Unravelled - Credible Story Behind the proposed medal for “courageous restraint”

A final decision has not been made on the controversial award, proposed by British Maj. Gen. Nick Carter1.

However, Professor Jeffrey F. Addicott2, Director of the Center for Terrorism Law at St. Mary's University School of Law, said, “The implication of this award is that we do not engage in war fighting that is appropriate. They're sending a chilling message to our troops that we are not complying with the law of armed conflict. It's a propaganda victory for our enemies."

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What is going on here? In M.E.'s opinion, the medal concept is the Obama admiistration's first attempt to win a propaganda victory, not for our enemies so much as or our JAGs (military lawyers). Lawyers (Supreme Court) oversee our Bill of Rights, but have neither the rank nor similar final authority in our military.

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How can Obama fix that? Done/Predicted

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Phase One was coaxing our British ally to appoint a credible spokeperson to identify the need for another medal in the first place. This would have been done through back channels, of course, so the public not know about it.

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Phase Two was the recent hoisting of the medal concept up the domestic flagpole to see what kinds of initial public reactions would result. As expected, not very popular with many troops who actually engage in combat operations.

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Phase Three simply allows the concept to create news occasionally over the next few months, or so, in order for everyone to remember it is still alive. This is easy, every 3 -6 weeks someone else will testify about it at a congressional committee hearing. Expect more lawyers, a few women who have been wounded in combat, and perhaps relatives of deceased servicemen, who could have fired but did not.

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Phase Four [sometime after the 2010 congressional elections in which Dems retain a majority of seats] final details will emerge: name of the distinguished medal, illustrative description; provisions for award of subsequent stars; and, specific qualifications. [All of this may have been done by the time this writing]. The medal will signify the idea of courageous restraint, but may be awarded only to members of the JAG corps in instances where they directed U.S. forces to withhold fire (e.g. predator missile attacks) and it could later be established that their decision saved significant civilians (in number or station) from harm by the U.S.

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Phase Five After the backlog of hundreds of the medals has been awarded to active and discharged JAGs, publicized in the media, and digested by skeptics, public mood will swing inevitably toward similar awards for ordinary troops. A plainer version of the JAG medal will suddenly be ready. Was Prof. Addicott corect about "a propaganda victory for our enemies"?

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Submarines are always silent and strange.

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Notes:

1 - Member of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1995, an Officer in 2000 and a Commander in 2003.

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2 - Professor Addicott spent 5 of his 20-year JAG career as a senior legal advisor to the U. S. Army's Special Forces.