Wake up and smell the coffee -- guys!! It's all right there in front of you!!
Statisticians front and center! What do we think about this? This guy is goint to get screwed big time for telling the truth and speaking his mind. But no such thing will happen to us here -- if we -- SOUND OFF! -------------------- Wednesday, June 5, 2002 (SF Chronicle) Bush critic suspended by military/Officer's letter printed Ryan Kim, Chronicle Staff Writer An Air Force officer who accused President Bush of having prior knowledge about Sept. 11 and using the attacks for political gain has been suspended from the Monterey Defense Language Institute and could face court-martial. Lt. Col. Steve Butler, vice chancellor for student affairs at the institute, was suspended on May 29 pending an investigation into a letter he wrote that was published in the Monterey County Herald on May 26, military sources said. In the letter, Butler called Bush a "joke" and said the president is using the war on terrorism to muster political support. "Of course Bush knew about the impending attacks on America," Butler wrote. "He did nothing to warn the American people because he needed this war on terrorism. His daddy had Saddam and he needed Osama. . . . His presidency was going nowhere." ". . . What is sleazy and contemptible is the president of the United States not telling the American people what he knows for political gain," Butler wrote. Citing military regulations prohibiting officials from commenting on ongoing investigations, Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Art Haubold would not tie Butler's letter to his suspension. "Butler has been administratively suspended from his position because of an ongoing investigation," said Haubold. But other military sources said Butler was suspended for his remarks. Butler remains stationed at the institute on paid leave, said Haubold. Haubold said the investigation will be conducted by local commanders at the language institute. Butler, a 24-year veteran of the armed forces, served as a bomber navigator in Desert Storm. He declined to comment Tuesday. "My lawyer has advised me to not make any comments," he said. Military sources said Butler was suspended under Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which prohibits any commissioned officer from using contemptuous words against the president, the vice president, other prominent government officials or Congress. The maximum punishment under Article 88 is dismissal, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for one year. The only known court-martial under Article 88 occurred in 1965, when 2nd Lt. Henry Howe was convicted of contemptuous words against President Lyndon Johnson. He had participated in an off-base anti-war protest in El Paso, Texas, where he carried signs characterizing President Johnson as "petty," "ignorant" and "fascist." E-mail Ryan Kim at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002 SF Chronicle . . ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list, remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES, and archives are available at: . http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ . =================================================================
