So did the ATF ...

Cut the Defense Budget BIG TIME !!!!!!!

$ 800 for a fuc%^& Flash Light ??????????? All the thefts were not committed by the solders . Who in congress or the Joint Chiefs sighed off on $800 flash lights ??? OK The boys got caught and should do prison time and get a D.H. after completion of prison time .

Problem is they are only small potatoes , compared to what the Military Budget Steals from the tax payer each and every year.

Geez, I am a 100% supporter of our troops and have been since I did a stint in the Kosovar refugee camps in Albania. After seeing photos of soldiers peeing on corpses, holding up body parts, border patrol corruption and now stealing....It is sure getting harder and harder. What happened to honor? Seriously.

"A Few Good Bad Men"

This is nothing short of Treason...

If you knew that the US has relationships w/ China and other "Frenemies" that enables them to have access to our most sensitive armaments, you may wish to include those in the Pentagon in your conclusion. They have sold Deadly Weapons to nearly anyone that has the money to support the efforts of our Military Contractors for decades. Our Muslim Oil Partners come to mind.

War is most often conducted to ensure/insure Oil and other valuable resources reach those with the biggest pots. China, GB, France come to mind. You do realize that the two Iraq War, the Second in which we sacrificed the thousands of Troops and Trillions of $$$$, resulted in China, Russia, Britain, France, for example of the Majors, receiving the most Iraq oil field contracts, though Exxon Mobil certainly got in its piece of the pie, as did US Oil Field Drilling Interests. Google 'Iraq oil field contracts' to see an amazingly tidy little game being played out, much of it by Nations that never had to even get their Hands Dirty, yet received the Spoils Of War. If anyone believes Operation Iraqi Freedom was about WMD's, they are absolutely ignorant of what really drives the War Machine of the Allies. Google 'US War to remove Saddam' for a little edification. Look a little further and 9/11 takes on an entirely more worrisome threat from within than Islamic Terrorists offer from the outside.

Try going to Las Vegas and keeping multiple hands going on several different BlackJack Tables while shooting Craps simultaneously without losing.... That is only a possibility if you run the House and have a whole lot of inside help.

Also, do not believe that the Six News Companies which run at least 90% of the entire gamut of "News" released to the US/World Public is anything but tempered mind control, though much still seeps through the cracks. There is no way to hide the Truth indefinitely from the Entire World.

This little News Item is interesting, but not World Changing whatsoever. Good job catching these Independent Businessmen using MIC products out of the network. That'll teach 'em...

Peace

$800 flashlight is probably not what you think. Probably a tac light for use on weapons with specially made body, lens, long life battery and high intensity bulbs. Even then $800 each seams like a bit of a tall tale made up to impress some news writer.

The US govt doesn't like it when individuals like this move in on their turf and sell weapons to their customers....

Wait for it - won't be long until somebody pops up to say they're not to blame because:

1) it's Obama's fault,

2) and/or PTSD :D

Getting abby a CafPOW

At least we are starting to export something to China.

Sure, it's the tools to annihilate us, but as long as we're gaining market presence...

I see that all of the big, brave anti-military big mouths are out in force, blasting everyone from Republicans to entire Armies....from the safety of their basement computer desks, of course. Hear this, chickendoves, every organization has it's bad apples....even radical left wing carzy groups. Rest assured that in this case, the military are the most upset about this incident, and these bottom feeders will pay dearly for their gross stupidity.

But Spider how is it that the really big-time goons and rip off artists are NEVER the "radical left wing crazy groups" you speak of. I doubt there are enough of those "radical left wing crazy groups" left in the U.S. to field a ball team, and they certainly don't have the knack of using American taxpayers' money and natural resources belonging to all of us in America to enrich themselves like the Repugs and the military contractors do so well.

Nah, probably, just a normal walmart flashlight, made in china. The hammers, toilet seats and hex keys were nothing special.

Really nothing new to see here. About 15 years ago CID asked me to come to their HQ, an airmen from POPE AFB had arranged with a local pawn shop to sell a brand new in box C141 engine. The guy was stupid enough to let the pawn shop owner talk him into bringing it back a few hours later while he "scraped up the cash". Criminal and stupid usually go hand in hand.

