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...
Where the hell is Patton when we need him!?!
)
Appeal for Redress
Sign this Appeal.
This site is an Appeal For Redress in support of our mission in Iraq.
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members fully support the war in Iraq and feel calls to retreat by Congress and attacks by our media on our conduct and mission act to motivate our enemy while demoralizing our support at home, directly increasing the threat we face and resulting in greater American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us and actively oppose media attacks on our mission and our morale.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
Please let everyone know about this site. Ask them to refer it to anyone they know in the active or reserve military. We need to act TODAY!
http://www.appealforcourage.org
"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."
A thousands of them?
If a 1,000 are petitioning Congress to stop the war, how many more are there that are keeeping silent for fear and retribution?
These people are cowards and traitors! They signed a contract to serve and protect us and now thay want out. Somehow today, sitting here in front of this computer and drinking my Coke, I feel less safe because of these traitors.
Actually idiot defeatist, the Constitution tells you to follow what the only Commander in Chief orders you to do and that is the President of the United States not Congress.
Remember when giving aid and comfort to the enemy was called treason?
When you have the majority party in Congress calling the war in Iraq a mistake, Obama saying that the loss of the over 3,000 lives is a "waste," Sen Hagel asserting that it is the biggest foreign policy blunder in history, and the House of Reps passing a Resolution against the surge and rebuking the CIC's actions, what do you expect?
This is proof positive that the Dems are undermining the morale and resolve of our troops. It reminds me of Kerry's lying tesitmony before Congress and his question, "How do you ask someone to be the last man to die for a mistake?"
Patton had his own war with cowards.
Exactly. He didn't suffer them.
I have news for you, mister: YOU do not get to choose the "illogical" and "immoral" parameters. You CAN refuse to follow orders based on both situations, but you DAMNED well better be prepared to back it up at a Court Martial.
I can certainly understand soldiers thinking they shouldn't be there, that it is illogical, but they lose that basis of refusal when they enlist. If they are asked to do something immoral, that better go up the chain of command. What a dumbass.
No, it's "Not ok".
It's the new Sheehanism.
LOL. Tell them that, and they'll tell you to shut up and do as you're told.
Ping;
"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."
HUH???
Gee- you mean I enlisted in the military and now they want me to fight a war?? whoda thought
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