This is the rationalization of a coward.
Posted on 02/22/2007 12:40:59 PM PST by OCCASparky
Edited on 02/22/2007 3:22:44 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
ACTIVE-DUTY U.S. MILITARY MEMBERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST WAR ON '60 MINUTES'
Thu Feb 22 2007 15:21:11 ET
They say they are not disloyal. They say they are not shirking their duty and that they do not oppose war. But over 1,000 active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. military are against the war in Iraq and have said so in an unusually public way -- by petitioning Congress last month. Several of them appear to explain their actions in a Lara Logan report to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday Feb. 25 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
"I'm not anti-war. I'm not a pacifist. I'm not opposed to protecting our country and defending our principles," says Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto, an Iraq war veteran who, along with another veteran, initiated the petition. A 1995 law called the Military Whistleblower act enables military personnel to express their own opinions about Iraq in protected communication directly to Congress. Hutto and others spoke with 60 MINUTES while off duty, off base and out of uniform as conscientious citizens. "But at the same time, as citizens, it's our obligation to have a questioning attitude... about policy," Hutto tells Logan.
Marine Sgt. Liam Madden, who helped Hutto to found the organization they call Appeal for Redress that has attracted 1,000 other military members, is more blunt. "Just because we volunteered for the military doesn't mean we volunteered to put our lives in unnecessary harm and to carry out missions that are illogical and immoral."
These GIs and others Logan spoke with expressed frustration with their efforts in Iraq and believe there is no end in sight to the war. Other Iraqi war veterans still on duty there believe Appeal for Redress misses a larger point. "As an American soldier, I feel like we took an oath to obey the orders of our commander-in-chief and officers appointed over us," says Army Spec. James Smauldon. Said another serviceman in Iraq, Army Capt. Lawrence Nunn, "I know what IÕm here fighting for, to give the Iraqi people some democracy and hope, so I am 100 percent behind this mission. You don't sign up to pick which war you go to."
Another Appeal for Redress member counters, "Our leadership gets to choose the mission. Congress gets to choose the mission," Staff Sgt. Matt Nuckolls says. He's loyally committed to whatever Congress wants him to do but savors the right to question it. "My Congressman is Lacy Clay. I would like to tell him as a constituent of his, 'Is the mission in Iraq really what you want us to be doing?' And then [if] he responds yes, okay, well, we go back to Iraq and keep doing what we're doing."
Developing...
Doesn't Congress alone have the power to declare war on "60 Minutes"?
Oh I'm sure 60 Minutes will balance it with other soldiers who disagree. /s
This could be 5 active duty and 995 ready reservists who have been out of the service for 25 years. Let's see a list of these quislings.
Congressmen are not our leaders. They are our representatives.
1,000 out of more than 2 million. Bet SeeBS doesn't put it in that kind of context.
They talked to a couple in the article, but it's likely going to be 30 seconds versus 18 minutes. Yeah, that's fair.
As far as the Marine Sgt. who said, "Just because we volunteered for the military doesn't mean we volunteered to put our lives in unnecessary harm and to carry out missions that are illogical and immoral." makes me wonder 1--how he ever became a Marine, 2--ever became an NCO.
Makes me wanna puke, actually.
And I love how they paint this guy Hutto (no-load POS) as an Iraq vet when I'm pretty darned sure he never stepped foot on the sandbox or heard a shot fired in anger, rather he sat his happy little butt off the coast drinking coffee and griping that the A/C wasn't on high enough in his bunk.
Can they do this?
Sparky is there anything miltary could do these bozos
Like talk crap might give you dishonorable discharge or something
Well, at least this soldier gets it....
"Army Capt. Lawrence Nunn, "I know what I'm here fighting for, to give the Iraqi people some democracy and hope, so I am 100 percent behind this mission. You don't sign up to pick which war you go to."
This is the rationalization of a coward.
Let me guess, Lt. Ehren Watada's boys?
Where is the interviews with the record number of reenlistment Troops and their desire to see this through to the finish?
THIS CAN NOT STAND!
Here's their website, where they now claim 1278 members:
http://www.appealforredress.org/
Oh, and guess what? Looky at who is "sponsoring" them!!!
Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW)
Military Families Speak Out
Veterans For Peace
http://www.appealforredress.org/php/sponsoring.organizations.php
Isn't MFSO one of Sheehag's groups?
Or a spoiled child. Or a traitor.
With 2.5 Million Active Duty, Reservist and National guard, this 1000 Traitors represent
.0004 % !!!!!!!
of our military.
THAT IS WHAT I CONSIDER NEWS!!!!!!!
Put all of them in leavenworth.
"If he'd known the United States was going to invade Iraq, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Liam Madden says he probably wouldn't have enlisted a month before. Still, he has no regrets."
Sure he doesn't.
If he has 'no regrets' then why the petition?
Wait a sec--this guy enlisted in February of 2003? NOT KNOWING if we could be going to Iraq?
Wow--the smell of BS in the morning can knock out a friggin buzzard from a mile upwind.
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