16. And what other rules is an Iraq war veteran allowed to break? Maybe he should be able to make all the rules himself...The insinuation that a veteran should be allowed to break rules or laws is utterly rediculous, and paves the way for anarchy. And I'm a Democrat!

Kent at 9:31PM on Jun 1st 2007

17. Just a moment, please. I know there is a great deal of strong feeling on both sides of the question, but let us look at the facts. He brought a gun back from tour, and he was punished for it by being demoted. Rightly so
He wore fatigues at a rally, and so do a large number of other Americans at a large number of rallies and memorials.
He used an obscenity to respond to a comment from a military officer. Again, so do a number of Americans.
I DID serve in the military, and distinctly remember being told that "You are NOT in uniform if you do not wear the proper insignia." One can be punished in the military for not wearing insignia BECAUSE one is, then, not in uniform. So it leaves many to wonder why the military is apparently singling out this particular Marine for this type of action. Are there other facts that have not been widely made public that might be contributory? Or is this an attempt to send a message to others who would use their free speech to criticize the war? Others who may be veterans and have considerably more credibility because of they have experienced the reality of the war.
It seems to me that this is a major PR blunder on the part of the military at the very least. I would encourage those who seek to bring this action to consider whether it might not be more productive to address the reasons for the protest rather than the protest itself.

Lisa at 4:36PM on May 31st 2007

18. I have served on active & reserves. I have paid my dues same as the Cpl. I have no problem with his comments. However.... He is NOT to be voicing his opinions while wearing the uniform of a military serviceman!!! He knows this!! and furthermore he better thank his lucky stars he was not one of my marines. Because one thing I would never stand for is him disrepecting a superior office. That constitutes (2) additional charges which could earn him a DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE! If he wants to protest; protest... But don't you dare shame your fellow Marines!!! No one twisted your arm... No one tortured you to enlist... You VOLUNTEERED!!! I would almost venture a guess you took advantage of the educational benifits as a reservist. That FREE college education sure was nice provided you only had to drill (1) weekend a month and (2) weeks a year. Oh yeah I forgot you don't have to keep your word... You know... That part something about "Defending your country against ALL enemies both Foreign and Domestic" You embarass me... Worst of all YOU EMBARASSED YOURSELF!!!
Now you pay the price!!! Deal with it and quit your crying!!!!

E.B. Snyder at 4:34PM on May 31st 2007

19. Retaliation. Pure and simple.

vegastracon at 4:33PM on May 31st 2007

20. i believe you and many others misread the story. he isnt getting in trouble for what he said but (and i quote), "After Kokesh was identified in a photo cutline in The Washington Post, a superior officer sent him a letter saying he might have violated a rule prohibiting troops from wearing uniforms without authorization. "

no where in there does it say that he is possibly getting in trouble for what he said!

and on a personal note, it sickens me when those americans disrespect our men and women in uniform. and in doing so, evoke our "freedom of speech." you take your freedom lightly and you forget those who bled and died for that freedom you so flippantly use. while we have the "freedom" to do something doesnt mean we should. show some respect!

erin at 4:46PM on May 31st 2007

21. If, as a civilian in civilian dress, Adam Kokesh wants to protest the war then have at it, but just because he removes his name tag and insignias from his uniform means nothing - it's still a military uniform and recognized as such. Otherwise, why would he have worn it? He thought it would give strength to his protest, period. He just canceled out whatever good he did while wearing that uniform. I say let him keep the money spent on his education but give him an other than desirable discharge from the Marines.

Ann at 4:42PM on May 31st 2007

22. Yes, he broke a rule. He wore the uniform without permission. Here's the question: Does that make his service in Iraq, the risking of his life for our own Freedom of Speech "dishonourable"? Dock him some pension, make him apologize, but don't take away his Honorable Discharge for his service in Iraq because he wanted to show that some soldiers who have been there don't support this war. He protects my freedom of expression, I feel the need to defend his. Like someone else said, how many soldiers are loosing their Honorable Discharge for unauthorized wearing of their uniform at rallies supporting the war?

Terena at 5:23PM on May 31st 2007

23. It's a matter of self respect that a marine should
have.Apparently he does not have any.

wayne taylor at 4:56PM on May 31st 2007

24. no what he did is not right and he knew it or should have known it if he was up to date on his regs as he should have been. He does not exit the service till june 22nd. There for he is still a member of the armed forces. There is a name for the crime that he committed and it is called aiding and abetty the enemy. Just basically a treasonable offense. He is dissing the commrads in arms that he was fighting with when he was over there. Just like the ones that called me baby killer when I was in vc trying to stop the commies from comming here and starting a war. What is wrong with all you bleeding hearts do you really want the war here on american soil. Because if we do as you ask it will definatly be here in our life time.

rick at 4:58PM on May 31st 2007

25. As a former Marine corporal, I learned something new today: if I wear my tunic while protesting, even with all insignia removed, they reserve the right to rescind my honorable discharge, evidently no matter when that discharge occurred.

Sorry, folks. As a civilian, that former Marine has no obligation to obey military rules any longer.

That rule is nothing but chickenshit, of which the Corps already has an abundance when you're on duty.

I have to wonder if the officer presenting that possibility has ever seen the type of combat the Marine has, or is he just another legal type with a big mouth.

Charlie Self at 5:07PM on May 31st 2007

26. I absolutely don't get some of these comments. Do any of you realize that the "uniform" can be purchased by any civilian in many Army/Navy Surplus stores across our country?

