As of 7/4/07, the Marine Corps have stopped efforts to give Madden a dishonorable discharge.
Liam Madden, a co-founder of the Military Appeal for Redress and member of World Can’t Wait’s advisory board, responds to the Marine Corps’ attempt to give him a dishonorable discharge for wearing his uniform while protesting the war.
Lt Col Blessing,
This letter is in response to the offer the Marine Corps
Mobilization Command relayed to me via my military appointed attorney. I am
prepared to accept the settlement proposed in which the Marine Corps agrees not
to continue with the discharge proceeding regarding my alleged disloyal
statements and protest activity. I understand that this is contingent on my
oral promise not to engage in further political protest while wearing articles
of my Marine uniform.
I will make such an oral agreement and stand by my good word
if the Marine Corps is prepared to meet the following condition.
I will orally agree to not wear my military uniforms while
engaged in any political protest, hell, I”ll have it carved into stone if you”d
like, upon receiving a signed, written statement on official USMC letterhead acknowledging
that my statements in question were neither disloyal nor inaccurate. If the
Marine Corps issues this statement, apologizing for erroneously (or possibly
vindictively) accusing me of disloyalty to my country, I will not share it with
another living soul.
I believe that the statements I make and the protest I
engage in is necessary. If it’s not true that the war in Iraq is
illegal, then I believe it would be indeed disloyal to declare such a position.
However, the fact of the matter is that the United States is violating the
sovereignty of another nation without the approval of the UN Security Council
or a legitimate claim to self defense. Sir, is honesty disloyalty?
Additionally, if it isn’t true, I would hope the US
Government would prove to the skeptical world that the war is legal instead, of
trying to stifle political opposition. I am sure we can agree that protesting
against an illegal war, premised on lies and baseless assertions cannot be
considered disloyal.
If the Marine Corps decides to not accept this condition,
then I cannot agree to stop wearing my uniform at protests and we must continue
to exhaust my legal alternatives. Which at present, include my right to an
administrative board and may ultimately result in a case in federal appeals
court.
I assure you, as a fellow patriot, my actions are taken in
the best interest of the American people and the people of the world.
Therefore, if the Marines decide to stop pursuing this case, I will accept that
measure as your implied tolerance and support of protesting against war crimes
while wearing military uniforms.
Thank you for considering my counter offer and I hope we can
come to agreement on the matter. I understand men in your position have their careers
to think about, as I’m positive many German Colonels did in 1939.
Semper Fidelis,
Liam Madden
As of 7/4/07, the Marine Corps have stopped efforts to give Madden a dishonorable discharge.