LT may refuse to go to Iraq

mike · #1 06-08-2006, 04:54 PM

This story burns me!

This is a LT and has not been in the military that long. So, he has been in the military SINCE the war in Iraq started. What did he think could happen when he signed up? He signed up after the Iraq war started.

Quote:

As thousands of Fort Lewis Army troops prepare to head back to Iraq, one of their officers is making a stand.

A lieutenant says he is going to refuse to go, saying it's an unjust war. Anti-war groups are rallying to his defense.

Lt. Ehren Watada of the Stryker Brigade writes, "I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to watch families torn apart, while the President tells us to ‘stay the course.’ I refuse to be party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to deserve our aggression.
"I wanted to be there for my fellow troops. But the best way was not to help drop artillery and cause more death and destruction. It is to help oppose this war and end it so that all soldiers can come home." - signed LT.

I am sick of people signing up for the military for college and travel. Then when they are sent to Iraq, they suddenly become antiwar. Again, what did this LT think the Army was all about? The Army is trained to shoot and kill people. This is not the cub scouts!

I guess he will have fun in jail.

Quote:

It's happened before with a sergeant who refused to go. Sgt. Kevin Benderman was sentenced to 15 months for refusing to go to Iraq.

Quote:

This doesn't sit well with fellow soldiers.

"We're here to serve our country and fight and that's his job," said Private Nathan Hanson. "It's his duty."

Anti-war protestors, many of which demonstrated at the Port of Olympia recently, are rushing to his aid. They have put up a Web site believing he's the first commissioned officer to refuse to go.
The lieutenant says he'll make his intentions official Wednesday at noon and that's when his defense team will kick into gear.

http://www.komotv.com/stories/43774.htm

Gangster · #2 06-08-2006, 06:30 PM

I agree with you. The US Military since the end of the draft has become one of America's biggest social service agencies.

Turk · #3 06-09-2006, 01:06 AM

When the draft ended the military gradually became more 'family' oriented for the enlisted ranks. I guess they had no choice. In that sense it did become more of a social kind of program. I guess the question is should the military more closely reflect society or should it be structured along a bachelor warrior kind of mentality? Living up to commitments, even in the face of discomfort or possible death is a hallmark of integrity. While the young Lt. stands on his soapbox of anti-warism, the truth is he is probably terrified and does not have the intestinel fortitude or integrity of those who served before him. If he sticks to his stance, the Army needs to throw the book at him, especially in light of the fact that he is supposed to help lead and set an example. While I don't doubt there are a few who really reach some kind of inner decision and might be classified as consciensious objectors, I suspect the truth is that most of these so-called anti-going to the middle east military members suffer from the age old problem of cowardace and either need a swift kick in the ass to wake then up to what its all about or they need prison time to reflect upon what it means to live up to a commitment. Thats my opinion and as always, I'm happy to share it, ha.

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