US Marine jailed for criticizing the brass over Afghanistan fiasco

An American Marine officer has been put in jail for criticizing the US military’s top brass over the deadly and chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller is accused of four offenses under the US military's Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), media reported on Tuesday.

LtCol Scheller is accused of violating Articles 88, 90, 92 and 133 of the UCMJ.
By @DavidSRoza https://t.co/MqVcklO4Vs

— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) September 28, 2021

Under the UCMJ, Scheller is accused and pending trial for: Article 88, Contempt toward officials; Article 90 Willfully disobeying superior commissioned officer; Article 92: Failure to obey an order; and, Article 133, Conduct unbecoming, a Marine Corps spokesperson told Task & Purpose.

The Marine infantry officer and former battalion commander, who gained popularity on the internet last month after he posted videos of himself online, criticized America's military leadership for its failure in Afghanistan and insisted they the US commanders must be held accountable for their deadly conduct that led to so many deaths and other atrocities in the ravaged country. 

Scheller published his first critical video on Aug. 26, the same day that more than a dozen servicemen were killed in a bombing attack at Kabul airport.

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Along with criticizing the US military leadership, Scheller called for accountability among the military’s top brass.

Scheller, who has served in the military for 17 years, also indicated that he had a “personal relationship” with one of the servicemen killed in the deadly blast at Kabul airport.

The following day, Aug. 27, the Marine officer posted to Facebook that he had “been relieved for cause based on a lack of trust and confidence." Nonetheless, Scheller continued posting critical videos online.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support over the last 72 hours since I made some statements in the public,” he said in a video uploaded to YouTube on Aug. 29. “I've also really appreciated the candor and the opposition, uh, the people who think I should have handled it differently, I think the debate is healthy, and I appreciate and respect all sides of the conversation.”

In related news, Pentagon's top brass was grilled by Congress lawmakers over the military pullout from Afghanistan.

Pentagon's top brass grilled over Afghanistan retreat

The Pentagon

US President Joe Biden and the Pentagon leaders are under scrutiny for the deadly exit of the military from Afghanistan.

 The US defeat in the country and failure to provide a safe passage for US citizens and local Afghans serving them after the retreat has been the source of widespread domestic and international criticism.  

Biden's administration, in its defense, has been putting the blame on the Trump administration and the Afghan military.

The Pentagon claims the Afghan government forces lost their morale after the Trump administration made a deal with the Taliban, who were not committed to the agreement.   

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