This level of theft is nothing new, its always gone on.

When you volunteer to live out your video game death fantasies by invading and occupying small countries, you reveal that you are already a kind of moral criminal. The U.S. military has done a lot worse than this though, including torturing and killing innocent people, covering up violence, etc. And all so China can mine trillions of dollars worth of minerals in Afghan territory secured by our invaders. It's all criminal.

They are just copying what our government does

These guys simply saw how much stealing was going on at the top and decided that they want to steal from the bottom too. War profiteering is not limited to low level grunts. When we WASTE almost a trillion of dollars per year on defense, it is a CROOK's PARADISE.

Cut defense budget by 75%!!!!! Russia is spending less than 5% of what we do on defense, and still nobody messes with them.

KarlStevens

Your post goes way past accurate and into the realm of Hollywood. What these crooks tried to get away with is treason, but let's not paint the whole group guilty based on your exaggerated claims. Have you ever served?? Didn't think so.

If you really want to throw blame on someone, how about looking into the military supervisors that were supposed to be keeping track of this hardware! And to think one of those already CONVICTED was a Captain... that's one sorry s o b. (Former) Capt. Donald E. Pump, Jr - I'm talking about you!

I did'nt know Nancy Pelosi's family sold Flashlights........

lil debbie, try occupy wall street they are all left wing crazies and their getting bigger and braver

NOW THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOREVER!!!!

The Military does these sales after attacking countries to save money on shipping the weapons back...

The Facts that everything is SOLD on EBAY and or Craigslist is "no" shocker to me! People are getting cases in California CHARGED on them from State Prosecutors for recieving these items!

AND COMPANIES ARE SELLING THINGS ALSO, To stay a float....

@Karl blaming video games? Really? How about people quit blaming media and start actually taking self responsibility. I love battlefield, assassins creed, and all these shoot em up games, but I am also one of the most peaceful people you will meet in life and ahve no feelings whatsoever to become some crazy man. Blaming video games for people joining the military to go to war is like blaming guns for killing people, even though they are merely a tool by which people kill... heck we were beating people with rocks and sticks at one point, some cases still do. Point being, blame the ones responsible, not anything on the otherside of the bridge.

Is obama to blame? Well, he is the commander in chief!

Has it ever been any different? Well, my father bought a 30 carbine during WWII.

The truth is that use of the government is among the poorest of ways to get anything done.

Lil' Debbie

But Spider how is it that the really big-time goons and rip off artists are NEVER the "radical left wing crazy groups" you speak of. I doubt there are enough of those "radical left wing crazy groups" left in the U.S. to field a ball team, and they certainly don't have the knack of using American taxpayers' money and natural resources belonging to all of us in America to enrich themselves like the Repugs and the military contractors do so well.

Oh really? What about the $500 million Solyndra scam, the billions in bailouts just so the auto unions could keep their plush benefits, or the millions in cleanup, damage, and overtime thanks to the OWS morons? And of course, none of this even compares to all the TRILLIONS we've spent on welfare, public unions, and the porkulus package. Libtards are taking the US taxpayers for everything they've got.

And we have a winner.

Actually, the same things happened during bush's tenure! The thing you need to understand is that it has always been this way and always will. Only liberals are gullible enough to think they can change it.

Our president and his likely future opponent want to be in charge of my health. Um, do they think I'm stupid, apparently the answer is yes. I will do all I can to resist.

I can assure you of another thing, if government waste were stopped we could payoff the national debt, have plenty of money left over for freebies and lower taxes at the same time.

NO matter what the military does in trying to teach people about self-discipline, a few jokers will always ignore the lessons. The military is made up of a cross section of our society. Lots of jerks and losers get into the military. It says nothing about the military, only about the individuals who think it is okay to steal. It's aggravating to me that the officer got a lower sentence. Yes, the crime was attempt and not actual theft, but he's a freaking officer and was supposed to set a standard. I would have made an example of him. But I saw this time and again, officers get better treatment in the courts (ex-JAG). Anyway, the reaction to this story is just ridiculous. There is no way the military can keep all the losers from joining and, therefore, crimes happen. That's why we have CID and JAG.

differnet - excellent post.

These guys cared so little for their service that they were willing to besmirch it's reputation and honour for their own greed.

