COB6 wrote yesterday that there won’t be any “truth commission” investigations because of a piece Porter Goss wrote in the Washington Post about the complicity of the Congressional Democrats in the decision to approve what we’re calling torture these days. Well, Carl Levin and Dianne Feinstein are renewing their calls for a Senate investigation according to Fox News;
The California Democrat said her committee already was investigating the methods detailed, but Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he wants independent investigators to determine whether any Bush administration officials should be prosecuted.
“I have recommended that the Department of Justice select one or two or three people outside of the department who will have credibility, perhaps retired federal judges, who will make a recommendation to the Department of Justice as to whether or not anybody ought to be prosecuted on this matter or any other action ought to be taken against lawyers, for instance,” Levin said on “FOX News Sunday.”
He added that he objects to the idea that the interrogators who carried out the tactics should be the only ones prosecuted.
“For the president of the United States to say that a few American troops dishonored us at Abu Ghraib — no. What dishonored us were the policies and practices that were authorized that went to Abu Ghraib, and there ought to be accountability. But how that is done should be done by an independent person, not by elected politicians,” he said.
I’m waiting for the Bush Administration’s memo approving naked pyramids and genital pointing. Jay Rockefeller, one of the Senators who was supposedly briefed by the Bush Administration and gave at least his tacit approval was clear that he only wants this to be a purely partisan investigation according to The Hill last week;
“I do not believe that front-line counter-terror professionals who relied in good faith on Department of Justice legal opinions should face prosecution,” Rockefeller said. “But I am not prepared to say the same for the senior Bush administration officials who authorized or directed these policies in the first place. The focus for right now should be on finding the facts.”
So what’s driving this partisan fishing expedition? Here’s a hint;
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Well, the Milbog “conference” is over, so I guess I’ll show y’all the latest from Matthis. Someone told me that Chiroux doesn’t check who he’s friends with, so I tried to sneak in . But he busted me and took the opportunity to threaten me with legal repercussions;
Of course, because he sent me a message, I was able to access his Home page. As long as I’m already in his lawyer sights, I might as well ask what kind of immature narcissistic doofus would make an avatar like this;
Yeah, he’s a dork.
Kris Goldsmith wrote me that Chiroux (a fake combat veteran) is trying to get Goldsmith (a real combet veteran) tossed out of IVAW;
I’ve been warned off the record that Matthis wrote an email to the board requesting punitive action be taken against me by IVAW. Something like suspension of membership, a request for an apology, or something like that.
We have one last shot at getting Chiroux’s benefits blocked. Write a letter to;
MG Sean Byrne
CG, HRC
200 Stovall St.
Alexandria, VA 20310-0300
In keeping with this week’s theme “All Chiroux, All the Time” I bring you the reaction of some of the IVAW folks. The prize for best comment goes to Jason Lemieux;
Ward Reilly tries to warn Kris Goldsmith that we’re meanies over here at This Ain’t Hell because we were mean to him;
Yeah, we were mean to you, Ward, but not as mean as Mother nature was to you. Besides, I don’t like liars and fakers. Send me that picture of your sign again so I can point out the toilet paper you used to cover up the word “Iron”. The only people I call commies are real admitted commies. I’ve never used those other terms – that’s the voices in your empty head.
And then Goldsmith starts questioning Reilly’s service (which he should do) and Reilly starts his standard “I never said…” line.
Then Amy Baxter chimes in wondering why Reilly’s service is being questioned;
Someone should have questioned his service a long time ago, Amy
In another conversation Goldsmith had with Chiroux last month, Goldsmith tried to explain to Chiroux that he was proud of his service and proud of the day he first put on a uniform. Chiroux proceeded to shit all over him;
Matthis Chiroux at 1:18pm March 12
Whatever, dude. If I’m in left field, you’re in right. I’m sorry you’ve slid back into the glorification of your service and your motivations for joining. Whatever your intent, you were tooled, and so was I, and so were all of us.While to you, that uniform represents sacrifice, honor and all that stuff, to most of the people of the world it represents terror, repression and American Exceptionalism. It represents a failure of the American people treat others as we would be treated ourselves.
Even from a constitutionalist perspective, the founding fathers would be very uncomfortable with your pride serving in a STANDING ARMY. That’s on of the things they were really wary of, you know.
