Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Calling Article 88?

A young infantryman based at Fort Hood wonders whether it is a violation of the UCMJ for a soldier to drive on a base in a car with an anti-Obama bumper sticker. He notes, "I’m told that at Fort Leavenworth, home of the CGSC, having such overtly political bumper stickers will get you a ticket ...

A young infantryman based at Fort Hood wonders whether it is a violation of the UCMJ for a soldier to drive on a base in a car with an anti-Obama bumper sticker. He notes, "I'm told that at Fort Leavenworth, home of the CGSC, having such overtly political bumper stickers will get you a ticket from the MPs. Evidently, Fort Hood has no such policy. I find all of this to be very troubling."

A young infantryman based at Fort Hood wonders whether it is a violation of the UCMJ for a soldier to drive on a base in a car with an anti-Obama bumper sticker. He notes, "I’m told that at Fort Leavenworth, home of the CGSC, having such overtly political bumper stickers will get you a ticket from the MPs. Evidently, Fort Hood has no such policy. I find all of this to be very troubling."

I wonder if this is because Leavenworth is officer-heavy, and commissioned officers aren’t allowed to dis the president or other senior officials. I remember someone telling me that no such prohibition on "contemptuous words" spoken against senior officials applies to enlisted. It reminds me of what a drill sergeant at Fort Benning once said to me: "We’re not like the Marines. You can be a Marxist for all I care. We don’t care what you think, we just care if you can hit the target."

I hope Ft. Hood isn’t going easy on the anti-Obama stuff just because old George W. Bush clears brush up the road. Remember, fellas, we only have one president at a time.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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