posted the following that is from someone I think is still on active duty. Therefore, his military knowledge is current and important. I’m posting it because I’m not sure he will.

Now here's how I know the went-to-lunch-and-left-the-computer-on scenario isn't plausible - in order to access the military's email system, you have to insert your ID card into a smartcard reader and enter your PIN. If you remove the ID from the smartcard reader, the system automatically locks the computer. In order to believe that the email was sent by someone without Boylan's knowledge, I'd have to believe that a senior officer in a combat zone walked away from his computer without returning his ID card to the armband holder where it belongs - in an environment where he probably can't walk to the latrine without someone noticing that his ID card isn't visible.

Boylan is a liar and a disgrace to the uniform. His conduct would, in any other administration, have resulted in an abrupt termination of his career. In this case, I might be tempted to forecast a promotion in his future, but as a PAO, there's really no where else for him to go.

HawkDriver

The "COL." before his name is a dead giveaway that he is military.

thanks, Captain Obvious!

This combined with the fact that his job description names him General Surge's spokesman means that he is... wait for it... a military spokesman. The entire point is that he IS disciplined and his discipline IS propaganda.

My point - which you assiduously and most determinedly chose to miss - is that Col. Boylan's behavior in this matter is entirely unprofessional. It would be entirely unprofessional if he were a civilian practicing public relations; even more so since he is a military officer.

Seems Retired Military guy got the point, and I suspect everyone else but you did as well. By all means, though, don't allow me to dissuade you from arguing with strawmen. It's your right to make a fool of yourself.

If by THIS IS NOT NEWS! you mean this is not the pre-digested, all spin and slants in place, fit for a 4th grade reading level pap you find in your local news paper, you're correct. This more closely approximates real-time investigative reporting as you might find in David Halberstam's notebook were David still alive.

Glen:

Should we also be wriiting our Congressional reps about this? I mean, Boylan's letter is a classic example of the politicization of the military. And supposedly our civilian government still controls the military. They certainly control the military's purse-strings. So why not write to our Representatives and Senators, give 'em the link and say that as taxpayers, we find Boylan's kind of unprofessional, bullying behavior disturbing and way-out-of-line for the military.

And while we're at it, send a similar e-mail to any of our reps who are members of the Armed Services committee----here's the list: http://armedservices.house.gov/list_of_members.shtml.

Here's the link to the Senate Armed Services Committee---http://armed-services.senate.gov/members.htm

for bringing that message forward.

HawdDriver gives me hope for our military.

a tool (and he does sound like a real tool, doesn't he?) of this administration bullies and lies to a member of the press, then lies about it... where's the news? this has been their MO since the campaign in 2000.

You don't think evidence of politicization of the military should be news? You don't think evidence of military intimidation of domestic informational organizations should be news?

Yes, this is the administration's MO and it needs to become news every time it happens or you will soon be living in a country where people like Glenn are "disappeared". Perhaps then the news will be more to your liking.

In other discussions I've had with HawkDriver, he has not supported our views. I also don't appreciate his views on PAOs. It is typical of ops types who think because they fly jets that they are superior and those who give them support are somehow secondary and much less important. Just because my eyes were bad and I got airsick very easily and never wanted to be a pilot did not make me less important. I respected the difficult job pilots do and deserved like respect. Just ask some generals whose asses I saved or got promoted through the visibility I gave them if my job was important or not.

That's why I am so disgusted with Col. Boylan. Look at the damage a misguided PAO can do when he dishonors his nation after being placed in such an important position.

...Col. Boylan at once realized that the demand, contained in email X, that e-mail X be kept private, had been broken. Col. Boylan asserts that he knew that this demand had been in e-mail X, even though he also asserts that it is not necessarily the case that he had sent e-mail X nor known of its existence, and therefore Col. Boylan has expressed what he believes to be justiied contempt at your alleged breach of good faith with the unknown party who sent e-mail X.

"I wasn't there at the party." "Even if I was there, I wasn't in the room." "Even if I was in the room, I didn't have the gun." "Even if I did have the gun, I didn't know it was loaded." "Even if I knew it was loaded, I didn't point it at him." "Even if I pointed it at him, I didn't pull the trigger....."

Even though your facts are all wrong, even if some of them were right, it would be a "lawyerly", inconsistent, defence. Note, BTW, that Boylan hasn't repudiated anything said in the e-mails. Nor do you. If I were you, I'd take this as a numero uno example of the perils of drinking too much while stoopid.... Glad to set that straight for you; no charge.

Cheers,

You might be confusing 'Hawkdriver' with the POS known as 'Hornetdriver'. The latter being a sleazoid crackpot.

This 'Hawkdriver' handle is not familiar to me.