Veterans Protest The War

I just read a story about former Marine Sgt. Liam Madden, 22, of Chicago, Illinois, who is being recommended for "other than honorable discharge, due to his war protesting activities.

Sgt. Madden had participated in wat protests and war part of his uniform while protesting. It is the wearing of the uniform that has him in trouble, as it illegal for a military person to wear any part of their uniforms during a war protest, as is written in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Sgt. Madden received a letter stating the recommendation of other than honorable discharge as well as a secondary offense of being disloyal to the United States of America. This is the hardest part for Sgt. Madden to understand as he feels that he is being very loyal by trying to bring his fellow Americans home, as he is now opposed to the war, and wanted to use his position as a veteran to make an impact on people's opinions back here.

There have been at least two other military men who are in similar circumstances and they face loss of benefits if discharged in this manner.

The military has defended the decisions to punish these men, because the men violated acceptable forms of protest, which are stated very clearly in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Military guidelines state that troops may attend demonstrations only in the United States of America, only when they are off base and off duty, and most IMPORTANTLY, ONLY when they are out of uniform. So it is the uniform part of the code that puts these men in jeopardy.

Now I do believe that the war protestors are the equivalent of cheerleaders for al-Qaeda and the other terrorists/insurgents that want to kill americans, until there is so much death that public opinion will force them home, as is happening now, but I also believe that the men who actually have been there fighting are the Only ones who should be allowed to protest, if their are to be protestors as they earned the right. It is giving me great pause in continuing to support our being in Iraq when men who return think that we should leave. I hope that a solution can soon be found to get our men home safely, and which also keeps Iraq from exploding in a vicious cycle of unending death and destruction, once we leave.