Ex-Soldier Talks Against Iraq War (at Ithaca appearance)

Copyright © 2005 The Cornell Daily Sun ^ | 4/21/05 | By Olivia Oran

[Behind Liberal Lines]

ITHACA NY--The first soldier jailed for not returning to fight in Iraq discussed his struggle to participate in a war he did not believe in yesterday. Camilo Mejia spoke out against serving in a war he calls "a corporate war for oil."

Mejia said it is extremely difficult for soldiers to say they disagree with war on moral grounds, as this is perceived as unpatriotic.

"No one wants to make the unpopular decision and say 'This is not a good war'," he said. "Out of fear of challenging U.S. leadership, people just go along."

A soldier's sense of right and wrong often conflicts with his military duty, Mejia said.

"[But] sometimes it is more important to be a good human being than it is to be a good soldier," he added.

Returning for a brief furlough in the U.S. after six months in combat, Mejia was sentenced to one year in prison in March 2003 after refusing to go back to Iraq. Released this past February, he said no particular incident prompted his decision not to return to fight. Rather, it was based on a number of experiences he witnessed, including the maltreatment of Iraqi prisoners, the abuse of power by U.S. military leaders and the disregard for soldier and civilian life.

"[Military leaders] put civilians and soldiers in harms way to advance their own causes," he said. "The war became a personal war for [individual] glory more than a humanitarian or peacekeeping mission," he said.

Mejia said the abuse of Iraqi prisoners was well-known by high military officials.

"It was systematic, allowed and encouraged," he said.

Although not a pacifist when he first joined the military, Mejia said he is now a conscientious objector who opposes all wars.

"Before [Iraq] I was unattached to the reality of war," he said. "You watch CNN and don't see people dying, the suffering of the Iraqi people and the soldiers' families ... the media is not showing these things. You just see the numbers."

Born in Nicaragua, Mejia was exposed to politics at a young age by his parents who were revolutionaries attempting to overthrow the Somoza dictatorial regime. During his childhood, Mejia moved around several times between Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the United States. As a result, he said he often lacked a sense of belonging. In a desire to connect with more people and "find a family," he joined the military. Although Mejia said he knew the risks of military life, he had no idea of what the impact would be on other countries.

"When you're 18 or 19 years old you have no idea what you will end up doing in the future," he said.

Mejia served as an infantry man from 1995 to 1998 and later as a reservist in the Florida National Guard so that he continue with his education. His contract with the military was set to expire in May 2003. However, a semester shy of graduating from college in Miami, Congress passed laws which allowed the military to extend soldiers' contracts and bound Mejia to continue his role in the infantry.

Isaac Bowers '07 law, responded favorably to Mejia's talk. "He really showed the moral struggle when your conscience dictates something and the military dictates another," he said. "It is unfortunate that more people don't make the same decision he did."

Tom Scherer '07, who also attended the lecture, thought Mejia did a "good job" of getting at the heart of issues about corporate greed associated with the war in Iraq. He hopes Mejia's talk will influence others.

"There are three main things that will end the war," he said. "Resistance by the occupied country, a national anti-war movement and people inside the military speaking out. With more men going around and talking like Camilo, hopefully something will change."

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Born in Nicaragua, Mejia was exposed to politics at a young age by his parents who were revolutionaries attempting to overthrow the Somoza dictatorial regime.

In other words, he was raised by actual, honest to God, communists. Gee, what a shock he turned traitor, uh, I mean "conscientious objector."

Then, check out this quote from one of the Cornell students in attendance:

"There are three main things that will end the war," he said. "Resistance by the occupied country, a national anti-war movement and people inside the military speaking out.

This little piece of Ivy League excrement is calling for attacks on the troops. So much for the "liberals support the troops, not the war," myth.

Ithaca is the City of Evil.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

City of Evil bump:

[Old Sarge]

Mejia was exposed to politics at a young age by his parents who were revolutionaries attempting to overthrow the Somoza dictatorial regime.

A Sandanista. A dirty damn Sandanista.

No wonder the Socialists love this kid. It hearkens back to their "hate-reagan" rage.

Problem is, there are more of them than there are of us.

