Email from Heather S. of the Modern Whig Party sent to [email protected]. Posted to IPR by Paulie.
I just learned that Adam Kokesh, a leader in the anti-war movement and outspoken Libertarian, is considering a run for Congress in New Mexico. The Web site is www.draftkokesh.com. Also, for those who accuse the Whigs of being militant, I should add that the Modern Whig chairman was the lawyer who successfully represented Kokesh during his military trial and other issues. The chairman also represents countless other anti-war leaders and members. Saying that, Kokesh is an ardent Libertarian and there is no political connection between the two other than their personal relationship as stated above.
“About Adam Kokesh” from the Draft Kokesh website:
Adam Charles Kokesh was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and a veteran of the Iraq War. Upon return he became an anti-U.S. occupation of Iraq activist and the Marine Corps tried to effectively downgrade his original honorable discharge in response. Ultimately, the Marine Corps failed to secure the “other than honorable” discharge that was sought, with a military tribunal instead ruling that Kokesh was to receive a general discharge (under honorable conditions.)
Here is Adam’s own words for his position, from a recent note on Facebook:
A message I received via YouTube:
Hello, I am not for nor against your beliefs..I respect everyone’s, and every Marine’s opinion. I was just curious, and if you don’t want to answer I understand, but what event and such caused you to become “anti-war” (please don’t take that the wrong way)? I’m not saying that I necessarily agree or disagree with the conflict in Iraq, but I volunteered to serve in the USMC and understood that it meant I could go to war and fight and possibly die, I never questioned it…But I don’t know, I guess what I’m looking for is another prospective from someone who did. Again, I understand if you don’t want to discuss it. Thank you for at least taking the time to read this and for volunteering for my beloved Corps. Semper Fidelis.
In response:
There was no one particular event and there was no regret for me in facing the hardships of war. I never questioned my duty, but I have since questioned the morality and Constitutionality of the war in Iraq. Remember, we swore an oath to the Constitution first, and obeying unconstitutional orders is contrary to that oath. Then there was Ronald Reagan, who said that resorting to war was essentially a sign of weakness. “Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.”
My disillusionment about Iraq in particular began as a slow process with the “handover of power” on June 28th, 2004, when I was in Fallujah. There was no such handover, and there was no expected draw-down when I left. When the reality failed to meet the rhetoric, I started questioning.
Then there was the sinking feeling in my stomach when I realized (and was emotionally ready to accept) that we had been lied to. It didn’t help when Allen Greenspan finally admitted, “the war was largely about oil,” but it did help me to stop doubting myself.
We should all, as human beings, be “anti-war.” What is war but the widespread, systematic destruction of human bodies by machinery? Who could be for that? Only those who are missing a part of their humanity. Sometimes the experience of war or the bloodlust of the military can take that away, but it is always ours to reclaim.
I am against this war because it is bad for America. It is bad for our security, it is bad for our military, it is bad for our economy, it is bad for our reputation abroad, and it is bad for our brothers and sisters who continue to loose their lives for lies. I am against war because I am a human being. I believe in the right to self-defense, and even collective self defense, but we should never take joy in even the most righteous acts of causing pain and suffering for fellow human beings.
Semper fidelis,
Adam
Kokesh enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1999 during his junior year at the Native American Preparatory School in Rowe, New Mexico as part of the Delayed Entry Program. He was originally assigned to November Battery, 5th Battalion, 14th Regiment of the 4th Division. In 2004, he volunteered for deployment to Iraq as part of the 1st Regiment Detachment of the 3rd Civil Affairs Group and served in Fallujah from February to September 2004, where he was engaged in several firefights. Kokesh was promoted to Sergeant shortly after arriving in Iraq, but was demoted to Corporal immediately before being discharged in late 2006 for bringing a pistol he purchased in Iraq back to the United States. After returning from Iraq, Kokesh resumed his studies and completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Claremont McKenna College. In February 2007. He enrolled in graduate studies in political management at George Washington University.
Kokesh first came to national attention after he was interviewed on CNN and his photograph appeared in newspapers throughout the country, including the front page of the Los Angeles Times at a protest during Alberto Gonzalez’s testimony to Congress regarding the dismissal of U.S. attorneys. Kokesh, wearing his Marine Corps Boonie hat, held up a large sign counting the number of times Gonzalez said “I don’t remember” or “I don’t recall” (Kokesh claimed Gonzalez used such phrases 74 times).
On September 2, 2008, Kokesh spoke at Rep. Ron Paul’s Rally for the Republic in St. Paul, MN, where he stated: “While it is our responsibility now to resist tyranny civilly, while we still can, there may come a time when we will say to the powers that be, be it with your blood or ours we have come to water the tree of liberty … who will stand with me?”
On September 4, 2008, Kokesh interrupted Sen. John McCain’s speech accepting the GOP nomination for President. Holding a sign reading “McCain Votes Against Vets” on one side and “You can’t win an occupation” on the other,[14] Kokesh yelled, “Ask him why he votes against vets!” A member of the audience grabbed the sign and tore it in two. Kokesh was released shortly after being detained by local police.[15]
In April 2009, Adam Kokesh supporters put a draft website up to encourage him to run for U.S. Congress representing New Mexico.
