The comment by ‘Lefty’ to Joseph is so accurate. Time to wake up ‘American public’, war profiteering is against the Constitution, dissolving the US Constitution is a crime of the highest order, yet this president and his vice president and their officers have done just that right before all of our eyes. When the shock wears off that this small cadre of misguided sociopathic liars have usurped the US Constitution and indeed allowed, that is, aided and abetted the perpetration of 9-11, ordered the genocide and chaos now having overtaked Iraq and Afghanistan for the profit of the petro corporations and the Halliburtons, Kellog-Brown and Root, Caci and other private firms, they will realize like a drunken and beaten prostitute that they have been used in the most cruel insidious scheme ever conceived of by criminal minds. We may be at our last and final wake up call. It’s time kids, to grow up. This is your earth, this is your country, they never owned it nor do they own your soul. When you stop thinking this you will wake up and you will know what to do. But first you must wake up!

To #46226… loved your comment… they signed a contract, and they should be able to break that contract.  Other people can do this.

I have never hated any president we have had before now….  I cannot believe how much hatred there is in my heart towards “bush and company”

I became a God Star Wife in the Vietnam era… I am not opposed to war/wars.  I am opposed to war that does nothing good for the United States and it’s people.

“bush and company”, have gotten us embroiled in a civil war.  They started it on a lie and they are continuing to lie to us… only some people are just realizing how badly they have been lied to.

Any man or woman out there who feels like bush does that the war in Iraq is right, then may I be the first to ask them to please pack your bag an get your butt over there and replace a soldier who wants to come home.  Age doesn’t stop you from pulling a trigger.

Having said all that… if they court martial this young man they are again so wrong.

Sincerely,
Navy brat and Gold Star wife…

The War Resisters Support Campaign in Canada is assisting dozens of US military personnel who have refused to serve in Iraq, and have come to Canada seeking sanctuary.

Based in Toronto, with chapeters in Vancouver and Victoria, the Campaign has been mobilizing support for the war resisters and their families among Canadians and worldwide.

We are already noticing a “surge” in war reissters coming north. We anticipate an even larger one after Bush’s speech.

You can help the Campaign by visiting our website, donating, spreading the word, and/or placing our link on your website or blog.

Many soldiers and Marines, seamen/women and airmen/women are hoping that their fellow Americans will stop Bush from sending them into the hell that has been created in Iraq. They shuld know that they have firends in Canada who are hoping to hear from them, and maybe to welcome them to the “Peaceable Kingdom” up north.

There is a movement that has been a part of enlightened military thinking for some thirty years called the First Earth Battalion.  It includes many retired officers and other thoughtful supporters.
The visions for that mythology include the ethical uses of force, non-lethal weapons, combat of the collective conscience, and Natural Security.  It is a vision of the military of all countries involved in the active recovery of the biosphere.

I mention this in case there are still people who believe that military officers are incapable of such thinking and that ethical questions about the constitution and what it means are not beyond their interest.

You will not be undermining the military by supporting important and deep questions about the ethical use of force.
If you want more on this see my youtube offerings by selecting jim channon or go to my website.  Jim Channon LTC ret U.S.Army <arcturus.org>

Joseph,

You are utterly confused. The war in Iraq is a criminal enterprise to steal oil from the Iraqi’s and to steal tax dollars from U.S. citizens in the form of no-bid contracts to the friends and family of Bush and Cheney.  Further, Bush and Cheney, in addition to virtually everyone else in support of this war, are yellow bellied, sap sucking, hypocritical, DRAFT DODGING, COWARDS, who send other people’s children off to die in a criminal, fruadulent war so that they can make money.  Bush’s and Cheney’s fraud in inducing the U.S. into war with Iraq, and their corruption during the war is the greatest breach of public trust in the history of America for which impeachment, prosecution, conviction ane the most severe punishment imaginable is not only appropriate, but compulsory under the Constitution.

