Oath Keepers to Place Billboard Near Army Base to Protest Article Demonizing Tea Party

[donnay]

Oath Keepers to Place Billboard Near Army Base to Protest Article Demonizing Tea Party

Oath Keepers (http://ocoathkeepers.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/oath-keepers-to-place-billboard-outside-ft-leavenworth-to-protest-small-wars-journal-article-demonizing-tea-party-as-future-enemy-of-u-s-military/)
August 24, 2012

Oath Keepers is putting up a billboard right outside the main gate of Ft. Leavenworth Kansas to respond directly to the Small Wars Journal article by Leavenworth instructor Colonel Kevin Benson which paints the Tea Party movement as a future military opponent during domestic CONUS operations by the U.S. military. You can read more on that article here and here. Here is the billboard we are putting up:

http://ocoathkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/ok-billboard-for-ft-leavenworth4.png?w=620&h=284

Since Colonel Benson has chosen to demonize the Tea Party movement, by using the Tea Party as the “bad guys”- along with militias – in his hypothetical scenario of future domestic military operations, and since he is apparently using his position at Ft. Leavenworth to brainwash young officers into thinking that the Tea Party is a potential future enemy they will have to fire upon, we feel it is crucial to counter his propaganda in as direct a manner as possible, sending a clear message not just to him, but to his students there at Ft. Leavenworth and to all others stationed there, and to the broader Army. Those young officers need to understand that if they fire on fellow Americans, permitting themselves to be used as tools of oppression, and if they participate in martial law on U.S. soil, then they will become the new “red coats”and will be desecrating and destroying all that generations of American fighting men have bled and died to secure – our liberty.

We stand in defense of the rights of all Americans, but since Colonel Benson has chosen to name the Tea Party members in particular as possible future military enemies during domestic operations, we are coming to the defense of the Tea Party in this case.

Oath Keepers is also launching a national campaign to put similar billboards outside of military bases across the United States. We were planning on starting with Camp Lajeune, North Carolina or Ft. Stewart Georgia, but Colonel Benson’s outrageous and dangerous article in the Small Wars Journal compelled us to make Ft. Leavenworth the first base for our billboard campaign.

The billboard will cost an estimated $1,650.00v for the set-up and two months rent. Oath Keepers Lifetime Member Richard Allison has already stepped up and donated $500.00 for this billboard. He met Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes during his trip to Minnesota, and when Stewart showed Richard the mock up for the billboard, Richard pulled out his wallet and slapped down five one-hundred dollar bills to get this project rolling. Thanks Richard! You set an excellent example for others to follow. So now, we only need $1,150.00 to put this billboard up. Once we reach that amount, we will continue to raise funds for other billboards outside of military bases across the United States. All donations for the billboards will be used exclusively for that purpose.

If you would also like to donate to the Oath Keepers general fund, to help cover our every-day operating expenses and to support our other outreach efforts, please click here:

http://oathkeepers.org/oath/wp-content/uploads/donate-button-copy.gif (https://www.formstack.com/forms/?750628-oJ9AeG1sgf)

Oath Keepers of Kansas, lead by Richard Fry, who is also Patriot Coalition General counsel, have secured the billboard, which is 3/4 of a block outside the main gate at Ft. Leavenworth. Oath Keepers of Kansas will also secure a billboard outside of Ft. Riley, Kansas, where the famous 1st Infantry Division (the “Big Red One”) is stationed, and we will place a more general “honor your oath” billboard there. That Ft. Riley billboard will cost an estimated $1,000.00 for two months.

Below are mock-ups of billboards we will use outside of Marine Corps bases and Army bases. We will start with combat arms troops, but will also do billboards outside of bases for all branches, including outside of Air Force bases where Predator Drone “pilots” work. This is just the beginning. The ultimate goal is billboards outside of every base in America.

For Army Bases:
http://ocoathkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/ok-ndaa-billboard-normandy2.png?w=620&h=277

For Marine Bases:
http://ocoathkeepers.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/ok-ndaa-billboard-iwo-jima4.png?w=620&h=283

This article first appeared on OC Oathkeepers.wordpress.com.

[jct74]

wow, that seems like a great project :)

[libertariantexas]

A couple of points before everyone flies off the handle.

1. The Small Wars Journal is NOT a military or government journal. It's a private publication. In his "bio" at the end of the piece, he explicitly says these are his own OPINIONS and do not necessarily reflect the Army or the US government.

Just as an OPINIONS I offer on these boards as a retired military officer do not reflect those of the Army or the government.

2. Benson is NOT a soldier. He's RETIRED. He serves as a CIVILIAN instructor. His co-author for the article appears to have no military service. There is no evidence that any of this is ever taught to a single officer at the base.

