GI to test morality of war

[Hamilton Reef]

First time I've seen this brought out in the press concerning the Iraq war.

GI to test morality of war

Mejia became increasingly pained by his war experiences, and when he went on leave in the autumn, he decided not to come back. The staff sergeant--one of about 600 soldiers counted as AWOL by the Army during home leaves from Iraq--eventually was labeled a deserter.
Now, after five months in hiding, Mejia plans to surrender Monday in Boston on the eve of the war's first anniversary, and he aims to become the first Iraq war veteran to publicly challenge the morality and conduct of the conflict. At a time when polls indicate that Americans' support for the war is slipping, Mejia intends to seek conscientious-objector status to avoid a court-martial.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/chitribts/20040315/ts_chicagotrib/gitotestmoralityofwar

[SALMONATOR]

Good choice. Dosen't sound like the kind of service-man I'd want next to me when the $#!% hits the fan. He probably did everyone a favor in the long run, but then, he probably should never have signed on the dotted line and taken the oath in the first place. In the military, it's not a requirement that you like everything you will be asked to do. You don't, and you won't, but you at least gotta' show up. Just my .02.

Al

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

You take an oath to serve and obey.

[n.pike]

Jail time and deportation, he doesnt deserve America.

[Buddy Lee]

I don't think we should've invaded Iraq...but I've got major problems with a guy who voluntarily enlists in the military and then doesn't fulfull his duty when called. I get sick of seeing the families of these people on tv saying "He only enlisted to further his education...he never thought he'd have to fight a war"....Well, what in the world do these people think the military is for?? You have to know that if you join the military, there's a chance you could be put in harms way. It's the risk you take, and to claim ignorance of it makes you look like a fool.

[lead bouncer]

Dress him up as taliban fighter and ship him off to Madrid, Spain.
I'm sure they will give a nice warm welcome.
Bum dosen't deserve to be called an American.

-LB :mad:

[notmuchtime]

I'm very happy he went AWOL! I don't want a coward like that serving next to my nephew who's been in Baghdad since June'03. Let the chips fall where they may.

[2PawsRiver]

My Dad did his military time, I served mine and my son just back from Iraq a few months ago. Give him a dishonorable discharge and ship him off to France.

[Randy Kidd]

Millions of us who served know how this guy feels. I went on my 30 day RR seven months into my tour. And as the last few days were slipping by all I could think about was how bad I did not want to go back into that stinking green vertical hole, And I will almost bet that every single troop felt the same way. I went back and the vast majority of them went back. a lot of them did not make it home after the last half of their tours either. And it is for them that I say, that this sniveling little REMF should either reach down and grab a set and soldier on, Or he should be convicted of desertion and spend 20 years "makin little ones outta big ones" at Leavenworth, I mean come on He knew what he was getting into in the first place. He is an E-6 for gods sake. That means at least 5 years in. It's not like he enlisted and was sent to war right out of basic. That I might understand, I still couldn't excuse it though. Most of my generation did it that way.

[kingfisher 11]

The Dems will make it a big political issure, how this is such a big immoral war. He will be the liberal parties poster boy. I bet he has all the financial support he wants to fight this case.

He should be prosecuted to the full extent, for those who have died, served, are serving and will serve. If he wins this thing, it will hurt the basic structure of obey and follow all orders given.

[TrailFndr]

The Dems will make it a big political issure, how this is such a big immoral war. He will be the liberal parties poster boy. I bet he has all the financial support he wants to fight this case.

I am SO glad to see that we can foretell the future...Man..Please tellme...WHEN will I hit the Lottery? How about getting rich off some scheme or another? seems you have all the future figured out already, so please share with us..

I don't agree with what this guy did, nor do I condone it...we DO have laws, and he should be treated accordingly. BY THE LAW...not by those of us that simply feel he is a low-life..

[2PawsRiver]

Can't tell the future and I'm not a betting man, but if I were, Trailfndr, I'd bet your post is served up with some crow in the next few weeks.;)