I wish they had thrown the book at this officer. It does seem it's never the ringleaders who get the harshest sentence - that seems to be reserved for the poor schmucks that followed their lead.

This is a top down organization -it seems the severity in punishment should run that way too.

Uh-huh....try explaining this to your child.....

what_the_81

They are just copying what our government does

yep...

Report: U.S. WEAPONS AT WAR 2005

ARMS TRADE RESOURCE CENTER

U.S. WEAPONS AT WAR 2005:
PROMOTING FREEDOM OR FUELING CONFLICT?
U.S. Military Aid and Arms Transfers Since September 11

A World Policy Institute Special Report
by Frida Berrigan and William D. Hartung, with Leslie Heffel
June 2005

Perhaps no single policy is more at odds with President Bush’s pledge to "end tyranny in our world" than the United States’ role as the world’s leading arms exporting nation. Although arms sales are often justified on the basis of their purported benefits, from securing access to overseas military facilities to rewarding coalition allies in conflicts such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, these alleged benefits often come at a high price. All too often, U.S. arms transfers end up fueling conflict, arming human rights abusers, or falling into the hands of U.S. adversaries. As in the case of recent decisions to provide new F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan, while pledging comparable high-tech military hardware to its rival India, U.S. arms sometimes go to both sides in long brewing conflicts, ratcheting up tensions and giving both sides better firepower with which to threaten each other. Far from serving as a force for security and stability, U.S. weapons sales frequently serve to empower unstable, undemocratic regimes to the detriment of U.S. and global security.

In 2003, the last year for which full information is available, the United States transferred weaponry to 18 of the 25 countries involved in active conflicts. From Angola, Chad and Ethiopia, to Colombia, Pakistan and the Philippines, transfers through the two largest U.S. arms sales programs (Foreign Military Sales and Commercial Sales) to these conflict nations totaled nearly $1 billion in 2003, with the vast bulk of the dollar volume going to Israel ($845.6 million).

In 2003, more than half of the top 25 recipients of U.S. arms transfers in the developing world (13 of 25) were defined as undemocratic by the U.S. State Department’s Human Rights Report: in the sense that "citizens do not have the right to change their own government" or that right was seriously abridged. These 13 nations received over $2.7 billion in U.S. arms transfers under the Foreign Military Sales and Commercial Sales programs in 2003, with the top recipients including Saudi Arabia ($1.1 billion), Egypt ($1.0 billion), Kuwait ($153 million), the United Arab Emirates ($110 million) and Uzbekistan ($33 million).

When countries designated by the State Department’s Human Rights Report to have poor human rights records or serious patterns of abuse are factored in, 20 of the top 25 U.S. arms clients in the developing world in 2003-- a full 80%-- were either undemocratic regimes or governments with records of major human rights abuses.

http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/wawjune2005.html

Because War begets Profit$.

Excellent Post, Joe420er!

Armed conflicts include our domestic and international drug wars, including Imperialist Invasions/Occupations of Sovereign Countries.

A very vicious circle, indeed.

Jar head my a$$ they are nothing butt sand fleas.

Marlen, I know you're only trying to be funny (at least I hope that is the case) by correlating "jar head" to stupidity but honorable Marines wear the nickname proudly and always have. These guys are not honorable and have no integrity. They do not deserve to be referred to with anything that Marines have been called for decades and carry as a badge of honor and respect. As rufneck said, "they are nothing but sand fleas".

And, it wasn't just Marines....

Marlen & Rufnek....great how you make AH comments about a entire group of people. You really believe that all Marines (Military) are what you called them? There are bad people in every organization. The vast majority of these men and women go out and join the Military because they want to serve the country and make a difference. But people like you S..t Heads find it easier to sit at home, put them all in the same bucket, and write your vile comments. Real class people you two!

Seems to me I remember the standards for military recruitment were lowered under orders from the bush administration to allow some convicted criminals to join.

So why is anyone surprised?

Rick, yup but those waivers being granted after 2003 don't tell the whole story. In numerous courts around the country judges have been known to suggest to troubled youths they will drop felony charges for repeat offenders if they enlist. This ends up circumventing the waiver laws and dumps people you don't really want into the armed forces.

...double post

.. dang bubblegum error code.