Lt. Watada, by comparison, has more courage and integrity in his little finger than Bush and Cheney have in their whole families.  Lt. Wasada is right and courageous to refuse to participate in this criminal, fraudulent war.

How anyone could believe George Bush has the guts to do anything other than swagger arrogantly as he sends America’s soldiers to die in an illegal action, is incomprehensible. Maybe if he had actually experienced the horrors of war, rather than shirking his own military duty, he wouldn’t be so quick to involve us in a war for “truth, justice, the American way”...and oil.

When,and if,this fiasco is over with,I would vote for these brave, thoughtful men and women to be our leaders, our representatives,and above all the ones that honoured all that our country stands for…..
You guys ....RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROCK

When,and if,this fiasco is over with,I would vote for these brave, thoughtful men and women to be our leaders, our representatives,and above all the ones that honoured all that our country stands for…..
You guys rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrock.

Speakpeace, you’ve said it better than anyone i’ve read here yet. Apt moniker.

Clearly we need to demonstrate tolerance to others in our pursuit of justice. In pusuit of peace, it takes time and skill and certainly tremendous fortitude to facilitate change that is of benefit to others rather than to just oneself. To Joseph, I must respond with sadness that the anger he has overwhelms his awareness that there is a distinct difference in being a “coward” and being opposed to violent conflict. As a daughter of a WWII Royal Airforce veteran who has suffered (at 89y now) lifelong post traumatic stress disorder as a result of that horrific conflict, and as a person who protested the Vietnam War and wept in front of the VW Memorial in DC with my own children in hand, I can only say you are terribly remiss to believe that we are ignorant of the implications of the war over in Iraq- not just for our own over there, but for EVERYONE there. How can we possibly think that bringing more and more troops into an already disasterous conflict will solve anything. Peace begins here and with the awareness that we cannot impart our will upon the Iraq culture. We owe them fortitude and respect for a self directed government that serves its own population. We owe our own troops an effort to bring intelligence and a plan for their safe journey home. In peace.

Lt. Ehren Watada is indeed a very brave individual. He has chosen to support and defend the Constitution and thus has also declined to follow an order to participate in an illegal war. He has stated that he is NOT a conscientious objector, nor did he seek that status. He in fact volunteered to serve in Afghanistan but was told no. He also requested to resign his commission. Thi military is using him as an example, hoping to stem the tide of resisters!
He is a much braver, more intelligent man than the person currently call “commander in chief”.

“I dont think there is anyone who thinks this war could not of been handled in a different way, but there can only be one leader. At least he had the guts to do what had to be done.”

Joseph,
The problem with your statement, is that your fearless leaders are NOT fearless—during the Vietnam War Cheney had FIVE DERFERMENTS, and Bush was getting “stoned” in Texas; I personally feel that the government needs to reinstate the draft so that brave folks like you, your friends and your relatives can demonstrate their loyalty.

I just feel bad for him and all the rest of the anti-war,conscientious objectors, cowards, wahtever you call yourselves. He, like most of you all, have never been ther and do not really understand what was going on over there. You never see the people (and they are real people) over there, sufferring and just trying to make a life for themselves. Our help over has given them the one thing that they have neverhad before- HOPE. I dont think there is anyone who thinks this war could not of been handled in a different way, but there can only be one leader. At least he had the guts to do what had to be done. Oh, and by the way we have found a few terrorist over there too. For all those of you they say he was just using they attack on us to take down Hussein, we fight them there almost every day. THERE, not here! These actions has kept the fight away from you, and allowed you to focus on what really important to most Americans these days- Like what brittny Spears is doing or who is going to be your next American Idol. It takes Brave men and women to stand up to “evil” and give people freedom in this world, and Iraqis are no less deserving of that right than you are.

In this all voluntary military, there should be a way to legally terminate your contract; after all, it is VOLUNTARY, so if a serviceman/woman realizes that they no longer want to serve, they should be able to leave—-if they owe money from student loans, they could repay it as civilians.  If there is really a voluntary military, then throwing someone in jail, proves it is NO LONGER voluntary.

