t r u t h o u t | Army Imprisons Soldier for Singing Against Stop-Loss Policy

Army Imprisons Soldier for Singing Against Stop-Loss Policy

Friday 08 January 2010

by: Dahr Jamail, t r u t h o u t | Report

(Photo: Courage to Resist; Edited: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t)

Army Specialist and Iraq war veteran Marc Hall was incarcerated by the US Army on December 11, 2009, in Liberty County Jail, Georgia, for recording a song that expresses his anger over the Army's stop-loss policy.

Stop-loss is a policy that allows the Army to keep soldiers active beyond the end of their signed contracts. According to the Pentagon, more than 120,000 soldiers have been affected by stop-loss since 2001, and currently 13,000 soldiers are serving under stop-loss orders.

Hall, (aka hip hop artist Marc Watercus), who is in the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, was placed in Liberty County Jail for the song (click here to listen to "Stop-Loss," by Marc Watercus), in which he angrily denounces the continuing policy that has barred him from exiting the military.

Military service members do not completely give up their rights to free speech, particularly not when they are doing so artistically while off duty, as was the case with Hall. He is charged under Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which covers "all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline" and "all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces." The military is claiming that he "communicated a threat" with his song. Hall mailed a copy of the song to the Pentagon after the Army unilaterally extended his contract for a second Iraq deployment.

Hall planned to leave the military at the end of his contract on February 27, before his commander, Captain Cross at Fort Stewart, moved to have him incarcerated for the song. The military currently intends to keep Hall in pre-trial confinement until he is court-martialed, which is expected to be several months from now.

Jim Klimanski, a civilian military lawyer, member of the National Lawyers Guild and the Military Law Task Force, who is closely following Hall's case, told Truthout that he feels the military is overreacting to the case, and that it is simply a matter of free speech and that the Army's actions violate his First Amendment right to free speech.

"It's a political case, and the military should know that," Klimanski explained, "I think they are overreaching and overreacting because of Maj. Hassan (who went on a shooting spree at Fort Hood on November 5), and I can understand that to some degree, but cooler heads should prevail and they should deal with stop-loss, and maybe we'll get the case thrown out. One would hope that common sense would prevail."

Hall is opposed to the occupation of Iraq, and had told his commander he would not deploy if ordered. His unit deployed to Iraq without him in mid-December, but this is not why Hall is in jail, as he was jailed before his unit was sent to Iraq.

"The military never ordered him to go [to Iraq], they put him in jail before that," Klimanski continued, "They can't charge him with missing movement, because he couldn't go because they put him in jail. He told them he wanted out, he wouldn't go, but they didn't put him in jail for not going."

In a statement on January 5, Hall said, ""My first sergeant called me into his office to discuss the song's nature. I explained to him that the hardcore rap song was a free expression of how people feel about the Army and its stop-loss policy. I explained that the song was neither a physical threat nor any threat whatsoever. I told him it was just hip-hop."

Hall added, "My first sergeant said he actually liked the song and that he did not take it as a threat. He and my commander at the time just recommended me for mental counseling and evaluation."

Truthout obtained a redacted copy of the Army's Charge Sheet against Hall, filed by Marcus Seiser, that includes five charges. On the sheet, Hall is accused of telling someone he would "go on a rampage," that "the song makes threats of acts of violence," and that Hall is accused "of planning on shooting the brigade or battalion commanders."

Jason Hurd, an Iraq war veteran who has been assisting Marc Hall, told Truthout that he believes the military is overreacting to Hall's song due to the November 5 shooting at Fort Hood.

"It really frustrates me that they [military] are reacting in such an excessive way," Hurd, a member of Iraq Veteran's Against the War, told Truthout, "When you are talking about communicating a threat, a threat has to be at something or someone. If you listen to Marc's song, he's not saying he wants to kill someone in his chain of command, he makes broad artistic expressions of anger. The military likes to keep a lid on things, and it's now very frustrating they are taking such extensive measures to save face, and they are afraid after the Ft. Hood shooting. So as a result of Ft. Hood, they have persecuted Marc, and now he's incarcerated."

Hurd also feels the case underscores an underlying hypocrisy within the military.

"From a military that has us, while we're jogging, chant in cadence about killing babies, to then come down on someone for writing an angry song, is ludicrous," Hurd added, "Marc is just expressing the anger that 13,000 soldiers are feeling right now, because there are currently that many who are stop-lossed. All he did was make his opinion heard."

According to Hurd, who has been speaking with Hall regularly via telephone, Hall told him that how the military has handled his case "really got me thinking about the whole situation, and how we acted like thugs over there [in Iraq]. In good conscious I could not go back over there and do it again."

Jeff Paterson, the founder and director of the soldier advocacy group Courage to Resist, which is assisting Hall, told Truthout, "Marc's case is unique in that the military hasn't shown a propensity to go after these political speech cases for several years. Here, since he's an angry man who recorded a song, they are making him a target for having expressed his anger in an artistic way. We think this is an important case because it could set precedent for free speech rights for those in the military."

