Z
zzigzzag
Guest
Pure bullshit. They can legally criticize the President all day long. They just can't do it like you hyperventilating, hyperbolic hatemongers do.Which leads us to why the article is soooo...obscure when it comes to sources, they cannot legally criticize the CIC. However, I can only speak for myself I have a lot of family in the military etc. and that would be in line from what I have heard from them......
Soooo I mean the President sucks......I don't think that is news unless you are one of the brainwashed hordes.
They also can't assert that they are speaking for the military. That's your, Dawg's and Caroljo's job.
FREE SPEECH IN THE MILITARY
THE RIGHT TO SAY AND WRITE WHAT YOU THINK
Members of the military have the right to say or to write what they think, up to a point. They can't say things that encourage violence (other than as part of authorized military operations) or urge others to violate military regulations. They can't communicate with "the enemy," for example, by writing letters to Iraqi officials or soldiers. Article 88 of the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) makes it a crime for a commissioned officer to use "contemptuous words" against the President, Vice-President, Secretary of Defense, and other specified high government officials. Enlisted members can be prosecuted under Article 134 for using similar words. The words have to be "to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, or conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces." Military members have gotten into trouble for calling officials "fascists," "thieves," murderers" "tyrants" "fools" and "gangsters." This law is selectively enforced. Some officers didn't get in trouble for saying bad things about President Clinton, for example. Article 117 of the UCMJ outlaws using "provoking or reproachful words or gestures" towards someone else in the military. The more real danger, however, if from saying things that could make other members desert, disobey lawful orders, or refuse to do their jobs. That kind of speech could violate Article 82 of the UCMJ, which makes it a crime for someone in the military to ask someone else to desert or mutiny (disobey orders as a group).
Members of the military can write letters to newspapers -- so long as they are not part of an organized letter campaign for a political candidate, party, or partisan political cause. (This rule, is found in Army Regulation 600-20, Appendix B). It is unclear what the Army means by "partisan political cause," but it probably means a cause promoted by a political party. Military members can also publish their own newspapers - so long as they do it while they are off duty and don't use military paper, ink, computers, phones, or other supplies or equipment. Of course, members may not say or give the impression that they are speaking on behalf of the military.
Military members can put bumpers stickers on their cars and signs in their yards -- subject to the limitations discussed in this leaflet. Civilians who live with military members are not subject to these limitations, unless they live in on-base housing - then they are subject to local orders having to do with such things.
http://nlgmltf.org/leaflets/GI_Rights_free_speech.html