Big Army recommends NJP for Koran burners
The Associated Press reports that an investigation of the Koran burnings that triggered a slew of protests against US presence in Afghanistan recommends that up to nine soldiers involved in the accidental incident should receive non-judicial punishment.
Altogether, two Navy and nine Army service members in Afghanistan were sent back to the United States in conjunction with the Koran burning shortly after it happened. But, based on the investigating officer’s report, several would not face any punishments.
Yeah, none of them should face punishment. Big Army admits that it was an accident. The Korans had already been defaced by prisoners who were writing in the Korans to pass messages inside the prison walls, which is considered defacing by the adherents of that religion. Burning a Koran is an accepted method of destroying defaced copies.
If the Army is punishing these folks just to mollify the Afghans, well, that’s not justice at all, is it? It’s certainly not to send a message to other soldiers that burning Korans isn’t acceptable, they already know that. It isn’t to teach any meaningful lesson to the perpetrators – it’s just to send a message to the Afghans that we’re willing to bow to their every whim, irrespective of the validity of their complaints.
Let the troops live their lives without the burden of this in their records and make the State Department do their job and deal with the Afghans.
Category: Big Army, Terror War
Every screw up, even ones that in the past would have gotten a strongly worded counseling statement will now be fodder for NJP. Its fucked up but that’s the way things will roll now a days.
I can’t wait for when soldiers get Article 15’s for not saluting in the field
May be time for them to lawyer-up and request trial by court martial so that proper rules of evidence and reasonable doubt come into the picture.
It’s fucked up that folks can burn our flag and it’s free speech, but someone burns a copy of the koran and it’s a crime? That most hate-filled tome doesn’t deserve to be in print.
Demand a Courts-Martial and make Big Army tap dance for awhile.
Bullshit
I second Semper.
How about a nice letter of stupid in the officers files that singed off on this idiocy
I wonder if I could volunteer to return to active duty to serve on their courts-martial panel?
Probably wouldn’t do any good, ’cause once the prosecuting JAG questioned me I’d get excluded. But I can dream, can’t I? (smile)
Should have fought to win in the first place…
Seems like the same shit that’s going on with SFC Taylor. Big Army has to punish someone to satisfy the Afghans. Hondo, why aren’t you on his panel?
Looks like Big Army ain’t much different than corporate America in the Six Phases of a Project: “Enthusiasm, Disillusionment, Panic, Search for the Guilty, Punishment of the Innocent, Praise and Honors for Non-Participants.”
Perfect demonstration of phase five.
Our guys/gals would be put for NJP for accidently passing gas in front of prisoners & violating their muslim cultural sensitivities. These maroons do just a swell job defacing the Koran all by themselves. As example ISAF forces have discovered Taliban using torn Koran pages to package heroin & using young children to distribute on streets-where is the outrage we all ask? I heard a joke that the State Department should explain to Taliban that desecrating Koran is Un-American. That would put a stop to it.
maybe a $300,000 fine and a reprimand?
Hondo, lie to the JAG. Just who is being NPJed? The EM who were following orders? If I recall correctly ,you must follow the order then report an illegal order. Is this correct?
ArmyJ: Any prosecuting JAG worth a shit would ask me some questions that would get me thrown off the panel as having prejudged the case. And he’d be right, ’cause already know exactly how I’d vote. This looks like pure political bullshit to me.
Joe Williams: Sorry, but lying just goes against the grain for me. The guy in the mirror just don’t forget things like that, even if no one else knows.
Permit our troops to shoot every Afgan who burns an American flag. Then these untermenchen will quit complaining about korans.
Saying “the investigator” recommended something and saying “Big Army” recommended it are two very different things.
Under AR 15-6, an investigating officer can basically recommend whatever the hell he wants; he speaks only for himself. His commander can then take the recommendation and – do whatever the hell he wants. (I don’t know why the recommendation has been publicized, though, so that may indicate something.)
Demanding court-martial is one of those bold moves that is almost always a Really Stupid Idea…especially when you discover that the UCMJ has crimes like “negligent dereliction of duty” (which requires no criminal intent) and (of course) the General Article —
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/134.htm
— if your strategy is, “maybe I did the crime but I want a CM so the panel will laugh this BS out of court,” you seriously need a better strategy. Panels really do convict on stupid charges, if they think the person is guilty of the crime. They might punish lightly but they do punish.
There are lots of troops in prison or out of the Army (the bad way) who spent the whole time up to their trials repeating “This is bullshit this is bullshit” over and over. That mantra did not save them.
I am just tired of reading about soldiers being fucked for poitical reasons…
#17 JPJ: nature of the business. Clauswitz and all that.
@#16-sometimes that strategy works. I attended the courts-martial of the SEALs accused of beating the detainee back in 09. First one was acquited in under 2 hours. The second on was acquitted in less than an hour
My apologies Hondo, I was sure that would be answer. My repeated answer to the JAG. I will give a fair and impartial verdict, so help me God.
No. 15 ohio:
“Permit our troops to shoot . . .”
How about, just “PERMIT OUR TROOPS TO SHOOT.”
Triple PERIOD …
#19, but didn’t those trials start as courts-martial? The strategy I’m attacking is refusing Article 15 punishment because somewhere (usually from their barracks/sea lawyer buddies, or because they have eaten o’ the insane root that takes the reason prisoner) people get the idea that a court-martial will be a great opportunity to “expose” or “embarrass” the dirty, evil chain of command.
Even so, there are cases where refusing a 15 is the smarter strategy, and I have certainly seen them. But they are extremely rare.
How about the logical advice of talking to JAG.
22 Those started off as NJP.
#23, extremely sound advice.
#24, amazing.
@22Alberich. The SEALs were offered NJP. They declined and requested court-martial. After the first 2 acquitals, charges were dropped against the third SEAL
#26, I say again, amazing. (And thank you and #24 for the information.)