Klimanski, along with underscoring the importance of the case for the First Amendment, thinks the case highlights the military's ongoing use of stop-loss, which also contributes to how they have responded to Hall's song.

"It's a song, and he puts it out to the public," Klimanski told Truthout, "We're not talking about a Major Hassan who is quietly plotting violence ... this is political hyperbole. This is his rant on stop-loss. It's political speech."

Klimanski said that by nature, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will not end, and Hall's song expresses concern over the possibility of his never being discharged from the military.

"He's over there saying I have no control over my life. I could be in here forever. We're not talking about a war that is going to be over next year. We're talking about a war that could go on forever. So poor old Marc Hall could possibility be in the military forever. Once enlistment starts dropping, the Army maintains troop levels by keeping the ones they have. If you're not going to go to one place, you're going to another, but you're not going to get out. I see this as an issue of political speech. The military may not like what they're hearing, but that's what it is. There are people in the military saying their being in it is/was wrong, and they want out."

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Comments

This forum is moderated by software. Please allow up to 15 minutes for your comments to go live and avoid posting the same comment multiple times.

Folks can support Marc by

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 21:29 — Courage to Resist (not verified)

Folks can support Marc by making a tax-deductible donation to his free speech defense fund at http://couragetoresist.org/marc

Without aggressive civilian legal representation, Marc will not be able to appeal these issues in federal court if needed.

When you take a job, you

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 21:58 — Harry Thomas (not verified)

When you take a job, you have the right to complain about that job or the people over you. This is done with the understanding that you may be fired for what you say or do against those in positions higher than yours. In the military, you can be fired for doing the same thing. The difference is that you can also be jailed for expressing your rights to free speech or self-determination. Somehow, the recruiters always seem to miss that particular point when delivering the pitch.

How is "stop loss" different

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 22:31 — An (not verified)

How is "stop loss" different from "indentured servitude"? Isn't it as illegal to extend a contract one-sidedly as to cancel it without agreement on the part of both parties> Why is the Army making its own laws, and ow can we stop them?

One more sign of how sick

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 22:39 — Anonymous (not verified)

One more sign of how sick the US military is.

From the 60's (as close as I

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 22:41 — eval (not verified)

From the 60's (as close as I can remember)
"Wouldn't it be great if they gave a war and nobody came? A comprehensive list of the people and institutions that keep us continuously waging war for their profit would at least give us something to swear at.

With all of the abuse, stop

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 22:50 — Jeff (not verified)

With all of the abuse, stop loss, Gulf War Syndrome, declining Veteran care, etc etc, I can't see how our so called "volunteer" forces can continue to recruit. Good to hear about the resistance. How much more evidence does anyone need that this is a bad thing to "volunteer" for?

No way can the military deploy this guy. If this isn't a threat, I don't know what is. Would anybody want this guy in Iraq after he sent this song to the Pentagon?

"I am going to round them up all
eventually
peacefully
and surprise them all
yes yes y'all
up against the wall
turn around
I got a motherf**ing magazine with 30 rounds
on a three round burst
ready to fire down
still against the wall, I grab my M4
spray and watch all the bodies hit the floor
I bet you never stop loss nobody no more
"

This involuntary

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 22:52 — Kathymm (not verified)

This involuntary servitude...slavery - period

When you are a soldier, you

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 23:07 — Liberal Ray (not verified)

When you are a soldier, you are a soldier and follow the rules of the military code.

This situation is the direct result of the volunteer army and individual soldier's not recognizing they are part of something bigger than themselves. Restore the draft!!!

They chant in cadence about

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 23:18 — Christine (not verified)

They chant in cadence about killing babies?

I dunno, maybe it's just me,

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 23:18 — Anonymous (not verified)

I dunno, maybe it's just me, but somehow writing a song to express one's dissatisfaction seems like a positive thing compared to , say, picking up a gun and smoking a bunch of innocent people, ala Hassan.

Marc should get the first Purple Vocal Chord.

