Using Our Military for Political Ends

[wadestock]

Well now brace yourselves, you may have noticed the rise of the military into political arena throughout Desert Storm and now W War.

But did you take notice of the articles written concerning how the military can now DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES???

WHAT YOU SAY....WHAT ABOUT THE HATCH ACT? ISN’T THERE SOMETHING WHICH PREVENTS THIS OBVIOUS ABUSE?

No, what we’re talking about is a DOD directive known simply as 1344.10.

Check this out….
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/9/3/162335/9285

Sorry if this has been posted before....but it took me a while to research this and find this article from a friend who originally spoke about this to me a couple weeks ago.

“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.”

“As it turns out though, it's actually not such a good thing to have active-duty military anywhere near a political convention - if you value your democracy. In fact, up until just a few days before the convention, it was quite illegal for active-duty military even to attend.”

“Soon after being published, the original AP report, linked above, was removed from the RNC website, and from most or all of the major news outlets which had published it, including the AP wire service copy. The few outlets which still haven't taken down their copy of it are getting harder to find, but the Google cache will give evidence to its original distribution.”

“The new version of the document extends the permissible functions which may be attended to include conventions:
4.1.1. - A member on Active Duty may:
<...>
4.1.1.3. - Attend partisan and nonpartisan political meetings, rallies, or conventions as a spectator when not in uniform.”

“So, Wolfowitz added a bit which extends the new right to be a "spectator", to include the right to participate:
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).”

“Well, naturally, nomination or candidacy for civil office (whether elective or otherwise) is also clearly prohibited in nearly all cases, in both versions of the directive. However, there's an important exception built in to both versions which has been subtly but significantly altered in the latest version. The previous version stated that, regarding nomination or candidacy for civil office:
4.2.1 - <...> When circumstances warrant, the Secretary concerned or the Secretary's designee may permit a member to file such evidence of nomination or candidacy for nomination, as may be required by law.
So, previously, the active duty member might be allowed to file the forms and papers necessary for candidacy, but nothing more. The new version significantly extends this allowance, and creates the necessary, and final loophole which was needed:
4.2.2. - When circumstances warrant, the Secretary concerned or the Secretary's designee may permit a member covered by the prohibition of subparagraph 4.2.1., above, to remain or become a nominee or a candidate for civil office.
Pretty nifty. All it takes now for the active-duty serviceman is the permission of the Secretary (or his minion) to get their name on the delegates ballot list. If they actually get elected, they're out of luck, but if they're appointed as a delegate, they're on their way to New York City. “

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WORLD WILL LOOK LIKE AFTER ANOTHER 4 YEARS OF BUSHCO?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Chile..... it's not just a club... it's a gang. n/t

[wadestock]

2. Is everyone accepting the general notion....

that the military IS going to save us?

[Supersedeas]

3. there's uniform and then there's uniform