Jury Convicts Army 'Birther' Who Refused Deployment to Afghanistan

FoxNews.com ^ | 12/15/2010 | Staff

[OldDeckHand]

A military jury has convicted an Army doctor who disobeyed orders to deploy to Afghanistan because he questions President Obama's eligibility for office.

[jamese777]

That’s a disgraceful comment.

Major Dobson had to pack his bags on short notice, taking Lakin’s spot in Afghanistan and tending to American soldiers wounded in battle He’s the one true hero in this whole pitiful affair.

---

Major Dobson testified that he had to leave a two year old child behind with two weeks’ notice to be deployed for six months and he had to miss his wife’s Bronze Star award ceremony because of Lakin.

[jamese777]

Quite frankly, the testimony of Major Dobson and his wife is immaterial, irrelevant, and BS. There is no direct cause and effect due to Lakin’s actions, and there is no excuse for Major Dobson not to be ready for duty, nor to be ready for the demands of the FOB medical requirements. Then the military either has the wrong person deployed or does not enough resources required to adequately take care of the FOB.

Lots of military families miss things, especially those called up to fight wars. It goes with the job, and military families know this.

---

We might know tomorrow whether the panel (jury) composed of eight Colonels feels the same way about Major Dobson’s testimony (and Major Dobson’s wife’s testimony, she is also an Army physician who won the Bronze Star in Afghanistan) as you do.

[tired_old_conservative]

Major Dobson simply testified to the truth of his deployment circumstance. Anyone who thinks it wasn't a pain for him has never been in the armed forces and forced to deploy on short notice. Heck, even in theater, when we were forced by circumstance to stop, pivot and go to the aid of another unit or operation, the sense of grievance was always palpable for the first day or so. It's just human nature.

[tired_old_conservative]

The nature of an unlawful order is well established in military law. It requires someone to order you top do something you know is illegal, and you better be dang sure about that since the burden of proof on that point is yours. Orders are presumptively assumed to be legal.

There's nothing illegal in the orders Lakin was given. And one person's factless suspicions about the President of the United States do not render all orders unlawful.

[April Lexington]

When will our Congress and Justices grow some and try him for treason?

When will WE grow some and dismantle the Fedgov??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[tired_old_conservative]

Time to disband the JAG Corps in all services. In the Lakin case they were just like the SS operating NAZI death camps. They were just “doing their job.”

If we want souless government functionaries then they need to be separate from the military. COL Lind is a disgrace to the uniform - there is nothing honorable in her. IMO she has spit on the constitution.

I hope when you calm down you still have the faculties to realize how insane the above is. Sane people don't compare the court martial of an officer who disobeyed an order to report to his superier's office to the SS and its functions. To do so is simply writing yourself out of serious conversation.

Colonel Lind is far more honorable than you. I don't see her salving her own ignorance by spewing hateful nonsense. And yes, you are completely ignorant of what the Constitution actually says about the military if you don't understand her rulings to date. She even spelled it out for, if basic reading comprehension is a skill you possess.

[tired_old_conservative]

The growing list of solid conservatives and patriots that have to be trashed in order to keep birtherism alive is stunning.

The military, the courts, all conservative media...the list goes on and on.

Well, that's what mindless anger does. It is unable to assemble arguments that reach the conclusion it wants, seethes at each new setback, and, being incapable of meaningful introspection, has no choice but to keep adding enemies to the list. The only alternative is to admit error, and that is inconceivable to an ego flush with anger. It can actually be soul destroying if you let it.

[STARWISE]

That’s a lousy sentiment and assessment, and we .. all of
us .. can’t let it be so.

Please .. don’t let that kind of sentiment take hold here,
and it very easily can, as we all see is possible on just
this one issue.

We have different viewpoints .. and we disagree ..and we
can do it with civility and calm, I pray, and it’s OK!

The press, liberals, White House, society .. the forces out
there are aligned to divide us. You can see it and feel it
building, the rhetoric getting more strident, and it can
happen very subtlely here if we’re not careful.

We can’t let FR get divided, contentious and all snarky and
angry so much. I’m guilty of going getting very upset about
these things myself.

I cannot stand seeing this country destroyed.

And I passionately believe that absolute verification of
POTUS Constitutional eligibility, undeniable proof, once and
for all, is vital for this nation and that it DID NOT happen
in ‘08. It will probably haunt and bother me forever. Only
God knows how we’ll get there.

So, it’s good to take some breaks from the intense issues
and lighten the mood at times. We all need it for our
sanity .. it’s a must, let’s face it.

One place for that are the FReeper Canteen threads..there’s
a thread EVERY SINGLE DAY, and the folks are wonderful, and
the mission is ALL goodness and positive for the troops and
amongst the wonderful Canteeners.