If Dahr Jamail was a real

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 23:34 — Anonymous (not verified)

If Dahr Jamail was a real journalist, he would quote the lyrics in question (a couple of lines) so we could decide for ourselves whether they contained a threat. Notice that he does not. Dahr Jamail only presents opinion supportive of his ideology. Click on the link. Listen to the lyrics. They certainly do convey the treat of murder to those who administer stop loss. I am an ardent liberal, a Democrat, opposed to the Iraq war, opposed to escalation in Afghanistan, opposed to stop loss. But I am also opposed to propaganda masquerading as a journalism. Aren't you? Apparently Truthout doesn't much care.

man on the edge... push to

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 23:44 — Anonymous (not verified)

man on the edge... push to hard and he will go over to the dark side...

the military should know better... people should not be stop-loss 'd because a contract is a contract is a contract... volunteer military my ass!

wonder how the military

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 00:10 — Anonymous (not verified)

wonder how the military would enjoy it if this single hits the airwaves ?

as for murder ? you'd be sickened how the military , especially the marines , twist mentally those who join. We are a liberal family with 3 serving. One in the marines. We know first hand that a young man can go into the service ( for lack of jobs around here ) with a non bigoted state of mind and with training ( he is being prepped now to go over seas ) become a hard core hating bigot. Calling Arabs 'towel heads ' and 'camel jockeys' . That all arabs are the enemy. that our notion of God is behind us .... yet extremists/terrorists say the same.

Both sides are looking quite alike in alot of ways.

and who will have to deal with him when he comes home angry and hateful ? not the military or those who are pro war since they only support you going not coming back.

This article is propaganda.

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 00:31 — Anonymous (not verified)

This article is propaganda. Notice Hall's comparison not only to a supposedly mad psychiatrist but to one named "Hussein". Ooooww... bogyman... evil guy! Maybe even Arab! Why did Jamail not compare Hall to our founding fathers who criticized British injustices? Hero! brave! Integrity! and especially white!

stop-loss is the clause in

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 00:38 — javuer hernandez-miyares (not verified)

stop-loss is the clause in tiny print, on a contract with the devil. furthermore, a contract based on lies is illegitimate. i praise marc hall for his courage, and for the creative way that he expressed his dissidence.

No Surprise!

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 00:55 — Anonymous (not verified)

I'd have titled this piece,

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 01:00 — doris (not verified)

I'd have titled this piece, "No liberty in Liberty County."
They're lyrics, not threats. He's saying, "This is what I feel like doing," not "This is what I plan to do." That's the nature of art. Yes, it's offensive, but it's only art, and the man hasn't threatened anyone. It's better to express your feelings with your voice than a gun.
Dahr Jamail is an excellent journalist, and he provided a link to the song. anonymous, you might want to think twice about being a Democrat these days. They've sold us out every bit as much as Republicans have. Obama is a war president, a banker bailout president, a non-single payer president, and a drug war on Americans president. The man is a corporate wet-dream! And sadly, it no longer matters who's in office. It only matters who's in power, and it's sure not We the People anymore.

As one retired general said

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 01:23 — goddamnathiest (not verified)

As one retired general said after the Ft. Hood shoot9ings,
The US Army is at war.
The people of the United States are not.
Oh so true.
Under Mr. Bush and company, they got it right!
They learned their lessons avoiding military service during Vietnam.
1. Do not IMPOSE upon the American people in any way, shape or form.
2. Do NOT IMPOSE A DRAFT! That way, no little "darling" is imposed upon and the nasty Drill Sgt doesn't have to yell at them to make their bed.
3. What ever Congress wants, Congress gets, no matter how much spending they do so don't veto ANY SPENDING BILL.
4. Reduce taxes to allow the National Debt to more then DOUBLE, but make sure you're well out of office when the bill comes due.
5. Hire "security" personnel and pay them a butt load of money to go to the "war" zone so "baby" doesn't get drafted.
6. Tell the American People that, "God wants me to be President.."
7. Remember to WAVE THE FLAG, and keep sending the troops again, and again, and again, and again, and again.....

"They chant in cadence about

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 01:29 — Eric Roberts (not verified)

"They chant in cadence about killing babies?"

As a veteran of the US Army, i certainly don't recall any cadence calls that talked about killing babies. As a matter of fact, the military cracked down on cadence calls that were too lewd or morally reprehensible when I was in and that was back in the late 80's. I don't know what Jason is talking about. I haven't listened to the song, but I do have to say that as a soldier, you have very few of the rights we enjoy as citizens. It's a necessary evil to maintain order and discipline in the armed forces. It's one of the reasons I didn't make a good soldier...I make a horrible follower hehehe. I remember getting article 15's for doing stuff like asking why we were digging trenches with our e-tools when we had a backhoe 20 ft behind us. One would have thought they would have appreciated me taking the leadership initiative and trying to improve efficiency...apparently not. It took me all but a microsecond to adjust back to being a civilian. Great experience that I would gladly and proudly repeat as I learned a lot of great stuff and i am proud of my service, but i sure did hate it.

I'm not surprised that the

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 01:53 — Mike S (not verified)

I'm not surprised that the army is coming down on him hard, they know how much frustration there is among the troops, and they are extremely afraid of the troops killing their commanders, as happened in Vietnam. While I understand the frustration expressed in the song, how smart was it threatening violence? Are you really surprised at this outcome?

To the Anonymous person

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 01:58 — Eric (not verified)

To the Anonymous person commenting that Dahr is not a real journalist. He has won numerous awards on his previous books, Beyond the Green Zone and The Will to Resist. Have you read them?? Dahr is taking great risks every day to bring Americans truth.