Honor, integrity, morals, values ..all of those are not expected in our politicians, why would we expect more from our military? We do not expect those from our bankers, corporate CEOs, why expect them from our military? How many people do you know that practice "situational" ethics (which means no ethics). I think grand theft in most stats is $500.00 and up. So one flashlight is grand theft now add who they sold to and look at the sentences. The only thing in this article is the ooops factor. They got caught.

All the Marines I know (and there are a few) would have these bozos out on the target line while burnin' through a few belts of 7.62!

I could've used another AR for my magazines!

Put me in for a couple M4 lower receivers...

@!$%# rifles and parts. I want a drone. LOL

Get a "reverse engineered " one from Iran.

You guys are fricking hilarious....That's why I love reading the posts sometimes..Its better than any comedian's standup material...Thanks.

Dear US Military Santa Claus. For Christmas I would like a Gas Piston 16" upper, a couple spikes lowers (I like the logo), Giselle trigger assembly, some cool Mapgpul furniture for my AR's and one of those fancy $800.00 flash lights. I just can't look at any of my $80.00 tactical flashlights I have anymore without disgust.

Im with joe, drone ftw... control it from the safety of my basement, lol.

dang ! the high end flashlights ,flash supressors & receiver markets dried up :( wish a few combat loads of 5.56mm ammo would have shown up ,the good @!$%# cost as much as the gun does these days

ill take a tank good on gas and the slow lane

especially in their HOME TOWN and home STATE

Because then you would see pictures of 21 civilians, 24 service members from the Army and Air Force and 2 Marines (based on article details) and this just would not jive with the headline "Marines sold stolen combat weapons to gangs, China."

And you wonder why the crime rate doesn't go down, and how the criminals are so well-equipped. Here's your answer...

Some of the answers to crap that happens like this is simple. Greed and low IQ's. The service certainly has a majority of exemplary individuals. Many have fought, been injured and died for their country. Some are simple minded morons who would sell their mothers in a bordello. Those are the ones who need to pay the ultimate price. As far as I'm concerned, our government should prosecute ANYONE who sells anything to the Chinese Communists. Those greedy bastards should be hanged by the neck until dead. Another huge problem, which leads to situations like these, is the military has LOWERED its standards over the last dozen years or more. Examples need to be made and as far as I'm concerned, those examples should be executed publically or at least in front of their fellow service members.

our own gov't is selling high tech to China look at APPLE IPOD JOBS should be shot and hung ohhh he is dead GOOD ridence now to get rid of his replacement.

“We’re talking about sophisticated, high-tech flashlights that cost the government up to $800 per unit."

It does not have to be sophisticated or high-tech for the government to pay $800 for it. Didn't we have a scandal not that long ago about $1,000 toilet seats? How sophisticated and high-tech can a toilet seat be? The government has a reputation for getting scammed.

our own gov't is selling high tech to China look at APPLE IPOD JOBS should be shot and hung ohhh he is dead GOOD ridence now to get rid of his replacement.

R-sticker: It really isn't our government who is selling to the Commies, it's Corp-whore-ate America! They are running the country now through their "mouth pieces" in Congress. U.S. policies are driven by the Corporate whores through their direct contacts in Congress and/or their Lobbyists on K-street. Washington is nothing more than a roiling, boiling, mass of incestuous Congress people on the take! It's probably a lot like what Hell looks like! Is it any wonder that NO ONE has gone to jail or even been indicted for what their Wall Street friends did to the World Economies?

The government doesn't run the country.....It hasn't for a LONG time. Some people just think that it does. Smoke and mirrors.....that's all....just smoke and mirrors....

If you actually had a clue , you would know! A home depot toilet seat could be deadly on an aircraft not only because it could break, but if there was a fire it would produce cyanide and other unpleasantness in a confined area.

Explorerdog1,

Who said anything about aircraft?

Explorerdog1, why does an aircraft need a toilet? Weren't these guys ever trained to empty out before getting in? Or are we talking about little children who are constantly telling daddy that they have to pee when they've only been in the car for half an hour since the last rest area? Let them go in their pants once and maybe they'll learn; or are you intent on babying them?

blooper- obviously you've missed the last 50 years or so since missions have been routinely flown half-way around the world. There are a lot more longer range planes than there are short-legged fighters, and they've even come up woth a radical process called mid-air refueling. You should check it out.

