# Fuckwit of the Month Club Selection: Captain James Yee **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 23, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225 "2003-09-23T02:00:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/21 "2003-09-24T11:45:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > **While I for one, don’t think their actions should be regarded as _heroic_, soldiers like Yee, al Halabi and even Asan Akbar are at the root demonstrating some of the dissent that permeates the US military.** I am please you don’t consider rolling grenades under the tents of one’s own officers _heroic_. Murder and Attempted Murder are just the tip of the iceberg. Dissent in the Military? Fine, they have places where you can serve out the remainder of your voluntary committment if you want to dissent in those little ways, we always need more little rocks. You, sir, are an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/22 "2003-09-24T12:49:42Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Mr. B_ > While I for one, don’t think their actions should be regarded as heroic, soldiers like Yee, al Halabi and **even Asan Akbar** are at the root demonstrating some of the dissent that permeates the US military. Holy crap- I didn’t notice Asan Akbar’s name the first time I read that. I have to disagree with **UncleBill** - “idiot” is nowhere near a strong enough word. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/23 "2003-09-24T13:39:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mojo \* > \*\ ***bri1600bv** : > > **Diogenes the Cynic** said: > > followed by: > > Seems to me that’s exactly what you said. Either that or you attribute some noble goal to Yee’s espionage-“dude, he was just trying to spread the word, not get anyone killed or anything bad like that.” \*\* There’s no evidence that he was giving the information to terrorists or trying to kill Americans. That’s just a load of bullshit. He was trying to document some abuses and got busted. I don’t see a problem with someone trying to get some information out about the abuses in Guantanamo. Do you a shred of fucking evidence that he was trying to kill Americans? If not then shut the fuck up about what you think I meant. ---
**Author:** ![bri1600bv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@bri1600bv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bri1600bv)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/24 "2003-09-24T14:54:13Z")
“Document abuses”? Do you have any information that he was “documenting abuses”? Do you have information that there are “abuses”? Other than your wishful fantasies? What would having the names and addresses of guards do as far as “documenting abuses”? Couldn’t he just get out and say “I saw prisoners starved, beaten, etc.”. Why would he even need their names? What about the people they let go from Gitmo who said there were no “abuses”? You didn’t like those answers so you make up your own? One guy, not Yee but the other one, had contacts in Syria he was giving information too. Let me guess…a human rights group in Syria perhaps? If he was giving information to a Syrian group that is affiliated with Al-Queda then he is absolutely in sympathy with people whose stated aim is to kill Americans. He tells them who’s in there and they know which cells are compromised and which missions to change or cancel. It’s that simple. Thus he is helping to “kill Americans”, yep, end of story, bring the hangman. When judging a guy who is giving information to Syria, he should be assumed innocent, no matter what the evidence against him. When judging the US military they should be assumed to be engaging in “human rights abuses” even though there is no evidence whatsoever of said abuses. I think you’re one of those liberals who hates all forms of authority. Treason is merely “dissent” against a mean abusive daddy. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/25 "2003-09-24T14:54:21Z")
I temporarily agree with **DtC** , the Yee issue is under investigation, and there have been no stated findings about what his intentions were. He is a fuckwit for violating security and having those documents on his person, even if his fuckwit activities had a moral purpose, which also has not been determined. For **DtC** to state: > [@](#): > > He was trying to document some abuses and got busted. I don’t see a problem with someone trying to get some information out about the abuses in Guantanamo. Do you a shred of fucking evidence that he was trying to kill Americans? If not then shut the fuck up about what you think I meant. I say “Do you a shred of fucking evidence that he was trying to get some information out about the abuses in Guantanamo? If not then shut the fuck up.” ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/26 "2003-09-24T14:58:58Z")
If he simply had a list of abuses he had witnessed as opposed to diagrams of the base and prisoner cells as well as lists of detainees and interrogators, your point might be slightly defensible. But he didn’t and it isn’t. Your the one making an incredible claim, that a guy caught spying really only had the best of intentions. Do _you_ have any evidence that he was just documenting abuses? On preview I see that **bri1600bv** has basically said the same thing. And then some. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/27 "2003-09-24T15:19:19Z")