Besides, the focus should be on Marc Hall's freedom of speech. Ya know.. the First Amendment. There is no point in his song where he mentions killing as a tool for revenge, or as you say "the treat of murder"...eerie. Can you not feel for the soldier who is expecting to be released, only to be subjected to stop-loss and forced to go to war?

Thank you Dahr for posting this article and let us fight for the release of this brave soldier. Do not let the haters bring you down.

They don't just chant about

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 02:01 — David (not verified)

They don't just chant about killing babies, they actually do it, Read the book "Collateral Damage," or look at the headlines about thousands of Afghan civilians protesting US murder of civilians. From Dresden to Hiroshima, from Vietnam to Fallujah, the US military is not defending America's freedoms, it is expanding American corporate capitalism and creating enemies. I am glad that the soldier in the article wants to leave the military. He should never have volunteered to be in the military. It is logical to realize that if you join the empire's troops, you will probably do bad things, see bad things, and suffer a lot. And for all you former soldiers who post on Truthout about how proud you are of your "service," I urge you to reconsider your pride, and to realize that being a storm trooper for the wealthy elites is not honorable or moral.

The Government of the

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 03:14 — Mark B. Ostrom (not verified)

The Government of the Accused is the Government of the Accursed, They' Ain no Justice fo' a Niggah nor a justice for a world a' poor folk who don't believe, who don't believe,

in the ever-present goodness of Killahs!

Us Army Killahs, All Good, No Bad, jus' Killahs with Paper in they hand.

You should Serve they Rap... Serve without Bound, serve without Complaint, Serve without a SOUL, until your Mind blows up and you ain't good for nuttin to your self or family, for the Ever Present Goodness of Killahs! US Army Killahs, All Good, No Bad, Jus Killahs' with Paper in they hand,

They don't pick up a gun, no humvee ride, no sand nor dirt nor ass wax itchy crap hole in Washington DC,

Home of the Ever Present Good of Killahs, US Army Killahs, All Good No Bad just Killahs with Paper in they hand.

Word Up... Your Country wants you Brain Dead, not thinking bad thoughts or makin art or singing songs or makin waves, Brain Dead and for the ever-present goodness of Killahs!

If this is a moderated

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 03:24 — Anonymous (not verified)

If this is a moderated comment section how come this guy "David" can post the same stinking message over and over and over and over???

In the armies of the

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 04:04 — Holocaust Gaza (not verified)

In the armies of the civilized EU you can sign off any time. Moreover none of the EU countries politicians can send those soldiers to Afghanistan, the have to pay lots of money so that some soldiers go.

America is neither a country of free speech nor a country of laws. It is as my old friend Adolf Hitler would say: the Third Reich becoming true.

Poor little Ami, and you thought you were great.

This song is currently being

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 04:16 — Ron K. (not verified)

This song is currently being played on satellite and underground stations, along with Internet radio.

Freedom will survive.
Freedom will fight.

'When governments fear the

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 04:17 — Patriotic1 (not verified)

'When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.' Thomas Jefferson

REVOLUTION is the Solution!!!

'God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.... And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.' - Thomas Jefferson, in letter to William S. Smith, 1787

(First of all, regarding

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 06:14 — Anonymous (not verified)

(First of all, regarding Anonymous's response to David, in the last few days I too have been having some problems posting at Truthout and double posted inadvertantly at another Truthout article. I doubt he did it on purpose. It appears to be a technical problem).

I would recommend people

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 06:19 — David Brookbank (not verified)

I would recommend people watch the 2005 documentary "Sir, no, sir", about the resistance against the Vietnam War. Courageous and outspoken soldiers as well as members of the public must understand that these wars will end when -- as in Vietnam -- three conditions are met: 1) The people's of these countries defeat our military, 2) our soldiers are resisting in increasing numbers, including refusing to fight and deploy, and 3) when the protests at home reach the level that the U.S. government is forced to call police and troops into the street to oppose us. We can end these war but only if we act to end them. How long will we wait?

i agree stop loss is

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 06:27 — Anonymous (not verified)

i agree stop loss is hideous, but in the song he does put it out there he has a loaded gun (that could) drop a whole line of his superior officers. (i forgot his exact words).
too bad hard-core rap uses such deadly images, it got him in deep doo doo.

While I applaud Marc's

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 07:02 — Advocate4Liberty (not verified)

While I applaud Marc's initiative and courage in speaking truth to power, we shouldn't expect the war Pigs to respect life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness. All that these cockroaches understand is power, and they believe themselves to be a the pinnacle of society - our rightful masters. All the best to Marc, may he prevail over evil.

land of the brave, home of

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 08:16 — Anonymous (not verified)

land of the brave, home of the fre... not so much anymore.
Go! "insert sorts team here"
general strike May 1, for everyone

LISTEN TO THE SONG He does

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 09:38 — Rob Close (not verified)

LISTEN TO THE SONG

He does make very direct threats against his superior officers in the 2nd and 3rd movements. The 1st section where he rapped was fine, and it was entirely artistic up through that point.

