| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Home Front: Politix | |
| Guardsman in Iraq Demoted Over Blog Post | |
| 2005-08-02 | |
| Via Fark: An Arizona National Guardsman serving in Iraq has been demoted for posting classified information on his Internet Web log, an Army official said Monday. Leonard Clark, 40, was demoted from specialist to private first class and fined $1,640, said Col. Bill Buckner, a spokesman for the Multi-National Corps-Iraq. Soldiers in Iraq are allowed to maintain blogs or Web sites but cannot post information about Army operations or movements. They also are barred from posting information about the death of a soldier whose family hasn't yet been notified. "The intent of the policy is not to violate soldiers' rights, but to safeguard soldiers," Buckner said. Blogs are "a growing phenomenon, I guess. It's something a lot of people do and has some uses." Buckner said he didn't know what kind of classified information Clark had posted. Clark's blog contained two posts Monday, one with links to articles on him and one stating Clark would comply with a gag order. Calls to his home Monday by The Associated Press went unanswered and contact information for him in Iraq wasn't immediately available. Clark is a Glendale, Ariz., kindergarten teacher who has run for the state Legislature four times. He could have appealed the ruling but declined to, Buckner said. Clark's company was called to active duty in November and has been in Iraq since around January, said Capt. Paul Aguirre, a spokesman for the Arizona National Guard. The company is expected to be brought home next January.
| |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #13 Accepting the Article 15 is not the same as a conviction that he most certainly would have got under a summary Courts Martial. Rule of thumb is if they offer an Article 15 it's best to take it. As far as being a SP4, the Guard is a wierd animal and rank doesn't come quickly, unless you get a lot of vacancies. I have seen some grey head jr enlisted types working weekends. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-08-02 16:42 |
| #12 He could have refused the Art 15 and elected to face Courts Martial instead. If found guilty he'd have the right of appeal through the Military Courts of Appeal which is no where near any of the Command Chain and is indeed independent. However, conviction by both Special and General CM carries with it a record of federal felony conviction. The Summary CM does not. Not good on the job resume. Wondered if that was in his calculations? |
| Posted by: Pheresing Thravith6039 2005-08-02 15:29 |
| #11 Sock, it wouldn't surprise me if he got one. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-08-02 15:00 |
| #10 lmao MR BILL |
| Posted by: Thraing Hupoluper1864 2005-08-02 14:59 |
| #9 Sounds like he needs an appointment with a blanket if he was giving out operational information. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-08-02 14:32 |
| #8 The Press release from CENTCOM (obtained from this website - posted in full (it is a MS-Word .doc) --- Private First Class Leonard Clark Press Release On July 19, 2005, Lieutenant Colonel James F. Switzer, Commander, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, notified Specialist Leonard A. Clark, 860th Military Police Company, of his intent to dispose of alleged misconduct under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). After consulting with a Trial Defense Counsel, a military defense lawyer, Specialist Clark elected to accept disposition of the alleged offense using Article 15 proceedings. Specifically, Specialist Clark was charged under Article 15 with the following violations of the UCMJ: Article 92 (Failure to obey order), 11 specifications; by releasing classified information regarding unit soldiers and convoys being attacked or hit by an improvised explosive devices on various dates, discussing troop movements on various dates, releasing Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures and Rules of Engagement used by the unit on various dates, in violation of a lawful general order prohibiting the release of such information. Article 134 (Reckless endangerment), 2 specifications; by releasing specific information, on various dates regarding Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures and Rules of Engagement used by his unit and encouraging its widespread publication, such that the enemy forces could foreseeably access the information, such that with that information it was likely that the enemy forces could cause death or serious bodily harm to U.S. forces engaged in the same or similar mission. On July 19, 2005, at a hearing before Lieutenant Colonel Switzer, Specialist Clark was found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of all Specifications. As a result, Specialist Clark received the following punishment: Reduction to Private First Class (E-3), forfeiture of $820 per month for two months, 45 days restriction, and 45 days of extra duty. Both the restriction and extra duty were suspended for five months. Private First Class Clark has appeal rights, but he has chosen not to exercise those rights. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-08-02 13:43 |
| #7 Clark is a Glendale, Ariz., kindergarten teacher Poor kids. Are we better off with him in Iraq, or polluting impressionable minds? |
| Posted by: BigEd 2005-08-02 13:35 |
| #6 He's run for office before. He's planning to run again and will use this - hence lying low at the moment, I suspect. |
| Posted by: Spemble Achrtinatus9967 2005-08-02 13:29 |
| #5 You don’t understand, rules don’t apply to liberals. All that stuff about not posting classified information or disseminating controlled information, that is for the common folk and not liberals. Yes his site looks like it’s a LLL montage for COs. If there were something wrong with his conviction he would challenge it. Sounds like he got off easy and maybe should keep his yap shut and just serve his time. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-08-02 13:27 |
| #4 A 40 yo spec,now a pfc? He can't be a real genius. |
| Posted by: Mr.Bill 2005-08-02 13:21 |
| #3 Stationed just outside Baghdad, Iraq / This blog is ABOUT him, not BY him. I don't think this is the blog in question. Looks like it was setup by lefty yahoos looking to cash in on their newest poster boy. But, at least for us up in Boston, it's good to see Bill Buckner's alive and well. Come on home, Billy. They won. All is forgiven. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-08-02 13:12 |
| #2 sigh..so many traitors, so few trees. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-08-02 12:56 |
| #1 Oh, and do read the comments at the blog entries. They are...enlightening. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-08-02 12:54 |