This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Iraq Veterans Against the War

  • Protest preview

    Well, tomorrow is ANSWER‘s and IVAW‘s “Mass” march against the war. They plan on meeting up at the White House at noon from all I can gather and meandering along Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol for their “Die-In”. The Gathering of Eagles, Free Republic and Protest Warriors will be lining their route.

    GOE plans on a rally at 9am on the National Mall near 7th Street. Protest Warriors will be protecting the Navy Memorial from the same type of injustice that has been done to it in the past.

    Yours truly plans to arrive at the Farragut North Metro Station (on the Red line) about 10 am (after my morning bike ride and my SOS breakfast at the Walter Reed mess hall) and I’ll get ya’all some pictures of the hairy-legged crowd as I walk about a half-mile to the good guys. I’m trying to find an internet hotspot near the march route, but I’ve not been successful so far, so ya’all might hafta wait until I get home before I get the pictures up on the blog. But I’ll take my laptop just in case.

    On my quick recon around the city today, I haven’t seen the usual hippie-types anywhere. Usually I see them straggling in from the bus station and the train station all day long, but they’ve been noticably absent today. I get the impression that Kokesh‘s expectation for 4,000 die-in volunteers might be a little ambitious.

    I’ll grant that they may have lots of buses show up at the last minute, but, as I said, this pre-protest day is a whole lot quieter than the ones I’ve seen in the past.

    On the other hand, I have seen several motorcycles flying American flags cruisng the city. But anyway we’ll see tomorrow.

    If anyone is planning to link up with us tomorrow (I have two so far that have expressed an interest), you can catch up me at Farragut North Metro Station or at the Navy Memorial. I’ll email my cell number if necessary. Keep watching this space for photos!Â

  • Kokesh jailed in DC already

    Photo from Washington Post

    Adam Kokesh, the little ex-Marine (I know ya’all Marines say there are no ex-Marines – but this guy fits, believe me) who made a stink about the Marines downgrading his discharge because he wore his uniform at anti-war protests and poorly representing our fighting men and women while still in the service, was arrested Thursday, according to the Washington Post;Â

    The demonstrators, members of the antiwar Answer Coalition, have been in an ongoing dispute with the District and Park Service over their right to post signs in public places.

    The D.C. government has fined the coalition about $20,000 for posting signs, and the Park Service has asked the group to remove them.

    The coalition countered by filing a lawsuit challenging the District’s regulations. The suit is pending.

    The group assembled for a news conference yesterday at Lafayette Square to promise to put up more posters, regardless of possible sanctions. Within minutes, the pledge was tested. An officer approached and asked whether the demonstrators had a permit for their gathering.

    Here’s a link to the Youtube video of the arrest of three “activists”. I get the impression that they were there just to get arrested. The Park Police officer (not a Metro cop as many news reports record) asked them to stop putting up posters and they continued. How hard is it to not put up posters.

    The ANSWER clowns have put those garish yellow posters all over the city – disregarding the ordinance that forbids it. The posters stay up for months after the protests end and eventually are either posted over by new ANSWER posters or city workers have to remove them – at great, useless cost to taxpayers (since it’s DC, all US taxpayers pay for the removal).

    Now, the incident happened in Lafayette Park, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, which is policed by Federal Park Police since it’s a national park – the Park Service forbids putting posters up in national parks. I guess Kokesh and his little buddy, Tina Richards, didn’t factor that in to that little demonstration of their idiocy.

    Of course, the “activists” blame Bush in the video – he’s so unemcumbered by his duties, he’s worried about two halfwits putting posters up in Lafayette Park. The Park Police would’ve done the same if Clinton (either one) was President.

    The closest thing to an incident I’ve had with Park Police is Mother’s Day last year when I confronted some Code Pink goofballs in Lafayette Park. The Park Police asked me to leave the park and then they escorted me off. I shook their hands when I left and thanked them for their good works. It was that easy.