But people - if you actually listen to the entire song, which is at the top of couragetoresist.org right now - I think you might be shocked at exactly what you are supporting.

I completely understand why the Army did what it did after listening to the song.

YES LISTEN TO THE SONG. Marc

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 11:57 — Anonymous (not verified)

YES LISTEN TO THE SONG. Marc is very clear in voicing his anger as a threat to kill, and he sent the threat to his commanding officers. In the light of the Fort Hood incident, those officers really didn't have much choice but to act against this individual soldier. That said, the abuses of stop-loss, including for National Guard personnel, is a serious injustice that the army (and those higher in the political chain of command) need to get rid of. Perhaps Marc's case will contribute to that, perhaps that's what he hoped for... but in the meantime I don't expect any military court to agree that a soldier's "free speech" goes as far as he took it, nor any civilian court to support it either, in any country that isn't courting anarchy and civil war.

Thanks Mr. Jamail for

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 12:44 — Larry Nocella (not verified)

Thanks Mr. Jamail for another excellent article. I have listened to the lyrics and while they are "violent" it seems always lost on the dim-witted the concept of "metaphor."

Regardless, after Ft. Hood, it seems understandable to be touchy, so the mental evaluation recommended by his commanders was a wise step.

The imprisonment part, well, that was just to make an example of him, obviously, like violent organizations due to defiant individuals.

Stop-loss is a crime for a supposedly "free" nation. Here's hoping Hall gets free soon.

p.s. I liked the song, esp. the buildup at the start. Well done, Marc Watercus!

Good ol article134. Basicly

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 13:06 — LastFreemanIn Amerika (not verified)

Good ol article134. Basicly says the military can lock you up whenever they feel like it. I was in I know.
When will we bring the troops home ?Not as long as they can make a nickle off supply contracts.Its a scam folks. And you can bet I have taught my son what a scam it is . I hope he never joins the military. What a bunch of losers.

Screw him and every other

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 13:41 — JT (not verified)

Screw him and every other dumb a55 who joined the military. I hope they keep you until you're 90.

This guy's talent was

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 13:42 — Anonymous (not verified)

This guy's talent was outweighed by his anger and his message was lost. He should be arrested and court-martialed based upon the threat in the lyrics. An opportunity to get a serious message out was lost, unless it was that he may be mentally unstable.

I wholly sympathize with

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 13:57 — Anonymous (not verified)

I wholly sympathize with anyone in the armed services. It is a regimented life and way of thinking that seems wholly antithetical to everything we read about American freedom of self-determination and individual independence.

Major Hassan at Fort Hood should have been granted the permission he asked for, especially since his beliefs about participating in an attack on his homeland were religiously based. His berserk and desperate actions were a direct result of denying him the permission he asked for.

Nevertheless, Mr. Hall's words in his song are assuredly a threat ("I am going to round them up all eventually peacefully and surprise them all yes yes y'all up against the wall turn around I got a motherf**ing magazine with 30 rounds on a three round burst ready to fire down still against the wall, I grab my M4 spray and watch all the bodies hit the floor I bet you never stop loss nobody no more ") to "peacefully" round up and kill fellow service members.

The horror of forcing desperate young Americans into becoming "thugs" who break down families' doors, kill and rape and torture Middle Easterners transforms our people into criminals. Mr. Hall and everyone who, at last, figures out what the military has done to them should be immediately mustered out.

The reasons for our war are patent lies.

How can we insist on ignoring the truth? Truth WILL out. Truthout!

I am totally against the war

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 14:14 — radline9 (not verified)

I am totally against the war and stop loss, but the song does advocate violence and to me that is wrong. You have to fight injustice with reason.

THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH.

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 14:40 — Dr. Bernard Lammers (not verified)

THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH. At Fort Benning, during the Vietnam War, they chanted "I wanna kill me a Charlie Cong" and "I wanna kill me a gook." (Other part of the chant were pretty vulgar so I'd better not repeat them here.) In the Soviet Union they sent dissidents to insane asylums. Note how our military is sending dissidents for psychiatric counselling.

Keep fighting wars for

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 16:01 — Anonymous (not verified)

Keep fighting wars for Israel guys

Oh, I forgot telling the truth is anti-Semitic.

Let me rephrase that.

