This morning I was charged under the Defence Force Discipline Act for suggesting, among other things, that it was not a good idea for the ADF to pay for sex-change operations amd that it should understand the links between Islam and violent terrorist activity.
These charges were laid even though the ADF’s Investigative Service found that there were no grounds for disciplinary action.
I issued a press release (below) in response and I will defend all charges.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has charged an Army Reserve Intelligence Officer, Bernard Gaynor, for discussing links between Islam and terrorist activity.
The charges were laid today, despite an internal investigation by the ADF’s Investigative Service finding that there was no basis for disciplinary action.
Mr Gaynor says that the charges are proof that political correctness is hampering the ADF’s ability to fight against Islamic violence.
“It is outrageous that the Australian Defence Force is charging me for discussing Islam,” Mr Gaynor said.
“In the last week, ASIO has confirmed hundreds of Muslim Australians are joining violent Islamic groups in Syria and a radical Australian Islamic cleric has been linked to the Boston bombers.”
“Yet the Australian Defence Force is sending a message that intelligence officers cannot discuss Islam in any way, shape or form, unless they pass judgment that it is a nice, peaceful religion.”
“How the hell are you supposed to have an objective view of Islam if you are not allowed to examine links between Islamic beliefs and terrorist activity?”
“This kind of stupidity will lead to a misunderstanding of why threat groups targeting the Australian Army conduct violent activity and, at worst, could result in the death of Australian soldiers.”
“It also explains the logical inconsistency between fighting a war against people who espouse violent Islamic beliefs while at the same time having an immigration policy that allows people with the same ideology to settle into Australia.”
“It begs the question: what, exactly, have Aussie Diggers been shedding their blood in Afghanistan for over the past decade?”
“This question is especially vexing considering that the Afghan government’s constitution is based on Sharia Law and it has laws that allow the execution of people who convert from Islam. The Afghan President has even called for the Taliban to run for parliament.”
“With laws and views like that, Afghanistan will continue to be a hotbed of Islamic terrorism long after Australia’s military commitment ends.”
Mr Gaynor was also charged for bringing the ADF into disrepute for pointing out that it paraded with various groups conducting sexually-explicit activity at the 2013 Mardi Gras in front of children.
“It saddens me that the ADF believes marching with groups that conduct sexually-explicit activity in front of children is ok but that it is somehow disreputable to point this out,” Mr Gaynor said.
“However, the ADF hierarchy have shot themselves in the foot on this one. If, by pointing out the unacceptable nature of ADF participation I have brought the ADF into disrepute, those who approved and marched in this parade are guilty of a far worse offence.”
“I will defend all charges and I am confident that I will be acquitted of them all,” Mr Gaynor said.
December 7, 2015
Nathan’s and Cliff’s comments demonstrate that old and trustworthy adage: Too little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
When the dilettantes get involved, rationality flies out the window (and every man then thinks he’s an expert on matters they know next to nothing about). Buddhists = Vietnam War and Christians = Northern Ireland. Yeh, right…and so therefore Islam is a religion of peace. Understood!
October 2, 2013
Look I think the problem with Bernard’s comment’s about Islam and Terrorism is that it unfairly links a religion with acts of terrorism. Simple minded people will splutter, but what about 9-11, and all those other murderous actions, weren’t they committed by Muslims? I would point out that it wasn’t the religion per se that lead men to these acts, but the whole geo-political context. There are many Muslims in Australia, and they live peaceful productive lives. To link the religion these people follow with terrorism, as though the religion itself is to blame, is at best simplistic reasoning, at worst, outright bigotry. Consider too the many outrages committed by Christians over the years. Do we blame the religion for their actions? Let’s let a little reason into this debate.
December 6, 2015
Cliff,
Stick to you day job.
Unless you’ve read what Muslims call their how-to manual i.e. the Koran, you’ve just got to know when to keep your mouth closed, Cliff. People who say what you’ve just said have clearly not read it.
No where in Jesus’s words will you find anything remotely akin to what Muhammad and the Koran say and did.
December 6, 2015
If this commentator had taken the trouble to read the Koran and Ibn Ishaq’s Sira he would have insight into the personality of Muhammad and would understand that the Koran teaches Muslims to despise and to hate Jews, Christians,Sabians,Zoroastrians and all other non-believers as well. Muhammad said ” I have been commanded (by Allah) to fight the whole of mankind till they worship Allah alone and accept Muhammad as His Prophet”. There are numerous verses which denigrate non-believers and tell Muslims to kill them.