Yep, now they can add that to their gay porn history...

I wonder how many of them have the obligatory "Death before Dishonor" tattoo.

Not all Marines do this $hit, they will be punished but the cost of the equipment willnever get paid back.

steve-1962, Of course, not all Marines do this and those that were caught are being punished. They have recovered almost all of the equipment.

In all, $1.8 million worth of equipment has been recovered as a result of the investigation.

They're a lot more sophisticated than the big-battery using flashlights most civilians use in their homes. They have to be small, bright, powerful, durable and last a long time. So yes, 800 dollars for a military flashlight weapon attachment.

Infrared flashlights that also have regular light modes, and strobe functions in infrared modes to act as a "friendly" position marker...

Hamid: What's that?

Rambo: It's blue light.

Hamid: What does it do?

Rambo: It turns blue.

I get that they are special flash-lights, but there is NO way they should cost $800. Strobing, infrared, laser guiders, etc. They just don't add up to $800. I could see $200, or even $300. But $800 is a fleecing in the name of "protecting our soldiers" and is ridiculous.

C.E. Daly

I get that they are special flash-lights, but there is NO way they should cost $800. Strobing, infrared, laser guiders, etc. They just don't add up to $800. I could see $200, or even $300. But $800 is a fleecing in the name of "protecting our soldiers" and is ridiculous.

You might want to go to your nearest dive shop and find out what an HID light rig for a cilvian costs. I understand your addition but you left out the "Must work first time everytime, under water, dragged through teh mud and in a hot LZ." Particularly sea water adds to the price.

Like it really matters how much the flash light costs. To a Marine, a flashlight is just another hammer :-)

To a Marine, a flashlight is just another hammer :-)

Well consider their other source of illumination, the chem light. You have to break it to turn it on and you have to bury it to turn it off.

You think 800 bucks is bad. The NVG MICH helmet mount retails for 230.

well, I'm glad that the 'experts' know what the design specs are for the $800 flashlight.

Could be asininely priced regular flashlight, could be a special multi-purpose wacky doodle tool while the flashlight that regular Marines get is far, far cheaper.

I'm not saying that it's not massively overpriced - but at least this former Marine is smart enough to know that a flashlight is more than just a bright hammer.

Well, look at the upside.......

Now that the Peoples Republic of China has these flashlights, we should be able to import them alot cheaper.

I found some tactical flashlights for upwards of $2,600

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale/wholesale-tactical-flashlight.html?SearchText=tactical%2Bflashlight&CatId=0&manual=y&SortType=price_desc&SortType=y&filterCat=150410,39050101,100005474

Marine procurement may have found a bargain.

And remember that the Galil assault rifle was designed with an integral can/bottle opener.

Mario 69 - The .45 cal, 1911A1 pistol can be used to open cans and bottles as well. And this weapon was designed 100 years ago.

find out what an HID light rig

$800 is a cheap one....

Amypaul LED store supply 1480A...US $3514.00 / piece

You Can Get Anything You Want!

And where exactly are the treason charges????

Exactly ! Why is this not treason? Maybe not for all of them but surely for some.

American troops sold $2 million worth of weapons and combat gear, including assault rifles and night vision goggles to street gangs and to foreign countries, including China

There is no good that can come of selling weapons and high tech gear to any of the buyers mentioned in the article. How many law enforcement personal (and I'm not normally a fan of the cops) would or could be killed by street gang members here in the US?

And China? There is no way they should be getting their hands on American weaponry and gear. Not that they probably don't already have a copy of everything anyway but still, no need to give them more.

Several of these people need to face a firing squad.

U.S. Constitution, Art III, ec 3:

"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted."

UCMJ Art 106(a), Treason:

“(1) Any person subject to this chapter who, with intent or reason to believe that it is to be used to the
injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, communicates, delivers, or transmits, or attempts to communicate, deliver, or transmit, to any entity described in paragraph (2), either directly or indirectly, anything described in paragraph (3) shall be punished as a court-martial may direct, except that if the accused is found guilty of an offense that directly concerns (A) nuclear weaponry, military spacecraft or satellites, early warning systems, or other means of defense or retaliation against large scale attack, (B) war plans, (C) communications intelligence or cryptographic information, or (D) any other major weapons system or major element of defense strategy, the accused shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.