Keep fighting the terrorists who hate our freedom guys;))))

These extensions are

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 16:11 — mcyrus (not verified)

These extensions are unfortunately 'legal', meaning stated up front (pre-contract) as a possibility although deeply problematic and morally questionable. As far as contracts are concerned, the US Supreme Court effectively ruled long ago that contracts are not binding on the government--think of them as onesided pieces of paper that bind you and not them unless they desire to be bound or otherwise permit that binding. Moreover, they can--and do--modify these pieces of paper to suit their desires...Sorry.
Anger to the point of advocating violence is why they reacted so strongly. Still, they need not have thrown him in jail to make the point...

Picture a boot stepping on

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 16:12 — Anonymous (not verified)

Picture a boot stepping on your face, now picture that boot stepping on your face all day long, every day for the rest of your life.

Get used to it folks.

OVERREACTING?? If you F'n

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 16:17 — Anonymous (not verified)

OVERREACTING?? If you F'n idiots. How can you be so complacent?

This man does not belong in jail. The US GO)V is making an example of him to others. That's all. And guess what. If they want to, they could classified him as a enemy combatant, and torture him.

"but the song does advocate violence"....AND your an idiot too. How many innocent victims have died at the American hand? Yes millions! And you expect this soldier to an easy going, non violent individual?? Are you nutz?

You must be one of those who avoided the draft. All you with an opinion about the war, need to serve first, and have your kids serve too. THEN you can voice your opinion. Otherwise, STFU!

I am not in or of the

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 16:40 — Anonymous (not verified)

I am not in or of the military. I am a disgusted grandma who would fight lions, tigers, and bears and the military for my kid or grandkid. Everyone needs to write to their Congress person about the military's ignorance in the saga of Marc who chooses to sing/rap his thoughts and feelings about Stop-Loss. Get a grip military. Let Marc be -- he's a true patriot who chooses to SING and NOT TO KILL Grandma says again: get a grip!

"F*** you Captains and

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 16:48 — Anonymous (not verified)

"F*** you Captains and Colonels!"

I'm pretty sure that this is reason that he was imprisoned--and rightly so--not the fact that he spoke out against the stop-loss. Captains and Colonels are among the most stressed individuals in the Army. Soldiers publicly berating military officers is a criminal offense, and it is certainly conduct hostile to the military and unbecoming of a soldier. I would have been outraged to hear this kind of language used against my military officers. Marc could have been a little more intelligent when writing his song. He should have had the sense to leave out those lyrics. And he emailed this to the Pentagon? Well, it's a good thing that there is a system in place to keep stupid soldiers out of the ranks. Again, I'm sure it was his attack on senior officers that warranted his imprisonment and not the fact that he spoke out against the stop loss. You can not walk up to a Captain and tell them "F** you!" Likewise, you can't sing it in a song and then email it to them.

First they use them up, then

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 16:57 — Anonymous (not verified)

First they use them up, then they charge him with some mox nix crime, so they can screw him with a BCD or worse. F.T.A He will do well with a private attorney as the J.A.G's off will tell him to plead guilty. He may as well explore combat mental injuries, and see if he can get life long pay for it, as it may have lead to his making the song ?

Here's a song my ex (who was

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 17:17 — Anonymous (not verified)

Here's a song my ex (who was in the Air Force) taught me that they would chant while jogging (every line is repeated by the men, call-and-response style):
A yellow bird
With a yellow bill
Was standing on
My windowsill
I coaxed it in
With a piece of bread
And then I smashed
It's little head.

What exactly are we fighting

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 17:30 — Nina (not verified)

What exactly are we fighting for and for whom?

Is it for the American man, women or child on the street who in there millions are on food stamps and without jobs or healthcare or for those privileged few in power and our corporate entities – who keep their sons and daughters nicely tucked away in lovely heated homes and safe from danger? Maybe it is for religion? No, even an atheist knows our actions in Iraq & Afghanistan including meddling in Iran are wrong and are contrary to basic humanistic values let alone religious values.

Our image across the world is ruined, jobs are nowhere to be seen, poverty is on the increase, the American dream is dead and buried - nevermind the American people continue to allow their government to curtail their freedoms, spend billions on wars in far-away lands and on propping our “yes” men across the globe who eventually (like every evil) fall. All this happens whilst we continue to sleep and buy whatever our government and the press tell us. Shame on us.

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 18:11 — Anonymous (not verified)

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 18:18 — Anonymous (not verified)

I sympathize with the

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 18:47 — Anonymous (not verified)

I sympathize with the sentiment, but man the song is really lame. lol

rockerfeller + rothchild =

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 19:24 — Anonymous (not verified)

rockerfeller + rothchild = world enslavement. Our only hope lies in them turning against each other. I fear they'll only do that when we are all enslaved!

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 20:55 — Anonymous (not verified)

You ain't seen nothing yet!