FReeper Canteen ~ What Christmas Ornament Are You? ~ 15 December 10
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2642770/posts

And every Friday night without fail, thru the weekend, is
the FReeper Canteen Music Dedication thread.. tunes,
requests, laughter and goodwill, and vets and troops derive
great enjoyment and cheering.

FReeper Canteen - Christmas Music Dedication - 11 Dec 10
Our Troops Rock!!!!! | Canteen Music Elves
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2640973/posts

The Canteeners are the best, most uplifting folks, and I
urge everyone to drop in for some niceness. You’ll get a big
lift in spirit, feeling good and welcomed. Its purpose is
all positive.

This eligibility issue brings out differing views here,
obviously, and sometimes the worse in us. Now, with this
military chapter, it’s brought both sides of the military
here voicing their understandably strong opinions, and it’s
just a tough issue.

We LOVE and honor our brave troops absolutely .. past,
present, families, contractors. Those who sacrifice
voluntarily are the best of the best of America. God bless
them and their families always.

Please .. let’s keep emotions, tempers and things in check
and not see agitation rising, identity and separation
politics simmering and tempers flaring here.

The liberals and specifically, this WH, would love nothing
better than to see pent up anger and frustration over any
issue spill out in the streets so they could happily enact
some police action or civilian defense force.

Times are very worrisome, folks are fearful, struggling,
maybe a bit depressed, and it’s the holidays, emotions can
get riled up.

PLEASE ..let’s work to try to keep our cool, optimism and
perspective here ..and the biggest, most important picture
of all in mind, which is we’re here because we cherish
America and her blessed founding, sacrifices of our brave
Founding Fathers and traditional values ..and we fight for
them PEACEFULLY, with HOPE, amongst our own here, with a
good dose of good will, benefit of the doubt, our faith in
God and in the inherent goodness and decency of people,
especially our wonderful FReepers. This is the #1 conservative website!

Please, folks, let’s try. Take a deep breath, and let’s.

God bless and protect our wonderful military. God save America.

[sometime lurker]

I may have to spell it out for those that believe that anyone born in this country is a Natural Born Citizen but I am sure our Founding Fathers knew exactly what they meant to do when they made that the law of the land.

Perhaps you'd like to hear what James Madison, "Father of the Constitution" had to say on the subject?

"It is an established maxim that birth is a criterion of allegiance. Birth however derives its force sometimes from place and sometimes from parentage, but in general place is the most certain criterion; it is what applies in the United States; it will therefore be unnecessary to investigate any other. "

[STARWISE]

And there ya go .. hatred that’s building and
getting out of control from angry and destructive
people. God help us. And we must help ourselves.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arson at Chicago Tea Patriots Christmas Party
Chicago Tea Party Patriots | 12-14-2010
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2643378/posts

“At approximately 8 p.m. the Chicago Fire Department were called to the bar to put out what was a very smoked filled bar.

After waiting outside for nearly an hour, we were told that the bar was closed for the night and we were asked to gather our belongings.

There were four small dynamite looking devices found in the men’s bathroom, smoldering in the trash can.

The following evening I received a phone call from Chicago Police Department Bomb and Arson officials.

Written on the lid of one of the toliets were: F*CK THE TEA PARTY

Bomb and arson officials have deemed this incident an arson.

Luckily, nobody was hurt, however, the good people of Dugan’s lost an awful lot of money.

Police are investigating and we are not going away.”

[edge919]

Major Dobson testified that he had to leave a two year old child behind with two weeks’ notice to be deployed for six months and he had to miss his wife’s Bronze Star award ceremony because of Lakin.

Sounds like a nice tall tale. We've been told that Lakin was never actually ordered to deploy, so nobody missed anything because of Lakin. Also, let's ignore the warnings that Lakin gave well in advance of disobeying orders and let's ignore that President Stitch Lips hid like a 2-year-old child during this entire process.

[sometime lurker]

I’m not a lawyer, but if you think our brilliant and awesome Founders .. warring, bleeding, losing so much treasure for so long fighting the British Crown .. would’ve EVER chosen or intended that our potus/CIC could possibly be a person who hadn’t officially, legally and demonstrably proven IRREVOCABLY and BEYOND ALL DOUBT that he had NO foreign parentage/blood or any possibility of foreign allegiance.. especially one generation removed British - Kenyan direct blood lineage .. you’re sure not in tune with their common sense and explicit and very understandable intentions and desires, about which they were very clear.

Please see post 309 for what James Madison said about parentage vs place. You may be surprised.

[edge919]

Perhaps you'd like to hear what James Madison, "Father of the Constitution" had to say on the subject?

It would be well to quote the entire paragraph. You left off this part for some odd reason"

"Mr. Smith founds his claim upon his birthright; his ancestors were among the first settlers of that colony."

That birthright (what most acknowledge as natural citizenship) is dependent on jus sanguinis, not just place of birth.

[sometime lurker]

I left off a lot that was irrelevant. Madison makes clear that the jus sanguinis is irrelevant in his opinion: “place is the most certain criterion; it is what applies in the United States; it will therefore be unnecessary to investigate any other.”

