Yeah, but not the civilian leaders and congress,
the generals who once wanted too have been pretty much properly demonized and weeded out now. The rest that are left are expected to follow orders and not question whether or not
their leaders are upholding their oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution when ordering them off to war.
As much as I disagree with this war, this soldier took an oath to go where he is sent.
He should go or be court-martialled.
I don't agree with the firing squad like my blood-thirsty brother said above, but he should probably be discharged from the service.
He took an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. From his video taped message it sounds as though he has identified the constitution's domestic enemies and is doing his duty as per his oath.
I agree.
We may disagree with a policy but he gave an oath to obey every legal order and there is nothing in US law that says the Iraq effort is illegal.
He apparently isn't claiming to be a conscientious objector so he should get what he's asked for.
I disagree with him and usually agree with you.
However, this guy isn't a coward.
In fact, he is being pretty brave since he could be sentenced (and if I were presiding over his court martial he would be sentenced) to 5 years hard labor at Leavenworth.
There was no declaration of war, that's congress and the administration violating the U.S. Constitution, an authorization to use force is not a declaration of war by constitutional standards IMHO and the debate is still going on about it. (the question has never been settled to my knowledge) The authorization to use force is a UN idea used to get us into Korea.
It's also illegal
by international law for an occupying force to change the laws of an occupied terrirtory. That's in the
Hague Regulations, which Paul Bremer and the CPA violated.
And BTW,
defending the U.S. Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic comes before obeying orders in that oath. That means it's a priority.
Poncho, if we allowed each member of the military to decide for themselves what is and is not a constitutional order, our military would be in complete disarray.
If someone feels that their could be a problem along these lines, they simply should not enlist at all.
Actually the declaration of war was made in 1991. The end of the conflict under Bush Sr. was not an end to that war. We have actually been at war with Iraq all these many years. We were only under a cease fire providing Saddam would agree to disarm. This war is the very same war from 1991. It never came to an end. So our going back into Iraq is legal, legitimate, and Constitutional.
As a former Marine I know that once you take your oath as a military volunteer you forfit your right to question or refuse orders. Even as a General. This behavior is in direct conflict with the Uniform Code of Military Justice and consedered treason during time of war. He doesnt get to decide if this war is right or wrong. He must follow orders. Those who have a problem with this should not volunteer. And we are all aware of this prior to signing on the dotted line. So this just makes him an activist with an agenda from the time he signed those papers. I believe he wnt into the service intending to do this.
One of the definitions of cowardice in wartime is to refuse to participate in combat operations with the soldiers you live, train , and work with. His reasons don't matter at all.
Combat refusal is and always has been considered cowardice by the armed services.
He's not brave at all. He's counting on being discharged from the Army and not serving any jail time at all. He's probably right. That is most likely what will happen.
This guy is from a left wing liberal activist family. He went to college and graduated in 2003. This as you all know is after the war in Iraq began. Directly after college he signed the dotted line to go to officer candidate school, knowing about the Iraq war. Then as soon as his unit is deployed he refuses. This was planned prior to his enlistment, he is just a propoganda tool used by Anti-American Left Wing psychos.
He should be brought up on charges according to the UCMJ.
Once convicted should either recieve a dishonorable discharge or spend time in Levonworth.
Then he can become the poster child for the liberals and later become the new senator from Mass.
While I agree that the man in question should not have joined, the statement by RevM above is not correct. As I seem to recall the Gulf War was, like Vietnam, not a war declared by Congress, but rather a "police action" called "Operation Desert Shield" and then "Operation Desert Storm".
The actions in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and now Iraq have eroded the Constitutional separation of powers, giving way too much authority to one person, the President. The people's representatives in Congress are supposed to have this power.
Now you can argue that Congress wrote Bush a blank check to invade, and for that, I hold them accountable.