Posted on 05/09/2005 4:41:13 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
A Wellington man serving in the Army who refused to return to Iraq now faces possible imprisonment for his desertion, an Army spokeswoman said Thursday.
Sgt. Karim Iraq, 25, abandoned his Fort Stewart, Ga.-based unit in December after he was told he was going to be redeployed to Iraq for a second tour of duty in the war-torn country, said his father, Zayed Iraq. Disillusioned with Army life and feeling betrayed by the country's leadership when claims of the Iraqis having weapons of mass destruction failed to prove true, Karim Iraq drove home.
Arrested late Tuesday by Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies six months after he left, Iraq must now face the commander at Fort Stewart about his desertion. Though he may serve up to five years in prison, or receive a dishonorable discharge, there are a variety of potential punishments, the Army said. But Iraq felt he had to follow his heart, his father said.
"He was willing to defend his country," Zayed Iraq said. "But everything [the reasons for going to war] turned out to be a fabrication. He didn't want to kill innocent people and he didn't want to risk being killed for a false cause."
Iraq was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on Thursday and is expected to fly back to Fort Stewart this afternoon to face whatever charges may be brought, Zayed Iraq said. Karim Iraq declined to comment for this article.
Karim Iraq, of Jordanian descent, attended Wellington High School and earned his GED. He joined the Army shortly after because he "wanted to do something with his life," his father said. With hopes of going to college and learning a trade, he enlisted in January 2000.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
Just a guess here, but I'm thinking this is a muslim..... go figure... Jeff
Maybe he was simply standing up to overbearing authority.
"Disillusioned with Army life and feeling betrayed by the country's leadership when claims of the Iraqis having weapons of mass destruction failed to prove true, Karim Iraq drove home."
Right. Why is that every soldier who goes AWOL is struck on the road to Damascus by the idea that the Iraq war is wrong? And its only after they have to go BACK that they realize this.
Thanks, MSM, for rewriting history by claiming WMDs were the only reason we went into Iraq.
In today's army, he's done pretty well to make Sargeant in that time.
Not a bright guy. There are several alternatives available, if returning to Iraq troubled him deeply. Claiming CO status, would tie the matters up for awhile, as an example.
But desertion is not one of the smart ones.
Mule muffins, Karim.
Any one seeing a pattern here , from the muslims in the military? Oh wait, that was not politically correct. DEAL WITH IT.
Jeff
Throw the book at the traitorous, deserting POS! Muslims don't deserve American citizenship because to them America comes last.
I understand that the Army, as well as the rest of the Federal Government institutions, are determined to promote diversity in all sectors of Public life. However, how did anyone expect a guy with the last name of Iraq to be a good candidate for Military Service? Is there a Sadam (Kid Jihad)Arafat running around somewhere in the Marines too?
" With hopes of going to college and learning a trade ... "
That's the problem right there. Pre-9/11, too many recruits joined for a job and training, not really expecting to make a sacrifice for their country.
What the hell are they doing in our Military!! Oh wait, throwing grenades at there "fellow Soldiers" etc, etc, etc.
Jeff
It's Bush's fault.
(Right Wing Infidel since 1954)
LOVE THAT TAGLINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Thanks, MSM, for rewriting history by claiming WMDs were the only reason we went into Iraq"
Or that they and their programs weren't found. We didn't find the large stockpiles that everyone, including the u.n.,knew he had and that saddam ADMITTED he had. The question is "WHERE ARE THEY'?
What happened to the traitorus muslim Marine who faked his kidnapping? Last I heard he was on the lam.
That was a quote from his father.
Sgt.Karim Iraq
Evidence of Iraq's frustration with the government was found in the notebook in his backpack. On handwritten notes on government-issued paper, he curses the military, freedom and the United States, including the words: "Die you know who you are!!!" The bottom of the page has an image of the Star of David in a circle with a line through it.
"Iraq was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on Thursday and is expected to fly back to Fort Stewart this afternoon to face whatever charges may be brought, Zayed Iraq said. Karim Iraq declined to comment for this article."
they released him???
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