r/politics • u/Sgt_Gram • 12h ago
No Paywall Air Force Major Arrested for Protesting Trump Could Face Court-Martial Over 'Contemptuous' Words
https://www.military.com/air-force-major-arrested-for-protesting-trump-could-face-court-martial-over-contemptuous-remarks325
u/nopointers California 12h ago
He knew it would happen when he did it, and did it anyway. Maj. Jason Watson is a credit to his country. No matter what a military court says, history will vindicate him.
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u/DistanceToEmpty 11h ago
Americans should be emulating his example. Sometimes freedom comes at a cost.
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u/DukeOfGeek 7h ago
And I feel he knew this was coming and is counting on us to make it a moment to make a difference.
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u/ImSomeRandomRedditor Canada 7h ago
He pretty much said as much, "He stated that he acted knowing he would face severe personal and legal consequences, emphasizing that meaningful change requires sacrifice" that "to demonstrate that ordinary citizens can take action against government wrongdoing" and wants it to be an example of the type of thing people need to be willing to do.
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u/Defiant_Wolf5934 9h ago
The next Democrat President should pardon him and get him back into the Air Force with backpay and full rank restored.
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u/Snowman330 8h ago
Not only should his rank be restored, he should be promoted while the cowards that fail to uphold their oath to defend the constitution should be phased out.
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u/TellTaleTimeLord Indiana 10h ago
Its also crazy to me how any court allows the military, the people who are supposedly defending the constitution, to have essentially the least amount of constitutional rights
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u/nopointers California 8h ago
While true, I've also heard a podcast with an ex-JAG lawyer walking through Maj. Waton's precise words compared with precise wording of UCMJ. His care in choosing his words is why there was no finding of "probable cause" at his initial hearing. The reason is he assiduously avoided political commentary and spoke only to the constitution. The military went forward with prosecution anyway, for obviously political reasons. He might yet embarrass them in court.
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u/supremelypedestrian 3h ago
I hadn't heard this detail yet. Fascinating. Any chance you remember what podcast it was?
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u/Silentone89 New York 6h ago
The simplest answer is that the military is meant to be apolitical as much as possible. It can get messy if the military (individual or as a whole) can be political and voice for or against certsin policies.
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u/PopBulky7023 3h ago
History will also not vindicate us for failing to vindicate and stand with him now.
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u/Starscream147 Canada 9h ago
You know…
The next Ken Burns style doc filmmaker will have a god damn field day with this chapter.
If folks haven’t realized already, it’s really really bad. Historically bad.
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u/JakeConhale New Hampshire 6h ago
What makes you think people haven't noticed?
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u/PopBulky7023 3h ago
They haven't. We don't protest like france and we still think status quo centrists are a viable defense.
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u/JakeConhale New Hampshire 3h ago
We had protests, seemed like everyone derided them as "performative" and "useless". I frankly think we needed more of them.
As it is, everyone's relying on the midterm elections.
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u/PopBulky7023 2h ago
If you think we had real protests I encourage you to take another look at France the past few years. Or turkey. Or Serbia.
Or how Hungary dealt with this. A few, one off, well behaved protests a year do not move fascists.
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u/PopBulky7023 2h ago
If you think we had real protests I encourage you to take another look at France the past few years. Or turkey. Or Serbia.
Or how Hungary dealt with this. A few, one off, well behaved protests a year do not move fascists.
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u/JakeConhale New Hampshire 2h ago
Perhaps, but working to build momentum. Bring people together who can help coordinate actions. Demonstrate community to help reinforce the individual's confidence - it's a lot different being one person out there holding an anti-Trump sign as opposed to being in a group of twenty.
I admit, I fail to see how protests here in NH about things happening in LA, for example, are expected to be effective considering the separate state governments (why would Louisiana care about New Hampshire citizens?), but Lord knows I'm going to stand up and be counted. I'm good with computers, not people.
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u/USDXBS 11h ago
How is he a credit to his country?
He joined a military of mass murdering oath breaking war criminals.
He is loyally serving in a pedophile traitors military.
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u/FatSteveWasted9 California 9h ago
Angsty trolls are my favorite. You get ‘em squirt!
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u/USDXBS 11h ago
He's... still in the military.
If you disagree with the military, you leave.
He was loyal to Trump all these years.
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u/ExZowieAgent Texas 11h ago
You can’t just quit the military. You are bound to serve for a certain amount of time after you join.
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u/USDXBS 11h ago
Why not? What would they do to you that is worse than being an oath breaking war criminal traitor loyal to a mass murdering genocidal pedophile felon traitor?
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u/calguy1955 11h ago
I get the feeling you’re not a veteran.
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u/USDXBS 11h ago
Fuck no. Every single member of the US military, veterans included, is a soulless, evil traitor.
