DLI official removed for criticizing Bush

KEVIN HOWE / Monterey County Herald 3jun02

An Air Force officer has been relieved from duties at the Presidio of Monterey after publication of his letter to the editor accusing President George W. Bush of having advance knowledge of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Lt. Col. Steve Butler was serving as vice chancellor for student affairs at the Defense Language Institute when he wrote the letter, which was published in The Herald May 21.

The letter accuses Bush of allowing the attacks to occur for political reasons.

The letter reads in part: "Of course Bush knew about the impending attacks on America. He did nothing to warn the American people because he needed this war on terrorism. His daddy had Saddam and he needed Osama.

"His presidency was going nowhere. He wasn't elected by the American people, but placed into the Oval Office by the conservative supreme court (if you really want to know why the justices voted like they did, I suggest 'Supreme Injustice' by Alan Dershowitz), the economy was sliding into the usual Republican pits and he needed something to hang his presidency on. "

Butler's letter called the president's course of action "sleazy and contemptible."

Army spokesman Sgt. Mitch Frazier said Butler "has been administratively suspended from his position as vice chancellor/student affairs pending the outcome of an investigation."

"Further details are not available at this time as the investigation is ongoing," Frazier said.

Butler could not be reached to comment Monday but his wife, Shelly Butler, said the military had given her husband "a lot of grief" over the letter. He was relieved of his duties at the language school and has been assigned to temporary duty at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, she said.

She said he plans to retire in a few weeks after 24 years in the Air Force, including duty as a combat pilot in Desert Storm.

In addition to criticism from the military, she said, "we got a few phone calls from people we don't even know" supporting his position. She said his friends also are also being supportive, "but work-wise, people won't say anything."

Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice says that "any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the president, the vice president, Congress, the secretary of defense, the secretary of a military department, the secretary of transportation or the governor or legislature of any state, territory, commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct."

The last Article 88 court martial came in 1965 when an Army second lieutenant was prosecuted for taking part in an antiwar protest in Texas, according to Lt. Col. Maritza S. Ryan of the Army Judge Advocate General Corps.

Ryan said the Pentagon "quietly issued" memos reminding officers of the Article 88 provisions after President Clinton became embroiled in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, setting off a number of articles and letters to the editor from military officers.

Bush critic suspended by military: Officer's letter printed

RYAN KIM / SF Chronicle 5jun02

An Air Force officer who accused President Bush of having prior knowledge about Sept. 11 and using the attacks for political gain has been suspended from the Monterey Defense Language Institute and could face court-martial.

Lt. Col. Steve Butler, vice chancellor for student affairs at the institute, was suspended on May 29 pending an investigation into a letter he wrote that was published in the Monterey County Herald on May 26, military sources said.

In the letter, Butler called Bush a "joke" and said the president is using the war on terrorism to muster political support.

"Of course Bush knew about the impending attacks on America," Butler wrote. "He did nothing to warn the American people because he needed this war on terrorism. His daddy had Saddam and he needed Osama. . . . His presidency was going nowhere."

". . . What is sleazy and contemptible is the president of the United States not telling the American people what he knows for political gain," Butler wrote.

Citing military regulations prohibiting officials from commenting on ongoing investigations, Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Art Haubold would not tie Butler's letter to his suspension.

"Butler has been administratively suspended from his position because of an ongoing investigation," said Haubold.

But other military sources said Butler was suspended for his remarks.

Butler remains stationed at the institute on paid leave, said Haubold. Haubold said the investigation will be conducted by local commanders at the language institute.

Butler, a 24-year veteran of the armed forces, served as a bomber navigator in Desert Storm. He declined to comment Tuesday.

"My lawyer has advised me to not make any comments," he said.

Military sources said Butler was suspended under Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which prohibits any commissioned officer from using contemptuous words against the president, the vice president, other prominent government officials or Congress.

The maximum punishment under Article 88 is dismissal, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for one year.