Anyway, I’ve got to get to Chinese class. y? hu?r jiàn!
Later, Chiroux continues to crap on the VETERANS of the wars by trying to drag them all down to his level. Saying that his “resistance” is more courageous than doing duty.
Matthis Chiroux at 6:11pm March 12
Fair enough, Kris. You’re right. This organization has opened doors for me, or better, shut ones I shouldn’t have been walking through. IVAW will always be the organization that gave me the strength to say no to the crimes of my government when it was my turn to jump in.However, combat experience in the Global War on Terror is NOT A BADGE OF HONOR, it’s wrong. Repeated deployments to GWOT is not heroic, it’s even more wrong. Unfortunately, it does seem to be the prevailing trend.
AGAIN, I will ALWAYS wear my resistance as my badge of courage, honor and integrity because you folks had the courage to speak truth to power and I had the good sense to act on it.
But we mustn’t dilute ourselves. Combat doesn’t make a man or woman. The military doesn’t produce heroes. And this isn’t a “war.” It’s genocide, and I refuse to bow down to it any longer or allow it to define my honor.
Any more issues?
I wish I had this shit a month ago.
Oh, I’ve got lots more. But I think that’s enough for now.
Added: We’ll give Kokesh the last word;
And who is out there calling this a big victory? Um, The Truthers and Socialist Worker.
Yeah, I know, I was a little confused yesterday, too. I woke up to the news (in my email) that Matthis Chiroux had been recommended for an general discharge under honorable conditions. I’d talked to LTC Maria Quon the day before and she had told me that was the worst he could receive, so imagine my surprise when I read that he had called it a victory for the Left. It was the same discharge he would have gotten if he hadn’t gone to St. Louis and made a buffoon of himself. And dragged his groupies along with him.
And then, I saw his asshattery on the St Louis local news with the upside down flag patch on his sleeve like some spoiled child. I’m pretty sure he didn’t wear it like that for the board or they’d have thrown him irons on the spot. The only thing that’s distressed here is Chiroux.
So then I spent the rest of the morning talking TSO in from the ledge (his office in on the second floor, but still, he might have landed on a hobo and we wouldn’t have been able to get the smell off before the weekend and the MilBlog convention is like tomorrow). Soon after that, someone sent a copy what Kris Goldsmith wrote on his Facebook page about Matthis – the best part of the whole thing is that it jibes with what a former friend of Chiroux told us last month – almost letter perfect. Luckily, I was between TSO and the window this time.
Of course, I emailed some of the folks in IVAW who I know to get their reaction. One of them sent me Camillo’s (one of the VVAW handlers of IVAW) reaction to Goldsmith’s missive;
Camillo Mac Bica at 2:19pm April 22
Kris, this is truly overwhelming. Please know that I have always respected you and all you have done for the movement and I don’t question your honesty and motivation in coming out on this. Here is my problem, though, and this is what I worry about. Like it or not, deservedly or not, Matthis has become one of the most visible faces of the movement, the poster boy, if you will. As such, should “right wing bloggers” as you mentioned, get a hold of this, it will be the entire movement that will suffer a set back, a loss of credibility. Now I’m not saying not to let the truth be known, hey let’s air this out and let the chips fall where they may.But can we do this in house, wthout giving the Fox fuckers a hey day to the detriment of IVAW and the rest of the peace movement? If I can be of any assistence in resolving this with the least amount of chaos, please let me know. You are an intelligent and honest man, Kris, so I trust your ability to look at the whole picture.
Emphasis is mine. I found it odd that Camillo, was willing to throw Goldsmith, a long time member of IVAW, one of the well-known and arguably one of the most believable testifiers at Winter Soldier right under the proverbial bus and cover up for Matthis Chiroux, the habitual liar and the guy who has never served in combat in either Afghanistan nor Iraq. But, as Camillo explains “Matthis has become one of the most visible faces of the movement, the poster boy“. Chiroux has been willing to say anything for anybody – for a price. He’s tall and blond and I guess Camillo finds that more attractive than the truth.
From what I’ve heard from members of IVAW as well as former members, Mejia is running off anyone from IVAW who won’t toe the International Socialist Organization line, and we’ve already seen Chiroux cozy up to World Can’t Wait, that had been established by the Revolutionary Communist Party. So while many IVAW members are a little shy about aligning themselves with folks who have far-Left tendencies, Camillo and Chiroux have no problem with that.
