"stringbucket:
The real issue here is whether an individual who voluntarily joined the military can later disavow that decision on the basis of fraud in the inducement.
Clearly, no cogent argument can be made that would allow a soldier to abandon a duty he voluntarily undertook because he felt that the war he was to fight in was immoral.
If that was to be allowed, there would be anarchy amongst the troops, each soldier deciding whether he felt the cause morally justifiable enough to be undertaken. Chaos would remain supreme within the ranks and any army embracing such thoughts would be so disjointed as to be ill prepared to win any battle.
The unit must act cohesively to perform effectively.
Yet, there remain's the question? Should the individual (soldier) induced by a material misrepresentation of fact that induced him to volunteer for service be allowed to disavow that service.
Again, (as ill guided, unthought, stupid, immoral, inadequately planned, mismanaged, a product of overzealous, greedy stubborn egotistical maniac's that lied as to the real causes, distorted all intelligence to justify an unjustifiable WAR), the answer is no. A soldier can not disavow his duty, a duty he voluntary made because he feels that the reasons he joined the war effort were a product of lies(even if they were and are).
An effective miltary could not operate, if that was the case. The only option is to get enough political support to throw the assholes out of office in the next election, too late for King George W.
The lieutenant has to go to jail."
Well said!
I do not fully agree with the jail part. as "Jared I" mentioned he could lose a lot just through the judicial process:
"Some of these are voting rights, right to own a firearm, right to a passport, restrictions on hold certain jobs state and federal, in-ability practice certain professions (law, accounting, etc.) I think the UCMJ was recently updated with new rules. I would think this would hobble his horse."
One post mentioned Col. David H. Hackworth - his book:
http://www.amazon.com/About-Face-Odyssey...0671695347 : put any war - any conflict, that puts American Soldiers in harms way in perspective for me.
Wikipedia describes how he handled becoming "totally fed up with the system"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hackworth
"One aspect of the latter required him to defend the U.S. position on the war. Even with his reservations concerning the conflict, he refused to resign, feeling it was his duty as a field grade officer to wage the campaign as best he could."
My bottom line - I hate WAR - ANY WAR. Reasons to hate this one are varied and many:
"Rob Tucker:
If daughters were coming home in body bags the whole social formula on war would change. Seems that wasn't true. Daughters are coming home in body bags from Iraq."
I feel the same way about our doctors, mechanics, lawyers, taxi drivers - who joined the "Guard", the "Reserves" and are now our front line troops. Their sacrifice and that of all our soldiers HAS changed our current society.
We the People...................................................................!
I agree with "lotus" :
"I think if anyone is to blame for all of this it is the American Public for allowing this war to continue considering all of the information we now have."
VOTE!
Peace to you - ALL!