The only known court-martial under Article 88 occurred in 1965, when 2nd Lt.

Henry Howe was convicted of contemptuous words against President Lyndon Johnson. He had participated in an off-base anti-war protest in El Paso, Texas, where he carried signs characterizing President Johnson as "petty," "ignorant" and "fascist."

Monterey Air Force officer removed for anti-Bush letter

Mercury News 3jun02

MONTEREY, Calif. - An Air Force officer has been relieved from duties at the Presidio of Monterey after publication of his letter to the editor accusing President George W. Bush of having advance knowledge of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Lt. Col. Steve Butler was serving as vice chancellor for student affairs at the Defense Language Institute when he wrote the letter, which was published in The Monterey County Herald May 21.

The letter accuses Bush of allowing the attacks to occur for political reasons.

The letter reads in part: ``Of course Bush knew about the impending attacks on America. He did nothing to warn the American people because he needed this war on terrorism. His daddy had Saddam and he needed Osama.

``His presidency was going nowhere. He wasn't elected by the American people, but placed into the Oval Office by the conservative supreme court (if you really want to know why the justices voted like they did, I suggest `Supreme Injustice' by Alan Dershowitz), the economy was sliding into the usual Republican pits and he needed something to hang his presidency on. ``

Butler's letter called the president's course of action ``sleazy and contemptible.''

Army spokesman Sgt. Mitch Frazier said Butler ``has been administratively suspended from his position as vice chancellor/student affairs pending the outcome of an investigation.''

``Further details are not available at this time as the investigation is ongoing,'' Frazier said.

Butler could not be reached to comment Monday but his wife, Shelly Butler, said the military had given her husband ``a lot of grief'' over the letter. He was relieved of his duties at the language school and has been assigned to temporary duty at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, she said.

She said he plans to retire in a few weeks after 24 years in the Air Force, including duty as a combat pilot in Desert Storm.

In addition to criticism from the military, she said, ``we got a few phone calls from people we don't even know'' supporting his position. She said his friends also are also being supportive, ``but work-wise, people won't say anything.''

Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice says that ``any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the president, the vice president, Congress, the secretary of defense, the secretary of a military department, the secretary of transportation or the governor or legislature of any state, territory, commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.''

The last Article 88 court martial came in 1965 when an Army second lieutenant was prosecuted for taking part in an antiwar protest in Texas, according to Lt. Col. Maritza S. Ryan of the Army Judge Advocate General Corps.

Ryan said the Pentagon ``quietly issued'' memos reminding officers of the Article 88 provisions after President Clinton became embroiled in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, setting off a number of articles and letters to the editor from military officers.

Lt. Col. Steve Butler's Letter 

The Monterey County Herald 26may02

(Steve Kelly and Rod Musgrove were earlier letter writers to The Herald)

It's about time the conservative idiots (sorry, I don't like redundancy either) like Steve Kelly, Rod Musgrove, and all the rest got a dose of reality. Of course Bush knew about the impending attacks on America. He did nothing to warn the American people because he needed this war on terrorism. His daddy had Saddam and he needed Osama.

His presidency was going nowhere. He wasn't elected by the American people, but placed into the Oval Office by the conservative Supreme Court (if you really want to know why the justices voted like they did, I suggest Supreme Injustice by Alan Dershowitz), the economy was sliding into the usual Republican pits and he needed something to hang his presidency on.

For them to accuse Democrats of being "sleazy" is laughable. Isn't it ironic that Mr. Kelly begins his inane babble with a reference to Monica Lewinsky? How many people died because of Monica Lewinsky? And for Mr. Musgrove to call the assertions "contemptible" is another joke. Funny how he manages to make disparaging remarks about President Clinton as well. Face it people, President Clinton was a great president, this guy is a joke.

No guys, what is sleazy and contemptible is the President of the United States not telling the American people what he knows for political gain. The Democrats asking pertinent questions is their duty as public servants.