March 18, 2003
Members of International A.N.S.W.E.R.;
Signatories of Not In My Name; and
Citizens of the United States of America:
With the impending military action in Iraq I felt compelled to write this letter. As a member of the United States military I regret to inform you that, regardless of your race, sex, color, creed, age, national origin, political ideology, or any other delimiter, the actions that will take place against Iraq will be fully, undeniably, and irrevocably IN YOUR NAME. Despite of your signature on a piece of paper, this statement remains true.
In my fifteen years of service in the U.S. Navy (8.5 years active duty, balance reserve) I have raised my right hand six time to swear "that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States". That wonderful document which covers us, protects us, enables our way of life. The constitution provides our rights, sets our standards of law, and importantly in this context gives the President of the United States the power to set the foreign policy.
The constitution also provides the method of electing the President, and designates him as Commander in Chief of the military. I have also sworn "that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States", I do not have to like the president, I do not have to agree with his policy. I have served under four men holding that office, and made no distinction between them. When the President sets the military in action he does so by the power given him by the constitution and the people of the U.S. As a service member the President through the constitution ultimately directs my actions, the resulting action is therefore proscribed by the constitution. If you consider yourself a citizen of this country willfully covered by the Constitution, all military action is therefore In Your Name.
I know you might disagree with that statement, you may not like that statement, but the members of the armed forces will proudly serve in the name of all Americans. We will continue to provide you with security, with your freedoms, and your rights even if you do not like how, when or why we do.
Respectfully,
Stanley J. Wolczyk III
Petty Officer First Class U.S.N.R.