    I’d say the police did us all a favor – those ugly yellow posters are all over the city and they’ll still be all over the city next Spring. I’ve wondered how the city can let them get away with it after they passed the ordinance three years ago to prevent this de-facing of the city.

    In the beginning of the video, you can see the Park Police ask them for their permit to assemble – of course they didn’t have one. Again claiming their First Amendment rights. I hope none of them are lawyers.

    But Lt. Phil Beck of the U.S. Park Police said the officers took action only after the demonstrators ignored a command to remove a table and stop posting the signs.

    That’s all apparent in the video. I guess if they’re this wired up before their “Die-in” next week, it ought to get real interesting. And I’ll be there to capture it all. I love this non-paying job.

  • Anti-war movement’s death throes

    Since I went to the Gathering of Eagles counter-protest last March 17th, I’ve been convinced that the pathetic and pointless, culture of personalities, anti-war movement is in its death throes. In fact, I’ve wrote about it several times on this blog. The sparse participation at the March on the Pentagon convinced me of that – it was a Saturday morning in the middle of the Spring semester in a hugely college town, yet they could barely scrape together enough people to outnumber the counter protesters – if they did.

    Well, apparently, Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard arrived at the same conclusion, for different reasons, in this week’s issue;

    It would be silly to make too much out of one item on a Time blog. But it does suggest that even the respectable elements of the antiwar movement have jumped the shark. Unwilling seriously to debate the choices before us, and the consequences of those choices, antiwar advocates are now down to name-calling.

    Well, that’s not all. I see on the Gathering of Eagles blog, the Move America Forward tour and it’s organizer have been threatened by Daily Kos diarists (the post was obviously removed but the evidence remains). Marooned in Marin has more substantial evidence of the Left’s intentions towards the MAF caravan. When the Left resorts to threats, they’re losing – and we’re winning!Â

    More evidence, in my mind, is the fact that the anti-war movement’s studly hero, a crybaby by the name of Adam Kokesh, whom I’ve written about extensively here, is calling for a longer commitment than just one day from the mindless zombies of the Left;

    To kick off the week of action, after the rally we will march from the White House to the Capitol, and go straight into a mass civil-disobedience die-in around the Peace Monument. The die-in will be led by an Honor Guard of Iraq Veterans Against the War who will simulate a 21-Gun Salute before taps is played to initiate the die-in. We are asking as many members of VFP as possible to sign up to wear cammies and die-in around us to symbolize the American cost of this war. We will be encircled by bolts of red cloth to symbolize the Iraqi deaths and invite anyone else from the rally to participate in the die-in.

    Sunday will be a day of teach-ins including a Truth In Recruiting Workshop led by IVAW. That evening, IVAW DC will be holding a benefit concert. Monday is National Truth In Recruiting Day, and there will be numerous activities planned and we will need your help with an action at the main recruiting office in DC. Tuesday is Congressional Challenge Day led by Tina Richards. Wednesday or Thursday will be Veterans Lobbying Day, and Friday is the Moratorium. Also, the 14th, the Friday before the rally, is the IVAW CD Release Party. All of these events are on the calendar at Sept15.org.

    I doubt very much that they’ll be able to keep the interest of 15-second attention span generation for an entire week. Especially if there’s a sign of rain, or the temp drops below 70 degrees, or they walk past the Hard Rock Cafe on their way to the protest, or if  American Idol Rewind is on their cable TVs in their hotel rooms.

    I think its funny that Kokesh is pushing for a “Truth in Recruiting” day – since he lied to all of the major media outlets and told them he’d been discharged from the military before his participation in protests and that the military was targeting him for harrassment. Kokesh wouldn’t know the truth if it bit his face.

    William Kristol calls for the anti-war crowd to action against Kokesh’s “Die-In”;

    Will mainstream antiwar groups and antiwar politicians denounce this action, which is scheduled to begin the weeklong protest? Will the respectable parts of the antiwar movement stand with veterans and veterans’ families who intend to protest this disgusting appropriation of their loved ones’ names? Surely most critics of the war still have a sense of decency.

