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November 20, 2005

Execute the dissenters for freedom's sake!

When in doubt, advocate the death penalty for war dissenters. Bob Newman does it when he goes after John Murtha for having the truck to suggest that we should pull out of Iraq.

The best argument Bob Newman can make is that John Murtha is vermin, he's a coward, and he's a traitor. He's also insisting that Murtha's advocating surrender, which is a flat-out lie, but lies are just the white noise of the far right these days. All because Murtha said that our invasion and occupation of Iraq has not only been ineffective, it's been downright catastrophic for our national security and for the Iraqis. Instead of actually offering any reasoned and logical argument to rebut Murtha's statement and assert that we're doing the right thing, Newman indulges in ad-homs and waxes enthusiastic about the death penalty for Murtha, who is obviously aiding the enemy by using his right to express himself.

Murtha, by the way, was a Marine. But supporting the troops and respecting our veterans is done much in the way the some traditionalist men show respect to their wives by bossing them around. Sure, we respect you as long as you just shut up and do what we say.

And that's the thing that's really getting up my nose--no matter what you actually say, you'll find GOP lackeys chomping at the bit to lie about you and falsely accuse you of wanting to surrender to al-Qaeda, of hating America, and of being a coward--ironic, considering that it takes a lot of courage to question the status quo in the country lately, what with the calls for your immediate execution or deportation for not staying the course and falling into line behind King President Bush. You're a traitor who loves Osama Bin Laden according to these people. And yes, you should be killed.

Encouraging retreat is viewed as aiding the enemy by the Marines and is a violation of Article 104 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which is punishable by death. Currently serving Marines, active duty or reserve, who encourage surrender are in violation of Article 100 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, an offense also punishable by death. Because Murtha is retired, he is virtually assured of not being prosecuted.

There's a big difference between advocating pulling out of an illegal war and encouraging retreat. But never mind that, since Newman obviously doesn't know what he's talking about. Here's the text of Article 104 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice:

Any person who--

(1) aids, or attempts to aid, the enemy with arms, ammunition, supplies, money, or other things; or

(2) without proper authority, knowingly harbors or protects or gives intelligence to or communicates or corresponds with or holds any intercourse with the enemy, either directly or indirectly;

shall suffer death or such other punishment as a court-martial or military commission may direct.

There's a world of difference between someone saying this war isn't succeeding in making us safer and bringing democracy to Iraq and someone broadcasting messages to the troops from Bin Laden's home that they should lay down their arms and surrender. Murtha hasn't done that, but in today's climate, dissent is traitorous and a capital offense. Unless you out a CIA operative who was actually gathering intelligence about our enemies. Then it's okay.

Here's a particularly rancid clump:

The traitor, Democratic Rep. John P. Murtha, agrees 100% with Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al Zarqawi that the Marine Corps, which is mangling the enemy on a daily basis in Iraq and suffering comparatively light casualties, should lay down its arms, call it quits, and abandon the people they are defending in the fledgling democracy of Iraq.

Actually, our invasion and occupation of Iraq has been great for al-Qaeda's recruiting efforts. Osama Bin Laden wouldn't want us to pull out--he's a spineless rich twit who loves him a good war as long as his ass isn't on the line. He's happy to make more martyrs for the cause. We've given him some great marketing material, what with the bombings and daisy cutters, Fallujah, Abu Ghraib, and Gitmo. He's loving this.

But citing the actual facts is so very boring when you can pull something new and exciting out of thin air. Bob Newman should do a magic show--boogeymen out of hats would be so much more exciting than the rabbits that everyone else uses.

Posted by at November 20, 2005 03:35 PM