Supporting the Troops

A U.S. Soldier in Iraq has been demoted and fined for a blog post. Story here.

PHOENIX - An Arizona National Guardsman serving in Iraq has been demoted for posting classified information on his Internet Web log, an Army official said Monday.

Leonard Clark, 40, was demoted from specialist to private first class and fined $1,640, said Col. Bill Buckner, a spokesman for the Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Soldiers in Iraq are allowed to maintain blogs or Web sites but cannot post information about Army operations or movements. They also are barred from posting information about the death of a soldier whose family hasn't yet been notified.

"The intent of the policy is not to violate soldiers' rights, but to safeguard soldiers," Buckner said. Blogs are "a growing phenomenon, I guess. It's something a lot of people do and has some uses."

Buckner said he didn't know what kind of classified information Clark had posted.

Fair enough, I guess. You don't want a soldier posting information about Army operations that may put fellow soldiers in danger.

Then there's this link to a blog about Clark.

This is the site admin…

Leonard is worried because of the current press on this matter. He has continued to follow the gag order. He is worried for the safety of his family. He can not speak on this matter due to an order. He was told his charges would not be released from the military. He made no comment to the press on the matter of the charges, but some how the charges got out, after the military said they wouldn’t. He can not defend his side while on active duty and as a proud soldier that will continue to follow the order of the gag.

But bear in mind, you are only getting one side of the information… the military’s. He has been asked not to comment, and is doing so. Please understand that he is worried about folks back at home smearing his name. When he is done with active duty, the story (from his side) will come out.

note: Leonard does not post anymore to this site. This is maintained still by the site admin. Leonard has no offical association to this site.

--snip--

(Glendale, AZ) An Arizona National Guardsman with a webblog critical of US efforts in Iraq has come under investigation. Specialist Leonard Clark is a member of the Arizona National Guard’s 860th Military Police Company. He’s forty years old with a daughter and wife in Glendale. While deployed in Iraq, Clark has been speaking out against the war and recently announced his intentions to run for office.

(bolds mine)

So... protecting other soldiers, or silencing a critic?

Everything's been removed, and he's keeping quiet...

(The cross-post is blue, and there's nothing I can do...)