By contrast there are no verses in the Bible which tell Christians to kill Muslims. Please take note Cliff.
Therefore, contrary to Cliff’s comment, it is Islamic scripture (and therefore Islamic religion) which causes Muslims to become jihadi terrorists. The peaceful Muslims are peaceful in spite of their scriptures, and not because of them.
However, the existence of these violent anti-Christian, and anti-Jew verses means that there is always a reservoir of potential jihadists available to suddenly obey these scriptures and start killing infidels just because they ARE infidels.
This is now happening on an almost daily basis.
Islam must reform and the target of reform must include their Scriptures.
April 29, 2013
Our soldiers, and their officers, remain citizens and are entitled to any political view they choose. They are also entitled to have those view published or to be able to comment on the views of others – provided they make it known that its their personal view and its not said while wearing a uniform.
April 23, 2013
It is all too simple to yell “bigot” and plug your ears. Mr. Gaynor is absolutely correct in patiently explaining his position on the doctrine of Islam that opens the door for the preparation of jihadis all over the globe. Islam says alot about ‘unbelievers’, and since I am one, I would like more public debate about what Islam says, because as an ‘unbeliever’ it is in my interest to know exactly what the Koran, the Sira and the Hadith say about me.
December 6, 2015
The main “Radicalisation” is performed by Islamic Scriptures. Islamic Scripture IS the problem.
To reform Islam, the Muslims must reform their own scriptures.
April 23, 2013
I find it’s typical of today’s society (of which the ADF is Part) that opinion is governed not by reason and analysis, but by group think. If it causes us fewer hassles and criticism, then we’ll run with it. The fundamental benefit of democracy is that people can (should be able to) debate issues of significance freely and without fear of economic, social, physical or emotion harm. If your views are correct and moral, most people will end up agreeing with you on the grounds that we are less likely to want to harm ourselves or the community corporate. I qualify that by saying that “normal” people will, anyway.
This matter becomes even more important when it is applied to the military because there it really is a matter of life and death. If contentious security issues cannot be raised and debated logically within the organisations dedicated to our security, then we’re in deep trouble.
If you do not subscribe to the view that Islam poses a very serious risk to the continued weal of the Western world, I suggest that you think again. Do not just reflect on it at a cerebral level, either. There is much evidence that radical Muslims, encouraged by imams, pose a danger to the rest of us.
April 22, 2013
Whataboutery.
“1.Not a single U.S. civilian has been killed by Muslim extremists since Sept 11, 2001.” Well 13 U.S. soldiers (and an unborn child) were shot dead on November 5, 2009 by a Muslim extremist. And now three civilians and one policeman have been killed by Muslim extremists.
“2.Only 3 out of 83 acts of terrorism between 9/11 and 2009 were done by Muslim extremists. Most were by animal rights and environmental activists.” But these were low-level actions, for the most part. The RAND data is not mentioning the nearly 50 plots by Islamic extremists that have led to convictions through their plots being foiled before being brought to fruition. Every single one of these Islamic plots involved plans to commit murder on a grand scale.
To deny as much is to downlpay the very real threat of Islamic extremism.
April 22, 2013
@ David Connor: I’m glad I served with members with a wider view of the people we served!
Every terrorist is a muslim…
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/terrorism-2002-2005/terror02_05
According to the FBI database, there have been 318 terrorist incidents in the US from 1980-2005. That includes 209 bombings and 43 arsons. Out of those incidents, 42% were committed by Latino groups, 24% by Extreme Left Wing groups, 7% by Jewish Extremists, 6% by Muslim Extremists, and 5% by Communists.
A RAND Corporation [funded by the U.S. government] report titled “Would-be Warriors” reveals some very interesting facts:
1.Not a single U.S. civilian has been killed by Muslim extremists since Sept 11, 2001.
2.Only 3 out of 83 acts of terrorism between 9/11 and 2009 were done by Muslim extremists. Most were by animal rights and environmental activists.
3.There was more terrorism in the 1970s than the 21st century. There were over 60 terrorist incidents per year on U.S. soil, most of them being bombings. That’s 15 – 20 times more terrorism than post 9/11.
December 3, 2015
Hey Nathan. Who’s side are you on?