    Obviously, Kristol has more faith in human nature than I. This last Spring, Kokesh, while still in the military, roamed the National Mall in uniform with his cohorts, pretending to be on a patrol in Iraq. They forced  tourists into makeshift prison cells and began humiliating them to simulate the way our troops treat innocent Iraqi civilians. There is no expectation of a “sense of decency” from people so steeped in their hatred for this country and the troops that defend us.

    Kokesh has an axe to grind with the Marines – he was reduced in rank and placed in the inactive reserves. On his blog, in which he calls himself “Sergeant Kokesh” (which in itself is a lie – he was dischaged as a private E-2 – he was busted. I guess he thinks that he gets to call himself whatever he wants now) describes his tour as a “civil affairs specialist” and says that his first tour soured him on the war. But he neglects to mention that before his second tour (for which he volunteered, by the way) he was busted for smuggling an Iraqi pistol back to the US after the first tour. Doesn’t sound like the actions of someone destined to be the public face of the anti-war movement, does it?

    Regardless, I plan on being there to bring you the photos of the pathetic end of the anti-war movement – as well as photos of the Gathering of Eagles who plan on lining Saturday’s event route for GOEIII. Tentatively, some fellow bloggers are planning to meet me there so, there should be lots to write about on September 15th.

    Anyone else planning on being there, drop me a line at admin@thisainthell.us Â

    Others blogging on the same thing as my meandering mind;

    Robin at Chickenhawk Express on William Kristol

    Skye at Midnight Blue on GOE III

    Michele Malkin on Answering ANSWER and GOE III

    SWAC Girl on GOE III

    The Redhunter on GOE III

    DragonMG at Tanker Brothers wonders “Where’s Harry?” when the GOE is there to welcome home Nevada’s sons and daughters, but Reid isn’t. While Dadmanly recounts Reid’s conversion to surrender monkey over the death of the first Nevadan in Iraq.

    Speaking of sharkjumping and the Daily Kos, Markos may have just jumped the shark by calling his readers gullible fools (from Newsbusters’ PJ Gladnik).

  • Whiney Kokesh whines to the whiney press

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    The Washington Examiner publishes a poorly researched AP article about poor little Adam Kokesh, the sociopath, childish war protester who thinks he had a discharge;

    Marine Corps officials argue they are enforcing military codes in the case of Cpl. Adam Kokesh.

    Kokesh, 25, participated in an anti-war demonstration in Washington in March. When he was identified in a photo caption in The Washington Post, a superior officer sent him an e-mail saying he might have violated a rule prohibiting troops from wearing uniforms without authorization. Kokesh responded with a letter that contained an obscenity.

    Kokesh, a graduate student at George Washington University, is a member of the Individual Ready Reserve, which consists mainly of those who have left active duty but still have time remaining on their eight-year military obligations. His service is due to end June 18, but the Marine Corps is seeking to let him go two weeks early with a less-than-honorable discharge.

    That could cut some of his health benefits and force him to repay about $10,800 he received to obtain his undergraduate degree on the GI Bill.

    Kokesh’s attorney, Lt. Jeremy Melaragno, said Monday during an administrative separation board hearing that his client’s free-speech rights are at stake.

    “It has everything to do with freedom of speech,” Melaragno said. “Ask yourself, would we be here if he was advocating for the Bush administration?”

    During a break in the hearing, Kokesh told reporters that the case appears to be punitive.

    So the media just goes right ahead and publishes whatever Kokesh and his lawyer tell them. And then they tell the big lie at the center of the whole debate;

    Kokesh was honorably discharged after a combat tour in Iraq.

    His attorneys said Kokesh was not subject to military rules during the protest because he was not on active duty. They said the protest was a theatrical performance, which meant wearing a uniform was a not a violation of military rules. The military considered it a political event, at which personnel are not allowed to wear their uniforms without authorization.

    As I and many others established this weekend, Kokesh has not been discharged. If he had been discharged, he wouldn’t have been at that hearing yesterday – the Marines couldn’t force him to report if they had no legal authority over him. Yet – there he was arguing to save his discharge status. Anyone with at least half-a-brain could figure that out. Well, not Heather Hollingsworth of the Associated Press, apparently.