I don’t have the burden of proof, fuckos, _you_ do. _Prove_ he had evil intentions. I don’t buy it. > [@](#): > > I think you’re one of those liberals who hates all forms of authority. Treason is merely “dissent” against a mean abusive daddy. I think you’re one of those mindless, lockstep conservative who thinks that all dissent is treason. Bite me. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/28 "2003-09-24T15:49:45Z")
No, you’re the one that claimed “He was trying to document some abuses and got busted”. I and others have pointed out that if Yee wanted to document abuses, he should’ve actually documented actual abuses, not drawn diagrams and compiled lists with addresses. Do I have any evidence that he was going to give this info to Al Qaeda? No. But there’s even less evidence that he was going to use this info for the noble purposes you’ve ascribed to him. I hate to tell you Diogenes- what you’re seeing isn’t “conservatives in lockstep”, it’s everyone backing away in unison from your fucked-up ideas. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/29 "2003-09-24T16:09:20Z")
**UncleBill** , **Mojo** and **bri1600bv** : to what do you ascribe Yee’s and al Halabi’s actions, just for the sake of discussion? Is it religious fervor that drove these two men to perform so-called “treasonous acts?” Captain Yee is a CHAPLAIN, a man of God. I believe **Diogenes the Cynic** put it correctly, as a cleric is a whole lot more inherently trustworthy than our own White House. Let’s not jump to conclusions here about the _possible outcome_ of his actions – that’s just a red herring – a West Point-educated **officer** put a lot on the line for some reason. Now what could that reason be? Therein lies the OP. ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/30 "2003-09-24T16:52:08Z")
Well, Mr. B, that leads me to ask: is he taking his responsibilities as an American military officer more seriously than his responsibilities as a chaplain? Which cause comes first? And just because he’s a man of god does NOT make him inherently more trustworthy. I think the recent catholic church scandal has shown that despite being a man of god, it doesn’t mean they’re any more trustworthy than anyone else. My take on this is that we have just enough information to jump to conclusions. The only fact is that Yee was caught with classified info he shouldn’t have had. As a west pointer and an officer he had to know that. At the very least he is guilty of criminal stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/31 "2003-09-24T16:59:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*There’s no evidence that he was giving the information to terrorists or trying to kill Americans. That’s just a load of bullshit. He was trying to document some abuses and got busted. I don’t see a problem with someone trying to get some information out about the abuses in Guantanamo. Do you a shred of fucking evidence that he was trying to kill Americans? If not then shut the fuck up about what you think I meant. \*\* I bet you think Alger Hiss was innocent, too 😉 Just from the sparse information released about these guys, they are soooo busted it’s not funny. “Documenting abuses” ain’t what these guys had in mind my friend. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/32 "2003-09-24T17:14:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by krisolov \* > Well, Mr. B, that leads me to ask: is he taking his responsibilities as an American military officer more seriously than his responsibilities as a chaplain? Which cause comes first? 😕 Perhaps you would be so kind to answer my question about Yee’s motivation? > [@](#): > > And just because he’s a man of god does NOT make him inherently more trustworthy. I think the recent catholic church scandal has shown that despite being a man of god, it doesn’t mean they’re any more trustworthy than anyone else. Not more trustworthy than _anyone else_, just the White House. At this point, I’d trust even Cardinal Bernard Law over Mr. Bush, hands down. (Pun intended). Captain Yee took an awful risk. He would have known the risk involved, so **why would he do anything at all that might even have had the _whiff_ of impropriety**? ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/33 "2003-09-24T17:32:04Z")
