GOP Convention in VIOLATION of it's own DOD directive

[rob-ok-vin]

In direct violation of DOD policy issued August 02, 2004, the Republican National Convention is touting 3% of it's 4800 delegates (144 delegates) as active duty military personnel. The new initiative, put out and signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz outlines the policies regarding active duty military personnel. Among the policy's prohibited behaviors or activities is listed in DOD Directive 1344.10 under section 4.1.2.3 is:


4.1.2. A member on active duty shall not:

4.1.2.3. Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (unless attending a convention as a spectator when not in uniform).

This new policy, enacted after the Democratic Convention (July 26-29), clearly states the prohibited and acceptable behaviors of military personnel in regards to political affiliation and endorsements.

The Republican National Party is touting these military delegates in direct violation of their own Defense Department directive. These delegates face disciplinary action under the DOD directive:

4.4.4. A member who violates any of the prohibitions in sub-paragraphs 4.1.2., 4.2.1., 4.3.1., or 4.3.4., or enclosure 3, of this Directive may be subject to disciplinary or adverse administrative action under Service regulations.

This is unbelievable breaking news which has not, to my knowledge, been covered in any other media outlet. This is a DU exclusive.

Let's get this story out to the mainstream media before the start of the RNC and put the focus on this administration's further violations of it's own policies and procedures.

[BeFree]

1. Good catch...

Welcome to DU, eh?

Why am I not surprised they don't follow the law? The bastards need to be flogged in the public square.

[indepat]

2. Rummy will likely severely punish, maybe even torture, each and every

perpetrator.

[RivetJoint]

3. I wonder

if the press release means ACTIVE DUTY personnel; or if they mean Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently in the Guard and Reserves. Easy mistake for a layman to make.

Clearly ACTIVE DUTY personnel attending as a delegate would violate the directive.

[rob-ok-vin]

9. Here is a snip of the AP report:

About 15 percent of the 4,800-plus delegates and alternates to the convention in New York are veterans, organizers said Monday. An additional 3 percent are active military personnel.

[RivetJoint]

10. "Active" not "Active Duty"

Watch, the active military personnel will turn out to be people currently in the Guard or Reserve and NOT on active duty. Wait and see.

[EarlG]

4. This is a great catch

But unfortunately I think it is too easy to spin.

Us: Why are 3% of the RNC delegates active duty military personnel? That's clearly against the DoD's own rules and regs! Hypocrisy!

Them: Do you hate the military so much that you don't want them to exercise their First Amendment rights? For shame!

Us: No, of course we don't hate the military - we're just pointing out the hypocrisy of the Republicans breaking the DoD's rules...

Them: You hate the military! You hate the military! Go back to Cuba, communists!

Rush Limbaugh and the rest of the media: John Kerry hates the military! Says they shouldn't be allowed to speak at Republican National Convention!

etc. etc. etc.

The end.

[RivetJoint]

5. Here's the catch

They may be active military (i.e., currently in the Guard or Reserve), but NOT Active Duty. We need to find out what the press release (which says "active military personnel") really means.

[rob-ok-vin]

6. click on the link

the DOD directive signed by Paul Wolfowitz is very clear on this subject. As far as the spin, this is their own directive put out less than three weeks ago. If they are putting out directives keeping our military from speaking out on political issues, it is on them. It was put out after the democratic convention but before theirs. This is a straight up violation of THEIR policy. This, can't be spun to bite us.

[RivetJoint]

8. Dpends on if the military people

attending are ACTIVE DUTY or not. I person can be in the Guard or Reserve, but NOT be ACTIVE DUTY.

[rob-ok-vin]

11. The release says

...active military personel.

The DOD directive is very clear. No active member of the military may appear at a convention in uniform or as a participant. Only as a spectator. Please click the link and read the directive.

[RivetJoint]

12. I read it

And the semantics are gonna jump up and bite you. The press release says "active" which COULD mean someone who is currently in the Guard or Reserve--many lay people don't understand the difference.. It does NOT say "active duty." The prohibition is against active duty personnel; NOT Guard and reserve (unless they are in an active duty status).

[rob-ok-vin]

13. The press release says

140 members of the Reserves.

[rob-ok-vin]

7. Here is their definition

2. APPLICABILITY

This Directive applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a Military Service in the Department of the Navy by agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the "DoD Components").