Ariz. Guard blogger ("Democratic activist") punished

[rainbow4321]

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1003245.php

An Arizona National Guardsmen who had been openly critical of the war in Iraq on his Web log, has been punished for violating operational security and for 11 counts of disobeying orders, according to Multinational Corps — Iraq.

Spc. Leonard A. Clark was busted down one rank to private first class, fined $820 per month for two months, and sentenced to 45 days restriction and 45 days of extra duty. The restriction and extra duty were suspended for five months.


In civilian life, Clark is a kindergarten teacher, activist and perennial candidate for public office. In the Guard, he is a member of the 860th Military Police Company. The Arizona Republic reported Clark, a Democrat, filed papers to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Jon Kyl. Clark previously ran for the Arizona House of Representatives and state Senate.

In a post on his site July 5, Clark responded to questions about a report that he is being investigated for his writings: “Folks, I have decided to write you this email in response to those who are wondering in their own views why I am apparently violating the ‘rules.’ Since I don't have much time here is the gist of it: I believe American soldiers (my brothers and sisters) are being killed needlessy over here in this lie we call ‘the Occupation of Iraq.’"


---------------------------
Current blog:

http://leonardclark.com/blog/


Archived blog entries

http://censoredsoldiers.blogspot.com/2005/07/leonardclarkcom.html

[hallc]

1. Well...

There goes that free speech part of our constitution...I feel bad for this guy. Just because he is in the military doesn't mean he has to agree with what they are doing. Bravo to him for being so brave to speak out...Its a shame they are making him do EXTRA duty as a punishment...Jail would probably be nicer...

[rainbow4321]

3. His post about chimp

Did a google on more of his archives and found this--some other blogger figured the soldier's blog would be pulled and copied one of his posts:

http://www.canadawebpages.com/pc-forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1959&whichpage=1


After creating the false perception we would be “in and out” and democracy would blossom quickly, they invaded. We naturally crushed the Iraqi Army and removed Saddam Hussein. Then, when it was too late, we found out nothing Mr. Bush told us was true.

Here we are over two years into the war with no way out. The war rages on and the death continues. One can only conclude Mr. Bush lied or he is totally incompetent to make judgments for war as our President. Either way, his actions cannot be excused.

All Mr. Bush seems able to do is declare false victories. I'll never forget him in a flight suit landing on an aircraft carrier to declare an end to all “major combat operations” in Iraq under a banner of “Mission Accomplished.” I was in Iraq the day he landed on that carrier, and I can tell you nothing looked “accomplished” to me.

I can report to you from first hand experience that Bush's war created death and destruction, not freedom and democracy. Furthermore, we are no safer here at home with our military completely stretched beyond our means in Iraq in a war that will only get worse. If we are attacked again by a legitimate enemy we will not be able to respond effectively with the bulk of our military ground forces tasked to Iraq.

Of course it's not just George Bush. It's those behind him too – Karl Rove and Dick Cheney. And other members of the same moral, Christian country club like Tom Delay, Bill Frist, and Rick Santorum. No matter how hard they try to portray how moral they are, their actions tell another truth.

[bobbieinok]

14. mission accomplished

many on DU pointed out that W declared in his speech an end to 'combat operations' and that later the govt web site was changed to 'major combat operations'

for a while, every time the altered text was given, some one here would remind of the change.......but it's impossible to keep up with the 24/7 lies and rewriting of history

[Earth_First]

2. "The restriction and extra duty were suspended for five months."

Just enough time for you to SRP and ship to Iraq...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. anything we can do to help?

I'm flat broke, or I'd send him some bucks. What else could we do?

[phusion]

15. Why don't we raise $1,640

In the name of free speech we could replace his lost salary (that's really got to hurt -- $820 a month?!).

[tsuki]

5. He'll serve more time than Rove. How f**ked is that?

[Tigress DEM]

7. Totally f**ked.

The Administration thinks that because the soldier said in his blog that if someone attacked us at home we wouldn't be able to respond that he was inviting the enemy to make sch a move.

But it isn't as if he gave exact troop counts or positions.

[Cha]

10. If they're going to out a CIA Agent..

for Revenge..you know they're going to FUBAR this Soldier to teach lessons.

I can't wait for some lessons to come their way.

[agincourt]

6. Just goes to show,

the only free speech in this country is corporate Bush rah rah shit shoved down our throats on all channels.

[xchrom]

8. just another example about how we crow about free speech

and don't mean it if the wrong person speaks the truth.

he is being punished because he presents reality -- not some pee - brained freepers infantile version of glorified america.

[classysassy]

9. Free speech

as a retired military person it would be impossible for me to serve under an AWOL thief.

[Cha]

11. Fortunately you didn't have to..

I really real for the ones who do now..the ones who didn't drink the koolaid.

[Viking12]

12. "It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech"

Zell?? paging Zell Miller!!! or any of the the other asshats that believe the military (past or present) has any interest in free speech.

[ninkasi]

13. This is so wrong...

The irony, is that if another government were acting just like we are doing, Bush and the rest would be the first pontificating about "transparent government", and freedom of speech, and all the rest of it.

Because it's frat brat's war, though, they enable men like Karl Rove to out CIA agents, and come down hard on a man who is in the middle of the carnage, and reporting the truth. They can't be voted out of office soon enough for me.

[lonestarnot]

16. Those rat bastards! But he should have known the rules... They make

them very clear. You have NO freedom when you are in the military. "You belong to the government." You can be court martialed for getting sunburned.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

17. We need to do something about this

Like.....all going to the Sept 24th protest
Like.....donating money to cover what he has lost
Like.....starting a memorial site for his parents
Like.....calling our reps DAILY to demand they pull out of Iraq
Like.....demanding we stay OUT of Iran
Like.....demanding truth
Like.....demanding impeachment
Like.....demanding votes to be on paper ballots and ALL counted
Like.....demanding Abu Ghraib photos released
Like.....stopping this world domination plot
Like.....shouting louder with firmer voices


We need to do something!

[alittlelark]

18. This is in the ARMY TIMES......

I support the THINKING troops, and will pray for the UNTHINKING troops.

[SKKY]

19. There must have been something else on his blog...

...like some OPSEC violation or something. I can't see him getting busted for something like that.

[Stockholm]

20. I would donate to this mans family....n/t