[cripplecreek]

Tim McVeigh wannabe?

[mozrock]

Why is that when people grow a "conscience" they have to come out and tell the rest of the freaking world about their revelation? This a$$hole needs to shut the hell up and go back to Nicaragua!

[2banana]

Born in Nicaragua, Mejia was exposed to politics at a young age by his parents who were revolutionaries attempting to overthrow the Somoza dictatorial regime.

The good commie doesn't want to fight for the evil capitalist Americans anymore...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"a corporate war for oil."

Guess that's why we turned the oil back to the Kuwaitis and the Iraqis after liberating them, and why we're paying $55 a barrel to the masters of OPEC. If anyone has illegally benefited from Iraqi oil, it's the crooks at the UN on the take in the oil-for-food program.

[jsbankston]

It was really awful when the Communist Sandinistas overthrew the Democratic Government of Somoza.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

"Out of fear of challenging U.S. leadership, people just go along."

Yep, that's it.

We start brainwashing them at the age of 4 by teaching them to recite the Pledge Of Allegiance, and it's all downhill from there.

[Tennessee_Bob]

USAF 1984-1994 here. When the first Gulf War kicked up and all these jerks were trying to bail out saying they had only joined for an education - we would point out that our ID cards said "Department of Defense," not "Department of Education."

[Bigturbowski]

"[Military leaders] put civilians and soldiers in harms way to advance their own causes," he said. "The war became a personal war for [individual] glory more than a humanitarian or peacekeeping mission," he said.

This is news to me. When did our government ever claim the war in Iraq to be a humanitarian or peacekeeping mission? Otherwise we would be calling this the peacekeeping/humanitarian mission on terror and not the war on terror.

[Mi-kha-el]

I am a little slow this morning, is sarcasm on or off?

[jsbankston]

The Sandinistas were bad guys but Somoza was an animal.

[jec41]

Mejia said it is extremely difficult for soldiers to say they disagree with war on moral grounds, as this is perceived as unpatriotic.


I guess this is because when you enlist you swear a oath to this country and agree to follow the orders of The Comander In Chief elected by the citizens of this country. If you do not agree with this you should stay home and suck on the tit that is protected by the ones that do serve.

[nuffsenuff]

Is this the guy who's making the rounds at all the MSM shows?

Because it seems he's the only one.

[Mi-kha-el]

Somosa was our SOB, Sandinistas were Soviet/Cuban SOB's. Lesser of the 2 evils. And the Sandinistas were no less animalistic. It's like juxtopposing Castro and Batista. In the final analysis, Nicaragua is much better off without either of them. But IMHO, communism is much worse. No other social system has destroyed so many human lives as communism. But this is just my IMHO

[Red6]

Come on, give the kid a break. We (The American tax payer) paid for his education, so that he can breach his contract and then insult the nation, his comrades, his leaders, violate an oath to God in really eloquent words he learned at our expense.

He’s just “expressing” himself in a way you’re to close minded to understand. Everyone knows that if we fail in Iraq and the insurgency succeeds we, the Iraqi people, the region will be much better off. That’s why the resistance is so needed!

Besides, he spoke the truth. All you need to do is mention the “OIL” word and it all comes together. He unfortunately forgot to mention Halliburton and Cheney. Or was that just left out of the quotes?

No way is he justifying cowardice after the fact. Simply no possible way. It takes a lot of courage to stand up like he does! Think about it. He had better accommodations, food and was safer in prison than many of his comrades in Iraq.

What surprises me is that some Americans even listen to him and give him ANY credibility. Are they so naïve? There are VETs who are against the war. Near all served honorably and I respect their opinion while I disagree. But he don’t deserve the time of the day. He broke a legal contract that was explained to him, he broke an oath to God, he let down his comrades, he lied to his leaders, he undermines his nation. He should live the rest of his life in shame and try not to pretend that he’s some hero.

Red6

[Behind Liberal Lines]

There's at least two of these losers out there. This guy and someone else who isn't Nicaraguan.

Too bad this guy was born a Nicaraguan and is, therefore, ineligible for the presidency. He could have been the John Kerry of 2032.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Man, how did you write that without vomiting all over your keyboard?