Michael: Specialist Leonard Clark Arrested in Iraq
UPDATE POSTING AUG. 3rdSpecialist Leonard Clark is a long-time member of the Arizona Army National Guard 806th Military Police Brigade, is currently deployed in Iraq, and is adamantly against the war. He is outspoken about his opposition to the war both in his unit, in public, and on his blog. And now he's paying an unacceptable price for giving voice to his conscience.
Clark has been arrested and will be brought before a Court Martial on as yet unknown charges; but his commanders have made it abundantly clear to him that his real crime is excercising his First Amendment rights(MP3 Stream) by opposing the war. Earlier this month Clark was ordered to stop posting to his blog on the grounds of operational security, though Clark never posted operational information. Clark's arrest came as no surprise him and has been anticipated for some time now.
If it is the American way we are fighting for in Iraq, as George Bush insists that it is, then we have already lost the war; Clark's arrest shows that the American way has been undermined and demolished by the very people and institutions who hypocritically claim to defend it.
posted by Michael Bryan @ 7/10/2005 07:35:00 PM
16 Comments:
Damn, that's a little depressing. I jope he gets through this OK. A guy like Nelson Mandela had to suffer some temporary setbacks, too.
I'm not the government. Neither is a corporation. The government as an employer carries additional burdens requiring it not to infringe upon its employees civil rights. Stiffling free speech is not something that private employers are capable of doing, it is something the military is manifestly capable of running afoul of.
As a soldier let me assure you that there are restraints placed upon our civil liberites while we are serving; freedom of speech in particular.
What I'd like to see are some samples of what SPC Clark had posted. If I could I could at least make a determination for myself as to what might have been found to be objectionable.
All that said, most commanders are pretty lenient about interpreting the statemtns of subordinates where punishment, especailly court-martial, might be at issue, except inteh case of Operational Security (OPSEC). It's a broad area. Descriptions of tactics, times and dates of impending actions and some past actions, descriptions of facilities, and this is stuff that isn't classified, per se.
It's not hard to imagine (never having read any of Clark's material) a case where he wrote something, probably with no ill intent that divulged too much.
So, this investigation probably has nothing to do with the fact that he has announced his candidacy for Jon Kyl's seat as a active member of the military then? Because, you know, that's against regulations - and for a very good reason.
Joel, it probably had a great deal to do with his filing candidacy papers to run against Kyl. I agree there are good reasons to prevent active duty military personnel from running for or excercising the powers of an elected office. However, I don't think any are implicated in Clark's case; apparently neither did the military as he's now been released without charges aparently.
they're saying on yahoo that he's been demoted and fined for divulging classified info...
here's the story link: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=533&e=8&u=/ap/20050802/ap_on_re_us/guardsman_blog"
I wonder what Clark's "brothers and sisters" in the armed forces think of his so called heroism. I think he is a coward and a traitor. If this man had any concience he would make his comments after he had left active duty. The enemy we are fighting is a multi-headed monster of ideas that teach people to hate and kill in the name of God. These people would kill any of you that oppose this war just as quickly as they would those who support it. This war has been going on for a great many years, in the minds of those we are facing now. It will take a great number of years to beat back this monster that has been breeding and growing before our very eyes. Our lack of action has created the very problem we are dealing with now. There are two types of people in this world. When attacked, there are people that fall down and curl up to protect themselves and there are people the instinctively fight back. We have been attacked and continue to be attacked because of who we are. ( Something that can never be changed in the eyes of those who attack us) If Leonard Clark wants to curl up while those around him are fighting, do not expect not to get trampled on because of the posture you have chosen, it is only appropriate.
I think what we're seeing here is the exact reason why we're losing in Iraq. It was the same thing when I was deployed last year. Commanders are not concerned with progress on the ground -- their goals are to nitpick their own soldiers to make sure they don't get hung out to dry on technicalities.
The guy's an E-4 MP. What classified could he know? Convoy times at best. Nothing that, it seems, couldn't be handled within his most local chain of command.
On that note -- commanders are the worst about OPSEC of anyone I've seen. As a soldier in MI, I'll tell you right now that is common for a commander to straight-up tell a local leader (Elder, Governor, Mayor) specific routes and times of US movements entirely in violation of OPSEC.