Total tool
April 22, 2013
@Adrian Morgan: I think you’ve missed the point, If Bernard was anyone other than a serving military member he could have any opinion he wants BUT he isn’t. Bernard is restricted by his contract with the Australian government which prohibits him from expressing his opinions. He is probably being charged with prejudicial behaviour amongst other things which perfectly fits with his behaviour. In this case I have absolutely no issue with him being charged. If he wants to rant about Islam, Homosexuals and the like he should resign from the Military and push on with his political career.
Islam is a religion of violence…. Hogwash! All religions have had extremist splinter groups. When you start looking into the historical context of these groups generally you’ll find they are not religiously but geopolitically motivated. Christianity: Northern Ireland comes to mind, Buddhism: South Vietnam 1966, Judaism: Just look at most settler Rabbis.
Apparently Christianity is a religion of peace…. Have u read your bible lately? Jesus Christ himself stated “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” Luke 22:36.
I could paint Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and any other major religion with the same type of brush Bernard does with Islam. If you look at the history of the areas we see in the media lately you might develop a different perspective to these issues… hell go and say g’day to the guys at a mosque and see what happens.
April 22, 2013
The general of the ADF General Hurley supports diversity within the ADF, as it is consistent within the general society. This how the ADF is lead by followers and not leaders who demonstrate courage to stand by their once held views about homosexuals in the ADF. I am glad I served at a time when right was right and wrong was wrong. Our nation is weakened by the actions of those in power to shut down debate on issues of national security, the enemy is not without but within. If they take their blinkers off and view the evidence in front of their noses, then, this kind of treason would not happen in ADF. Not evey Muslim is a terrorist, but every terrorist is a Muslim. Until we have men of courage and princile we can olnythat as we await attacks from the Islamic terrorist who hate us as infidels, that sound reasoning will prevail to protect us and perserve our freedoms we remember every 25April ANZAC Day.
April 22, 2013
So what exactly were you charged with? I would assume prejudicial behaviour (I can’t for a life of me remember where in the MLW it is as its been too long) and as such you deserve it. Your rant against Islam is a perfect case of bigotry not particularly founded in fact. I would usually say you have an absolute right to be the bigot you are because that’s the type of country we live in but as an officer of the Australian Army you have no right to express these views. I would strongly suggest that you review your military involvement and commit your time to politics where you can rant to your heart’s content.
April 22, 2013
You are typing through your rectum Nathan, when you state “Your rant against Islam is a perfect case of bigotry not particularly founded in fact.” There are strands of Islam, the literalist Salafi strands of Islam that seem to always serve as a gateway to one of two things – a) refusal ofits followers to integrate into Western society, to believe women should be inferior and to be constantly wanting to see democracy destroyed and replaced with sharia, or b) as a condit to genuine acts of terrorism. For example, in Britain the Al Muhajiroun group of Salafists provided praise for terrorists and a report by the Centre for Social Cohesion found that one in seven terror cases brought to court in the UK involved Al Muhajiroun members. In April 2003 when Mike’s Place in Tel Aviv was bombed by two British subjects, one was from Hizb ut-Tahrir and the other was from Al Muhajiroun. 2 of the 4 people who killed 52 innocent people in London on July 7th 2005 (Mohammed Siddique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer) were both linked to Al Muhajiroun. Also, Tamerlan Tsarnaev was a “fan” of two Australian Salafists, Feiz Mohammed and Shaykh Omar Al Banna. Surely this is important enough for someone connected to the Australian Defence Force – and intelligence – to be discussing. Failure to discuss the extremes of Islamism/Salafism is a failure to deal adequately with the very real threat of terror attacks both on Australian soil and elsewhere. Sure – most Muslims are not Salafists or Islamists and should be supported in attempts to integrate them into Western societies. But to refuse to discuss the extremists who literally follow the violent exhortations in the Koran and Hadiths is an act of great folly. You and the ADF may congratulate yourself for being politically correct, but the extremists of Islam – the Salafists and the Islamists – are no friends of the West, and by siding with them (rather than separating them from the vast majority of peaceful pro-democratic Muslims) you are little better than a Neville Chamberlain or a Vidkund Quisling. And your whining about bigotry is irrelevant – Islamists and Salafists think of themselves primarily as followers of Islam. Therefore it is right to suggest the motivating and justifying texts within Islam that appear to tolerate violence should be discussed, and discussed with some urgency.
April 24, 2013
NATHAN: All one needs to do to understand islam is to read the qur’an and a summary of the life of its ideal man, mohamed, as of the Medina period.