Did Alexi Giannoulias Dodge the Draft in Greece?
by Capitol ConfidentialFrom 1998 to 1999, Alexi Giannoulias played professional basketball in Panionios B.C. Greece. That part we already knew.
But one thing we still don’t know is how an American with Greek citizenship was able to live in Greece without being drafted into the Greek military.
Under Greek law, all citizens must serve in the military once they turn 18. Much like in Israel, Greek citizens will perform a period of military service after high school.
Alexi Giannoulias was a college graduate when he came to Greece – an age meeting the requirement for military service. So how did he get around the requirement?
With many Americans holding dual Greek citizenship travelling to Greece, U.S. Embassy, Athens details the Greek government’s requirements for military service on its website.
According to the Embassy, Giannoulias could either have been considered a Permanent Resident of Abroad or a Draft Evader. If he was the former:
Permanent Residents of Abroad (MONIMOI KATOIKOI EXOTERIKOU):
Persons who were born or established residence abroad before January 1st of the year of their 10th birthday. Permanent residents of abroad may remain in Greece, without incurring any military obligations for a cumulative period of SIX MONTHS within the same calendar year, only if they are registered as “permanent residents of abroad” (monimos katoikos exoterikou) with the appropriate recruiting office, and are in possession of a certificate confirming their status (pistopoiitiko monimou katoikou exoterikou) issued by the Greek consulate having jurisdiction over their foreign residence. The above certificate is valid for six months from the date of issuance.
If he was a draft evader:
Special arrangements for persons classified as DRAFT EVADERS
Detailed information concerning settlement of military obligations for draft evaders can be obtained from the nearest Greek Diplomatic or Consular authority or the appropriate recruiting authority in Greece.
As of 7/04 the Greek law for military obligations provides that draft evaders may travel and stay in Greece for a maximum of thirty days (in total or partially) within the same calendar year.
The American Embassy in Athens strongly suggests that persons classified as draft evaders, should first check with the nearest Greek Consulate or appropriate recruiting authority in Greece before traveling to Greece.
And before 7/04, that 30 day allowance didn’t even exist.
Alexi Giannoulias has concentrated much of his campaign on attacking Mark Kirk’s military record. Ironically, Mark Kirk actually volunteered to serve in the military. If Alexi Giannoulias found a way to evade his own obligations, that should be national news.
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
69 Comments
"Alexi Giannoulias has concentrated much of his campaign on attacking Mark Kirk’s military record. Ironically, Mark Kirk actually volunteered to serve in the military. If Alexi Giannoulias found a way to evade his own obligations, that should be national news."
I think that is most definitely a question that needs answered….
Giannoulias and Obama are thisclose…
From what we hear they are more than just 'basketball buddies'. But we digress… What Giannoulias REALLY is is a crook. read any of John Kass's CHICAGO TRIBUNE commentaries on him, and the Crook County cabal. You wouldn't want this lot within a stone's throw of your son's pre-school much less the Seat of Power.
Whether he should have served in the Greek military or not is irrelevant in US political discourse; this is a matter for the Greek authorities to address vis a vis his dual citizenship. Let's just say he succeeds in doing the impossible.
Making Mark Kirk look good…
Enough of these negative and petty posts,….
if we are going to discuss the importance of the Illinois senate race,……..
let's discuss all we can about his opponent Mark Kirk,…..
the more we put him on the spotlight,…maybe, just maybe,……..
we can get this RINO to mend his ways,………..
so we don't end up electing phonies like this Alaskan crab Mukuscowski.
alexi was given dispensation and defered from all forms of military service in Greece and the USA by edict of
t. rezko and blago. g.soros who is not Greek did have a wager on alexi's last b-ball game in Greece and soros won. alexi did some point shaving but what's a few points between (friends) feinds.
Why did Mark Kirk not say a word about this as Alexi hammered him on lying about his military record? How was the "former banker" (those are Alexi's own words) elected to Treasurer absent this information?
When will the Old Media actually ASK HIM some questions?