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u/sowich4 10h ago
This tops one of the most ignorant posts I’ve seen on Reddit this year.
No service member takes an oath to support and defend the president, they take an oath to support and defend the constitution.
I’m sure you’ll claim you know that already, but please tell me more about how veterans are soulless evil traitors?
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u/USDXBS 10h ago
So... why aren't they supporting and defending the constitution from domestic enemies?
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u/LWulsin 10h ago
This Major is doing just that and you’re shitting all over him and calling him a traitor for it lmao.
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u/USDXBS 10h ago
How is he defending the constitution?
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u/LWulsin 4h ago
By speaking out and telling his fellow soldiers not to follow illegal orders? What do you want him to do, go shoot someone? You can’t be this dense…. Troll better. And if you’re not a troll, go get a reality check.
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u/Minimum-Web-6902 10h ago
You should say this next time you meet a military member or veteran, really push the issue to us.
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u/sowich4 10h ago
I agree, him and I should meet so he can say it to my face.
I’ll bring some of vet buddies so he can tell them too.
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u/USDXBS 10h ago
Every single member of the US military, veterans included, is a spineless, honorless, oath breaking war criminal coward traitors who have betrayed their country for pedophiles.
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u/WhiskeyJack357 Wisconsin 10h ago
Say it to their face. Not to your fucking keyboard. It's easy to be brave and ignorant on an anonymous platform. The fact that you admit you don't believe in your own ideas enough to stand by them publicly and be held accountable for them proves why you're unable to understand what service to ones country actually means.
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u/USDXBS 9h ago
Why? Will they try to attack me because I hurt their feelings?
Sounds like something a bunch of piece of shit psychopaths would do.
service to ones country actually means.
Service to the country? You mean service to pedophiles, human traffickers and billionaires?
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u/johnny_johnny_johnny 6h ago
You can't just leave, that's not how it works. He has been in the military for ~20 years and was just about to be able to retire, and he still spoke out.
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u/FlexFanatic 11h ago
And people better line up and fund a GoFundMe page if it launches for this guy.
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u/Negative_Gravitas 12h ago
Upholding your oath to the Constitution? That's a floggin'.
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u/USDXBS 11h ago
How did he uphold his oath?
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u/Dry-Dragonfly5286 11h ago
He spoke up to protect and defend the constitution against domestic enemies
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u/USDXBS 11h ago
How did he defend the constitution?
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u/WhiskeyJack357 Wisconsin 10h ago
By telling other soldiers not to follow illegal orders and remember their oath to the constitution. You have to try to be this obtuse.
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u/USDXBS 9h ago
He didn't defend anything.
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u/WhiskeyJack357 Wisconsin 9h ago
Yes he did! You being ignorant and angry doesn't devalue what he did. Seriously, you're not making any sense.
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u/USDXBS 9h ago
Explain.
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u/WhiskeyJack357 Wisconsin 9h ago
Explain what?! You have the indefensible opinion and you're the one not making any sense.
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u/WhatTheBeansIsLife Texas 9h ago
More than you’ve ever done surely.
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u/USDXBS 9h ago
I've never committed war crimes, assisted war crimes or betrayed my country for pedophiles.
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u/JakeConhale New Hampshire 6h ago
Are you asserting Major Jason Watson did do such things? If so, when?
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u/WhiskeyJack357 Wisconsin 1h ago
You see, by telling people not to betray their country for pedophiles, he totally betrayed his country for pedophiles. How does that not make sense to you? /s
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u/Negative_Gravitas 8h ago
I guarantee that you don't actually care about a response to this. And you definitely, definitely don't understand the oath of service.
Get out of here with this unbelievably weak shit.
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u/USDXBS 8h ago
Explain the "domestic enemy" part and why Trump/ICE don't apply.
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u/Negative_Gravitas 8h ago
Holy shit. Don't you mean "explain why Trump/Ice do apply"?
Jesus Christ even your questions are unbelievably fucking stupid.
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u/USDXBS 8h ago
"don't apply to it"
I noticed you won't answer.
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u/Negative_Gravitas 7h ago
I don't generally reply to people who aren't smart enough to understand their own question. So consider yourself honored at this point. Goodbye
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u/AbrumVonAbrak 12h ago
It'll be interesting to see how much of our armed forces get culled for not being loyal enough to the big dumb mooselini.
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u/MenagerieAlfred 12h ago
What do you mean, they’re already doing it.
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u/AbrumVonAbrak 11h ago
I meant in total. It's pretty obvious they've just begun.
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u/GaimeGuy Minnesota 10h ago
dude.
hundreds of thousands of federal employees have lost their jobs, and the ones who remain are being psychologically abused.
spend some time on the fednews sub
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u/BigPlunk 10h ago
If every American citizen who opposes this corrupt, authoritarian, incompetent regime acted with the same boldness and courage of this man to fight for democracy, rule of law, and decency, your country would look like a much different place.