Watada demonstrates courage, integrity, honesty and true love for his country. Bush, Chaney, the neocons and the cowards who attack him are traders to us all. This includes the US Congress who care nothing for the US Constitution or the people other than the very wealthy, the lobby pimps and the media slime. They continue to sell us out with their excuses.

Anyone can follow orders and hide from the truth beneith the facade of an oath. Real courage and true patriotism is demonstrated by challenging the lies and deceits of the authority figures. We should all join him by acting in all arenas for the greater good of our country and world.

Truthdig’s statement that Lt. Ehren Watada has declared himself a concientious objector is ABSOLUTELY not true. He has never filed for CO status, and he has stated himself that he is not a concientious objector. If you’re going to advocate a certain cause, at least get it right.

Just as Ehran Watada is standing up to the illegal, unethical perpetration of a war crime, the Am.people must now step up to the plate and stand up to this,yes, illegal, unethical, mafia styled administration run by convictable criminals who have usurped the US Constitution they have sworn to uphold. The officers of the US armed services are following the orders of criminals and the sooner they realize this and refuse to follow these orders the safer our nation will become, the sooner we can reinstate the Constituion as we knew it {reinstating Habeaus Corpus first of all}, the sooner we can attend to the tasks at hand,ie. the loss of our planet thru nuclear confrontations and proliferation {the US arsenal alone carries 12-15,000 nuclear weapons,2000 of them on hair trigger alert}, to the immanent threat of cataclysmic global warming{the ocean currents have already slowed by 30%}, and on and on. Why, one must ask themself is the US carrying on such a costly war half way around the world while we are in imminent danger of a much greater loss. Is it for the profit of a few greedy CEOs of the Exxon-Mobil, Halliburton ilk. Those dumb stupid greedy ignorant SOBs. Soldiers AND officers of the US military must ask themselves why would you do their bidding, why would you die or send someone to die and kill innocents for these greedy, bastards??!!! You must examine your own inner soul, if you still have one, and your ability to think independently and ethically, with the truth as your guide, and judge the situation from there, not through the eyes of a distorted psychopath, namely george bush and his commander in theif, dick cheney.

I add my name, for the record, in support of all who are conscientious objectors to this war and activists and protesters to the government that has lied and deceived to promote personal and unethical agendas!

I will sign a petition, I will hold a sign on a public corner, I will support and stand beside anyone who has the courage to stand up and say “No!”

C.O. status is an important element for those who prefer to think about what they are being asked to do in the name of the country..a country that is far off balance at this point. Unfortunately, some of the responses demonstate definitive lack of thought and personal responsibility and collective responsibility. We need a political and intelligent approach to conflict, not warm bodies willing to be cold and robotic in the name of miscontrued patriotism.

Posted by Armysoldier #45902:

“There are alot of other soldiers who depend on strong leadership, and to have some of these high ranking soldiers taking this route to not defend their country is almost treason! Weak leaders will train and produce weak soldiers!”

No, sorry to burst your sacred, patriotic bubble, but there’s a higher calling here, a nobler cause which is that if a country itself is pursuing immoral, illegal or illegimate goals, then the means for doing it(i.e., an invasion)itself is unjustified. 

Based on what you’re proclaiming, Nazi soldiers or S.S. troops refusing orders from above would also be contemptible and subject to prosecution(which of course would have happened if the Germans were victorious in the Second World War; they would have most certainly been executed)but the few who defied the orders weren’t about to be treated as such by the Allies.

Well done Sir,
The argument that a volunteer must give his life in a criminal pursuit is pure garbage, rejected by our own courts in Nurnberg.

To Prick and Armysoldier:

Your argument is exactly the one used by German Concentration camp personnel.  Obeying orders.. and was judged invalid by the Nuremberg verdict.
Officers swear to defend the Constitution just as the President supposedly did.
There is no strength in lying and deceiving to send any army into battle.