    But, anyway, the panel recommended a general (an other-than-honorable) discharge according to the today’s Examiner;

    A military panel recommended that an Iraq war veteran who wore his uniform during an anti-war protest should lose his honorable discharge status, brushing away his claims that he was exercising his right to free speech.

    “This is a nonpunitive discharge,” said Col. Patrick McCarthy, chief of staff for the mobilization command. “The most stringent discharge that could have been received is other than honorable, and the board chose to raise that up to a general discharge.”

    Disappointing, indeed. But our little sociopath crybaby can’t leave well-enough alone;

    After the hearing, Kokesh criticized the panel for not taking a stronger stand on the issue. He said he might appeal the board’s ruling.

    “I do not think it was in the Marine Corps spirit to take the easy road or to not take a stand. In the words of Dante, the hottest layers of hell are reserved for those who in times of moral crisis maintain their neutrality, and I think that’s what happened here today.”

    Well, for once we agree, Kokesh, the Marine Corps should have taken a stronger stand and tossed your little crybaby ass in jail. Of course, since you’re a criminal and sociopath, there’s still a chance that they might since you don’t want to drop it.

    I hope you accost me on one of your hippie-patrols someday that I happen to be on the National Mall – you’ll find out which of the hotter layers of Hell are reserved for your tired, punk ass sooner than you may have expected. That’s not a threat, by the way. Just a warning to play with children your own age.

    More reasoned words from my new battle buddy, Robin, at Chickenhawk Express.

  • Marine anti-war veteran may lose “honorable” status (Updated)

    Marine anti-war veteran may lose “honorable” status (Updated)

    I’ve never heard of this guy Adam Kokesh, but apparently he’s some big deal in the anti-war movement. But here’s what I got from the Washington Post;

    Adam Kokesh, 25, a graduate student at George Washington University, faces a hearing Monday in Kansas City, where the Marines will recommend an “other than honorable” discharge from the Individual Ready Reserve. He was previously honorably discharged from active duty after fighting in Fallujah and receiving the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Commendation Medal.

    Upon learning he was being investigated for wearing his uniform during the mock patrol, Kokesh wrote an e-mail to the investigating officer, Maj. John Whyte. The combat veteran discussed his service and his critique of the war, and asked this officer assigned to look into his “possible violation” of wearing his uniform: “We’re at war. Are you doing all you can?” He concluded with an obscene recommendation about what Whyte should go do.

    OK, so far there’s a couple of things wrong with this whole story. First of all, everyone, including Kokesh at his self-serving blog claims he’s already been discharged, but that he’s in the Individual Ready Reserve. That’s impossible, junior. You might have a piece of paper that says you were discharged, but you ain’t discharged until you’ve served your time.

    According to the Washington Examiner, Kokesh was busted back after his first tour of Iraq;

    He was supposed to go to Iraq a second time, but was demoted from sergeant to corporal and not allowed to return after it was learned that he brought a pistol back after his first tour in 2004.

    “Not allowed to return” – that means he wanted to return, but the Marines wouldn’t send him back. I think his disillusionment isn’t with the war. He’s lucky he didn’t go to Leavenworth then. The Marines cut him a break.

    And that part of the story in Washington Post story about;

    He concluded with an obscene recommendation about what Whyte should go do.

    I’m guessing that refers to the same phrase that Vice President Cheney used when he told Senator Pat Leahy what Leahy should “go do”.

    The Uniform Code of Military Justice addresses that quite succinctly;

    889. ART. 89 DISRESPECT TOWARD SUPERIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICER
    Any person subject to this chapter who behaves with disrespect toward his superior commissioned officer shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

    Not much wiggle room there, junior. And who are persons subject to this chapter?

