Journalists and Civilians Now Vulnerable to Military Justice
A provision slipped into a spending bill by the last Congress and approved by the president makes civilian contractors in Iraq subject to military court-martial. But legal scholars believe the rule could also be extended to include civilian government employees and even embedded journalists. (h/t: Largest Minority)A provision slipped into a spending bill by the last Congress and approved by the president makes civilian contractors in Iraq subject to military court-martial. But legal scholars believe the rule could also be extended to include civilian government employees and even embedded journalists.
WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…Washington Post:
The provision, which was slipped into a spending bill at the end of the last Congress, is intended to close a long-standing loophole that critics say puts contractors in war zones above the law.
But the provision also could affect others accompanying U.S. forces in the field, including civilian government employees and embedded journalists.
“Right now, you have two different standards for people doing the same job,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who pushed the provision. “This will bring uniformity to the commander’s ability to control the behavior of people representing our country.”
One additional complication lies in determining who the new provision applies to. Graham said the change was aimed solely at holding contractors accountable. But legal observers say it could be interpreted broadly to also include employees with other government agencies, as well as reporters.
“One could imagine a situation in which a commander is unhappy with what a reporter is writing and could use the [Uniform Code of Military Justice] to pressure the reporter,” said Phillip E. Carter, a contracting lawyer with McKenna Long & Aldridge.
If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
The U.S. war on the free press, free speech, and dissent more generally, are all rooted in the so-called "Good War."
The charges are a blatant violation of press freedom.
Here’s a helpful primer on what to do if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials show up on your doorstep.
Conservatives complain that colleges are biased against the right wing, but they’re not the ones at risk of jail time.
Progressives should recognize the likely House speaker as a symptom of a calcified party hierarchy that is beginning to lose its grip.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.