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2021-09-28 -Great Cultural Revolution
Outspoken Marine officer who went viral blasting military leaders over Afghanistan is jailed: report
[FoxNews] Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller rose to internet stardom by posting a video slamming the US withdrawal from Afghanistan

Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, the officer who went viral for blasting the military's leadership amid the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, has been sent to the brig, according to a report.

"All our son did is ask the questions that everybody was asking themselves, but they were too scared to speak out loud," Scheller's father, Stu Scheller Sr., told Task & Purpose. "He was asking for accountability. In fact, I think he even asked for an apology that we made mistakes, but they couldn’t do that, which is mind-blowing."

Scheller first rose to internet stardom by posting a video to Facebook blasting military leaders for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, questioning their command decisions on the events leading up to and during the final evacuation effort.

Scheller would go on to release several more videos, generating praise and controversy while drawing the ire of military leadership. Eventually, he was told by superiors to stop posting to social media altogether, an order he immediately ignored by posting about the gag order.

The officer also seemingly realized that last post could result in his trip to the brig.

"What happens when all you do is speak truth and no one wants to hear it. But they can probably stop listening because… I’m crazy… right?" Scheller wrote at the end of the post. "Col Emmel please have the MPs waiting for me at 0800 on Monday. I’m ready for jail."

Scheller is "currently in pre-trial confinement," a spokesperson for Training and Education Command said of the officer's status.

"The time, date, and location of the proceedings have not been determined. Lt. Col. Scheller will be afforded all due process," the statement continued.

But the elder Scheller defended his son, arguing that he was only asking for "accountability" from the military's top brass.

"He’s asking for the same accountability that is expected of him and his men," he said.

"I’ve had Vietnam veterans contacting me applauding him for his courage because they too want to know: Was it all worth it?" he continued. "And by demanding accountability and honesty from his senior leaders, that’s all he was asking. And the way the Marine Corps has dealt with it: They have now put him in jail."
Posted by Skidmark 2021-09-28 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ]  Top

#1 "The time, date, and location of the proceedings have not been determined."

I suppose this translates to 'we're gonna hold him as long as possible before drumming him out of the Corps.'
Posted by Raj 2021-09-28 00:54||   2021-09-28 00:54|| Front Page Top

#2 General Milley will be going to jail for colluding with Communist Chinese Generals and ordering all forces to disobey Trump's orders when Trump was President and Commander In Chief, right?
Posted by Blackbeard Barnsmell6454 2021-09-28 01:28||   2021-09-28 01:28|| Front Page Top

#3 As some people commented here at the time - we may not be hearing the whole story.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2021-09-28 02:25||   2021-09-28 02:25|| Front Page Top

#4 #3 As some people commented here at the time - we may not be hearing the whole story.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2021-09-28 02:25

G(r)om,

For the most part, we aren't. LTC Scheller was under some significant stresses (including likely PTSD and verified financial issues) and on top of that, after he announced he was getting out, his wife took the kids and split - apparently she found out about his decision with the rest of us.

There's also the matter that he was told to sit down and shut up until this got sorted out...and didn't. I'm inclined to believe the Corps may have intended to just get him out the door as quickly and as quietly as possible, but the bottom line is that he was given a lawful order, and in writing, yet...and couldn't/wouldn't do it. At that point they had no choice, especially when you remember that the Corps has never been especially tolerant or forgiving of those who stray from The Path.

He's going to go down hard, but I'm reasonably sure he won't do any bad time. And though right he may be, LTC Scheller also needs some folks to talk to. I hope he finds them.

Mike
Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2021-09-28 06:21||   2021-09-28 06:21|| Front Page Top

#5 HE HAS MENTAL ISSUES!!!! HE IS BANKRUPT!!! HIS WIFE RAN AWAY!!!! Gee, if I wanted to discredit him, what would I say?? SO break it down here before slandering a LTC please. He knows he is getting out, send the family home before the fall school year starts and get them away from the spotlight. Any proof of his financial issues? Any proof of his PTSD? And so what does any of that have to do with what he said? He is locked up to silence him. Plain and simple, now he cant even defend the "verified" slanders. But of course I'm under stress, have financial issues, question my govt, and PTSD, like every other vet. Lock us all up?
Posted by 49 Pan 2021-09-28 06:38||   2021-09-28 06:38|| Front Page Top

#6 He disobeyed orders -- both standing orders and specific ones. I sympathize with his position, but part of civil disobedience is facing the consequences.
Posted by Rob Crawford 2021-09-28 07:09||   2021-09-28 07:09|| Front Page Top

#7 #4 Mike, I only knew 3 LT. Colonels in all my IDF service (regular & reserves). All 3 were idiots (from my [sergeant's] point of view). But, you definitely has something there. There must be some trouble (like "You'll never be a colonel, Stuart) before one breaks every rule: written & unwritten; he have lived under for 20 years.
In any case, as you point out, political activity is an absolute no no for a field grade officer in a democracy - look at all these African countries.

#5 HE HAS MENTAL ISSUES!!!! HE IS BANKRUPT!!! HIS WIFE RAN AWAY!!!!

Come on 49 Pan, the reason such arguments are used because they are common causes of irregular behavior.
Certainly, it's easier to believe in mental breakdown than to believe that one suddenly (plenty of fuckups and unendurable stupidity in WOT before that) discovered the truth - and cannot wait to be properly discharged before shouting it at the world.