In the days of the draft, declaring oneself a conscientious objector had some merit. In an all-volunteer military, it is an announcement of dishonesty or cowardice, or both.  With an all-volunteer force, conscientious objectors should not be placed in positions that they find unobjectable - they should be placed in prison.  They are not heroes.  It can be argued that they have the courage of their convictions, but it can also be argued that they are fucking idiots for enlisting in the military if they didn’t understand the consequences and obligations of military service.  Modern-day conscientious objectors are shallow opportunists compared to draft-era conscientious objectors.  Few draft-era conscientious objectors refused to deploy or serve in combat.

To # 45903 by prick and to # 45902 by armysoldier:

You both got it wrong, I am sorry to say.
Either, you have been brainwashed beyond hope;
or, you don’t understand the true meaning of a democracy, for you have been brainwashed to believe that the army is a separate entity from the nation, or even above it. In a democracy, soldiers serve the ideals of the nation, not the orders of crooked politicians and drunks-behind-the-wheel, as Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and company can rightly be called.

It is also possible that you are both not courageous enough, and thus are uncapable of dignified courageous acts such as those taken by Ehren Watada and the other few consciontious rejecters.

In light of this, it is also possible that you might be jealous for not being able to have the spirit of freedom those guys have. In other words, you are the permanent slaves of the brainwashing you have undergone when you joined the army.

I pity you and feel you’re irrelevant to a democratic nation. Possibly, your right place is the wrong and evil war in Iraq, where you should die at the altar of serving the orders of the drunk-behind-the-wheel, G. Bush.

I am wondering if they promise you in the army that if you die in the so-called defending your country half way around the world you will go straight to heaven and meet your seventy plus virgins awaiting you!

While I sympathize with these men and women in our armed forces and agree with them that our invasion of Iraq was simply unconscionable, I do think that it is a little late to claim “conscientious objector” after you have taken the oath and put on the uniform.
One of the geniuses of our democracy is that the military has been removed from politics (or at least it should be). The military is an instrument of policy. The President and Congress decide and the military follows. It is not for the military (or anybody actively serving in it) to decide what orders they will follow and which they won’t. And while these young men and women who are now claiming conscientious objector are undoubtedly filled with principle and courage it sets a very bad precedent for our democracy. What if The Joint Chiefs of Staff started deciding what orders they were and were not willing to accept from the President? That’s effectively installing the military as a 4th branch of government. And we all know who untenable that is to democracy.
If these “conscientious objectors” want to stop the war, they have a lot of options open to them. The same ones that all civilians have, vote in anti-war Representatives and Senators, use the power of the press to let there opinions be heard, and eventually use their vote to vote in an anti-war Commander and Chief.

To Prick and armysoldier:

Orders that are ‘illegal’ are NOT to be followed, according to the Uniformed Code of Military Justice.  An order which is unlawful not only does not need to be obeyed, but obeying such an order can result in criminal prosecution of the one who obeys it. Military courts have long held that military members are accountable for their actions even while following orders—if the order was illegal.

Or course, you pricks probably still believe the Iraq war is justified and legal and so there’s no convincing you otherwise.  Baby killers.  How utterly despicable you both are.

This jackass joined the Army in 2003 and entered officer candidate, AFTER we invaded Iraq.  Either the army gave a commission to an idiot or this guy planned this all along. It sounds suspiciously like he joined the army just to become an objector. He has also chosen to ally himself and accept financial aid from Not in Our Name, a front group for the Revolutionary Communist Party. He has also accepted aid from other anti-American organizations that have expressed support and/or given material aid to terrorists in Iraq.

If it can be proven that he is doing this to encourage other soldiers to do this, he would be guilty of formenting a mutiny - a capital offense.