3. The article is about putting down a future rebellion where an "extremist militia" "inspired by the Tea Party" violently takes over a town and takes hostages. However, when you get to the meat of the article, the fact that this was a right wing militia is irrelevant- he could just as easily have chosen a left-wing militia.

4. The article was just badly written and conceived from top to bottom, and was savaged by the readers of the Journal- both for it's political rhetoric and its military value.

Bottom line: The article was posted in a small, obscure journal and does not reflect the Army, nor is it likely being taught at Ft. Leavenworth. So my guess is that those signs, should they go up, will be met with a bunch of blank stares and a "WTF?"

[asurfaholic]

The message is clear... If someone blanks after reading that....

[donnay]

A couple of points before everyone flies off the handle.

1. The Small Wars Journal is NOT a military or government journal. It's a private publication. In his "bio" at the end of the piece, he explicitly says these are his own OPINIONS and do not necessarily reflect the Army or the US government.

Just as an OPINIONS I offer on these boards as a retired military officer do not reflect those of the Army or the government.

2. Benson is NOT a soldier. He's RETIRED. He serves as a CIVILIAN instructor. His co-author for the article appears to have no military service. There is no evidence that any of this is ever taught to a single officer at the base.

3. The article is about putting down a future rebellion where an "extremist militia" "inspired by the Tea Party" violently takes over a town and takes hostages. However, when you get to the meat of the article, the fact that this was a right wing militia is irrelevant- he could just as easily have chosen a left-wing militia.

4. The article was just badly written and conceived from top to bottom, and was savaged by the readers of the Journal- both for it's political rhetoric and its military value.

Bottom line: The article was posted in a small, obscure journal and does not reflect the Army, nor is it likely being taught at Ft. Leavenworth. So my guess is that those signs, should they go up, will be met with a bunch of blank stares and a "WTF?"


Doesn't matter how big or small the journal is, I thought our enemy was Al Qaeda? Oh no, they are our friends now, right? Benson co-authored this piece with Jennifer Weber, both are teachers at Universities. His opinion is to demonize Militias--nothing more. As I recall militias are Constitutional. The REAL standing army is the Law Enforcement in this country, but he didn't mention that in his propaganda.

Our founders warned us of standing armies!

“Keep within the requisite limits a standing military force, always remembering that an armed and trained militia is the firmest bulwark of republics - that without standing armies their liberty can never be in danger, nor with large ones safe” ~James Madison

“None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army” ~Thomas Jefferson



Excerpt of Full Spectrum Operations in the Homeland: A “Vision” of the Future:

Being not too badly wrong at the outset requires focused military education on the nuances of operations in the homeland. Army doctrine defines full spectrum operations as a mix of offense, defense and either stability or civil support operations. Curriculum development is a true zero sum game; when a subject is added another must be removed. Given the array of threats and adversaries; from “commando-style” raids such as Mumbai, the changing face of militias in the United States, rising unrest in Mexico, and the tendency to the extreme in American politics the subject of how American armed forces will conduct security and defense operations within the continental U.S. must be addressed in the curricula of our Staff and War Colleges. (The Kansas City Star, 12 September 2010, “The New Militia.” The front page story concerns the changing tactics of militia movements and how militias now focus on community service and away from violence against the government. Law enforcement agencies feel this is camouflage for true intentions. The story covered armed paramilitary militias in Missouri and Kansas.)

The Army must address the how to of intelligence/information gathering and sharing, liaison with local law enforcement and conduct of Information Operations in focused exercises, such as UNIFIED QUEST, given a wider range of invited participants. The real question of how to educate the Army on full spectrum operations under homeland security and defense conditions must be a part of an overall review of professional military education for the 21st century. We cannot discount the agility of an external threat, the evolution of Al Qaeda for example, and its ability to take advantage of a “Darlington event” within U.S. borders. How would we respond to this type of action? What if border violence from Mexico crosses into the United States? [You mean like Fast and Furious?--donnay] The pressure for action will be enormous and the expectation of professional, disciplined military action will be equally so given the faith the American people have in their armed forces. The simple fact is that while the Department of Justice is the Lead Federal Agency in these operations the public face of the operation will be uniformed American Soldiers. On a TV camera a civilian is a civilian but here is no mistaking the mottled battle dress of a Soldier with the U.S. flag on his or her right sleeve." [This is nothing more than a jab at Veterans in our country (Brandon J. Raub et al), who use their first amendment to speak critical of Military Industrial Complex--donnay]

Kevin Benson

Kevin Benson, Ph.D., Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired, is currently a seminar leader at the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy, an M.S. from The Catholic University of America, an MMAS from the School of Advanced Military Studies and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. During his career, COL Benson served with the 5th Infantry Division, the 1st Armored Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, XVIII Airborne Corps and Third U.S. Army. He also served as the Director, School of Advanced Military Studies. These are his own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army or Department of Defense.


