Adam Kokesh is not exactly Cindy Sheehan, but he has become somewhat well known through his anti-war demonstrations, even getting himself arrested.
Kokesh is an ex-Marine, honorably discharged after service in Fallujah. He is now a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
He's in hot water, however, because he and other protesters wore their uniforms (with military insignia removed) during a recent protest. He was IDed in a photo caption that appeared in the Washington Post and now the Marines ."want to change his discharge statusfrom honorable to "other than honorable."
KANSAS CITY, Missouri — An Iraq war veteran who was photographed wearing his uniform at a war protest rally will have his discharge status evaluated — and possibly changed — by a military panel.
Marine Cpl. Adam Kokesh and other veterans marked the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq in April by wearing their uniforms — with military insignia removed — and roaming around the United States capital on a mock patrol.
After Kokesh was identified in a photo cutline in The Washington Post, a superior officer sent him a letter saying he might have violated a rule prohibiting troops from wearing uniforms without authorization.
Kokesh, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, responded with an obscenity. A military panel will meet with him Monday to decide whether his response and uniform violation are enough to change his status from honorably discharged to "other than honorable."
I know it is military policy that soldiers are not allowed to participate in protests and other political activities while in uniform. But I am not enough of an expert to say whether someone like Kokesh, who has been discharged but is still a member of the Individual Ready Reserve, must still follow that rule and whether it makes a difference that he removed military insignia from his uniform.
But it does seem like an attempt to silence a vociferous critic of the war.
And it has potential consequences beyond mere words on a piece of paper. Kokesh could lose health benefits and be made to pay back $10,000 in educational benefits.