Kirk is a phony Ralph. He introduced a rifle ban, he voted for cap and trade and he is all about the Chicago Machine.
Alexi is a democrat. Therefore, entitled, above the law, better than anyone else, not bound by the same laws that mere mortals must adhere to and destine for the senate because of his mad basketball skills. Who are We the People to question, much less not fall prone at the feet of such an fine example of humanity?
Sarc off.
I just threw up…..
Look, I'm a pretty big supporter of Mark Kirk and think Alexi Giannoulias is just about the lamest & most crooked Democratic Senate candidate Illinois has produced since Carol Mosely Braun. But really… this strikes me as beyond scraping the bottom of the barrel, more like getting on hands and knees with a magnifying glass and examining the mosquito droppings.
I guarantee you, this line of attack will mean nothing in Illinois. Less than nothing. Anyone who seriously tries to make it will find themselves laughed at by even Giannoulias' most passionate critics. Go after him for the way he mismanaged the State Treasury. Or the fact that he and his family took out $70 Million from their troubled bank before it failed. Go after him for his connections to the corruption that is the Chicago machine, or his dealings with mobsters. Those are the things that truly reflect on his character and the sort of opportunistic politician he is. But not this. Unless you can find some quote where he disparages military service in general, this "issue" is a complete waste of time to consider.
BTW, to go slightly off-topic, will someone PLEASE point out that Gen. Wesley Clark's endorsement of Giannoulias is about as predictable as the inevitable Bill Clinton or Jesse Jackson endorsements? What, did anyone expect Clark to endorse someone from the party opposite the one he is a member of? Get real!
A Democrat, and friend of The Regime, side-stepping the law?
I thought it was "der lickenmeister"??
both alexi and kirk stink to high heaven, but i must hold my nose, and vote for the lesser of two evils, and that is kirk. yes, crap and taxer kirk. how could somebody be so stupid to not only believe in global warming hoax, but try to pass a bill that take it serious. we know why the left likes crap and tax, they love the tax part. so what is mark kirk's excuse?
When the requirments to be in the House, or Senate, were written… there was no such thing as a Dual Citizen.
I am convinced that the Founder's intent was to ensure that no one would be making our law, who had any chance of divided loyalties….
We really need to get rid of dual citizenship entirely… but especialy for those in Government.
But lets be honest… Illinois is never going to elect a truly conservative candidate to the US Senate, not unless you nuke Chicago and Peoria and maybe East St. Louis and Rockford for good measure. Its just not going to happen. Kirk is about as conservative as you're ever going to get out of this state, and on the issues that really matter the most right now (fiscal issues), he is far more in line with our thinking than Giannoulias.ever will be.
I've met Kirk, and I've met Giannoulias. Kirk is by far the smarter, more knowledgeable candidate. Giannoulias has no convictions or understanding, and prefers simply to follow whatever script is handed to him by the DNC. In the coming years we are going to need to have as many votes in Congress as we can to turn around Obama's agenda. With the realistic options we have before us, I'd much rather have Kirk in there than Giannoulias.
If this were the American mlitary, it would be important. I doubt anyone in IL will care that he dodged Greek military service though, if he even did. Though I agree that if it's true, it's hypocritically over the top to attack another person's record.
I do believe if Kirk gets the message that we are on to his silly,…
reach across the aisle nonsense and that we will have him on a short leash,……
we may be able to save his career as a politician.
The rifle ban, Cap and trade, the Kagan approval,……..
we got our work cut out, that's for certain there Ashrak.
Another mealy-mouthed, pansy-ass, lying through the teeth, mudslinging demonrat. I'm so SHOCKED!!!! Shocked, I tell you. Ok, maybe not so much. +Hanzo+
The good news is that the Alaska dynasty is dead.
Dual citizen just means you are hedging your bets in case you are caught by terrorists. THis guy should renounce one or the other.
Thank Nixon.
Sorry to rain in here but Sean needs our help to get rid of Barney Frank … this site will promote the person of the week… We must take back this country …..
