Posted on 03/16/2015 9:04:51 AM PDT by jazusamo
Green Beret saved soldiers under fire
A group of House lawmakers is moving to strip the armed services’ civilian leaders of the power to revoke combat valor awards in response to Army Secretary John McHugh unilaterally canceling the Silver Star, one of the military’s highest honors, for a former Green Beret officer.
Mr. McHugh took the action against Maj. Mathew Golsteyn, who braved repeated enemy fire in Afghanistan, even though he has not been charged with any offenses. The Army now is seeking to release him with a less-than-honorable discharge. The officer plans to fight the move, his attorney says.
The secretary acted after the CIA informed the Army that Maj. Golsteyn, during a polygraph exam for a job application, told of killing a terrorist who was making improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the weapon that has killed more Americans in Afghanistan than any other. The Army also removed Maj. Golsteyn from the elite ranks of the Green Berets.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, the California Republican who is spearheading the restrictive legislation, says he wants to prevent service secretaries from retaliating against personnel by stripping their awards in cases where there is insufficient evidence to charge them for nonjudicial, or court-martial, punishment.
“Secretary McHugh made a political decision,” Mr. Hunter said. “He used his power as a weapon to retaliate against a soldier when the Army was unable to prove an allegation.”
The CIA disclosure prompted the Army to launch a criminal investigation. Agents fanned out to interview his combat cohorts in Marjah, Afghanistan. The report remains confidential, but sources say it could never confirm that Maj. Golsteyn did anything criminally wrong outside of his statements to the CIA.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
With leaders like Obama&henchmen, who needs enemies from abroad?
The new military is a jobs program for lesbians, feminists, communists, homosexuals, and other deviants. There is simply no room in the new military for men or soldiers.
This officer should sue in court. I am no lawyer but I bet the Army Secretary violated a number of laws doing this.
The major killed a terrorist who was making an IED?
And for that, he’s booted out of the Green Berets, stripped of the Silver Star, and given a less than honorable discharge? What the hell?!
Major Golsteyn should be given a promotion and another medal!
We are living in bizarro world.
p i n g
This issue goes way beyond Obama, though he has certainly made it far worse. The military services are now firmly under the control of civilian political appointees who view their role in DoD to implement the political social policies of the Administration. They could care less about the role of the Defense Department in the defense of the nation. Working hand in hand with them are often the military members of the force who have never fired a shot in anger and never will.
I believe that the JAG Corps of each of the services have gotten out of control and are fast becoming the de facto political commissars of our military. They are trained in today’s far left wing law schools and come directly into the service as lawyers to implement their progressive brand of social justice. They bear considerable watching.
Complex ROEs leave combat in the hands of RE bureaucrats who are hampering the effort with Political Correctness, then go home at 5 to sleep in a warm, safe bed.
We should start calling these Lawyer’s Wars. The top command structure is full of political hacks. What can the next POTUS do?
Can you help me out?
5.56mm
I agree. From the article it seems Maj. Golsteyn would have and should have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
I personally think Obama *IS* an "enemy from abroad." He is certainly not an American.
The Major is thought by the CIA to have violated Rules of Engagement in Afghanistan.
Well said!
He killed a bomb-making terrorist?
He should be shot at dawn./s
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Were push come to shove, I'd send him to Canada or Australia to avoid being drafted if it were instituted today.
Never, and I mean NEVER, in my life would I have thought I'd say such a thing. But I would fight to keep my only child from having to endanger his life under Obama's looney world view.
I thought the highest level of tactical and strategic incompetence had been reached in WW I, but I suppose I was wrong.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
If killing an enemy bomb maker violates the ROE then the ROE and the people writing them suck.
I’m confused. It’s he accused of lying about killing the terrorist or not killing the terrorist?
And was that one of those questions where they tell you to lie in order to gauge the accuracy of the test?
It’s not fully clear to me but sounds like he admitted to killing an enemy bomb maker while taking the CIA polygraph.
I always thought that once the award is signed, it can’t be revoked. We had a Sailor who was due to receive a Navy Achievement Medal that was signed.....the night before she received a DUI. Well the award ceremony was cancelled but the award was still mailed to her next command. I think what they are doing is wrong. They need to keep the medal as is and charge him accordingly and let the cards fall.
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