Nov 21 2008
Soldier to Get 14 Months in Confinement for Refusing to Deploy to Iraq
Special warning to those thinking about joining the U.S. Military! If you are planning on enlisting in America’s armed forces, then you had damn well better be prepared to go wherever Uncle Sam and your commanding officer tell you to go, and do whatever they tell you to do – as long as the order given is a lawful one.
If you get in and decide that you don’t like military life, tough noogies. If you get in and decide that you don’t want to be deployed to a war zone because there’s a chance that you might just find yourself on the night train to the big adios, tough noogies. And if you get in and decide that your supervisor is a real dick, then that’s really tough noogies. Welcome to the world of the G.I. As Gunnery Sgt. Hartman says, “You can give your heart to Jesus (or Allah, Buddha, Santa Claus or whoever else you happen to worship), but your ass belongs to the (insert your military branch here)!!!”
One soldier found this out the hard way.
Sarah Lazare of Courage to Resist reports that on Monday, Army private Tony Anderson received a dishonorable discharge and 14 months in the stockade for refusing to deploy with his unit to Iraq in July.
The court-martial panel that presided over Anderson’s case found the 19-year-old soldier guilty of “desertion with intent to avoid hazardous duty” and “disobeying a lawful order.”
Anderson based his refusal to serve in Iraq on grounds that he was a conscientious objector.
“I know in my heart that it is wrong to willfully hurt or kill another human being. I simply cannot do it. I don’t regret following my conscience,” he said at his trial, which was held at Ft. Carson, Colorado. “I know there must be consequences for my actions and I must accept this fact.”
Anderson received vocal support from members of Iraq Veterans Against the War and various peace organizations located in Colorado Springs during the trial.
He will spend a few weeks at the Colorado Springs Criminal Justice Center before being moved to an army prison.
According to Lazare, “The 14 month sentence is one of the longest given to a U.S. military serviceperson for refusing to fight in Iraq.”
Source: Courage to Resist
I salute that man. Good post!
Thanks. I definitely don’t salute that man though. The sentence was just under the circumstances.
Kudo’s
It’s amazing they can actually get people to sign up… Expecially with war going on…But then the economy may encourage more to sign up with jobs going down the toilet…
Great post
Oh, come on, the guy got what he deserved.
The facts of military life have never been a secret, and anybody that signs up and thinks that they can choose their permanent station is either on drugs or insane.
If you don’t wanna go to Iraq, stay at home and don’t sign the papers!
“If you don’t wanna go to Iraq, stay at home and don’t sign the papers!”
Amen, Brother! Preach, brother, preach!
LOL!!