White House Encourages Troops to Violate DoD Policy

Robert Novak:

At the same time, the Bush administration is going directly to the public with its war message. Raul Damas, associate director of political affairs at the White House, has been on the phone directly to Republican county chairmen to arrange local speeches by active duty military personnel to talk about their experiences in Iraq.

Unfortunately, the Department of Defense outlaws the practice:

4.1.2. A member on active duty shall not:

4.1.2.1. Use his or her official authority or influence for interfering with an election; affecting the course or outcome of an election; soliciting votes for a particular candidate or issue; or requiring or soliciting political contributions from others.

4.1.2.2. Be a candidate for, hold, or exercise the functions of civil office except as authorized in paragraphs 4.2. and 4.3., below.

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

4.1.2.4. Make campaign contributions to another member of the Armed Forces or an employee of the Federal Government.

Gotta hand it to an adminstration always willing to stand infront of the troops for a photo-op, but refuses to stand behind them whem it comes to providing benefits promised to them when the contract was signed. It's no wonder over 50 veterans have chosen to run for Congress on the Democratic ticket in 2006.

Comments (3) «

I've written extensively about the way the Bushes are using soldiers as tools of their propaganda. I think it's time to everyone got serious about this. We need everyone to go a href="http://www.dodig.osd.mil/HOTLINE/fwacompl.htm">here and file a complaing with the Department of Defense's Inspector General.

1

Nitpicker on February 10, 2006 at 04:52 PM

They arranged for a state rep who was called up twice to speak at the local high school -- I suppose to help in recruiting kids to sign up. Turns out that he served at Gitmo. Most of the kids were grossed out.

So this was all part of the Republican think tank war plan? Why doesn't it surprise any of us?

2

SandyH on February 10, 2006 at 07:47 PM

Will they have a trial to put the Troops in prison that disobeyed their Commander IN Chief? Which has the most power, the DOD or The Commander In Chief? Maybe they will get them either way? Anyway it goes they may have to go to Prison for obeying orders like the ones who tortured Prisoners, they were following orders and they got prison.
Oh! The Loyalty of the Christian Right?

3

freeforall on February 13, 2006 at 02:57 PM

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