They are likely going to be going to jail and getting a dishonorable discharge. A soldier does not get to decide where they go. They give up that right when the sign their enlistment papers.
...he said that he is willing to go to jail for what he believes in. Does a soldier have to partake in a pointless massacre? Should a soldier kill civilians because an officer says so? The soldier gave up a lot when he took the oath but he did not give up his sense of morality. Would you kill someone based on a lie?
Unfortunately for him, he's going to jail. Fortunately for him the military no longer executes soldiers for this offense. Honestly I agree with his take on this war, but this was the wrong way to express his views.
Someone has to say enough is enough. We have lost our moral compass as a country due to fear. Little actions can make a big difference. What would the right way be?
Being a child of the 60s, I have been following this rather closely. Some of my greatest heroes in my life were draft dodgers. What was really interesting was the comment that the government made today "a democracy depends upon its military officers' unquestioning allegience to authority." I am sorry, that is my definition of fascisim. Wake up people -- you are acting out of fear!!!
The Military relies on people following legal orders. Congress signed the law putting us at war. The Job is not done, this man refusing to follow lawful orders is not acceptable behavior in an officer.
While I agree we should not have gone into Iraq in the first place. We did go in and we took out Hussein leaving a power vacuum. Until we have a stable government in place we cannot afford to leave. Leaving would cause the country to completely fall apart quite possibly having the Iranians help the Shiites and the Saudis help the Sunni's leaving a huge war in our wake. Not to mention the message it would send to terrorist saying that we are week and lack the stomach to do what is necessary. We have given them that message plenty of times with Obama before.
This is not acting out of fear. Acting out of fear would be leaving and letting the region fall into more chaos which would cost us even more lives.
I am glad that you at least qualify your statement with "legal" orders and "lawful" orders. What would "completely fall apart" look like? Would it look like 40 (literally) different factions all tearing the country apart? Maybe we should be less concerned with what the terrorists think of us and more concerned with human rights and working with the international community. With the killing and arrest of civilians, the silencing of dissent in this country, America is becoming the thing it fears.
Show where this war is unlawful? Congress declared war the President signed the law. I fail to see where this war is not legal. WE had every right to declare the war as Saddam Hussein Violated the cease fire on numerous occasions.
Human rights? So it would serve human rights to walk away and let the violance escalate. We are working with the international community. What killing and arrest of civilians? Do you mean the ones we are court martialling guys for? When have we actually silenced dissent?
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-02-05 10:03 pm (UTC)That is the point...
Date: 2007-02-06 08:44 am (UTC)Re: That is the point...
Date: 2007-02-06 03:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-05 10:08 pm (UTC)Fortunately for him the military no longer executes soldiers for this offense.
Honestly I agree with his take on this war, but this was the wrong way to express his views.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 08:46 am (UTC)The Terrorists are Winning
Date: 2007-02-06 08:37 am (UTC)Re: The Terrorists are Winning
Date: 2007-02-06 03:20 pm (UTC)While I agree we should not have gone into Iraq in the first place. We did go in and we took out Hussein leaving a power vacuum. Until we have a stable government in place we cannot afford to leave. Leaving would cause the country to completely fall apart quite possibly having the Iranians help the Shiites and the Saudis help the Sunni's leaving a huge war in our wake. Not to mention the message it would send to terrorist saying that we are week and lack the stomach to do what is necessary. We have given them that message plenty of times with Obama before.
This is not acting out of fear. Acting out of fear would be leaving and letting the region fall into more chaos which would cost us even more lives.
Re: The Terrorists are Winning
Date: 2007-02-06 04:36 pm (UTC)Re: The Terrorists are Winning
Date: 2007-02-06 05:22 pm (UTC)Human rights? So it would serve human rights to walk away and let the violance escalate. We are working with the international community. What killing and arrest of civilians? Do you mean the ones we are court martialling guys for? When have we actually silenced dissent?