    802 Art. 2

    (d)(1) A member of a reserve component who is not on active duty and who is made the subject of proceedings under section 815 (article 15) or section 830 (article 30) with respect to an offense against this chapter may be ordered to active duty involuntary for the purpose of-
    (A) investigation under section 832 of this title (article 32);
    (B) trial by court-martial; or
    (C) non judicial punishment under section 815 of this title (article 15).

    Yikes! That’s you, Kokesh, buddy.

    As far as the uniform regulation, it’s covered by DoD Directive 1334.1Â (.pdf) which says;

    3. POLICY

    It is DoD policy that:

     3.1. The wearing of the uniform by members of the Armed Forces (including retired members and members of Reserve components) is prohibited under any of the following circumstances:

      3.1.1. At any meeting or demonstration that is a function of, or sponsored by an organization, association, movement, group, or combination of persons that the Attorney General of the United States has designated, under Executive Order 10450 as amended (reference (c)), as totalitarian, fascist, communist, or subversive, or as having adopted a policy of advocating or approving the commission of acts of force or violence to deny others their rights under the Constitution of the United States, or as seeking to alter the form of Government of the United States by unconstitutional means.

      3.1.2. During or in connection with furthering political activities, private employment or commercial interests, when an inference of official sponsorship for the activity or interest may be drawn.

      3.1.3. Except when authorized by the approval authorities in subparagraph 4.1.1., when participating in activities such as unofficial public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, rallies or any public demonstration, which may imply Service sanction of the cause for which the demonstration or activity is conducted.

      3.1.4. When wearing of the uniform may tend to bring discredit upon the Armed Forces.

    Since Kokesh was pretending to torture prisoners and making a general nuisance of himself, I’d guess he’d fit under that last one, at the least.

    In fact, this from the IVAW website that Kokesh himself wrote just a few weeks ago (dated May 17th) when he infiltrated a military base in Germany to spread his bile;

    When we got to the gate, the guard said that I couldn’t bring Jeff on with me because I was not registered in their system, even though I had a valid military ID. Jeff busted out the perfect story, “We’re backpacking around Europe, and we just wanted to come on base to use the PX. I just need to get some toiletries. See, I used to be in the Army too, but my ID is expired.” The guard suggested Jeff give me a list and wait for me. So I carried on alone.

    Emphasis mine. He had a valid military ID card – he hadn’t been discharged, he’s subject to the UCMJ. Case closed.

    UPDATE: In fact, here’s another charge to tack on, Maj. Whyte;

    As I got to the security guard standing in the pedestrian passageway, the soldiers behind me started yelling. “Hey, stop that guy!” “Hey, you need to detain him!” “Stop him!” The security guard told me to stop and I just kept walking. He grabbed my sleeve, but didn’t even hold on. I turned the corner and just kept walking. I looked back and the First Sergeant was there watching me, but by then I was home free.

    If this story is true (and the authorities could probably check with the leadership at that Ansbach, Germany Army base), Kokesh is guilty of failure to obey a lawful order and resisting apprehension on a Federal facility – they have a big white sign at the entrance of all US military bases that says, in effet, that you give up up all of your 4th Amendment rights voluntarily by passing through those gates.

    According the Examiner Koresh made this statement to the press;

    “This is clearly a case of selective prosecution and intimidation of veterans who speak out against the war,” Kokesh said. “To suggest that while as a veteran you don’t have freedom of speech is absurd.”

    Sorry, buddy. You don’t have freedom of speech when you’re in the military – I didn’t have freedom of speech. There’s nothing selective about it. A field grade officer was investigating your illegal behavior and you were disrespectful – while you had, by your own admission, a valid ID card – that means you’re subject to the UCMJ. Welcome to the real world, goober.

    Looks like his lawyer is trying to frame this as a poor little Marine being railroaded by the Pentagon for his anti-war views. All it is an immature little turd who can’t follow the rules – at least as far back as 2004.

    From the Post story;

    The case also raises a fundamental question of interest to the roughly 158,000 men and women in the Marines’ and Army’s Individual Ready Reserve: Are they civilians — free to speak their minds — or not?

