Army sergeant refuses 2nd Iraq deployment

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: BBond

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975

People are not aware of what is really going on over in Iraq. The situation in country is not quite what it seems like on the news. Many of our young military do not want to go back, but they are afraid to stand up and fight. Though I think the military is great and has been good to me for the past 20+ years, at times like this it can be very harsh and run over you like a train.

While this is all certainly true, the Gulf War did create the misconception that our technological advantage would enable American forces to win quick decisive victories with minimal casualties and be home safe in a matter of months...what is going on in Iraq now is what warfare has always been...long, drawn out, brutal and intense.

Talk to any WW2 or Vietnam vets if you can find any, and their stories are consistent with what we are hearing from Iraq...that we won WW2 does not change the nature of warfare, and many of our troops who fought in Europe and the Pacific witnessed things equivalent in brutality and chaos to what is going on in Iraq today.

Please note that this post is independent of any justification or support for the war in Iraq...simply some comments on the nature of warfare and our society's understanding of it.

Those are the reasons why war should be waged only as a last resort.

That was exactly what the US political machine believed prior to WW2.

An earlier US entry into WW2 would have saved considerable lives, both US and foreign. How many more men died waiting for that last resort instead?

 

[Starbuck1975]

An earlier US entry into WW2 would have saved considerable lives, both US and foreign. How many more men died waiting for that last resort instead?

Exactly...history illustrates quite clearly that a lack of resolve to go to war, or a naive faith in the power of diplomacy, ultimately costs more lives then it saves.

Until human nature changes and our leaders can be entrusted as honorable stewards of their power to wage war, warfare will be an unfortunate and tragic aspect of how nation states interact with one another...whether its for control of resources, consolidation of power, or simply to demonstrate who has the biggest d&!?, warfare is one of the few constants throughout human history.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: lozina

Originally posted by: Acanthus
I have 4 friends in the military over there, 2 air force, 1 army SF, 1 marine.

All 4 say its not nearly as bad as the media depicts, and that most iraquis are happy we are there.

Oh and your friends are stationed in Kuwait right? Everyone I know says it's as bad or worse than the media depicts

3 Fallujah, 1 green zone.

 

[gutharius]

Originally posted by: dgevert

Originally posted by: Megatomic
I don't remember expressing my views on the war itself. I don't know why you're arguing with me as to whether or not the war is bullshit. My comments were geared towards ridiculing the cowardly sergeant's actions.

I think the merit of the war is an exhausted topic at this point.

I don't think he's a coward. I think he's standing up for what he believes in, taking the consequences like a man.

However, as much as I agree/sympathize with him, being in the military myself facing probable deployment to Iraq, I also agree that there's good reasons for military members not being able to say "oh, gee, I'm a conscientious objector now, see ya later!"

Yah I see your point with that and thought the same thing as well. But I understand if a person has had enough they have had enough. Especially when you are told this is how long you are going to serve and then you are forced to stay longer than you were told due to obscure government policies.

 

[mjrcaliber]

I hope he faces a firing squad!

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber
I hope he faces a firing squad!

Are you in combat right now?

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber
I hope he faces a firing squad!

Are you in combat right now?

He would be if America's Army would release their patch already

 

[mjrcaliber]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber
I hope he faces a firing squad!

Are you in combat right now?

No, I was honorably discharged 20 years ago, my nephew is a marine in Iraq right now!

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber
I hope he faces a firing squad!

Are you in combat right now?

No, I was honorably discharged 20 years ago, my nephew is a marine in Iraq right now!

Meh. You're probably not too old. I mean we have a shortage so we have to dig a little deeper, right? Why don't you get over there and take his place?

 

[RabidMongoose]

Hopefully he gets punished. Perhaps he should not have joined the military.

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber
I hope he faces a firing squad!

Oh goody! Yet another noob looking to stir the pot. This place is getting to be more and more like OT.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Gaard

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber
I hope he faces a firing squad!

Oh goody! Yet another noob looking to stir the pot. This place is getting to be more and more like OT.

From DU-lite to OT? That'd be an improvement - no?

********

Now as to the guy refusing to go. He's made his choice, and will now face the punishment he knew would come from his decisions.

CsG

 

[SuperTool]

What the hell is he talking about? It's not bad over there. It's just the liberal media telling us that it's bad.

 

[dgevert]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
An earlier US entry into WW2 would have saved considerable lives, both US and foreign. How many more men died waiting for that last resort instead?

Are you seriously claiming that World War II and the war in Iraq are in any way comparable? Are you serious?

 

[dgevert]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
What the hell is he talking about? It's not bad over there. It's just the liberal media telling us that it's bad.

Sorry dude, there is no 'liberal' media. The 'liberal' media can only be as liberal as the conservative corporations that run it...

 

[gutharius]

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber
I hope he faces a firing squad!

He already has. Remember he went to iraq? Soldiers that goto iraq get shot at. He lived. In the olden days if you were not killed by the firing squad you were released as a divine measure of god had to have protected you and declared you an innocent man. Guess you only want our soldiers to come back in body bags and with missing limbs. Hmm typical.

 

[gutharius]

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber
I hope he faces a firing squad!

Are you in combat right now?

No, I was honorably discharged 20 years ago, my nephew is a marine in Iraq right now!

Why don't you sign back up? I hear there is a shortage, and I'm sure you will be missed here.

 

[Acanthus]

There is no shortage, although i wish theyd enlist idiots that keep spreading lies like you

 

[beyoku]

i dont know if this has been said before but he should let everyone know how gay he is. That seems to be more important that actually being against war death and destruction.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: mjrcaliber
I hope he faces a firing squad!

Are you in combat right now?

No, I was honorably discharged 20 years ago, my nephew is a marine in Iraq right now!

Who were you before.... ?

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
There is no shortage, although i wish theyd enlist idiots that keep spreading lies like you

There's no shortage? So then it shouldn't be a problem if some people don't want to make multiple deployments... Anyway, which base are you at right now?

 

[KidViciou$]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
I don't remember expressing my views on the war itself. I don't know why you're arguing with me as to whether or not the war is bullshit. My comments were geared towards ridiculing the cowardly sergeant's actions.

I think the merit of the war is an exhausted topic at this point.

i apologize, i don't remember my original train of thought

 

[gutharius]

Originally posted by: beyoku
i dont know if this has been said before but he should let everyone know how gay he is. That seems to be more important that actually being against war death and destruction.

 

[syconub]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: dumbass soldier
"You can sit around your house and discuss this thing in abstract terms, but until you see and experience it for yourself, you just don't know how bad it is," he said. "How is it an honorable thing to teach a kid how to look through the sights of a rifle and kill another human being? War is the ultimate in violence and it is indiscriminate."

Why in the hell did he enlist in the US Army in the first place then? And if he's a sergeant in the Army, then this most likely isn't his first enlistment. He is fully indoctrinated into what being a soldier is all about. I call bullshit on his new morality and say hello to newfound cowardice.

This message posted by a veteran of the Operation Desert Storm and a non-reenlister after his initial term of enlistment.

i cuncur.

 

[Rogue]

This link should answer many questions and bull$hit comments that float around on these boards about back door drafts and obligations of service members who all sign this very same contract upon enlisting.

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/direct...orms/eforms/dd0004.pdf