Muslim G.I. says he won't go

New York Daily News ^ | 2/16/03 | MAGGIE HABERMAN

[kattracks]

Ghanim Khalil doesn't want to break the law, but says he may be forced to.

The 26-year-old Army National Guard reservist said yesterday that if he's called up to help fight Iraq in the coming weeks, he'll refuse to go.

"If I'm asked to go to the Middle East, I will not," Khalil, of Staten Island, said at a news conference yesterday before he headed over to the anti-war rally near the United Nations.

"I believe if this war occurs, it is a violation of human rights," added Khalil, a Muslim with Pakistani roots.

Khalil, a supply specialist, said he has been given no date for when his unit at the Marcy Ave. Armory in Brooklyn might be called up.

"I've been told that it's only a matter of time," he said.

Khalil sat with members of the advocacy group Citizen Soldier, some of whom are veterans of past wars who are opposed to another Iraqi conflict.

Khalil, who spent four years on active duty with the Marines, said some of his opposition stems from his religious beliefs.

"As a Muslim, I have objections" to the war, he said.

But he called his protests universal, saying people of all faiths have spoken out against Persian Gulf War II.

Khalil said he realized he could go to jail if he refuses to follow orders ? but that he's within his legal rights to speak out against the war.

National Guard spokesman Col. Dan Stoneking wouldn't comment on Khalil specifically, saying, "All Americans have First Amendment rights," but that reservists who won't serve would be sanctioned.

[tessalu]

This guy needs to be sent back to Pakistan, because the Muslims in the USA want some one else to fight for their freedoms while they terrorize the world. He does not need to be in the USA military, he just needs to be gone.

[ArmchairWarrior]

This comes as no surprise - as this article (from Nov. 2001) shows, it was to be expected.

Muslims gain visibility in the US Armed Forces

While many Muslims have indeed had positive experiences in the military, there are those whose experiences have been less favorable. Cpl. Ghanim Ahmed Khalil, 25, a Muslim of Pakistani descent, joined the Marines in 1995. Khalil says that though the military training and discipline he received from his four years in the Marine Corps have been beneficial to his life, his experience as a practicing Muslim in the military was a difficult one. “Generally my time in the Marines was good until I was confronted by discrimination, which was almost on a daily basis.”

Khalil says his experience included daily confrontations with Marines of various ranks who would dismiss his beliefs as “backwards and extreme.” Like Davidson, Khalil also served as a lay reader. And though he did receive some religious accommodation, he says he was not allowed to perform his daily prayers during work hours, nor was his Islamic dietary needs met. He also did not always get time off for Eid.

“Because I paid so much attention to my prayers, ideals, and conducting services for the Muslim recruits and permanent Muslim personnel, I was told that I paid way too much attention to my religious duties rather than my tasks as a Marine,” says Khalil. “I believe it is difficult to practice Islam in the military openly.”

[Goodlife]

Ya know...

In ancient Rome, Christians lived underground, and daily faced threat of painful death for their faith.

I like how in the modern day, someone saying "ha ha, you're praying" is just too much for the devout. :P

[meenie]

The security problems with so many Muslims in the services is a problem that the military has to face. The use of Muslims to fight Muslims is not without the problems of the Koran forbidding it. For this reason, all Muslims should be mustered out. Our front-line troops should not have to watch their backs as well as their front.

[DooDahhhh]

Ditto! And get rid of his national guard status and pay NOW!!!

[Beowulf]

Firing squad is the prescribed remedy for a traitor. If the UCMJ instead gives him jail time for his traitorous statements then it should be for life or at least for so many decades that he would be too old and feeble to become a suicide jihad murderer upon deportation.

[MadIvan]

Court martial is appropriate and in this case, necessary. He took an oath and violation of that oath is punishable by military justice.

Regards, Ivan

[Gorzaloon]

Why in the world did this guy join the Army Reserves in the first place?

Free Money.

A revealing story, though, negating some who say that they are not "Muslims First and Americans second".

[Illbay]

Are we mad because this guy won't obey orders? (That sounds reasonable to me).

But at the same time, we make a hero of Michael New? (That DOESN'T sound reasonable to me).

[Illbay]

Because ONE GUY spoke out like this?

Well, there were people from [YOUR STATE] yesterday in NYC protesting the war.

"Makes me wonder if anyone from [YOUR STATE] would defend America."

[Illbay]

....because the Muslims in the USA want some one else to fight for their freedoms while they terrorize the world.

Let's see your proof of this statement. Either that, or apologize.

[sit-rep]

jail...

[Iscool]

At least this one was honest...How many muslims will go over there and turn on our American boys and girls in the heat of battle???

There is no place for a muslim in the American military...For that matter, there is no place for a muslim in America...

[Redleg Duke]

You pays your money...you takes your chance. I have no sympathy for this greedy bastard. I hope he gets the Leavenworth Long Course...Geology Major!

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Why in the world did this guy join the Army Reserves in the first place?

To learn how to war against Infidels.

[solo gringo]

What does the marines need with bastard like this.Send his a$$ to the north pole in short sleeves.

[Guillermo]

You need to WAKE UP.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

The security problems with so many Muslims in the services is a problem that the military has to face. The use of Muslims to fight Muslims is not without the problems of the Koran forbidding it. For this reason, all Muslims should be mustered out. Our front-line troops should not have to watch their backs as well as their front.

I think it would be much better to activate all Muslims in the US Armed servces and put them on the front line ahead of non Muslims and aimed at Bagdag. Tell them to charge. Also tell them if they want support they had better move forward with conviction. Give the B@st@rds a dose of their own Islamic medicine.