Jennifer Weber

Jennifer Weber is an Associate Professor of History (Ph.D. Princeton, 2003) at the University of Kansas. Jennifer Weber specializes in the Civil War, especially the seams where political, social, and military history meet. She has active interests as well in Abraham Lincoln, the 19th century U.S., war and society, and the American presidency. Her first book, Copperheads (Oxford University Press, 2006), about the antiwar movement in the Civil War North, was widely reviewed and has become a highly regarded study of Civil War politics and society. Professor Weber is committed to reaching out to the general public and to young people in her work. Summer's Bloodiest Days (National Geographic), is a children's book about the Battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath. The National Council for Social Studies in 2011 named Bloodiest Days a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. Dr. Weber is very active in the field of Lincoln studies. She has spoken extensively around the country on Lincoln, politics, and other aspects of the Civil War.

Here it is:
Full Spectrum Operations in the Homeland: A “Vision” of the Future
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/full-spectrum-operations-in-the-homeland-a-%E2%80%9Cvision%E2%80%9D-of-the-future

In 2010, another 'hit piece' by the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights tried to equate militias with racism and antisemitism. They made sure to included Sheriff Richard Mack into the mix:

Richard Mack and Militia

Local groups affiliated with Tea Party Patriots that described themselves as militias included the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia, the Billy Hill Militia in Oklahoma, and the now-defunct North Coast Militia.[226] Other Tea Party Patriot-affiliated groups actively promoted militia formation. The Pocatello Tea Party, for example, promoted the “Ten Reasons Why We Need a State Militia.” Among the reasons given, “Cultural subversion, corruption, and dissolution,” (including “Pluralism” and “multiculturalism”), “invasion by illegal immigrants,” “Schemes aimed at overthrowing the Declaration of Independence,” and “a staggering burden of governmental financial liabilities.”[227] In Springfield, Missouri the 9-12 Tea Party group advised followers to join the SW Missouri militia.

Other signs of the militia impulse include the omnipresence of Richard Mack at Tea Party-related events--not just those of the Tea Party Patriots mentioned earlier.

A former Graham County, Arizona sheriff (1987-1997), Mack first became prominent in 1995, after he sued the federal government over enforcement of the Brady Bill. During the mid-1990s, he became a popular speaker on the militia circuit. Indeed, he spent so much time outside his own county, that he was defeated in a primary election in 1996 and lost his office. Mack wrote, or co-authored, two books during that period, arguing militia-style that, “proponents of the New World Order are entrenched and moving forward aggressively with their plan.” In Mack’s view, Satan is acting through conspiracies every day. And like other Christian nationalists, he wrote, “The court-imposed separation of church and state is a folly, a myth, a lie.” Further, in language reminiscent of segregationists in the 1950s and former Tea Party Express boss Mark Williams when he wrote about the NAACP: “The Reverend Jesse Jackson types and the NAACP have done more to enslave Afro-Americans than all the southern plantation owners put together.”[228]

In the current period as a member of Oath Keepers, Mack presents himself as a defender of the constitution, in terms similar to that he used in 1990s, and the supremacy of the county sheriff over all other law enforcement agencies. He is not talking at these Tea Party events about fiscal policy, taxes and the national debt. He is talking about “states’ rights.” Yet, he is one of the most popular speakers on the Tea Party circuit.

A coalition of Tea Party groups in four California towns, calling themselves the North Valley Patriots, sponsored an engagement with Mack in January 2010; he returned on July 10.[229] The Silver City-Grant County Tea Party Patriots sponsored Mack’s appearance in Silver City, New Mexico on March 1, 2010.[230] In Tyler, Texas on May 29, he spoke at event organized by the Tyler Tea Party and the East Texas Constitutional Alliance.[231] Among other Tea Party-related events this summer, Mack also visited Sarasota, Florida.[232]

http://www.irehr.org/the-report/tea-parties-racism-anti-semitism-and-the-militia-impulse


I would add that people should look at Constitutional scholar Edwin Vieira articles for some sanity:

"THE MILITIA OF THE SEVERAL STATES" GUARANTEE THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS
http://edwinvieira.com/edwin16.htm

[donnay]

BUMP

[tod evans]

I like it, just for the "in your face" value to the soldiers.

[donnay]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5gyrG8qDf0

[Indy Vidual]

This is worth donating to. :)

[donnay]

This is worth donating to. :)

Absolutely!!