(2) An entity referred to in paragraph (1) is—

(A) a foreign government;

(B) a faction or party or military or naval force within a foreign country, whether recognized or
unrecognized by the United States; or

(C) a representative, officer, agent, employee, subject, or citizen of such a government, faction,
party, or force.

(3) A thing referred to in paragraph (1) is a document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch,
photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, note, instrument, appliance, or information relating to the national defense.

CHARGING $800 dollars for a flashlight is treason as well.

Everybody talking about the Damn flashlights, The question is who's cousin is related to the military procurement office, that's where the graft starts.

There is a beauty in the Constitution's description of treason since it explicitely states that the only person guilty of treason is the person who commits the act. That was a fundamental change from earlier definitions by which any person who committed treason "communicated" that treason to his family and friends, who could then be executed or their properties seized. This would be a good thing for all of those who post on this board wanting to "nuke" Iran, or who want to kill a terrorist's family and neighbors along with him to remember. Amidst the revisionist views of the decline of America from its past ideals, the wisdom of the Founding Fathers is often forgotten. The preservation of "freedom" must always be predicated upon avoiding harm being done to innocents, no matter what their nationality or affiliation.

The $800 flashlights help find the $1000 toilet seats at night

You constitutional right to a $1,000 toilet seat has been abridged by the needs of the service. The same for any rights to a toilet seat. However the 1st amendment to the constitution, the 35th article of war (old style) and the current article 138 of the UCMJ give you the right to complain about it and have nothing done.

This Land is Your Land Woody Guthrie for Arlo

"This land is now often mine." Is that the lyric you wanted?

"But Sir, They just fell off the back of my HUMMV."

It does happen, I found one the roadside one time. Knucklehead leaned it against the side of the HMMWV and forgot about it when they drove off.

How about "They were forced to do it because Obama was trying to starve their families."

It was their choice to abandon their families and go overseas to "serve" their country

Hey Cappy and Angry Guy take your partisan political viewpoints and shove em... this is a serious issue. When US servicemen start selling their equipment it costs the TAXPAYERS regardless of political leaning. This injection of partisan politics makes you look like simpletons and cry-babies.

What's wrong? Didn't get your flashlight?

Cappy, they'll say it's because Obama was a community organizer.

"They wouldn't let me wear my hoodie with the uniform."

I don't have a partisan political viewpoint, notliborcon. I do notice like anyone else who watches the news that most news outlets skew left or right and tend to spin their stories to that effect. Fox News, while they claim to be "fair and balanced" are anything but. They will never place the blame where it belongs when it's a side they support and tell their viewers that the sky is falling whenever the side they do not support does something wrong. You know it and I know it. I was just making a comment about how I was anxious to see how they report it. I challenge you to go to their webpage right now and tell me what you see. "Obama's gay marriage payoff? 21 Million and counting" Do a search for "marines" and you'll get "Marine discharged for criticizing Obama" and don't talk to me about servicemen. I served for 8 years Active Duty Army. You?

Don't hold your breath or you'll need a flashlight.

Tune in tonight just like you do every night and find out. I watch all the news outlets and they all have their bias, just depends on what yours is whether or not they're horrible stinkin' bastards or damn good reporters.

midnight-

"Abandon their families??" You mean like you abandon our service men and women?? Enjoy your freedom, dirtbag. Bought and paid for with someone else's sacrifice.

Mr. Jr -

Read the 'blessed' constitution. Then you can continue to follow the thread.

Not sure if this is THE ONE but

http://gearpatrol.com/2010/01/27/wiseled-tactical-flashlight/

Don't forget "We're taking it seriously".

And if this happened under a 'Romney' administration, his people would say:

1. This is not what we are

2. This does not represent the core values of our military

3. Our heroes always keep the highest standards in honesty

4. Our heroes have been deployed so many times and so stressed out that sometimes they do little things

5. We let our boos down

And things like this did happen under Bush's time and wanna know what they said?