I think that’s pretty clear.

[mountainbunny]

MAJ Dobson, the doctor who had to replace LTC Lakin on short notice, testified next. He recounted how two days after arriving in theatre, the unit suffered a mass-casualty attack, with sixteen wounded. He said that he was not, in his opinion, as well-prepared to deal with the attack as he would have been had he had longer to prepare for operations at the FOB.

This infuriated me beyond belief when I read it over lunch.

No doctor anywhere, ever wants to have to admit publicly that he wasn't well prepared. In spite of the fact that generally, a military doctor cannot be sued for malpractice by an active duty service member, they understandably don't want to be seen as making mistakes that would negatively affect patient care. So, the fact that MAJ Dobson had to serve in LTC Lakin's place on short notice, then had to admit publicly that he wasn't prepared, says volumes about the mess Lakin left MAJ Dobson with.

MAJ Dobson now has to live with the fact that he wasn't at his best and that care may have suffered. LTC Lakin had absolutely no right whatsoever to burden a fellow doctor and officer with such a nasty mess.

While Lakin was making YouTube videos, yakking it up with Anderson Coper, and giving radio interviews, MAJ Dobson was doing his best to clean up Lakin's mess.

From a personal standpoint, our family has relatives on the ground in Afghanistan. They risk their lives for our nation and if they (or any of their fellow soldiers) are injured), they deserve nothing but the very best care we can give them. Apparently, it was too much to ask LTC Lakin to fulfill his duty and give that care.

I’d be thinking maximum penalty right about now...and a Lt Col shouldn’t be as STUPID as Lakin.

I hope they throw him under the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. Messing around with someone else's career and psyche; making others do the heavy lifting; not to mention compromising the care of our men on the ground is loathsome.

[FreeAtlanta]

Stich Lip is a disgraceful person. I can’t imagine how bad moral is in the military. It is probably worse than under Jimmy. The Left has no regard for honor.

[FreeAtlanta]

You don’t realize the point you are making. Maj Dobson was told what to say. It was a stupid statement intended to make Larkin look as bad as the military court can considering the court is the one that is wrong in not finding out if they are being directed by a big fat (well, a skinny little wimp) fraud.

[Non-Sequitur]

So you are telling me that this of all the cases out there had no “Command Influence” in it?

Pretty much, yeah.

[xzins]

bull hockey backatcha

Orders are presumed to be legal. It is the NATURE of the order that calls one to question its legality. There is nothing that calls into question orders to deploy to the location of an ongoing, Congressionally approved, combat operation. They had been being issued for Afghanistan since 2002 and are based on Congressional action on 19 Sep 2001 that fully approved that combat operation.

There is nothing about orders like these through the normal chain of command that is remotely unethical.

Moreover, this war and its approval and its ongoing operation PRECEDES the presidency of Barack Obama.

For Pete’s sake, man, we have our own precious troops in the field needing food, ammo, fire support, and service support (to include medical).

Would you just abandon them there and go about your whimsical way?

You can look back over my posts and see that no one has argued for the military to take it easy on Lakin, because, at least, he thought he was doing good. There was nothing malicious about his missing movement; it was based on principle. I’m fully in favor of simply letting him retire and depart.

That doesn’t mean I think we should abandon troops in the field.

[Mr Rogers]

“We’ve been told that Lakin was never actually ordered to deploy, so nobody missed anything because of Lakin. Also, let’s ignore the warnings that Lakin gave well in advance of disobeying orders and let’s ignore that President Stitch Lips hid like a 2-year-old child during this entire process.”

No. He was CHARGED with missing a specific movement and disobeying orders, but we also know the goal was to eventually deploy.

Nor do you know how the military fills these slots. I wasn’t in the Army, but I know how it was done on my last deployment - to Afghanistan. The USAF had a list of folks with my rank & specialty, and how long it had been since each had deployed or gone remote. Based on those, the list is ranked. I was bored as hell pushing papers, and called up and asked if I could go to Afghanistan or Iraq. I was told I was #32 of 34, but could become #1 if I volunteered to go. I did, and was given my choice of where to go.

But filling all the nearly 100 slots of different ranks took some time. The last guy picked worked in an office a mile from me, and was told on Friday to arrange transportation for training on Monday. He spent 2 of the next 3 months in training, then deployed.

So yes, these individual slots are not just filled by computer. They try to find the right person, prefer volunteers, and try to equal out the load. For some of us, patrolling the skies over Iraq became a regular part of our business following GW1. By the late 90s, I was spending 50% of each year deployed. While in Afghanistan, I worked with Army guys on their third year-long deployment, and that year turned into 15 months at month 11.5.

Filling a doctor slot isn’t done in a day. Not if you want to retain people as they deploy again and again for years. And not when they know they could make twice as much or more outside the military, the way a doctor can!