'Tard of the Week - LCDR Brian Waite

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
You all recall how I was irked by the advertisement I found in my November 10th issue of Newsweek.

While doing my research, I discovered that LCDR Brian Waite, the Chaplain depicted in the ad, was more than a bit shady.

Consider these points:
  • He presents himself as "Dr. Waite," yet his schools are unaccredited.
  • He has repeatedly appeared in uniform to support and endorse non-military organizations and ideas, a direct violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and military regulations.
  • His first book, Islam Uncovered, was so virulently anti-Islam that he was summarily dismissed from his post as the Director of a Doctoral program for military chaplains at the Graduate Theological Foundation (GTF). Not only did the Foundation dismiss LCDR Waite, they canned the whole program, because they felt it had been contaminated by Waite's prejudice. This precipitated LCDR Waite's return to active duty.
As part of my research, I contacted the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an organization dedicated to stopping the inappropriate and unlawful encroachment of religion into military life. They were unaware of the ad, and I helped them track it down so they could include it in a letter they were drafting about LCDR Waite.

You can find the letter to Secretary of Defense Gates here.

Well.

You know what? LCDR Waite is stupid. Over and above his bigotry, I mean.

Seriously - if your grand plan is to evangelize your belief system, and you intend to use your military uniform in that effort in direct violation of the UCMJ and Naval Regulations, why would you allow your name to be splashed all over the media? The photo in Newsweek clearly shows his name tag. The videos referenced in the MRFF letter have him being clearly introduced.

Talk about telling on yourself. This guy is on active duty, and is presumably familiar with the military regulations that govern the use of his military uniform as it pertains to endorsements and evangelism (i.e., you're not supposed to do it without prior written approval from the U.S. Navy. Which he evidently didn't have.). Yet he posed for this ad, and appeared in those hateful Revival Fires Ministries videos, and appears not to give a good Goddamn about violating the regulations and dishonoring his oath as a Naval Officer.

Maybe he thinks Jesus will protect him from the UCMJ.

What a 'tard.

11 comments:

The Mechanicky Gal said...

With the righteousness of Christ burning in his breast he was sure that everyone would see that his position was the just and right one and the rules would be changed to include his brand of batshit crazy.

John the Scientist said...

Well, the video I saw had him being introduced as a Marine O-5. Does that add impersonating an officer (or at least impersonating a rank) to his offenses if he didn't protest the mis-identification?

Nathan said...

That letter doesn't fuck around, does it. Way to go Janiece.

Tania said...

You know what I love about you guys?

When you see a problem, you don't just bitch about it. You fucking do something.

I hope the hand of Allah, through his prophet Mohammed (blessed be his name) rips LCDR Waite a new one.

Janiece said...

Nathan, the letter was written by Chris Rodda and the MRFF staff. My involvement was limited to telling them about the Newsweek ad, then helping them track it down for inclusion in the letter.

But yeah, they're doing good work over there.

Nathan said...

I knew that Janiece. You still get points for bringing the whole thing to their attention.

And I love that they don't request an investigation...they demand one.

Janiece said...

I'm sorry, Nathan, I'm still not being clear.

The letter was being written anyway because of LCDR Waite's involvement with Revival Fires Ministries.

My correspondence with them simply added the ABS ad to their considerable list of problems with LCDR Waite.

It was a serendipitous collaboration. The ad irked me at the same time they were getting ready to demand the investigation. Hehe.

Not trying to beat the dead horse, I just don't want to inadvertently aggrandize my involvement.

Random Michelle K said...

All hail Janiece who single-handedly took down an asshat!

Yay Janiece!

Janiece said...

You guys are incorrigible.

mom in northern said...

Question
Has any one bothered to contact Newsweek on this matter...???
Like maybe a letter to the editor?

Janiece said...

Mom, I think the MRFF contacted them about the ad, but I don't know if they brought the regulation violation to their attention.