Clark punished for refusal to goose-step behind Shrub

In two previous posts, I discussed the case of Specialist (now Private First Class) Leonard Clark, a member of the Arizona Army National Guard 806th Military Police Brigade stationed in Iraq, who seems to have been arrested for expressing the "wrong" political views on his blog. Clark has now been demoted from specialist to private first class and fined $1,640. Clark has supposedly been arrested and fined for posting "classified info" on his blog. (Previous speculation was that he was being arrested for saying that he'd run for the Senate.)

A number of rightwing bloggers have already jumped on the bandwagon, calling him a traitor for supposedly revealing troops movements and discussing insurgent tactics. I, for one, have my doubts. For one thing, those who had been reading his blog and knew him say that he had nothing on it that was suspect--except for political opinions that tended to um swerve leftward. Kevin Spidel, a blogger who knew him, emphatically states that there was no sensitive info leaked:

Note all of his comments are archived for viewing in court at a later date, but his friends have gone over in detail all of his prior posts… there was NO sensitive data given. All ambigious with no specific details. But very outspoken on the war.

And my guess is that virtually every blog by someone stationed in Iraq does, at some point, reveal troop movements (in a vague and general way) and discuss insurgent tactics. I have a hell of a time trying to figure out why the latter would be such a big deal--if the insurgents are so lacking in intelligence that they themselves don't know what actions they're carrying out, a blog written in English probably won't aid or abet them. My guess is that the government and military aren't concerned so much about info leaking out to the insurgents but rather it getting to the U.S. population. For example, Clark's opinion on the war (via Daily Kos):

Folks, I have decided to write you this email in response to those who are wondering in their own views why I am apparently violating the "rules". Since I don't have much time here is the gist of it: I believe American soldiers (my brothers and sisters) are being killed needlessy over here in this lie we call "the Occupation of Iraq".

I get the feeling that Clark's greatest sin was to oppose the powers that be. And in a sense, Clark and people like him are a tremendous threat. Shrub and his fellow belligerati can't wage corporate warfare if the soldiers of the empire actually start to think for themselves and tell the population what's actually going on.

Other discussion of Clark can be found at: Point-blog (French), or (Pro)Claiming Age. You might also read this old article on military blogs and censorship.

---

The press release via the KJZZ radio station in Arizona (thanks to Point-blog for the link):

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.