[qh4dotcom]

The Oathkeepers aren't honoring their oath to defend the Constitution's natural born citizen requirements.

[donnay]

The Oathkeepers aren't honoring their oath to defend the Constitution's natural born citizen requirements.

I would imagine they have to pick and choose their fights. Right now, veterans are being demonized and attention needs to be placed there.

[NewRightLibertarian]

I would imagine they have to pick and choose their fights. Right now, veterans are being demonized and attention needs to be places there.

Yes, the 'birther' stuff should be ignored because of the heinous crimes the Obama administration is committing. It is better to focus on what cannot be denied rather than what can be dismissed as 'racism' or 'hearsay'

[QuickZ06]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5gyrG8qDf0

Is Kristen Meagan a member on here? She had a great interview, good segment as well.

[qh4dotcom]

Yes, the 'birther' stuff should be ignored because of the heinous crimes the Obama administration is committing. It is better to focus on what cannot be denied rather than what can be dismissed as 'racism' or 'hearsay'

Then stop calling yourself an oathkeeper then....the oathkeeper mission should be changed to "We honor our oath and defend the Constitution except for its natural born citizen requirements".

[donnay]

Is Kristen Meagan a member on here? She had a great interview, good segment as well.


I am not sure? I thought it was a great interview too!

[donnay]

Then stop calling yourself an oathkeeper then....the oathkeeper mission should be changed to "We honor our oath and defend the Constitution except for its natural born citizen requirements".


As I see it, the Oath Keepers have a lot on their plate. The government (and SPLC) attacking veterans is an issue that is right in everybody's face. This is something that can be proven to those people who run around with the yellow ribbons on their cars. It also shows these people, if you truly support the troops, then you must support them when our own government does wrong by them.

The Oath Keepers are a great bunch of people. Stewart Rhodes has proven to me, personally, this organization knows what is going on. One of the reasons he backs Sheriffs like Richard Mack. Because the reality is, the Sheriff's have more power than the president.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY148rPm0DQ&feature=player_embedded





"Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy."

SOURCE: Henry Kissinger, quoted in "Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW's in Vietnam"

[Kelly.]

i would suggest a billboard of this sort in Colorado Springs, CO.
There are 5 military bases in that town (NORAD, Ft Carson, Peterson AFB, Schriever AFB, and the AF academy) and this message would be great there.

i always ask people what the military is supporting and defending, and i generally get blank stares...

[susano]

A couple of points before everyone flies off the handle.

1. The Small Wars Journal is NOT a military or government journal. It's a private publication. In his "bio" at the end of the piece, he explicitly says these are his own OPINIONS and do not necessarily reflect the Army or the US government.

Just as an OPINIONS I offer on these boards as a retired military officer do not reflect those of the Army or the government.

2. Benson is NOT a soldier. He's RETIRED. He serves as a CIVILIAN instructor. His co-author for the article appears to have no military service. There is no evidence that any of this is ever taught to a single officer at the base.

3. The article is about putting down a future rebellion where an "extremist militia" "inspired by the Tea Party" violently takes over a town and takes hostages. However, when you get to the meat of the article, the fact that this was a right wing militia is irrelevant- he could just as easily have chosen a left-wing militia.

4. The article was just badly written and conceived from top to bottom, and was savaged by the readers of the Journal- both for it's political rhetoric and its military value.

Bottom line: The article was posted in a small, obscure journal and does not reflect the Army, nor is it likely being taught at Ft. Leavenworth. So my guess is that those signs, should they go up, will be met with a bunch of blank stares and a "WTF?"


A retired U.S. Army colonel who now teaches modern warfare to soldiers at the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kan...

http://patriotsforamerica.ning.com/forum/topics/army-colonel-ignites-firestorm-with-article-on-crushing-a-tea?commentId=2734278%3AComment%3A392458&xg_source=activity


He is teaching his students, at Leavenworth, to hate and prepare to murder Americans. I don't give a shit if he's retired or in the private sector or whatever. The Southern Poverty Law Center, an anti American hate organization, is also private sector but deeply entrenched with Homeland Security and responsible for the MIAC report, which also was another anti American hate document. In government employ or private sector does not matter. It's influence and relationships that do and this retired Col is brainwashing those in his sphere of influence to kill Americans.

[susano]

wow, that seems like a great project :)

Indeed. Better to send Oathkeepers some money for billboards than waste one more penny in a money bomb to pay Jesse Benton's salary.

[Pericles]

The Oathkeepers aren't honoring their oath to defend the Constitution's natural born citizen requirements.

Didn't know that it was the regular Army's job to check out candidates elgibility for the office of President.