We need to help sean in any way possible
Just click the link and vote for sean … (15 seconds of your day can make a difference) – oh yea pass it on !!! if you did it, give me thumbs up please ….
Thank you
http://www.rightklik.net/2010/08/ten-buck-fridays...
What is it with these Dem office seekers who hold dual citizenship who conveniently lay claim to and then dismiss their foreign allegiances?
Hey, some folks are more privileged than others. Take a good look around. If we pulled the shenanigans our politicos, sports heroes, celebrities, and elitists, we would be in jail. Yet, they receive special consideration. Go figure. Seems the same rules that apply to us "little" people do not necessarily apply to the privileged.
First let me start off by stating that I think a majority of what goes on in the Cook County political machine is dishonest and criminal in nature, but why bring the idea of dodging conscription into this ordeal. For the record, I am no fan of Giannoulias. I however think that the idea of avoiding conscription should be applauded. If the gov't is allowed to force us into military service and into military campaigns that we neither embrace nor believe in without our consent, does'nt that make us little more than slaves to the state? I think it is ironic that so many people on a site that supposedly advocates LIMITED gov't embrace this idea of mandatory military service for the federal gov't. Is the idea of LIBERTY so far gone that people blindly accept the idea of U.S. conscription (aka enslavement) as common place?
People writing on this site are passionate about the criminals in office taxing our production with no recourse (which I applaud), but blindly accept a far worse kind of taxation (one that sometimes demand the ultimate tax- your lives). We must start acting without hypocrisy rooted in our principles in order to turn this country around and to finally break the Welfare/Warfare state cycle we have been living under!
Chicago Dems got to be getting close to the bottom of the political barrel if all they can run is Giannoulias….guess all the other thugs and crooks are already in DC.
I agree. But is the alternative that we let Giannoulias win?
Actually, the US does not officially recognize dual citizenship. If you become a US citizen you renounce your previous citizenship as part of the process. If you are born a US citizen but claim additional citizenship as part of birthright (i.e., parents), the US doesn't recognize it as long as you do it before your 18th birthday. If you wait until after your 18th birthday, US law requires you to renounce your US citizenship.
Naturally, no one ever follows the rules… and, surprise, surprise! it's not enforced!
We don't. A half cup is better than none at all.
Alexi Giannoulias is an American citizen, not a Greek citizen with permanent residence abroad…
Read the article. He has/had dual citizenship.
Laws are for the little people.
Geez, Ralph. Is there something in the water up there that you seem to be immune to ? Seems like y'all are always having to choose between Crap and Crap Light.
Just because he holds dual-citizenship does not mean he was a permanent resident abroad – he was first an American citizen, and returning to play basketball for one season from 1998-1999 does not qualify him for the military – he would have to spend 6 months in a single year to be considered a permanent resident, so unless the Greek basketball season lasts from June '98 to June '99, then Giannoulias was fine. The anonymous poster should have done their research…
You got it, Sister. Looks like Sean is winning, so far.
Roth, I think you're missing the point of this article. It's not about whether a country should have mandatory military service. It's about a guy who may have illegally dodged the law , while criticizing his opponents military service.
" I however think that the idea of avoiding conscription should be applauded"
No…..working to change the law should be applauded. Until you get the law changed, you abide by it, if you are a person of character.
We had a draft…..sucked. We changed the law…….works way better.
That's how you do it.
Used to be so, but Nixon changed it. You can have dual citizenship whether you were born a US citizen or were naturalized.
If you read the piece, you wold know there were no charges made…Read the articles, and read the bills. -82
Me too. Too close to true.
Amen brother Dcase…
Just curious, do you have any more detailed information on when and why Nixon changed it?
I hear ya,…
actually it is Lake Michigan water that does the trick,…
the greatest elixir ever discovered.
It will cure any bad case of Democritus.
I didn't say you couldn't have it; I said the US Govt doesn't officially recognize it. As an example, if you were an Iranian Diplomat with dual citizenship, the US Govt would treat you as an American citizen if you committed a crime — you would not get away with diplomatic immunity.
