WORDS MEAN THINGS

Clever JAGs and command racketeers use modern language to misinform and confuse the general public regarding the real workings of the military discipline system.

Describing commissioned military officers as "military judges," is like calling Punxsutawney Phil a weather man.

Guy Montag, a major character in Ray Bradbury's famous Fahrenheit 451, is described a "Fireman." But in Bradbury's world the conditions of Montag's employment require the "Fireman" to set books afire and murder citizens. Bradbury's "Firemen" do not to protect lives or property.

They take them.

Military panels are not juries, nor do they operate in any way as a federal jury. Courts-martial are not federal courts. Commissioned military officers described as military judges are not federal judges. Military due process is not civilian "due process." There can be no appeals in a world absent courts, juries, and judges. In the military there are instead reviews of command decisions.

And so it goes.

Here endth the lesson.

The JAG Hunter. Copyright©2007