New Anti-War Hero Admits to Violating Military Rules

New Anti-War Hero Admits to Violating Military Rules

By Robin Boyd (Bio | Archive)
June 3, 2007 - 13:22 ET

The media has a new anti-war hero - Adam Kokesh the Iraq war veteran who is facing a June 4th hearing for violations of the UCMJ regarding wearing the uniform while protesting and disrespect to an officer. The headlines scream out for sympathy for Kokesh and outrage for the Marine Corps. "Iraq Vet Faces Penalty for War Protest" was the headline on CBS News online. The Daily Breeze says "Discharged Veteran May be Punished for Protesting". The Socialist Worker calls it "Marines Eating Their Own". All are couching this hearing in terms of free speech and punishing an anti-war vet when it is nothing of the sort.

What makes this charade of outrage even more ridiculous is Kokesh's claims. From the CBS News article:

Kokesh argues that he was not representing the military at the protest in Washington, and he made that clear by removing his name tag and other military insignia from his uniform.

Oh really? Kokesh admitted back on March 20, 2007 that he violated the sanctity of the Marine Corps utility uniform. From Kokesh's own blog and in his own words - "Why I Cry for Jonathan Shulze"...

"I feared that violating the sanctity of the Marine Corps utility uniform would be sacrilege. I think if I was still on active duty right now, and was watching fellow former Marine Sergeant and IVAW member Liam Madden marching though the capitol in his utilities, I probably would have called him a "s*^$ bag". But to not participate when perfectly able would have been to betray myself. In light of the stakes, making a parody of military operations is the pettiest of transgressions."

Kokesh not only pointed out his own UCMJ violations but he fingered Liam Madden (who is also being investigated). Even more damning is his admission that Operation First Casualty was a parody of military operations. But - But - I thought the street theater was an exercise to show people the real situation in Iraq. You mean it was meant as a mockery to the honor of the Marines and the rest of our military fighting in a war? I'm shocked... shocked I tell you.

Now - how can one complain that this hearing is a political witch hunt to silence vets when Kokesh admits to every single violation? Seems that the Marines would be remiss in their duties to not investigate this fella. Next time Kokesh wants to get some media coverage and make a political statement, he should read back over his blog posts first. The media should do a little background research next time they crown an anti-war icon.

UPDATE: Kokesh claims he removed all traces of identifiable military marks from his uniform. That is not possible. The Marine Corps Utility Uniform (MARPAT) has an embroidered logo on the left breast pocket. Also the Marine "logo" is made into the pattern of material. You can see a sample of the material here. Notice that the media never bothered to check on this despite Getty Images having a picture of Kokesh at Operation First Casualty with the embroidered logo quite visable.

Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Don't do the crime, if you

June 3, 2007 - 13:26 ET by Mean Gene Dr. Love

Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time.

Every airman, soldier, sailor, marine, reservist, and guardsman knows it is unlawful (under the UCMJ) to wear their uniform at any rally or demonstration. Taking the nametag off is only a childish attempt to be annonymous. Heck, you can't even wear the uniform to a bar civilian anymore. While wearing the uniform, you are telling the world you are a representative of the U.S. Military and you are viewed as such.

These people make me sick.

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." --Thomas Jefferson

I hope they kick him out of A

June 3, 2007 - 13:30 ET by

I hope they kick him out of America and take away his citizenship. What he did was nothing short of treason.

I am all for standing up to the government when it is believed that the government is wrong on an issue. But one has to stay within the boundaries of the law, or one becomes part of the problem, not the cure. -----This is with the exception of the prevention of the shedding of innocent blood and protecting those who cannot protect themselves, and if the a government goes outside of the borders of the law itself and basic rules of humanity as described in our Declaration of Independence.

Debra...

Not marching in a protest in

June 3, 2007 - 14:17 ET by nnptcgrad

Not marching in a protest in your uniform is one of those things that is known from boot camp. Like when to salute and the paygrades/ranks of your service. You aren't even supposed to talk about the president in public, if it might be seen as advocating by the military, whether you support his position or not.

Mother nature is a bitch - Ninth Corollary of Murphy's Law

Grad, this is unquestionably

June 3, 2007 - 18:11 ET by MikeB

Grad, this is unquestionably true. Remember the general who was forced to resign when he called Comrade Bubba a "draft dodging, dope smoking, skirt chasing Commander in Chief"? Everything he said about Billy Jeff was the absolute truth, but the general was on active duty, so good-bye general.

"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan

"I feared that violating

June 3, 2007 - 14:33 ET by Airforce_5_O

"I feared that violating the sanctity of the Marine Corps utility uniform would be sacrilege. I think if I was still on active duty right now, and was watching fellow former Marine Sergeant and IVAW member Liam Madden marching though the capitol in his utilities, I probably would have called him a "s*^$ bag". But to not participate when perfectly able would have been to betray myself. In light of the stakes, making a parody of military operations is the pettiest of transgressions."

To WW, ARR, Ding, and all of you that defended this poor unfortunate Solider.

I TOLD YOU HE WAS GOING DOWN!!!!!

Now lets see you lie up and say you were wrong. I will probably be waiting a while for that one.

Say good by Honorable discharge. Hello Brig.