For those who say, “What can we do outside of voting?”, look at this man’s bravery and willingness to sacrifice his freedom and liberty to stand against this vile government you have in place, and do something that will make him feel like his sacrifice was worth it.
Progress rarely occurs without sacrifice. This man knows it. “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything” also comes to mind right now.
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u/SanDiegoDude California 7h ago
He knew what he was in for when he did it. This is the UCMJ and it does not fuck around for officer insubordination. Balls of fucking steel, I salute you sir, you do not deserve the punishment you knowingly signed up for when you protested. I hope when sanity someday takes reign again you receive a pardon.
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u/Ok-disaster2022 11h ago
And he'll get pardoned by the next president.
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u/Maritimer4ever 8h ago
As a veteran (Canadian) I respect this man for standing up for what is right. Anyone in the forces should remember that one doesn’t obey illegal orders.
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u/DoesntMatterBrian Texas 11h ago
This is unfortunately legal. Members of the military cannot speak out against senior leadership. That's just the reality.
But yes, he's right, Trump should be impeached.
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u/doublethink_1984 11h ago
It's the juxtaposition that highlights everything here.
A member of the military is getting in trouble for speaking out.
The substance of what he is speaking out about are horrible crimes and illegalities resulting in murder and evil.
He gets in trouble while those who work forces face 0 accountability or repercussions.
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u/NelsonHawkinsGhost 5h ago
Did we forget history? That's what we do.
John Kiriakou, Chelsea Manning, Ian Fishback, Scott Ritter, Jason Amerine, Franz Gayl... whistleblowers expose imperial crimes, and the empire punishes them while protecting the architects. The architects of the torture program, the Abu Ghraib cover up, the Iraq War lies faced no consequences... Kiriakou went to prison for confirming what everyone already knew. Manning went to prison for showing what everyone refused to look at. Fishback died alone. Darby spent his service in hiding..
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u/contrabardus 7h ago
Protesting in uniform while active duty is also a big no-no.
Wouldn't surprise me if that's what he ends up actually getting charged with.
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u/PopBulky7023 3h ago
This is what a nation in revolt and resistance really looks like, though. This is why France succeeds and we do not. This major is a hero and a patriot. And we should not care what the law says. Our failure is that nobody will really have their back, there will be no protests for them, and other people see that and realize they will stand alone.
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u/nopointers California 8h ago
Maj. Watson and his lawyers are arguing that his statements were matters of public concern rather than against senior leadership. That's fair game for an officer under UCMG. We'll see how it plays out.
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u/espinaustin 10h ago
First Amendment says “no law” abridging freedom of speech, does it not?
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u/DoesntMatterBrian Texas 10h ago
Service members do not receive full benefit of the rights granted in the Constitution.
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u/espinaustin 10h ago
Says who? That’s a bunch a supreme court bullshit you’ve swallowed.
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u/DoesntMatterBrian Texas 10h ago
Well, you got the source right. Parker v Levy, the Court held that the military regulation of speech is constitutionally valid given its role as a “specialized society from civilian society.”
I think it’s bullshit, and I especially thought it was bullshit when I found out about it while in the military (shockingly, the recruiters don’t advertise this!). But that’s the law.
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u/Dry-Dragonfly5286 11h ago
The most heroic and patriotic act any service member could perform these days.
Aaron Bushnell notwithstanding
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u/Cheryl1857 2h ago
He has my utmost respect. He has shown true strength in standing up to the biggest threat our country has faced
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u/USDXBS 11h ago
Doesn't absolve him of being an oath breaking war criminal
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u/FatSteveWasted9 California 9h ago
Everyone clock that? That unimpeachable virtue put on display by r/USDXBS?
That is how it’s done folks!
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u/USDXBS 9h ago
Yes. I am better than war criminals.
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u/FatSteveWasted9 California 9h ago
Explain how he’s a war criminal.
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u/USDXBS 9h ago
The US military are war criminals
If you join a military of war criminals, you are also a criminal
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u/FatSteveWasted9 California 9h ago
What specific actions make him a war criminal?
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u/USDXBS 9h ago
The US military are war criminals
If you join a military of war criminals, you are also a criminal
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u/FatSteveWasted9 California 5h ago
So no actual reason other than he joined. Got it
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u/USDXBS 5h ago
yes
the same way if someone joined the Russians military
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u/AceChipEater 2h ago
Have fun with having no military. Suddenly all of your problems won’t just be domestic.
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u/Lappora 7h ago
If you don’t like rules, you shouldn’t join the Air Force.
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u/ImSomeRandomRedditor Canada 6h ago edited 6h ago
He liked the rules just fine. He did this knowing he would face court-martial.
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