This shit really blows my mind. I mean I think back to my squadron commanders who were either Majors or Lt Colonels at the time and try to imagine one of them trying to pull something like this and I can't do it. You gotta be really out there I think.
Well they wouldn't for two reasons:
1.) They were professional soldiers.
2.) They had no desire to take a flamethrower to their careers.
Cook didn't have much to lose. He was beyond his 20 year mark, so even if he tubes his meager career, he'll cash out and leave (though not the birther hero he thought he was going to be).
At first, I was a little shocked by the Army's decision. However, after dealing with HRC-STL, I am not really at all surprised in retrospect. Cook was beyond any sort of mandatory obligation to the Army and was on voluntary indefinate status, which means he could leave the military anytime he wanted. In that context, it makes sense that the Army policy would be to allow mobilization volunteers to drop out prior to reporting. Thus, it was just easier for the Army to rescind his orders and find another officer to go in his stead.
Of course the birthers are going to scream that this was "orders from the top" to avoid the issue, but Cook's case was so weak to begin with (I discussed the jurisdictional problems behind it earlier) that it's wishful thinking at best. I imagine the COL Good simply saying "I don't have time to go to Georgia for some frivelous suit. Just cut this guy loose".
Now he gets to return to his reserve unit and with his tin-foil beret on.