I may be wrong, but I think prior to Nixon's change if you took citizenship in another country, you were automatically no longer a US citizen. Now you need to explicitly revoke it. (Probably so they can still come after you for taxes…)
And let me stress this: when you naturalize as a US citizen, you revoke your previous citizenship in the eyes of the US Govt. (Whether your other country recognizes such a revocation is another matter…) It's part of the oath you swear, and that has not changed…
You can download the U.S. Dual Citizenship Guide here. I remember when Nixon made the change because it made me (and a lot of other people) furious, but I don't remember the reason — perhaps it had to do with the draft.
So many other things have made me furious since then, it's hard to remember the details of all of them. :-}
I consider military service as service to your country, not to your government. Maybe that's wrong thinking if it's mandatory service…?
As a typical demo he dodges everything–military service, taxes (check his returns), and the truth.
Hell, I think mandatory service for every student out of high school for at least a year would be a great thing. For one, it actually gives kids a taste of real hardship, discipline and teamwork instead of just shipping them off to the weird, disconnected universe of the college and university campus, where all they'll likely learn is identity politics, radical leftism and lies about American history.
You are misinformed. There was no draft during the revolutionary war, the war of 1812 and the mexican war. There was simply no mandatory service before or during the formative years of this country. If you disagree with an argument you should try to use some kind of documented evidence to make your case instead of simply making unwarranted assumptions.
I agree with you on the point that it would be better to change the law, but it is not clear whether or not conscription is even constitutional in the first place. The clause about the right of the gov't to raise armies says nothing about the right to conscript armies. The Revolutionary war was fought with an entirely volunteer force. What I am refering to is the right of nullification that has been recognized by the likes of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. With all decision making centralized in the federal gov't, nullification and secession are the only way to check an over-reaching federal gov't.
And you are either a liar or willfully ignorant.
The Militia Act of 1792, Passed May 8, 1792, providing federal standards for the organization of the Militia.
( http://www.constitution.org/mil/mil_act_1792.htm )
An ACT more effectually to provide for the National Defence, by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States.
I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside, and that within twelve months after the passing of this Act.
Mandatory military service could be beneficial to some young Americans; however, it takes away the very essence of America we hold dear- our liberty. Why should we have to submit to the almighty gov't and allow them to indoctinate us with conformity? That would be a slippery slope to socialism and using the "Comrade" during introductions.
"During the Revolutionary War( http://www.answers.com/topic/conscription ), state governments assumed the colonies' authority to raise their short‐term militias through drafts if necessary. They sometimes extended this to state units in the Continental Army, but they denied Gen. George Washington's request that the central government be empowered to conscript. As the initial volunteering slackened, states boosted enlistment bounties and held occasional drafts, producing more hired substitutes than actual draftees."
Pre-Revolutionary War mandatory service, referencing the Georgia Militia Act of 1755 ( http://www.sos.georgia.gov/archives/what_do_we_ha... )
"Militia Districts had their origin in the colonial Acts of Jan. 24, 1755 and Sept. 29, 1773, and the basic principles were adopted and adapted in all subsequent enactments of the State Legislature. Originally the Provincial Governor, as Commander in Chief, was empowered to create Regimental and Company Districts and the field officers commissioned by him would define the lines of the King’s Militia Company Districts and designate the number of men constituting the Militia company in that District. The Captain of each Company would enroll the names of every male, between the ages of 16 and 60, residing in the Company District, and his action automatically made those men members of that Militia Company."
There is your requested documentation.
Now the next time YOU want to make a point, be prepared to use some kind of documented evidence to make your case instead of simply making deceitful assertions that contradict a rather easily researched historical record.
Prove it.
Where is YOUR evidence that the Revolutionary War was fought with an entirely volunteer army?
Where is YOUR evidence that it is not clear if conscription is unconstitutional? (Bearing in mind that the Supreme Court has ruled otherwise.)