Here’s a reminder of what Camilo Mejia wrote to Army Sergeant last month about her patriotism and the Constitution;
What you have before you, Selena, is a typical GI Resistance publication, Vietnam-era style. Many such publications were the work of civilians who were working alongside GIs, which is the case of GI Special. Tom Barton works with members of VFP, IVAW, VVAW, etc and they reprint articles from papers like the Army Times, and from web sites such as our very own.
Your opinion of this publication is a reflection of just how out of touch you are with the organization you’re in. Have you ever checked out Vets For Freedom? They loooove the constitution, they’re flag waving patriots, and they want troops to reenlist. I bet they would have a similar opinion to yours about GI Special.
I’m not going to waste too much on this, Selena, but I really think you should explore other organizations that would better meet your desire to be a hard core patriot. IVAW is really not that place.
Yeah, see, if you happen to believe that the Constitution is a good legal guide for our country, Camilo doesn’t think you belong in the IVAW. If you happen to wave a flag right-side-up, you don’t belong in IVAW. Chiroux belongs in IVAW because he’ll prostitute himself – he’ll say and do anything for a price. As long he gets his nose full of cocaine and gets to live in a big expensive apartment in NYC, Chiroux will do anything. Kris Goldsmith reports that this pompous arrogance is what’s on Chiroux’ Facebook page this morning;
“Oh the fates are twisted! 8)8) Forgive the liars and the lame of heart. They know not what they do. Oh the splendid peace I feel; it shall not be moved from me. More to follow from Winter Soldier yesterday!”
Thought you guys might like that, how he’s projecting this bible-speak at all the sheep who can’t see that the crown of thorns on his head is made of compressed feces.
He’s like Ward Reilly (who by the way is recommending that IVAW investigate the charges Goldsmith has made about Chiroux – so that they can sweep it under rug before us wingnuts get a hold of it – too late, Ward). Reilly never went to Vietnam, yet he’s a Vietnam Veteran Against the War. Reilly dresses in jungle fatigues and boonie hats even though he was stationed in Germany (like Chiroux). And now Reilly is a useless, ghastly-looking old man who has never accomplished anything except fooled a new generation of warriors into thinking Reilly is someone. Reilly and Chiroux are nobodies.
The list of IVAW members who are disillusioned with IVAW’s support for Chiroux is growing, judging by the number of emails I’m getting.
If Matthis’ statement below didn’t piss you off, wait until you see this video from the local Fox affiliate;
From another local news organization KMOV4;
However, [LTC Maria Quon] said its findings are not the final word. That decision rests with Maj. Gen. Sean Byrne, who oversees the Army’s Human Resources Command. She said it could take weeks for that determination.
Here’s the pertinent regulation in Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations;
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In regards to Matthis Chiroux, the deserter who had his administrative discharge hearing yesterday in St. Louis, it was the best we could hope for. Chiroux writes as if he scored some huge moral victory, but the board gave him the worst discharge they could award under the circumstances;
Today, I stood before the Army. I looked a board of officers in the eyes, and I told them I thought they were sending people off to participate in war crimes. And what did they say? Get out of here, Sergeant, and keep your damn G.I. Bill!!!
Indeed, folks! The Army awarded me a recommendation for a general discharge under honorable conditions from the Individual Ready Reserve for my refusal to deploy to Iraq last summer. This landmark decision means not only am I a free man, I’m free to continue school this fall with the “new” G.I. Bill that I earned while on active duty.
Though this discharge is identical to the one I refused in exchange for having this hearing, I can now rest easy knowing I never submitted, I never backed down and the Army has heard my story.
And not just my story, but the stories of those brave veterans at Winter Soldier and those who’ve participated in IVAW’s Warrior Writers’ program. Full texts of both books were submitted to the Army this morning, and I can only imagine the fun they’re having transcribing them into the record.
I testified, Marjorie Conn, the president of the National Lawyers’ Guild, testified, and my mother Patricia testified as to why my refusal to deploy was quite legitimate and not deserving of attack by the military.
Though Maj. Laws, the prosecution, did everything he could to keep my legal arguments from the ears of the board (he even prevented me from reading to them from my Constitution calling the document irrelevant), our voices were heard loud and clear by a board of gentlemen who’ve given me a new respect and hope for our nation and servicemembers world-wide.