Because he didn’t think he’d get caught. What were al Halabi’s motivations? Since it’s been reported that he had a Syrian contact lined up, it would appear that it was either financial or he felt that what he thought were his duties as a Muslim superceded his alliegence to the US Air Force. What were Yee’s motivations? Based on the information we have now, I dunno- could be that he realized how valuable this info would be, could be that he was going to try to pass this info along to a terrorist group (IMHO not that likely, but still possible), could be that he was going to contact the families of the prisoners to verify that their kin were being held captive there and were alive and reasonably well. Or it could be a combination of those reasons. But based on the type of info he gathered, he was **not** documenting abuses. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/34 "2003-09-24T17:35:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\ ***UncleBill** , **Mojo** and **bri1600bv** : to what do you ascribe Yee’s and al Halabi’s actions, just for the sake of discussion? Is it religious fervor that drove these two men to perform so-called “treasonous acts?” \*\* For Captain Yee I ascribe no motive, as none is apparent from what I have read about the case, I simply state that NEITHER side (Treasonous or Humanitarian) has a scrap of evidence or insight into motive. For Halabi, I have more of an opinion of treasonous behavior. He carried with him communication from detainees, both written and electronic, a map of the base, as well as flight paths of military aircraft.and has previously established contact with the Syrian Embassy and has been specifically charged with attempting to [deliver messages to Syrian authorities](http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sns-airmanspy,0,2045950.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines) > [@](#): > > But at some point, according to Air Force documents, he had “contact” with “the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic,” and began spying “with intent or reason to believe [his information] would be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of Syria.” > > The most serious charges — espionage and aiding the enemy — center on allegations that he attempted to carry “en route to Syria” specific written records of detainees from the camp. > > The Air Force alleges, for instance, that he attempted to deliver two written notes from detainees concerning “intelligence-gathering and planning for the United States’ war against terrorists.” I ascribe his actions as treasonous, based on reports I have read. For the sake of discussion. ---
**Author:** ![bri1600bv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@bri1600bv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bri1600bv)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/35 "2003-09-24T17:45:58Z")
What were their motives? Gee, I don’t know. Maybe as fervent Muslims, they believe that the US is evil and that anything that furthers the religion is good? As for being “men of God”, it’s ludicrous. The hijackers were “men of God” too…or were they just innocent patsies for the evil Bush administration. Bin Laden, using your definition, is a “man of God”. Maybe they did what they did in furtherance of their view of “God’s” wishes? Doesn’t that seem logical? If their religion holds that it is the one true religion and that the US and the rest of the world are basically “of the devil”, then why would they not help their comrades? It’s their duty to God, as they see it. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/36 "2003-09-24T17:55:53Z")
> [@](#): > > What were their motives? Gee, I don’t know. Maybe as fervent Muslims, they believe that the US is evil and that anything that furthers the religion is good? How does being a fervent Muslim translate to thinking the US is evil? ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/37 "2003-09-24T17:56:51Z")
well, Mr. B I would say that his motivation was NOT as a US military officer first, since he knowingly was carrying info he knew he shouldn’t have taken. That leads me to believe that he felt he had a higher purpose to serve. If that was the case, he should’ve resigned his commission or asked to be reassigned if it was in conflict with his faith. He didn’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/38 "2003-09-24T17:59:09Z")
> [@](#): > > If their religion holds that it is the one true religion and that the US and the rest of the world are basically “of the devil”, then why would they not help their comrades? It’s their duty to God, as they see it. This is not a part of Islamic teaching. This board is supposed to fight ignorance not perpetuate it. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/39 "2003-09-24T17:59:09Z")
Mishandling classified documents is one thing. Being in contact with a foreign government while mishandling said documents is quite another. The matter needs to be investigated, which is being done. Perhaps it needs to be referred to a court. So far the government has not acted improperly. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225/40 "2003-09-24T18:03:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, Mr. B, that leads me to ask: is he taking his responsibilities as an American military officer more seriously than his responsibilities as a chaplain? Which cause comes first? His sense of moral ethics has to trump his uniform. Military duty is way down on the list of priorities that are important in life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckwit-of-the-month-club-selection-captain-james-yee/203225.md?page=3)