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...
Unlike a petition, an appeal for redress is a legally permissible form of dissent by service members. Although active-duty personnel are prohibited from some types of political activism, they are allowed to communicate with members of Congress, as long as they make it clear they’re speaking on behalf of themselves and not of their military unit.
On Monday, as the nation celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Madden, 22, and Navy Seaman Jonathan Hutto, 29, of Atlanta, were on Capitol Hill to present their appeal for redress formally to Congress. More than 990 other active-duty, Reserve and National Guard personnel have signed the appeal.
The idea of an appeal for redress originated last June, when Hutto, who was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, organized a screening of the 2005 antiwar documentary Sir! No Sir!, which chronicles the efforts of American GIs to end the Vietnam War. Among those who attended the screening were Madden and David Cortright, a University of Notre Dame professor and author of Soldiers in Revolt and Left Face, two books that explore soldier-resistance movements in modern armies. After the screening, Madden says, he approached Hutto and Cortright, and the three got together to launch the online signature drive.
This appeal for redress isn’t unprecedented — many soldiers during the Vietnam War made similar appeals to their congressional representatives. However, this missive is the first of its kind to come from an all-volunteer military, according to Madden.
Madden, whose mother lives in Rockingham and whose father lives in Keane, New Hampshire, is due to be honorably discharged in the next few weeks and says he’ll attend college “somewhere in Boston” in the fall. Until then, he intends to travel around New England speaking on college campuses and in other venues. Adding his voice and those of other soldiers to the chorus may just bring the antiwar movement to its tipping point.
It is very safe to say that is exactly what he did. Unlike the 60's they can't depend on people being drafted that are activists.
The left is also bringing back the antiwar cafe to Military Towns. The only change is that they are now internet cafe's.
Different Drummer Cafe
GI Joe and Java
Funny, the info I have says he is in KC
Put that up as it's own thread.
Federal law requires everyone who enlists or re-enlists in the Armed Forces of the United States to take the enlistment oath. The oath of enlistment into the United States Armed Forces is administered by any commissioned officer to any person enlisting or re-enlisting for a term of service into any branch of the military. The officer asks the person, or persons, to raise their right hand and repeat the oath after him. The oath is traditionally performed in front of the United States Flag and other flags, such as the state flag, military branch flag, and unit guidon may be present.
In the Armed Forces EXCEPT the National Guard (Army or Air)
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
In the National Guard (Army or Air)
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of (STATE NAME) against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of (STATE NAME) and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God.
Guide Note: There has been some controversy about whether the phrase "So help me God" is mandatory. I have seen officers allow enlistees to omit these words, if they choose, according to their religious preference and beliefs. However, federal law does not appear to make any part of the oath optional. See 10 United States Code, Section 502.
I love Free Republic, and posts/links like yours, immediately showing up on breaking news subjects, are the reason why.
Bravo! to you, sir.
"What is Military Whistleblower protection?
The Military Whistleblower Protection Act, Title 10 U.S.C. 1034, as amended, prohibits interference with a military member’s right to make protected communications to members of Congress; Inspectors General; members of DoD audit, inspection, investigation or law enforcement organizations; and other persons or organizations (including the chain of command) designated by regulation or administrative procedures. A protected communication is any lawful communication to a Member of Congress or an IG, as well as any communication made to a person or organization designated under competent regulations to receive such communications, which a member of the Armed Services reasonably believes reports a violation of law or regulation (including sexual harassment, unlawful discrimination, mismanagement, a gross waste of funds or other resources, abuse of authority, or a substantial or specific danger to public health or safety."
http://www.ig.navy.mil/Complaints%20%20(Reprisal%20Military%20Whistleblower%20Protection).htm#What_is_a_protected_communication
Don't see how they are protected here.
It is groupthink behavior on parade, they offer assention in the ranks of the anti-war movement, which is much funner, more comfortable and ego friendly than serving with honor.
There must be a law against what this NCO is doing and he should be prosecuted and sentenced according to it.
Art. 99. Misbehavior before the enemy
Any member of the armed forces who before or in the presence of the enemy—
(1) runs away;
(2) shamefully abandons, surrenders, or delivers up any command, unit, place, or military property which it is his duty to defend;
(3) through disobedience, neglect, or intentional misconduct endangers the safety of any such command, unit, place, or military property;
(4) casts away his arms or ammunition;
(5) is guilty of cowardly conduct;
(6) quits his place of duty to plunder or pillage;
(7) causes false alarms in any command, unit, or place under control of the armed forces;
(8) willfully fails to do his utmost to encounter, engage, capture, or destroy any enemy troops, combatants, vessels, aircraft, or any other thing, which it is his duty so to encounter, engage, capture, or destroy; or
(9) does not afford all practicable relief and assistance to any troops, combatants, vessels, or aircraft of the armed forces belonging to the United States or their allies when engaged in battle;
shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.
http://usmilitary.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/stApIIch47.html
I think #5 applies to these crybabies.
We, unlike the left, have honor. We need a seperate petition sheet aimed to support our troops. When it comes to "crunch time" credibility is everything.
Hutto's experiences of Iraq is one six month tour in the Persian Gulf taking photographs
This isn't news, Drudge. At least not here, it was outed they were coordinating this stunt quite a few months ago at least.
Just guess how many of these people entered the military in coordination with the DNC. Think that isn't what this is? Think the DNC hasn't planted some of their partisans for such a stunt? Then you don't know how demented they are.
Whether it was the four star generals, Cindy Sheehan, the "surprising" amount of Iraq veterans that conveniently were home and ready to run for office in 2006 while most of the other servicemen actually stayed to serve more then a few months to a year...It's a stunt. It's coordinated. And it's despicable. And I am not granting them ONE ounce of respect. Nor am I granting ANY honor that is better distributed to non partisans in Iraq that actually didn't join to attempt to try to help defeat their country in war.
And, yes, I believe the majority of these people if not all are just that. Dem hacks that infiltrated for a short period to be able to knife the people they served with in the back at a later time. The word for that isn't bravery. It's treason.
"unctuous gas-bag"
pinned dead to rights with that one.
Oh God. I'm sick.
bttt
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