    “This case is about the Marine Corps seeking to stifle critics of the Iraq policy by officially labeling civilian acts of peaceful protest and political speech as misconduct and serious offenses,” says Michael Lebowitz, Kokesh’s attorney, who fought in Iraq as an Army paratrooper .

    […]

    But, counters Lebowitz, unlike other types of reservists who have specific paid duties, Individual Ready Reservists are not paid, have no weekend drill requirements and no chain of command. Therefore, he argues, they are civilians, unless summoned back to duty. And if they are civilians, they can say pretty much what they want.

    “For the military to try to punish civilians for speaking out against the war is completely outrageous, says Arthur Spitzer, legal director of American Civil Liberties Union for the National Capital Area….

    If he has in his possession a valid military ID card, and he hasn’t finished his military committment, he’s not a civilian. He’s forbidden from wearing his uniforms in public at political rallies. How hard is that to understand? He’s also forbidden to be disrespectful to superior officers. Again – real simple.

    Kokesh used his military ID to access a military installation and spread anti-war propaganda - Kokesh figured he was in the military when he flashed the card to get on base. Are we just supposed to ask him how and when he wants the rules applied to his behavior?

    “I will not be intimidated,” Kokesh says.

    That’s good, you’re going to need to remember that when you’re cell mates with Bubba.

    The Post also quoted Kokesh and his buddy who had this question;

    Kokesh and Madden say they have a question about all this: Don’t the Marines have anything better to do these days?

    No they don’t, actually. This isn’t the DC Metro police who only investigate crimes that occur in Popeye’s chicken joints or in the frontseat of their patrol cars. This is the United States Marine Corps which relies on good order and discipline in order to defend this country from our enemies. The rules are enforced uniformly and with good reason. If you don’t like being prosecuted, don’t be such a retard.

    Robin at Chickenhawk Express reports that he was engaged in the same behavior this past weekend, too – still wearing his uniform even though he knows that the military disapproves of it. Obviously flaunting his misbehavior hoping someone throws his monkey-ass in jail.

    Leftist blogs are busy spread inaccurate propaganda about poor little Adam. From “Courage to Resist“, an obvious talking points memo;

    Due to their outspoken opposition to the war, the Marine Corps is now formally threatening to revoke their discharges and retroactively change them to “other than honorable.” This is a new, unprecedented step the military feels is necessary in order to suppress a growing anti-war voice from within the military itself.

    No discharge is being changed – he hasn’t been discharged yet. I know the Left depends on misinformation to keep the brainless minions on the plantation, but this is really beyond all reason.

    From An Even Keel;

    On June 4, the Marine Corps will hold a hearing in Kansas City, MO. Adam is being re-activated just for the hearing so that they can discharge him again with an Other Than Honorable discharge. This for a man who has served two tours in Iraq during his six years of service. He has been on inactive reserve and was due for complete separation on June 18, just fourteen days after this hearing.

    He only served one tour in Iraq – his second tour was cancelled because of his misbehavior – an offense that should make the anti-gun Left freak out, by the way. The Post story said he’s been in nearly eight years (I tend to believe that since a tour in the military is eight years). And as I pointed out above, he committed an offense worthy of a court martial and reactivating him to face charges is perfectly legal and common.Â

    Lefty blogger Wonkette reported that Kokesh was just arrested by the Capitol Police last month for being a spaz. Don’t bother reading the comments – what a bunch of foul-mouthed creeps. (Editor’s Note; Ha! She deleted the comments after I linked to them.)

    UPDATE: Curt at Flopping Aces has even more at “The Dishonest AP At It Again” and Robin from ChickenHawk Express and Newsbusters emailed me this article entitled “Marine Admitted to Uniform Violations While Parodying Military Operations“. Robin also wrote on Chickenhawk Express that Kokesh requested that a Brigadier general perform the same impossible sex act as the field grade officer. So I guess that’s twice he made two mistakes.

    I’m sure the Leftists think he’s a fricken rocket scientist, but the other 70% of the country are pretty certain he’s a spoilt child.