligible for a good conduct award my first hitch either. I would imagine a lot of FReeper vets could say the same.

6 posted on 09/19/2003 3:20:02 PM PDT by Ronin (When the fox gnaws -- smile!)
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To: ElkGroveDan
That $300,000 he spends every year on domestic help doesn't include the ironing.
7 posted on 09/19/2003 3:20:49 PM PDT by novacation
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To: Weimdog
The point is that last weekend's visa violation story went over like a lead balloon, so they're desperately trying to find something else this weekend.
8 posted on 09/19/2003 3:20:51 PM PDT by EllaMinnow (I'm half-Scottish, so I'm allowed...)
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To: Weimdog; hchutch; onyx; redlipstick; Miss Marple; PhiKapMom
And BustaMecha belonged to a radical latino seperatist group that sought to take back the south western United States by force if neccesary.

Has McClintock signed onto that agenda yet? He seems to be Bustamante's sock puppet of late...

9 posted on 09/19/2003 3:22:20 PM PDT by Poohbah ("[Expletive deleted] 'em if they can't take a joke!" -- Major Vic Deakins, USAF)
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To: gubamyster
Schwarzenegger should say that he went AWOL from the Austrian Army because he was ashamed that he wasn't serving as a United States Marine.

This is the *Austrian Army*, for Pete's sake. Who the Hell cares? Go get some goat-yodeler in leather short pants and suspenders to get indignant about this.

10 posted on 09/19/2003 3:22:59 PM PDT by The KG9 Kid
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To: redlipstick
I'm waiting for the story to break that Arnold has an unpaid traffic ticket in Vienna that he received in 1971.
11 posted on 09/19/2003 3:23:18 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: TopQuark
Since when AWOL has become a child's mistake?

AWOL is not that big of an infraction. You can be AWOL just by being late to formation one morning.

Cowardice or Desertion on the other hand .. especially during a time of war or in the face of the enemy is far more serious.

12 posted on 09/19/2003 3:23:33 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Islam : totalitarian political ideology / meme cloaked under the cover of religion)
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To: Ronin
It doesn't say how long he went AWOL for. He was locked up for 7 days after though.
13 posted on 09/19/2003 3:24:13 PM PDT by bitcon
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To: gubamyster
"Schwarzenegger climbed over a wall and attended a body building competition..."

Definitely puts his heart into whatever he is doing.

In any event, the extent of the opposition research into Arnold is amazing. Tells me that the Rats are running scared. BTW, any recent polls? Hmmmm. Most curious. Oh, I'm sure the LA Slimes will out one this weekend with "Support for recall slides further, McClintock surges past AWOL Actor" headlines or somesuch. (Pool-422 adults, 198 Davis appointees and 17 Indian tribes. MOE 45%)...

14 posted on 09/19/2003 3:24:43 PM PDT by eureka! (Rats and Presstitutes lie--they have to in order to survive.....)
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To: Dog Gone
I'm waiting for the story to break that Arnold has an unpaid traffic ticket in Vienna that he received in 1971.

Don't forget the one he got for spitting on the sidewalk in Salzburg a year later. Revoke his citizenship and deport the scofflaw, I say! (c8

15 posted on 09/19/2003 3:24:54 PM PDT by Poohbah ("[Expletive deleted] 'em if they can't take a joke!" -- Major Vic Deakins, USAF)
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To: Poohbah
Isn't that the truth.
16 posted on 09/19/2003 3:24:58 PM PDT by annyokie (One good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others.)
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To: redlipstick
Yep, and they leave the best sentence for the end -

"When his commanding officer found out about what had happened (Arnold won the competition) he said 'This is so good for the army, you can now train as an official part of your military experience.'"

The Bustamante/Davis machine in overdrive!
17 posted on 09/19/2003 3:25:29 PM PDT by Weimdog
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To: gubamyster
This is pathetic even for muck rakers. And exactly how relevant is Austrian military service relating to the Governor's mansion in CA?

Bustamente must be spooked.
18 posted on 09/19/2003 3:25:44 PM PDT by finnman69 (!)
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To: Centurion2000
AWOL is not that big of an infraction. You can be AWOL just by being late to formation one morning.

You and I know that that was not what happened. And being absent for days is no small infraction.

19 posted on 09/19/2003 3:26:26 PM PDT by TopQuark
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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