Listen pal, you're going to find yourself treading on awfully thin ice around here with these kinds of comments. On Free Republic, we stand up for our men and women serving honorably in uniform regardless of what we think of the current Commander in Chief. Since you clearly need some schooling on the Lakin case, I'd suggest going back a couple of years, long before you arrived, to the earliest threads in April 2010. You'll see that T_O_C, myself and every other former and current active duty FReeper who opined on this case predicted with great accuracy exactly what the outcome would be --a task as difficult as predicting the sun would rise in the east. The only people predicting success in the Lakin case were those who had never served. They were wrong. And if you ask Mr. Lakin today, he'd likely tell you that listening to these fools was the greatest mistake he ever made.
While you are perusing these old threads, learning something useful, please take the time to reflect on some of (former USN enlisted) Jim Robinson's comments after some of your fellow birthers decided to use Lakin's justly-earned dismissal as a forum to bash the military. You might learn something about Free Republic that would be of great benefit to your future posting privileges.
Your idle threats do not bode well for your pride and honor, nor do you know what rank I retain.
You have perceived my comments to be negative. I asked you a simple question because your response was that of a naive recruit fresh out of high school.
Honor is not earned through service. Service to the country never makes one a hero. Honor is earned through actions of courage, dilligence, humanity, and humility. I know full well the chain of command all the way up to the Joint Chiefs. I understand that chest beating is not a trait of those with true valor.
Lakin was no slouch. Was he naive? Perhaps. He paid for that...gracefully I might add. Yet, he deserved more than tarnish other service personnel bode on him. His actions of meritorious service throughout his career should be considered above all. The court knew full well the intent of his actions, regardless of faulty counsel. Failing to report to duty is usually initiated by someone who made a poor decision joining the service without careful consideration. Or he is a traitor who serves the enemy. Lakin is neither. The MT also knew full well Lakin received poor counsel. MT's are there to punish those of crimes against the nation, not punish those who question the authority of a usurping commander in chief.
Our servicemen are supposed to support each other, not feed each other to the wolves. Belittling those who rightfully question authority should never be punished as "being one without valor". Lakin paid for his error in protocol, never for honoring his oath nor his care for the nation.
It is truly unfortunate we have so many such as yourself who do not understand the significance of Lakin's quest. You are on board with Malihi and countless others, hiding behind the shield of "honor and pride" in your nation when you know full well the commander in chief is a dual citizen. And since you are active duty or have served, you should know that no soldier is allowed that privilege.