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 22:06 — Francois (not verified)

You ain't seen nothing yet! The moral of the troops is declining and will do so over the next year. Once they get tired of the BS, they will take action and it will come from with in. As a former Marine, I can tell you this, your men will not listen to your orders once they know the truth about the WAR. Your using them in order to cover the Oil fields and gas lines, not to mention the poppie fields. Yes, these fine young men will turn against you and they will not stop. You asked for it, and now your going to get it. WAR is for Profits and nothing more. WAR is a Racket, by: Maj.Gen. Smidely Butler. USMC Ret.

Just because you put some

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 22:29 — Anonymous (not verified)

Just because you put some kind of musical beat (and a pretty abysmal one at that) behind a threat doesn't make it "art." This guy made a direct threat, and tried to hide behind President Obama at the same time. It's a pretty clear-cut, detailed threat at that...threatening his NCOs and officers.

What would you do if he followed through on his claims and unmercifully killed his brothers-in-arms? You should be ashamed of yourselves. I'm a liberal because I believe in protecting the less fortunate and defenseless...this guy is threatening to kill people with no regard for laws or morality.

In my 4 years in the military I never heard any cadences about killing babies, and I was in a combat arms unit, so I'm calling BS there. And when did this guy sign up for the Army? I am sure he knew what he was getting into. Even at that, what was his branch in the Army? Anyone that has seen combat and had to rely on their peers would certainly not threaten the same guys that are watching his back. This guy sounds like a douchebag that would rather make threats than use due process to voice his concerns.

Here's a song that my unite

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 22:43 — Anonymous (not verified)

Here's a song that my unite used to chant in Army basic training in 1997:

I went to the playground
Where all the kiddies play
I pulled out my uzi
And I began to spray!

I heard that same cadence called often at various other times.

During the Korean War, not

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 23:51 — Tom Camfield (not verified)

During the Korean War, not only were we drafted into the military against our wishes, but our term was extended. We were originally drafted for a period of 21 months. However, the period of service for all of us was arbitrarily extended to 24 months. At least that was the deal for those of us who put on the uniform in January 1951.

This particular move against Marc Hall seems to be pretty stupid public relations by the Army. I suppose it's just coincidence that he's black and is incarcerated in Georgia. It has a bit of that scent to it.

Really? He volunteered to

Sun, 01/10/2010 - 04:22 — Anonymous (not verified)

Really? He volunteered to serve his country in the military branch known as the Army. Part of the basic training given to ALL soldiers in ALL branches of the military includes the code of conduct. Part of this code of conduct states that you have fewer rights as a soldier than you did as a civilian. This thug wannabe knew this before he exited basic training, and he knew it during his term of service in the Army. Another thing that is made known to soldiers in basic training, is the knowledge of the stop loss program, and the fact that you will most likely be affected by it. So this whole discussion is moot. He knew about this policy, he violated it, he is suffering the consequences of his actions. Direct threats? Maybe not, but they were still threats. He's a moron for sending the song to the Pentagon. Wait, he's just a moron. Also, the poster above that mentioned Israel? Here's your sign.

If enormous multi-million

Sun, 01/10/2010 - 13:20 — Bang (not verified)

If enormous multi-million dollar bonuses were paid out to corporate criminals using TARP funds because they were "in contractual agreements", then the contracts of servicemen and women should be treated with the same enthusiasm by the same legislators that rally around the sanctity of "contracts".

If only this song had been

Sun, 01/10/2010 - 13:51 — Bang (not verified)

If only this song had been written and performed by an Xe (Blackwater) employee. They are allowed to murder and rape while being exempt from the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And it would have been backed by the Congress (having provided the funding in military contracts). Maybe even the (Bull Sh**t) "artist formerly known as (Eric) Prince" could have done a concert tour in Afghanistan and Iraq for the real troops.

stooopid ni gger deserves

Sun, 01/10/2010 - 14:46 — Peter Goodman (not verified)

stooopid ni gger deserves prison.
therightperspective DOT org

What did you expect from

Sun, 01/10/2010 - 14:46 — Anonymous (not verified)

What did you expect from Obama who is Bush' evil twin. This is a form of slavery because they cannot get intelligent, deciated people to sign up and they also refuse to investigate and give Dishonerable discharges to skinhead-Nazi's. Anyone who feeds the war machine is either stupid or crazy. Why would anyone want to be loyal to a system that has betrayed the poor, the middle class and knowingly tried to strip them all of their wealth. They have eliminated retirement for millions and are working on eliminating pensions, which the congress, who are supposed to "serve" us serve only themselves and enjoy benefits, like health care, pensions and take legalized bribes from lobbyists. Lobbying should be outlawed and made a Capital Crime.

Dear Truthout: Why do you

Sun, 01/10/2010 - 14:50 — Pete Bagnolo (not verified)

Dear Truthout:
Why do you allow monsters to write anonymously? Why do you not have everyone who comments use their real name? Above I saw comments by a racist, an idiot, a fool and a skinhead.

