Because of the broohaha over invective and language a few weeks back I was asked my opinion of the Chairman’s conversation with Pastor Jones.

Simply put, I am confused and disappointed.

I firmly believe that any conversation – direct conversation – mano a mano – from a military officer in the execution of his military duties to a citizen that directly asks for a curtailment of free speech is outside any swim lane.  There is no private citizen or “I’m only a reservist” clause for this.

In the same week I find that I am as bothered that the Chairman hasn’t spoken against Admiral Nathman and the others who stood on the stage at the DNC.  He may be parsing a subtlety as “I have issue with those who are “against” something, but am OK with those who a are “for” something” as some sort of positive pressure indicator.  But since there has been no clarifying language I am forced to recognize that words, and the lack thereof, have meaning.

I still want to believe that the Chairman is not a partisan man…but it is increasingly difficult to do so.  He speaks all around the world to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.  Surely someone will ask him about this at some point.  I hope so.  I’d like to hear his answer.

« Guest Post: Remembering Ambassador Chris Stevens by RDML James G. Foggo, USN

Guest Post by LCDR Guy Snodgrass: Neil Armstrong – A National Treasure »

Posted by M. Ittleschmerz in Soft Power, Uncategorized

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

← Older Comments

• http://blog.usni.org M. Ittleschmerz

  Folks we are either reading past each other or so ingrained in our own views that even with good reading comprehension we refuse to comprehend what we are reading.

  This will be my final comment on this post.

  I believe the Chairman should not have made the call.

  I believe no military member should ask another American citizen to curtail their expression of free speech.

  I know there are no laws that prevent a military member from asking another American citizen from curtailing their expression of free speech.

  Individual action and ordering someon to act are completely different things.

  I believe that the Chairman did not exceed or abuse his military authority in making the call. That does not change or contradict my belief that he shouldn’t have made the call. If that is too nuanced to follow, then I can’t help explain it any better.

• SecretSquid

  M.I.:

  Since you are so certain “there are no laws that prevent a military member from asking another American citizen [to] curtail their expression of free speech,” then why should we not expect to see a Joint Task Force Combating Islamic Defamation?

  This cannot be. I do know of such a law. It is the First Amendment to the US Constitution. It is regrettable that its restraints on the authority of US military officers are not better and more widely understood by readers of this forum.

  V/r,

  SS

• RickWilmes

  @ Matt-

  “Personally, its more disturing that the General seemed so utterly outwitted by Al Qaeda. If your the guy in charge of the war and you fall for his propaganda to the point of actually aiding in the targeting of a “blasphemer” by announcing his name and denouncing him, as Al Qaeda very much appreciates, than you should be fired for professional malpractice.”

  You bring up a good point. If I were the Chairman, I’d be asking if we have been fooled like the Denver Bronco’s were fooled with “Ban the Boz” t-shirts.

  http://books.google.com/books?id=XOYPv780PogC&lpg=PA107&pg=PA107#v=onepage&q&f=false

← Older Comments