The Trouble With Honor, Duty & Service
Two major reports in the news regarding two soldiers refusing to go overseas to fight under unfair or illegal conditions.
US Soldier Who Disputed Iraq War Legality Released Early From Military Prison
Ricky Clousing, a service member that refused to go to Iraq on the grounds that the war, and the activities he witnessed on the ground in Iraq, were illegal because the war and the actions he witnessed were contrary to our Constitution and his conscience, has finished serving the three months of his prison sentence for refusing to participate in the war by not reporting for a tour of duty. It must be understood that Clousing does not view all war as illegal or immoral, only the war being conducted in Iraq. He achieved the rank of Sargeant and was a decorated veteran before arriving at the conclusion that his duty to the Constitution was to refuse to participate in an illegal war.
As a veteran of two branches of the military, I was taught--both in civilian and military training--that my duty was to the Constitution and that there are illegal orders. I believe Ricky Clousing has chosen an honorable route to demonstrate his commitment to his duty. He served in Iraq and saw what was occurring. As an experienced non-commissioned officer working directly in the field of interrogation of Iraqi prisoners and detainees, he witnessed illegal acts on the parts of US military and intelligence personnel, including military contractors and vendors. He tried to bring these issues to his superiors and was shot down. He made a decision to not participate in an illegal war that violated numerous treaties that are part and parcel of the US Constitution. He lived up to his oath of duty and service... even to the point of accepting a criminal sentence for doing so.
The next president to be elected should offer him not only a full pardon, but also a medal.
Then comes the story of Steven Henderson, a veteran with two tours in Afghanistan that was honorably discharged from active duty and is currently pursuing an accounting degree at Northern Illinois University. A decorated veteran of the 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, New York, has announced that he will refuse a recall order forcing him out of his civilian pursuits of academics and career so that he can be compelled to serve another tour of duty in another war zone. Rightfully he feels he has served his duty, fulfilled his commitment to his oath and completed his duty. There are other troops immediately available on active duty with the same qualifications that could be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. It is unfair for the US government and the US Army to force his recall into yet another tour of duty in harm's way.
But, as we have seen, there are no legal or moral limits to the manner in which the Bush gang conducts its military force regime change and international coercion to its will... as long as it isn't against a real villain in the international community, like Iran, North Korea, Darfur, Myanmar, or some other despotic regime receiving US financial aid or diplomatic support.
US Soldier Who Disputed Iraq War Legality Released Early From Military Prison
Ricky Clousing, a service member that refused to go to Iraq on the grounds that the war, and the activities he witnessed on the ground in Iraq, were illegal because the war and the actions he witnessed were contrary to our Constitution and his conscience, has finished serving the three months of his prison sentence for refusing to participate in the war by not reporting for a tour of duty. It must be understood that Clousing does not view all war as illegal or immoral, only the war being conducted in Iraq. He achieved the rank of Sargeant and was a decorated veteran before arriving at the conclusion that his duty to the Constitution was to refuse to participate in an illegal war.
As a veteran of two branches of the military, I was taught--both in civilian and military training--that my duty was to the Constitution and that there are illegal orders. I believe Ricky Clousing has chosen an honorable route to demonstrate his commitment to his duty. He served in Iraq and saw what was occurring. As an experienced non-commissioned officer working directly in the field of interrogation of Iraqi prisoners and detainees, he witnessed illegal acts on the parts of US military and intelligence personnel, including military contractors and vendors. He tried to bring these issues to his superiors and was shot down. He made a decision to not participate in an illegal war that violated numerous treaties that are part and parcel of the US Constitution. He lived up to his oath of duty and service... even to the point of accepting a criminal sentence for doing so.
The next president to be elected should offer him not only a full pardon, but also a medal.
Then comes the story of Steven Henderson, a veteran with two tours in Afghanistan that was honorably discharged from active duty and is currently pursuing an accounting degree at Northern Illinois University. A decorated veteran of the 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, New York, has announced that he will refuse a recall order forcing him out of his civilian pursuits of academics and career so that he can be compelled to serve another tour of duty in another war zone. Rightfully he feels he has served his duty, fulfilled his commitment to his oath and completed his duty. There are other troops immediately available on active duty with the same qualifications that could be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. It is unfair for the US government and the US Army to force his recall into yet another tour of duty in harm's way.
But, as we have seen, there are no legal or moral limits to the manner in which the Bush gang conducts its military force regime change and international coercion to its will... as long as it isn't against a real villain in the international community, like Iran, North Korea, Darfur, Myanmar, or some other despotic regime receiving US financial aid or diplomatic support.
posted by Jim Downey at 3:37 AM
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