This is Article 94 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice:

ART. 94. MUTINY OR SEDITION
(a) Any person subject to this chapter who—

(1) with intent to usurp or override lawful military authority, refuses, in concert with any other person, to obey orders or otherwise do his duty or creates any violence or disturbance is guilty of mutiny;

(2) with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of lawful civil authority, creates, in concert with any other person, revolt, violence, or disturbance against that authority is guilty of sedition;

(3) fails to do his utmost to prevent and suppress a mutiny or sedition being committed in his presence, or fails to take all reasonable means to inform his superior commissioned officer or commanding officer of a mutiny or sedition which he knows or has reason to believe is taking place, is guilty of a failure to suppress or report a mutiny or sedition.

(b) A person who is found guilty of attempted mutiny, mutiny, sedition, or failure to suppress or report a mutiny or sedition shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court- martial may direct.

At war with oneself, there can be no Peace with others.

No matter What one has signed up for, if that activity proves to be unethical, immoral, illegal, and/or unconstitutional, one is obligated, by one’s higher allegiance to self-respect, and to humanity, itself, to Object, and consequently, to Refuse to participate…...The very notion, and meaning, of ‘Honor’ demands this…...To conscientiously object implies the presence of a conscience without which, human beings, by definition, lose their humanity, and what, then, shall be demonstrated to the children of this world?............
Bravo to any and all who have the conscience, the will, and the strength to stand up and say No to what is wrong….......I warmly,  with deepest appreciation and respect, support this Bravery…....Strive On!

At war with oneself, there can be no Peace with others.

How about sending Bush and Cheney’s children to war in Iraq ? When one of them killed they should know how horrible they felt when their kids were dying in vain !

A bunch of SOBs !

Stop using blood to buy glory !

Marines have already contributed over 20000. Army reports 14165 wounded.  Someone is NOT speaking TRUTH in our government.
The wounded numbers don’t compute, we are over 40,000 +.
Mother of Logic
—————————————————————
http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2465632.php
—————————————————————
Congress | Special Reports | Frontline Photos | 
January 06, 2007

Army leaders to apologize to slain soldiers’ families

By Gina Cavallaro
Staff writer

Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody announced today that he and other Army leaders will personally contact the families of about 75 deceased officers and 200 wounded officers to apologize for sending them a letter encouraging them to consider returning to military service.

The letters were sent Dec. 26-28 to more than 5,100 Army officers who recently served and were supposed to have been generated from a list that had been “scrubbed” for injured or deceased soldiers.
 
Instead, the original list was inadvertently used, and the letters went out in the mail.

“The mistake was as simple as someone pushing the wrong button,” said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, who explained that as soon as the mistake was discovered, “we immediately went into overdrive” to try to assess the depth of it.

The letters, he said, were sent out to try to appeal to midlevel officers who would be placed in a variety of positions where they’re needed.

In a press release today, Cody expressed his dismay, and that of the rest of the Army’s leadership, at the error.

“Every Army leader is just sick that this happened,” he said. “This is an inexcusable mistake. Five years into this war, the Army can do better than this — and we will,” Cody said. “At the beginning of the day and at the end of the day, soldiers are the most important entity in our Army, and because we care so much for them — especially those who have fallen or are dealing with their wounds — every database must be accurate, will be managed personally so that we can properly care for our soldiers and families.”

The practice of contacting retired soldiers who might want to volunteer to come back in is not new for the Army, because the need for experienced soldiers is a continuing challenge, said Hilferty, adding that last year as many as 9,000 enlisted soldiers who had gotten out re-enlisted.

Hilferty said some of the 275 families would be contacted in person by casualty assistance officers.

“I can’t imagine how these soldiers and family members felt upon receiving those letters,” Cody said. “Army senior leaders also plan on personally contacting them in writing to apologize and to let them know that the Army is still a family made strong by caring leadership and strong Army families.”

The number of Army officers who have died in Iraq since the war began was at 217 as of Dec. 2, according to the latest available Pentagon statistics. In all, the Army has had 1,552 soldiers — combining officers and enlisted — killed in action in Iraq since the war began in March 2003, plus 409 who died of non-hostile causes.