Where is YOUR evidence that nullification applies to conscription? (Bearing in mind that the nullifcation Madison referred to in no way incorporated anything related to secession, despite certain wild claims made by Confederate apologists and Constitutional revisionists.)
You are making wild claims, now back them up with evidence.
Yes, the states had the power to conscript. It was not in hands of the federal gov't to conscipt people into the military. Many northern state militias were called on by the federal gov't to invade canada in the early 1800's and they simply refused to do so. They decided to nullify the orders delegated to them.
Slightly off-topic–Maybe the USA should not have duel citizenship at all, especially for elected officials…
So in other words, you lied when you said there was no mandatory service during the formative years of this country. That is a start.
Unfortunately when caught in that you continue to try to lie.
What you are referring to is the situation during the War of 1812, when the militias were called into federal service, and not some random call to summarily invade a neighboring country.
What specifically happened is that because the New England states opposed the War of 1812, they constructed an interpetation of the Constitutional provision of the President as Commander in Chief of the militia to assert that in order for the militia to receive legitimate orders, said orders had to be issued in person by the President. As a result of this, when those militia forces were ordered to cross the St. Lawrence River they refused the orders as unlawful.
They did not "nullify" the orders in anything even remotely resembling the context of "nullification" as presented by James Madison, or even the more radical version asserted by Thomas Jefferson.
With this incident I must conclude that you are not merely willfully ignorant, but deliberately lying about American history in an effort to advance your position, which you are obviously aware is in complete contradiction to the recorded history of the United States.
I have lived my entire life in and around Chicago and it sickens me that our public servants are so crooked yet people still elect them to our highest offices. Illinois is literally at the mercy of the Dummycraps from Chicago that make up most of the state government as well. It's time to take back our state one seat at a time
Alexi is a machine Chicago dem.
He has lost the FDIC $400 million (while he took home a great profits)
He is possibly the the worst Treasurer in Illinois history – his losses are still coming – Illinois credit is down and getting worse.
He was very fortunate he did not appear in the Blago trail – which may happen in round two. Resko I believe will have many great stories to tell as Alexi as he was his "banker"
He will do what he is told without question.
He needs to crushed and find another profession. Obama might put him on the Supreme Court – Alexi may be more skill than the last one he named.
Kirk is far better choice – not great – but far better Alexi.
He's either an American or he has Greek citizenship. Dual citizenship is BS!
Brilliant investigative journalism. Thanks to whoever did the work.
Sadly I agree. But groom someone for the next run. This struggle to take back our Constitution is going to take a few election cycles.
The whole article is a charge! Why even print the article if there is no real point unless it was designed to instigate?
My problem with Mark Kirk-actually I have many problems with Kirk this is just the biggest one-is that he supports abortion for ANY reason from conception up until full term live birth. That includes support for partial birth abortion-aka INFANTICIDE!. I understand that Illinois isn't going to get a conservative candidate for the senate. That's fine. If Scott Brown were running in Illinois I could vote for him . The Scott Brown's of the world are far to the right of Mark Kirk. I'm not a big fan of third parties but I am making an exception in the IL senate race because, as Tevye said in 'Fiddler on the Roof, "On the other hand-THERE IS NO OTHER HAND!"
Thank You. Just another reason why I am not a fan of Nixon.
Fine article. There's a lot of great info here, though I did want to let you know something – I am running Fedora with the current beta of Firefox, and the design of your blog is kind of flaky for me. I can read the articles, but the navigation doesn't function so great.
nfl jerseys china
http://www.wholesalejerseyss.com/
I don't understand what you say is true
If I want to know what is this one, but I am a little bit is not very clear, you first see my website? I problems in it? Thank you
happy all day ,it's the best comment that i have saw so far ,wish to enter the website you mentined during the article ,and looking forward to have a brand new shopping experience on the website ,too
authentic nfl jerseys wholesale
Thanks for the great post. It reminds me that I have to bring more structure in to my blogging. Your blog is very interesting. Please let me know how to go for your rss blog.authentic nfl jerseys
You must be logged in to post a comment.