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Are
the Phony Military Letters a Violation of the Uniform Code of Military
Justice?
A
BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY
by Carol Cody
Dear BuzzFlash,
Has anyone thought to bring this matter to the Inspector General and/or
the Senate Armed Services Committee? In my opinion, these letters are
a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the doctrine
of Military Political Neutrality. What's next? If Officers and NCOs in
the military can intimidate soldiers to send such letters and possibly
even forge some names, they can use the same methodology during the 2004
election. Anyone who watched the CENTCOM briefings knows how the Officers
crossed the political neutrality boundaries and became the administration's
cheerleaders during the Iraq war operations.
We all know how Bush uses the military audiences for his campaigning.
Military posts offer a secure environment away from opposition and an
audience generally friendly to his war policies. The taxpayers don't
seem to mind. Its a fact that there was a love affair between the military
and the public after 9/11. Make no mistake. The military leadership needs
watching as much as the media. And its time to hold them accountable.
It is one thing for a soldier on his/her own initiative to write an opinion
letter home or anywhere. It is quite another for them to be provided "form" letters
to write. It is criminal for soldiers to be used for political purposes.
I would like to see the public speak out against such tactics and have
this matter fully investigated to identify the perpetrators and have
them court-martialed and have any outside civilian involvement revealed
and dealt with. There is every reason to believe this was a deliberate
attempt to sway public opinion. It is possible that political action
was initiated within the military itself. But we don't know. We need
to know. Officers and NCOs alike receive training in the UCMJ political
neutrality doctrine and they are well aware of the severe consequences
if they are in violation. Most would not stoop to this action. It is
dishonorable and a smear on the military in general.
Let's all write letters to the Senate
Armed Services Committee and the
Inspector General to demand an investigation. We want answers and guarantees
that the military will not be used by politicians for political purposes
to include Mr. Bush's campaign speeches.
Carol Cody
A Soldier's Mother
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BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY |
