A Veteran Under The Gun.

byronius, June 1st, 2007 

I first saw Iraq War Veteran Adam Kokesh in a photo on Democratic Underground, from his tally at the Gonzalez hearing of the phrase 'I Don't Recall'.  Since then, he's engaged in multiple guerilla theater actions with the Iraq Veterans Against The War.  One of these, GI's Take Manhattan, took place this last Memorial Day, and involved simulated combat action on the streets of New York.  The video is intense, and I consider it profound and effective guerilla theater.

They're after him now.  From Wonkette:

Kokesh and his anti-war veteran buddies have pulled several picture-perfect stunts in Washington, including a mock military funeral at the Hart Senate building and keeping score of how many times Alberto Gonzales said “I don’t recall” during his Senate grilling last month.

The funeral stunt earned the protesters a coveted “political protest” arrest — apparently it’s now illegal to protest anything for political reasons — and your favorite Marine was also charged with “Unlawful Assembly — Loud and Boisterous,” despite the fact that he was silent during the performance.

For this, the Marine Corps is now “investigating” Kokesh, even though he’s officially out of the Corps and banished from reenlistment due to bringing home an Iraqi pistol for his war souvenir — that’s against the rules if you get caught!

On Monday, Kokesh has to show up at a hearing so the Corps can re-discharge him, this time dishonorably. Why? Because even when you get out of the military these days, Rumsfeld’s “back door draft” makes you eligible for another call-up because there aren’t enough people volunteering to jump in the Baghdad Meatgrinder. But they don’t want him back, even for the Individual Ready Reserve. So what’s the point?

All the chickenhawks will have permission to call him a traitor or whatever on the blogs and talk radio if he suddenly becomes dishonorably discharged, that’s the point!

 I sent him an email in support of his actions. He can be reached at adam@ivaw.org.

8 Comments »

  1. Max wrote,

    I sent him a note too. Probably worth a diary on Kos.

    Comment on June 1, 2007 @ 9:38 pm

  2. byronius wrote,

    Word is the VFW is now turning out to support him. Good for them.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070602/military-protest-hearing

    Comment on June 2, 2007 @ 10:03 pm

  3. byronius wrote,

    Adan Kokesh stands up.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ApVMr4XcGk

    Comment on June 2, 2007 @ 10:08 pm

  4. byronius wrote,

    Adam on Good Morning America:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPcIzH0kqrI

    Comment on June 4, 2007 @ 7:20 am

  5. raison detre wrote,

    thanks for this post. powerful stuff.

    Comment on June 4, 2007 @ 1:45 pm

  6. byronius wrote,

    General discharge recommended, instead of dishonorable.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070604/military-protest-hearing

    Comment on June 5, 2007 @ 7:13 am

  7. byronius wrote,

    Adam Kokesh's response to my email:

    Byron,

    Thank you for you support. Kind words are always appreciated. In Kansas City, I stared down a corrupt element of this administration and they blinked first. Now, Iraq Veterans Against the War has the initiative. And just as we were taught in boot camp, when you have the initiative, you keep fighting. That’s what we’re going to do.

    But bear in mind, our democracy has failed us. The time for protests, rallies, and demonstrations is over. It is time for the people to stop this war. It is going to take nonviolent direct action in the form of strikes, blockades, counter-recruiting, and supporting GI resistance. IVAW will lead the way and veterans are always willing to put their lives on the line for what is right. I hope that you can find a way to support us. You can start by going to my blog (kokesh.blogspot.com) and signing the pledge.

    Peace, Adam

    Comment on June 18, 2007 @ 10:39 am

  8. Max wrote,

    Nice.

    Comment on June 18, 2007 @ 10:58 am

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