IMO, mental breakdown is a charitable explanation. The uncharitable one is that LTC screwed up big - as a commander - and acted to create a coverup for himself as a dissident.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2021-09-28 07:22||   2021-09-28 07:22|| Front Page Top

#8 'Woke' issues distracted leaders from Afghanistan, former military officials say
Posted by Skidmark 2021-09-28 07:42||   2021-09-28 07:42|| Front Page Top

#9 You may recall, or choose not to recall, he and his wife were threatened with confinement for mental issues immediately after the video went viral. She is probably hiding from the feds, not her husband.
Posted by The Walking Unvaxed 2021-09-28 09:29||   2021-09-28 09:29|| Front Page Top

#10 Scheller was an inconvenient outlier. We all know what happens to inconvenient outliers.

Posted by Besoeker 2021-09-28 09:40||   2021-09-28 09:40|| Front Page Top

#11 Billy Mitchell
Posted by Deacon Blues 2021-09-28 09:51||   2021-09-28 09:51|| Front Page Top

#12 The "mental condition" this brave Marine was under was PTBSD...Post Traumatic BullShit Disorder. He watched as brave Marines were slaughtered and sacrificed on the altar of Political Expediency, and tried to get SOMEONE involved in the "planning" and/or execution of the Charlie Foxtrot to take some...hell, ANY accountability.
As a former Marine (1971-1979) I am beyond outraged.
If the Marines, and military in general, we're TRYING to destroy morale and combat capability, what would they do differently???
Posted by Tiny Crise6470 2021-09-28 10:06||   2021-09-28 10:06|| Front Page Top

#13 P.s. Any young person who goes into the military at this point is either an IDIOT (who doesn't KNOW how things are going), or a COMMUNIST (who LIKES the way things are going)
Posted by Tiny Crise6470 2021-09-28 10:29||   2021-09-28 10:29|| Front Page Top

#14 So I'm a retire LTC, as the regulars know. I served in Afghanistan, So I must be an idiot, or a communist. Fuck! Really? And my son who is serving proudly alongside thousands of proud Americans must be idiot or communists too? I remember joining in the 70's and hearing the same bigoted shit from ignorant and out of touch people. And now the same here on the Burg. Blame the soldiers, they have to be mentally ill to join, or have some nefarious reason. Blaming the honest foot soldiers for generals spending too much time in the pentagon is how it went in the 60's and 70's. I though we would have learned from that level of ignorance. As far as the LTC's mental state, remember this, it is impossible to defend oneself from a lie like this. The man spoke his mind, he's not crazy, he knew it would cost him his career. But the rest... pure bullshit and those piling on with the rumors are an embarrassment.
Posted by 49 Pan 2021-09-28 11:24||   2021-09-28 11:24|| Front Page Top

#15 my comment regarding "Idiots" and "Communists" was misconstrued. I meant, the way the rank & file (including O5 on down) are being treated and thrown away WITHOUT accountability by the "upper echelons" means going into the military at this point is damn near suicide.
Colonel Scheller was keeping the faith with those below him...and was discarded by those above him.
Loyalty is DOWN before it is Up...meaning you can't expect those below you to show you loyalty, until you have exhibited loyalty to them. They won't have YOUR back, until they know you have THEIRS. The "Brass" in the military (O6 and up) are showing NO loyalty or regard for those they carelessly throw into harms way.
Posted by Kofi Hupinesh6341 2021-09-28 11:38||   2021-09-28 11:38|| Front Page Top

#16 Never was military but wasn't it being reported that Biden's orders to General Milley was to purge and then go after "white supremacy" and then do so domestically on MAGA's???

Therefore, is the LTC insubordinate to protect and defend General Milley/Biden Administration or to his OATH to protect and defend the US Constitution?

The American People Would Love to Know what the military's marching orders are....
Posted by Ebbomoger Speaking for Boskone4589 2021-09-28 12:03||   2021-09-28 12:03|| Front Page Top

#17 P.s. Any young person who goes into the military at this point is either an IDIOT (who doesn't KNOW how things are going), or a COMMUNIST (who LIKES the way things are going)

One of my biggest fears.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2021-09-28 12:33||   2021-09-28 12:33|| Front Page Top

#18 "I am Sam Damon."
Posted by swksvolFF 2021-09-28 12:35||   2021-09-28 12:35|| Front Page Top

#19  as the regulars know

Well, Ah'm kinda irregular.
It might be the pain pills.
But I know.
Posted by Skidmark 2021-09-28 14:25||   2021-09-28 14:25|| Front Page Top

#20 We all know what happens to inconvenient outliers.

Besoeker, Mr. Epstein was absolutely not an outlier, having been nestled firmly in the center of things. And he was awfully convenient for entirely too many, until suddenly at the very end.
Posted by trailing wife 2021-09-28 14:26||   2021-09-28 14:26|| Front Page Top

#21 I notice there have been some FDA folks resign in protest, and this one LTC. Anybody higher than a Lt. Colonel have the courage of convictions to resign lately? Any Generals, perhaps?
Posted by Bobby 2021-09-28 14:38||   2021-09-28 14:38|| Front Page Top

#22 Ref #20. Yes, "at the very end."
Posted by Besoeker 2021-09-28 14:57||   2021-09-28 14:57|| Front Page Top

#23 Thanks Kofi.

And Skid, ya you know me well enough!
Posted by 49 Pan 2021-09-28 14:58||   2021-09-28 14:58|| Front Page Top

#24 #18 It's time to retire Sam Damon. Wherein the author discusses the ethical failings of a fictional character.
Posted by Matt 2021-09-28 16:18||   2021-09-28 16:18|| Front Page Top

#25 Not quite through; I'll check that out Matt afterwards, maybe make a good TWIB.
Posted by swksvolFF 2021-09-28 18:01||   2021-09-28 18:01|| Front Page Top

#26 I'm ashamed of the disgraceful spectacle of our military leaders CYA before congress today, and the scapegoating of the only Marine brave enough to publicly call for accountability. Where are the honorable men in today's military?
Posted by Jean DuSable 2021-09-28 21:35||   2021-09-28 21:35|| Front Page Top

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