The hearing, which lasted around four-and-a-half hours, cemented in my mind that not only is military resistance to our illegal occupations righteous, it is finding new breath amongst troops who are fed up with the status quo.
This all came after a provocative appearance this morning on the local Fox News Channel (http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-ap-soldier-on-trial-042109,0,1094348.story) in which I wore a patriotic symbol of distress (an upside-down flag) on my uniform.
During the hearing, my girlfriend Alexandra among others were present in the board room to offer moral support. Having them there made all the difference as I squared off with the military over human slaughter that we’ve all been forced to bow down to.
So what does this mean for the military? RESIST!!!! Now’s the time, ladies and gentleman. The flood-gates are open. Your leaders are listening, and more and more, they are agreeing. Resisters are moving away from being the exception, and slowly becoming the norm.
If I can refuse to go to Iraq, climb monuments, march into presidential debates, lobby congress, face the military, not go to jail and not even loose my G.I. Bill, we just don’t have any excuses anymore! Resistance is rising, and IVAW will stand firm underneath it. My story is now history, and I humbly pass the torch.
More to follow soon on my testimony at Winter Soldier and the juicy details of my hearing. Now, I’m going to sleep like I haven’t in a year!
Peace and Solidarity,
Matthis Chiroux
Yes, he wore an upside down flag to the Fox interview. I’m pretty sure his scraggly-ass turned it right side up for the board, though – especially since he doesn’t mention the flag in regards to the hearing.
This is the guy you folks at IVAW have attached yourself to. Now he claims he’s going to testify at Winter Soldier – about what? What has he seen? What has he done even related to actions in this war. He’s already demeaned the job YOU did, because he’s not done anything, he’s said “So what? You didn’t either”.
Chirouz is out there, as a former member of IVAW told me yesterday, selling the Warrior Writer books with your writings, your experiences, your attempts to deal with what your tours were like, to line his own pockets and buy more pot – and doesn’t have an inkling of the meaning of your words. He’s stealing your valor, your money, your life for his selfish reasons.
And it’s all because pretty boy Chiroux didn’t want to be uncomfortable. He didn’t “resist”, he bailed.
Chiroux thinks his GI Bill benefits are a foregone conclusion, but that’s not exactly true. I talked to LTC Quon yesterday, the Personnel Command PAO in St Louis, and she told me that some personnel think because the discharge is described as general under honorable conditions, it is as good as or the same as an honorable discharge. However, a general discharge may preclude participation in the GI Bill, service on veteran’s commissions, and other programs where a fully-honorable discharge is required. It’s up to the DVA whether they’re going to curtail his benefits or not. But I’m pretty sure that to preclude another monkey parade like this one, the Shinseki DVA will continue his benefits.
Here are some of the past posts on Chiroux;
Chiroux’ military records. Chiroux real personality by someone who knows him. Chiroux, the blow hard, tries to defend himself and pulls everyone down into the mud with him.
Chiroux talks like this is only the beginning, but, folks, as soon as he’s tapped the money and the good will from IVAW, he’ll be gone, gone, gone. He got his free education and that’s all he wanted. Unless you folks keep pouring money over him, he’ll leave faster than a Spanish hooker on payday night (if you’ve ever been in Barcelona’s Las Ramblas you’d understand that one).
One former IVAW member emailed me yesterday;
think about it he was a combat corespondent, he could have had the world as his oyster and done real reporting from the front and spin it as he could… but he would rather balk at the thought of getting stitched by a AK and coming home in a coffin.. my thought is he could have been a ‘private joker’ if you know what i mean. but he choose to stay home. and in that his cred is shot for me at least.
Remember our buddy Ray Buckley, the Democrat Chair…um…person from New Hampshire? If you don’t, let me refresh your memory. He was the clown who told Debbie Lee that he was a Vietnam Veteran back in October.
Well, TSO sent me a video of him calling all y’all tea partyers an “unhinged mob”.
“Unhinged”. Like a guy who blurts out that he was a veteran of a war for which he turned 12 years old in it’s final year. And, oh, he’s the best Democrat they got up there in New Hampshire.
ED Note: Whoever put the video up took it down, so here’s the article from Fox News. Thanks to Mary for pointing it out and thanks to Michelle Malkin for the link.