This Marine - brave Marine - fought for, as required by virtue of his volunteer enlistment, our great country. A country - which is founded on Liberty & Justice for All.

Should he not be provided the right to express his opinion - a very valuable opinion since he was there and saw first hand the horrors that are occuring day in and day out.

I am a Veteran, albeit peacetime. I did not serve during combat. My father did. My grandfather did. I was fortunate - it was peacetime - Vietnam had just ended. I don't know first hand the atrocities of war - I don't carry the scars of seeing my brothers-in-arms torn down by enemy fire. Adam Kokesh does. He deserves to be concerned with the future loss of life and limb. He deserves to be able to stage it in a manner that he believes will bring about the most attention so as to make more of the blind public of the USA AWARE of what the hell is really going on.

I don't believe he disrespected anything or anyone. Leave him the hell alone. He'll carry the scars of IRAQ all of his life. He deserves - PEACE! Give PEACE a chance - and GOD SAVE OUR TROOPS!

SHEBER at 5:19PM on May 31st 2007

27. I think this country is really going to hell. I am a veteran and I love my country but hate Bush. He is nothing but a killer of our men and women. He is a coward for not fighting in Nam and all he cares about are the oil companies making money. He should be dishonorably discharged from being comander-in chief and president. Since when does being a veteran mean that your freedom of speech is prohibited, I guess we are livng in a nazi country now or a communist country. My name is Pete McIntyre and I live in Plano Texas and if the government wants to they can come talk to me. BRING OUR MEN AND WOMEN HOME AND GET US OUT OF THIS WAR!!!.

Pete McIntyre at 5:10PM on May 31st 2007

28. Retired writes: "this individual was technically still a reservist, not due to be released from that status until June 8, 2007"

Hi Retired - I'm not disputing your word at all, but would love to read where you got the information. I know the military has weird rules - like for instance violating their own guidelines on how much rest between deployments our troops should get, and sending fresh troops in with inadequate training.

So, I'm sure there is an explanation for how someone could be "discharged" and still at the same time be in the "active reserves." I'd also be curious to know if all Marines are required to turn in their uniforms after they are discharged? If not, its their property if its given to them; and alteration of the uniform no longer makes it his "uniform." If I had a pair of jeans and cut them off at the knee, they would no longer be pants, they would be shorts.

Moreover, the Marines may not give people who risk their lives the same contract protection that civilians give to non-serving people of military age, such as the Bush daughters who live off a huge trust fund while this man risked his life in Dad's wr. If one of the Bush daughters entered into a contract, and the other side breached the contract by failing to give her a "material" (ie important) part of the "benefit of the bargain," then she would be free of her obligation to further perform her duties under the contract.

So, we need to really hammer down whether he was discharged or not, and what the contract he signed actually says. I'm pointing out all these picky little details because that is what this whole thing is about, the military getting picky to intimidate and shut the mouths of ex-marines who are smart enough to see this war is a horrible joke that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

I'm not surprised though - its what the Bush Administration has been trying to do since it started this fiasco: intimidate the citizens of this country with ominous stories of warrantless wiretapping and stupid soundbytes like "if you don't agree with me and the 27% of our population who does, you're a traitor." Sounds like an enforcement problem to me when 73% of the country is a traitor. How will we pay for incarceration of the whole nation, when we're already broke from conducting this war and giving a tax break on borrowed money from China.

If we truly cared about our youth, we'd stop giving our wealthiest (and I do mean WEALTHY) citizens break after break after break, while the other 99% of us are stuck with the bill. We'd be giving all our youth a free education through college if they are academically qualified, and we'd be making sure that all of our citizens had the "right to life" through national healthcare.

In case anyone is forgetting, our esteemed commander in chief used his inherited wealth and connections to avoid serving in Vietnam, went into a US based reserve unit instead, then went AWOL on a drunken cocaine bender. He never got in trouble, and his daughter never had to risk a single toenail to get drunk in college because she was lucky enough to be born wealthy.

But life is different when you are not a rich Republican. You have to risk your life in order to get promised benefits, then after you sign up a Republican congress lowers the benefits you were promised when you signed up. At the same time this marine was risking his life for a pittance in pay, there was a mercenary right there with him fighting for a $1000 a day.

Does "semper fi" mean "you get f**ked over when you sign up"? Of course it doesn't if you're a rich Republican - but the rules change when you belong to the other 99% of the population.

Another happy day in Republican America. I wish I could take a nap, open my eyes, and it would be election day 2008. I bet this poor victimized ex-marine feels the same way. Can you blame him?

Phil at 5:18PM on May 31st 2007

29. Phil evidetally you did not read very close he is still a marine til june 8th 2007 until then he is under marine guidelines. What part of this do you not understand no breach of contract by the service the breach was on his part. Get your head out of that crack pipe and wake up.

rick at 10:11PM on May 31st 2007

30. While I agree that after completion of military obligation, you can express your opinion in whatever way you may choose. You have fought for that priviledge and protected it for your fellow citizens. However, in this case, the individual was still considered "part of" the military and, undoubtedly, still eligible for benefits (PX priviledges, health care, etc.) and, for that reason, should keep his disenchantment to himself. When his OBLIGATION is fulfilled, I would not personally oppose him wearing a camo G-string and swimming in the Reflecting Pool while singing "Russia, My Russia" while doing the backstroke.

Ron Albright at 5:26PM on May 31st 2007