May 10
In reporting on our unauthorized reproduction of Army publications, as noted yesterday, Gabriel Schoenfeld wrote an article entitled “Put Steven Aftergood in the Brig.”
He was way out of line, wrote Robert S. Norris of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
“Let’s get our prisons straight. A Brig is a ship’s or Navy/Marine prison and to my knowledge Aftergood has not angered the Navy to that point yet.”
“As for the Army, the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a more logical place. But since Aftergood is a civilian he is not eligible for incarceration there either.”
“As he has done nothing wrong it looks as though he must remain free.”
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May 10th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
“As he has done nothing wrong it looks as though he must remain free.”
Amen to that! Keep it up, Steve!
May 10th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
While humorous, I note that the last option put forward by the official is to let an innocent man go free.
May 10th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
It now seems that when you are in possession of strong integrity and moral courage, that you are also subjected to threats, verbally attacked and discouraged from doing that which ensures an individual’s right to use their talents, instincts and wisdom to protect freedom and liberty by holding true to a belief that transparent governing without any undue secrecy which is the biggest threat to any single group, peoples or the nation state itself.
Much, much more importantly, there has been no crime committed here by abuse position nor act of ill-will to disseminate (so-called) classified information.
I fully stand behind Mr. Aftergood and FAS, their policies, missions and goals. FAS has done excellent job in meeting those challenges.
May 10th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Robert S. Norris asserts that I am way out of line for suggesting that Steven Aftergood should be imprisoned in a brig, which he says is a Navy/Marine prison, while any offense, in this instance, would have been committed against the Army. And the Army’s prison at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas is not a suitable facility, he says, because as a civilian, Aftergood would not be “eligible for incarceration there.”
Quite right. But what Norris omits to mention is that the Navy brig at Charleston, South Carolina would nevertheless be a very logical place for a civilian like Aftergood. Unlike Fort Leavenworth, the brig there has recently been used to hold other civilians, including Jose Padilla, a U.S. citizen incarcerated not for in any way offending the Navy but as an enemy combatant. The question of whether Aftergood merits such punishment, or should remain free, is of course something I addressed in my original post.
May 11th, 2007 at 8:23 am
While Robert Norris is correct in his terminology regarding the term “brig” and who has them, if one service has a prisoner but no facility, they will often be put into that of another service. The Joint Forces Brig on Okinawa is an example. It is run by the Marines, but may hold Air Force prisoners from the nearby Kadena AB should the need arise.
May 11th, 2007 at 8:51 am
For sheer delight there is nothing quite like watching a conservative hastily trying to vindicate himself after having been publicly exposed as wrong.
Re Schoenfeld’s statement, “But what Norris omits to mention is that the Navy brig at Charleston, South Carolina would nevertheless be a very logical place for a civilian like Aftergood” he mistakes, or perhaps deliberatedly conflates, two very different words.
A Navy brig may be a possible place but it is certainly not a “logical” one.
It’s possible, because you can always find a lawyer to justify any position - just read Commentary Magazine for example - to find one who will substitute preemptive for preventive war.
But, speaking as an ex-Navy man, it is not logical because brigs have a specific purpose; namely, as a result of or pending trial by courts-martial; military members sentenced to bread and water or diminished rations; and military members awarded correctional custody to be served in a correctional custody unit (CCU).
As Steve Aftergood falls in none of those categories a brig would not be a “logical” place.
May 11th, 2007 at 8:59 am
I would encourage readers who have not already done so to read Gabriel Schoenfeld’s original posting.
Despite its provocative title, it is actually a sympathetic account of my recent dispute with the Army. I was glad to see it.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Steve, I have both been in the brig and worked in the brig, the food’s hot and the cots are comfortable, besides I don’t know of anyone who ever went to the brig for being honest and telling the truth, except I wouldn’t advise telling a full bird colonel to kiss your butt or words to that effect.
Keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight. When it comes time to put Americans in jail for telling the truth or publishing the truth, then this won’t be America anymore.
May 14th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Steven, Nice little article, funny with a bit of an edge. I would hope that no one ever gets the support necessary to put you in any sort of a prison. However, you are flirting with the “line” between what is excessive secrecy and what should be held from public view. That is what I would expect you to do and why I think your work is so important. Just keep someone around you that can nag you and keep your foot from crossing the line.