This effort set in motion by Matt Colvin
mattcolvin {AT} gmail {DOT} com
and supported by Michael Maresco
uny4rp {at} gmail {dot} com
It appears that Mr. Kokesh has officially declared his candidacy for congress, according to his website: http://kokeshforcongress.com/
So what party will you be with if you decide to run for congress?
I’m currently volunteering for the Kokesh for Congress, Exploratory Committee. I am trying to get a list of bloggers interested in Adam’s run for congress so future blog release can be sent directly to you. Please email your contact information to [email protected] if you would like to be included on this list.
Thank you for your work!
Aloha,
I have been helping get the website together and help promote this effort. While any decision on party is up to Adam, the idea is to get him to run as small “L” GOP. “PEAC” is the guys behind most of the “Draft” movements, and I did get them to help with the website, but this effort was begun by Matt Colvin (the USAF airman who sang the national anthem at Ron Paul’s Rally for the Republic).
Deb Medina is a separate organization and she has filed for the Governors race. If you don’t know of her, watch her speech @ the TX-GOP convention: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ZC26KGb5I
Please show your support for all r3VOLution candidates, as we move the process forward towards 2010.
http://www.draftkokesh.com
Mahalo
m
I believe Medina has actually filed some paperwork. I wish she was going for the US Senate instead of Governor, but I will support her campaign either way.
If just one of the above-listed potential candidates runs and gets a chance to debate on television, I will be very pleased.
Thanks!
Paulie,
http://runmedina.com/
All these sound familiar except Debra Medina.
Eternaverse:
That is probably because the same guys in Southern California made all of the first three. Hostettler, Kokesh, and even Debra Medina’s draft movements all came later, in part inspired by the earlier well-organized efforts still underway.
But we need to have these guys really decide if they will run soon. My predictions on who will run of the draftees:
Schiff- wildcard, but lean no
Rand Paul- no
Andrew Napolitano- lean no
Hostletter- wildcard, with slight lean yes
Medina- probably yes
Kokesh- lean yes
There seems to be a lot of draft movements to get anti-war conservative/ libertarian people to run for congress, Peter Schiff (Connecticut), Rand Paul (Kentucky), Andrew Napolitano (New Jersey), John Hostettler (Indiana) and now Adam Kokesh (New Mexico). I’m sure there’s more on top of those.
If he were to run, I wish him luck.
Doh … posted in the wrong tab! Sorry about that!
Tom Knapp
Tom,
Looks like this is in the wrong thread
You probably meant –
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/bob-barr-somali-pirates-%e2%80%94-you-lose/
The anarchist analysis of this is simple: Since states shouldn’t exist, states should possess neither the prerogative of requiring merchant ships to go unarmed nor the responsibility to protect merchant ships from piracy.
Since numerous states do exist, are going to continue to exist for the foreseeable future, and have an interest in not having commerce impeded by piracy, it seems that there should be some kind of rational policy, though.
A good start would be an international treaty:
1) Recognizing the right of ship operators to arm their vessels/crews and requiring signatory nations to at a minimum allow otherwise legitimate armed merchant vessels into their waters/ports with the weaponry cased — small arms secured in an armory with the exception of the armory guard and the firing mechanisms of crew-served weapons inspected/locked/disabled by a port official upon entry, for example.
2) Requiring the naval vessels of signatory powers to act as deputized (to the Hague / International Criminal Court, perhaps?) responders to distress calls from instant victims of piracy.
Of course, such a treaty would probably have to deal with instance of government piracy, which would probably break down negotiations (I recall at least one incident, in 1990 I think, when the US Navy went pirate).
Thanks guys!
I didn’t know it was Kokesh holding those signs at the GOP convention. I loved the “You can’t win an occupation” one.
HS,
little L libertarians are those that subscribe to libertarian values and the libertarian political system, but it has no bearing on what party you are a member of. A “libertarian” can be a member of any party, while a “Libertarian” is a member of the “Libertarian Party”.
Do you have a link to educate me on this?
Very simply, big L refers to the Libertarian Party; small l refers to the many people who hold libertarian views, most of whom do not belong to the Libertarian Party – some vote for Libertarians but not join, some don’t vote at all out of principles, others join bigger parties to create libertarian caucuses within them, etc.
Paulie,
You are correct that I am unfamiliar with the difference between big “L” and little “l.”
Do you have a link to educate me on this?
In regard to Kokesh, Erik Geib seems correct. I thought this tip was relevant because of his many links and references to the Libertarian Party. from his blog.
Thanks!
Hopefully, Barr did not sour him on the rest of the LP.
Kokesh is a hardcore Ron Paul-er who has spoken to the Libertarian Party and originally supported Barr after Paul fizzled, but hated Barr’s snub of Paul and dropped his endorsement.
http://blogofbile.com/2009/01/18/adam-kokesh-speaking-at-the-2009-manhattan-libertarian-party-convention/
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/61207
I didn’t see anything on the website which indicated one way or the other.
Heather’s message calls him a big-L Libertarian, but I’m not sure whether Heather knows the difference between big L and small l libertarians.
With which party would he run?