Just serving up the usual trivia ;-)
Posted on 06/15/2006 11:32:52 PM PDT by Proud2BAmerican
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Ehren Watada's recent announcement of his intention to defy orders to deploy to Iraq has sparked emotional responses from supporters and critics of the Bush administration. But it also elicits probing questions about the real reasons behind the young officer's decision.
Although he cloaks himself with the patriotic qualities of having enlisted because of a "pull of duty, service and patriotism," he now claims that, after having "researched" Iraq, he has had a realization that the war in Iraq is "immoral" and "illegal." One might presume that, knowing his enlistment might lead to his deployment to serve and fight in Iraq, he might have exercised "due diligence" in "researching" Iraq beforehand.
Watada hasn't elaborated on what was included on his syllabus for studying Iraq; with his public rhetoric, it seems likely at least one of the authors was Michael Moore. And finally, Watada wonders how he could "wear this horrible uniform," now that he's had his epiphany about Iraq. Apparently, that "horrible uniform" would have suited him just fine if he had been granted his request to serve out his military obligation as long as it wasn't in Iraq.
Lock him up.
You forgot: Throw away the key.
If he has orders to deploy and refuses to go, he's in violation of the UCMJ. I hope he enjoys his upcoming stay in a military prison.
And retired state official. I believe he was director of the state Campaign Spending Commission.
Officers generally progress through various career stages: 'Obligated Volunteer' & 'Conditional Volunteer Indefinite' (01-02), then 'Volunteer Indefinite' (02-03), then onto 'Regular Army/Navy/Air Force' until retirement.
Generally officers must serve 3 years before an unqualified resignation is accepted, and it must be tendered 6-12 months before the requested separation date.
If officers are twice passed over for promotion they are generally removed from active duty involuntarily.
Officers without service obligations (due to education or other training provided at US expense) can be transferred to a drilling reserves unit or the inactive reserves. They remain reserve officers until age 65, even after retirement, and can be recalled to active duty at anytime.
The good lieutenant read the fine print before he signed onto this lifetime commitment, and was briefed many many times when he applied and during training.
No pity here. Deploy with your unit, Lt, or go to jail.
It's not McDonald's.
after having "researched" Iraq, he has had a realization that the war in Iraq is "immoral" and "illegal
Liberal coward.
struwwelpeter
Thanks you for noting the difference between enlisting and commissioning. As an NCO who has reenlisted, I don't want this turd equated with me or other enlisted folks. Not that I want him compared to other officers either though...
chip
Hoo-ah ;-)
Just lock him up until his enlistment period ends, plus three years. No media visits. If he behaves according to military code during his prison term, I might consider letting him out 1 year after his enlistment ends.
Dishonorable discharge. No VA hospitals. No pay. No benefits.
Those who refuse to support and defend a state have no claim to protection by that state. Killing an anarchist or a pacifist should not be defined as "murder" in a legalistic sense. The offense against the state, if any, should be "Using deadly weapons inside city limits," or "Creating a traffic hazard," or "Endangering bystanders," or other misdemeanor.
Robert Anson Heinlein
Maybe, since he thinks the war is immoral, they can send him over to Iraq to conduct personal negotiations with the terrorists?
Shalom.
If he is, as many reports claim, a college op OCS graduate, then he enlisted in order to attend BCT. Of course, his enlistment ended with his commission (or his appointment to candidate -- I don't know).
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