1. This is not what we are

2. This does not represent the core values of our military

3. Our heroes always keep the highest standards in honesty

4. Our heroes have been deployed so many times and so stressed out that sometimes they do little things

5. We let our boos down

For a commissioned officer, dismissal is equivalent to a dishonorable discharge of an enlisted person. He's also a convicted felon and won't be able to work for the government or any Federal contractor—ever.

The biggest irony of all this would be if Captain Pump picked up the nickname "Captain Pump" in prison.

Invisible Hand-

I don't disagree with your post factually, but I do not think these punishments are sufficient given the severity of the crimes. They sold military grade hardward to street gangs. !!!!! Not being able to work for a government agency is not enough when the potential consequences could be DEAD AMERICANS.

The punishment needs to fit the crime- up to and including life in prison or even a death penalty (if the weapons were ever used in the perpetration of a crime).

500 years ago alot of things we have would have been considered magic.

That's why I retired...I got tired of the hypocrisy within the officer ranks

It's possible the officer was selling flashlights while the enlisted man was selling rifles or some kind of similar difference in their conduct.

You're surprised? It happens all the time in the corporate/civilian world. How many bankers, government "public servants" and Wall Street big wigs have gone to prison for putting our economy into a nose dive? Once you're in the good ole boys club, you're like teflon.

or that whole republican scandal from the 80's. iran- something or other.

Drug War vs Regime Change...

Both satisfy the Man Behind The Curtain!

What about the weapons that Eric Holder sold to the gang of Mexico, when is he getting the firing squad.

You know Eric did not come up with that idea, but he sure as Hell should be responsible for it occurring.

Just like GWB/DC will never be prosecuted for their personal profit agendas regarding Iraq, 9/11, et al.

20 years ago theives would get 5 years for attempting to steal one rifle or pistol and sell it. Now they work as a gang to clean out an entire warehouse ful of stuff, some of it high tech they sell to the enemy and get a few months ? Please add the military justice system folks to my list of fakers who pretend professionalism .

Plus they will get out early for good behavior......????????????

$800 flashlights??????? We're being ripped off, big time,

Who are the thieves now? I Really can't believe that a Marine Captain was involved in this. There has to be more to that story. 03's are paid pretty well these days. Did you notice how commissioned officer's don't get DH's they get dismissed?

ireadyou---or maybe the we need politicians with the power and integrity to prevent going to war without justification. the politicians voted for this war because the public wanted revenge. we ignored the facts that the 911 criminals were saudi because it did not satisfy the blood thirst of the public. bush's lies were obvious -he wanted war and we got it. no connection to wmd-----no connection to the terrorists but we got saddam. while their conduct is disgusting these soldiers know that fraud and theft is rampant and are following the example of halliburton and other defense contractors-they are ''getting theirs''. immoral war and we all know it! no surprises here.

granny22

...How about Obama's Libya assault? Explain the justification in that.

You could dig up George Washington himself and he would get nowhere up the chain of command to begin with if he did not pander to the Interest$ of the Military Industrial Complex.

Just Llike our the Politicians running Washington.

Ironic, eh?

...How about Obama's Libya assault? Explain the justification in that.

A little thing we run on the side called NATO, not 'Obama'. It's easy when a lot of Oil is at stake!!! Syria would cost too much for too little in return. Besides the fact that Russia/China are in cahoots w/ al-Assad.

for sure Granny: These two dum wars are imoral as well as a simple waste. Never should have had Iraq2, And should have been out of Afghan years ago. Politicains who volunteer Americans to get killed and mainmed, and order them to kill and maim others for no clear national defense purpose are committing imoral acts. However, no matter to the individual if their King or Congressman orders them to war - still not allowed to turn into a thief or rapist and when caught say that you personal hard times made you do it. To do so is a complete insult to the military code. The US military has one of the highest levels of integrity of any in the world for 2.5 centuries. To blow it now because a bunch of jealous pigs see other people with riches and just decide they want some too is horrible. General George Washington issued a general order against torture captives and the US military has been high integrity ever since. These crooks should be given harsh sentences, those that sold high tech to foriegners should get life without parole. But most important, the culture in the military allowing this to happen needs to be crushed - and that means the Generals and Admirals need a cleanout. It's a top down world. Want to clean up corruption - start at the top.