As a veteran I would not

Sun, 01/10/2010 - 21:26 — Scott Wheat (not verified)

As a veteran I would not have wanted to stay passed my contract period. For them to do so violates the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Individual constitutional rights are not sacrificed when one joins the military. I believe this to be an injustice.

Bring home our troops from every country the government occupies. The gig is up, now it's time to come home.

"If Dahr Jamail was a real

Sun, 01/10/2010 - 22:30 — Anonymous (not verified)

"If Dahr Jamail was a real journalist, he would quote the lyrics in question (a couple of lines) so we could decide for ourselves whether they contained a threat. Notice that he does not."

Too difficult for you to listen with the link he provided?

Why, yesserrreee bob - we

Mon, 01/11/2010 - 00:09 — mysterioso (not verified)

Why, yesserrreee bob - we sure don't want them stinking Islamic, commie, filthy cave dwelling, rag heads taking away our freedoms. Not when we have the US military to do it for them. Shithowdie.

Mon, 01/11/2010 - 16:24 — Grandma, 67 (not verified)

"If Dahr Jamail was a real journalist,...."

Dahr Jamail is not only a "real journalist," he and his associates are among the bravest journalists since those who "served" at the fronts, during the world wars and Vietnam.

Thank you, Dahr, for all your sacrifices and hard work, from all of us who "have a brain."

Thank you SO MUCH!

I normally like Dahr Jamal's

Mon, 01/11/2010 - 17:26 — Socialist Jew (not verified)

I normally like Dahr Jamal's reporting but the anonymous writer who posted "If Dahr Jamail was a real journalist, he would quote the lyrics in question" is 100% right. Truthout seems to be getting sloppy. I doubt that Amy Goodman would have allowed this story on her broadcast without examining the lyrics. Truth matters.

I certainly wouldn't want

Tue, 01/12/2010 - 17:13 — Jeff (not verified)

I certainly wouldn't want this guy with a gun in his hand - he clearly is unfit to serve:

I am going to round them up all
eventually
peacefully
and surprise them all
yes yes y'all
up against the wall
turn around
I got a motherfucking magazine with 30 rounds
on a three round burst
ready to fire down
still against the wall, I grab my M4
spray and watch all the bodies hit the floor
I bet you never stop loss nobody no more

i read some of these

Fri, 01/15/2010 - 19:40 — Anonymous (not verified)

i read some of these comments and i think alot of people r running their mouth not knowing what they are saying soldiers dont go to jail for saying F**k you to officers they can get article 15's SPC Marc Hall was a good soldier and I have served with him in Iraq and Iwould trust him with my life in Iraq again he sent the song to the pentagon to get a reaction obviously I am currently in Iraq and I feel if ur enlistment is up and your done let them go if the military treated soldiers better they would stay and if they cut the deployments down a notch

To top it off, every one of

Sun, 01/17/2010 - 23:51 — John L. Opperman (not verified)

To top it off, every one of our/US wars ( not a minute has gone by without involvement or instignation in war since WW2)...have been ILLEGAL, that is, against the law. Therefore orders to go ARE ILLEGAL and a solders's obligation is to disobey such orders.
~John L. USN/Ret.

The Military is scared of

Tue, 01/19/2010 - 17:03 — forest bloodgood (not verified)

The Military is scared of the merging of Art and Anger. They insist on making examples of individuals who become morally opposed to supporting genocide and endless occupation.

Stop-Loss is immoral in and of itself in wars of choice such as Iraq and Afghanistan. People must be allowed to exercise their conscience, their Constitutional Rights.

His lyrics are not specific enough to merit the charges; he deserved counseling and being granted release from active duty. Rap and military culture both use the same language and attitude he expresses from his own perspective.

The pot calls the kettle....iron.

A lot of you young, white,

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 02:55 — Frances in California (not verified)

A lot of you young, white, male, conceited, condescending brats don't really remember the Vietnam War. Part of what halted it was the fragging . . . oh, fergawdsake, look it up! Fragging is what really happened in Ft. Hood . . . Feel free to mark my words and look back in 10 years.

I can't support

Fri, 02/19/2010 - 16:45 — SPC. OB (not verified)

I can't support couragetoresist.org because a lot of people they support are cowards who signed up for the benefits, and then conveniently decided they didn't want to be in the military any more once their turn to pay their government back came...

you signed up, you knew what you were getting into, quit bitching and do the fucking job you VOLUNTEERED to do.

as for SPC. Hall, we fight to support and defend the constitution, but the constitution doesn't apply to members of the military.

that being said... "stop loss" is a bullshit policy that should render NULL AND VOID the soldier's contract with the government....
he didn't sign up for any more years than are written into his contract, and that's all he should have had to serve.

i'd be pissed off too, and though not a rapper, i would've written some hateful spite filled blogs and posted the same on every message board i could find.

hey, that traitor Jack Murtha is dead.... that's a good start!

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Army Imprisons Soldier for Singing Against Stop-Loss Policy

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