The number of Army officers wounded in action in Iraq was 894 as of Dec. 2, out of an Army total — for both officers and enlisted troops — of 14,165, according to the latest Pentagon figures.

Altogether, at least 3,006 members of the U.S. military have died in Iraq since the war began, according to an Associated Press count.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

While we are on the subject of oaths, let’s not forget this one:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” - US Constitution, Art 2, cl 7.

When a military order is a breach of that oath, it’s crazy to talk about a soldier’s oath to obey. Didn’t Nuremberg dispose of the “just following orders” (ie upholding my oath to serve) excuse?

Re: Comment #45960 by Manny:

Manny wrote: “. . . A goverment that lies and cheats in order to justify any war as no right to expect allegiance from its service men and women. . . .”

This needs to be repeated over, and over, and over, in as many forums as possible, and at every possible opportunity.

I am adding the name of this young courageous man Ehren Watada to my short list of modern heroes. Acttually, evil Bush looks like a dwarf in comparison to how tall and dignified this young man stands. We need few thousands of his types to put the criminal warmongers on notice, and hopefully bring them to justice!

Please go to:
http://hotzone@yahoo.com\b\hotzone\blogs19056 and read an interview with the conscientious rejecter, Ehran Watada.

Lt. Ehren Watada lifts my heart and gives me hope. He is a brave man who is not afraid to think.

As an Ex-Marine that fought in Vietnam, I felt the brutality of nation that just wanted to forget what we were up to in Vietnam. Of the many feelings and thoughts I had about the war,
I arrived at one profound and certain conclusion concering my experience in this war :  A goverment that that lies and cheats in order to justify any war as no right to expect allegiance
from its service men and women. The death of these Americans in the Vietnam and Iraq war can not be justified by the lies of our goverment. Army Lt. Ehren Watada is a hero to this nation because what he is doing may save lives. I have no doubt that the full force of the military and Bush’s Neocons will try to destroy this brave American.

I can’t say how much I sympathize and agree with
conscientious objectors. It’s a sick war, uncalled
for and cruel to the victims, like too many wars.
I cannot fathom the depth of the misery that the
Iraqis are living through, and all logic goes out the
window for those who witness it. The pain and the
anger are too much for me to contemplate.

Conscientious objectors are totally right.

The real heros aren’t the ones fighting in the Iraq, but the ones risking their careers and freedom on ethical and moral grounds. Don’t get me wrong. The men and women of our armed forces sacrifice a lot and are very brave, But it takes a courageous individual to stand up to the U.S Government .

Good show Lt. Watada!  You are the voice of the “rational majority.”

What reason do people join the ARMED SERVICE??? Is it for college money- NO. Is it to learn a skill or trade-NO. Is it because they are dumb and they dont have anything else to do- NO. Is it because they have a family history of soldiers- NO, NO, NO!!!! When you put on your fatigues and lace up your boots it is for the sole purpose of DEFENDING THIS COUNTRY AND TO FOLLOW ORDERS. So if there are any illusions about you being able to call yourself a conscientious objector this should help clear it up. The US Army is not summer camp, its not a game or a joke and it is damn sure not a democracy. They should prosecute each and every one of those paper soldiers! The goverment should make using the phrase,“conscientious objector” a felony for a soldier in the ARMED SERVICES!!!

I dont think that there is anything wrong with those of you whom dont want to join the military, but to have soldiers that are apart of the us armed forces decline to follow orders is wrong. We take a oath to follow the orders of those appointed over us. No one made any of these so called conscientious objectors raise their hand and take that oath. I am willing to bet that none of these soldiers would have filed for that status if this great nation was’nt at war. Those soldiers should be prosecuted- There are alot of other soldiers who depend on strong leadership, and to have some of these high ranking soldiers taking this route to not defend their country is almost treason! Weak leaders will train and produce weak soldiers!

War hero?...Absolutely.