Personally, I think this Clark fellow is being hung out to dry. It seems that whatever he officially did was wrong -- but I bet he's not the only one guilty of it.
"I wonder what Clark's "brothers and sisters" in the armed forces think of his so called heroism. I think he is a coward and a traitor."
On this I would have to agree. As a soldier myself, I am disgusted by the fact that he would post any type of classified information that could get another soldier killed. On the other hand, if the information he posted was about previous missions or of nothing inportant then yes he is being hung out to dry. If this individual was so against going to war, then why the hell did he join the military in the first place? College money maybe? Well now is the time to stand up, be a man and pay back the country that paid you. Regardless if it is Active duty, Reserves or National Guard, it still says US ARMY over the left pocket, this we must not forget. You cannot be a soldier half way, you were the one that signed the contract now do your job and uphold that agreement.
http://blog.forclark.com/story/2005/6/24/0446/69105
Thats the link to read some of his letters...Im a marine corps radio operator and have a secret clearance so im pretty educated on OPSEC. From what i read of his, hes not guilty of violating any rules, but guilty of telling it the way it is. Ive been here in Iraq since around january myself. I read an excerpt of his where he says the men in his unit are starting to think their CO is starting to be more of a glory seeker than having his mens welfare in mind, something im currently seeing first hand. Anyway that poster that said he sees him as a coward if probably a coward himself and his word has no impact on this topic.
wonder what Clark's "brothers and sisters" in the armed forces think of his so called heroism. I think he is a coward and a traitor. If this man had any concience he would make his comments after he had left active duty. The enemy we are fighting is a multi-headed monster of ideas that teach people to hate and kill in the name of God. These people would kill any of you that oppose this war just as quickly as they would those who support it. This war has been going on for a great many years, in the minds of those we are facing now. It will take a great number of years to beat back this monster that has been breeding and growing before our very eyes. Our lack of action has created the very problem we are dealing with now. There are two types of people in this world. When attacked, there are people that fall down and curl up to protect themselves and there are people the instinctively fight back. We have been attacked and continue to be attacked because of who we are. ( Something that can never be changed in the eyes of those who attack us) If Leonard Clark wants to curl up while those around him are fighting, do not expect not to get trampled on because of the posture you have chosen, it is only appropriate.
BULLSHIT
In response to my earlier post regarding Clark's "brothers and sisters" The marine corp radio operator thinks somehow I am the coward since I did not address specific instances of Mr. Clark's cowardice. I have read his posts and can give you numerous instances of his cowardice. It is clear he is not a willing participant in this fight and is clearly politically opposed to it. His references to his superior officers is clearly insubordination. Any man that endangers his fellow man to make his political voice heard, is absolutely a coward. And he clearly endagered his fellow soldiers with his daily rants that gave a clear idea of his location, as well as, outlining daily operations. He also wrote, in detail, how to take out our soldiers with snipers. Do you think there is any coincidence that he plans to run for public office with his political agenda already on the table and getting a large amount of press. Why couldn't this man just do his job, that he signed up for by the way!, and wait until he was finished to poke his fingers in the military's eyes. He even describes the advances the Iraqi people are making. He acknowledges the political battles being waged here has a direct impact on our forces morale and lends aid to the enemy by forcing withdrawl dates or cutbacks in troop numbers. If you think this fight will go away if we leave Iraq, you are absolutely wrong and incredibly naive. This war will resurface somewhere else, probably in our own backyard. I am sick and tired of the rhetoric and nonsense I hear about all of conspiracy theories because of the hatred and for our sitting President. These are the same people that lift people like PFC Clark up on a pedestal to support their arguments and agenda regardless of who may be harmed because of Clark's lack of regard for the welfare of his fellow soldiers. I am sure there are plenty of soldiers that share Mr. Clark's views, I am also sure there are plenty more that do not. As to the last response that said "BULLSHIT", How can I respond to such a well thought out retort. Touche'
I posted anew on Mr Clark's discipline since there seems to be alot of interest in this story with lots of facts but little perspective. Clark's Non-Judicial Mugging
I think if your sent to do the job then do the job, and if you don't want to do the job then don't sign up. Everyone knows that there is a risk of not agreeing on issues, that's the risk you run. George Bush is the leader, Commander in Chief and we need to stand behind him.
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