Duty, honor, country. They aren't choices
I may take fire for this, but I won't desert those who serve. Ever.
AWOL Soldiers Reconsider Return to U.S. Saturday, November 4, 2006
By BRETT BARROUQUERE LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)
Since going to Canada to avoid another deployment to Iraq, Corey Glass has considered returning to the United States. But after hearing that a fellow former soldier who surrendered to the military and was ordered to return to his unit instead of being discharged, Glass may not return at all.
"They're not going to win the hearts and minds like that," said Glass, 24, who signed on with the Indiana National Guard in 2002.
Kyle Snyder, a one-time combat engineer who joined the military in 2003, disappeared Wednesday, a day after surrendering at Fort Knox and 18 months after fleeing to Vancouver instead of redeploying to Iraq. Snyder, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colo., said a deal had been reached for a discharge, but he found out he would be returned to his unit at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
His troubles are complicating efforts for those among the 220 American soldiers who fled to Canada and want to return to the United States, according to lawyers, soldiers and anti-war activists.
"Nobody's going to come back from Canada anymore," said James Fennerty, a Chicago-based attorney who represents Snyder and other AWOL soldiers.
"After what they did to him, I don't see anybody going back," said Glass, a Fairmount, Ind., native who is currently in Toronto.
Some are seeking refugee status in Canada. Hart, who was joined in Toronto by his wife and their 3-year-old son, served time in Bosnia in the early 1990s, became a reserve, then went to Iraq after returning to active duty. The idea of returning to the United States is appealing to Hart, because he would like to see family and friends.
"I could see going back under some kind of amnesty program or something like that," Hart said. "But I don't trust them. My enemy isn't foreign now. It's domestic."
First off. I don't agree with any war. Or police actions. Or whatever they call it this week. It's barbaric. It's horrific. And people die. That being said, I also know that we will keep fighting them until we find a better way a better way to supress fanatics, idealogues and madmen. But there is one thing I do know. Honor, Duty and Country are not negotiable. If you claim the freedoms this country offers, then you had best be willing to defend them. We do not conscript, we no longer draft. If you choose service, you have chosen. No do overs. No picking and choosing. You come home with your shield or on it. This custom was the hallmark of Rome. When it declined, so did Rome.
If you leave in the middle of a war, it's called desertion. You have abandoned your duty, your country, your brothers-in-arms. And you are without honor. If you run in the midst of battle, the sentence is death. No courts martial necessary. If you run at other times, when you're caught or surrender, you get the luxury of a trial. It's still desertion. So Mr. Glass thinks we aren't going to make the deserters trust us by sending them back to their units? Tough. Mr. Snyder is afraid he'll have to return to his unit until discharged. He should be afraid to face those he abandoned. And his problems are complicating the lives of 220 deserters who want to come back? Good. I want their lives in turmoil. Mr Hart might consider returning if there's an amnesty program? I don't care if they ever come back. They violated an obligation they freely agreed to. They are without honor and deserve nothing but contempt. I stayed. I served. Others still are. They have my respect and my prayers.
AWOL Soldiers Reconsider Return to U.S. Saturday, November 4, 2006
By BRETT BARROUQUERE LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)
Since going to Canada to avoid another deployment to Iraq, Corey Glass has considered returning to the United States. But after hearing that a fellow former soldier who surrendered to the military and was ordered to return to his unit instead of being discharged, Glass may not return at all.
"They're not going to win the hearts and minds like that," said Glass, 24, who signed on with the Indiana National Guard in 2002.
Kyle Snyder, a one-time combat engineer who joined the military in 2003, disappeared Wednesday, a day after surrendering at Fort Knox and 18 months after fleeing to Vancouver instead of redeploying to Iraq. Snyder, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colo., said a deal had been reached for a discharge, but he found out he would be returned to his unit at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
His troubles are complicating efforts for those among the 220 American soldiers who fled to Canada and want to return to the United States, according to lawyers, soldiers and anti-war activists.
"Nobody's going to come back from Canada anymore," said James Fennerty, a Chicago-based attorney who represents Snyder and other AWOL soldiers.
"After what they did to him, I don't see anybody going back," said Glass, a Fairmount, Ind., native who is currently in Toronto.
Some are seeking refugee status in Canada. Hart, who was joined in Toronto by his wife and their 3-year-old son, served time in Bosnia in the early 1990s, became a reserve, then went to Iraq after returning to active duty. The idea of returning to the United States is appealing to Hart, because he would like to see family and friends.
"I could see going back under some kind of amnesty program or something like that," Hart said. "But I don't trust them. My enemy isn't foreign now. It's domestic."
First off. I don't agree with any war. Or police actions. Or whatever they call it this week. It's barbaric. It's horrific. And people die. That being said, I also know that we will keep fighting them until we find a better way a better way to supress fanatics, idealogues and madmen. But there is one thing I do know. Honor, Duty and Country are not negotiable. If you claim the freedoms this country offers, then you had best be willing to defend them. We do not conscript, we no longer draft. If you choose service, you have chosen. No do overs. No picking and choosing. You come home with your shield or on it. This custom was the hallmark of Rome. When it declined, so did Rome.
If you leave in the middle of a war, it's called desertion. You have abandoned your duty, your country, your brothers-in-arms. And you are without honor. If you run in the midst of battle, the sentence is death. No courts martial necessary. If you run at other times, when you're caught or surrender, you get the luxury of a trial. It's still desertion. So Mr. Glass thinks we aren't going to make the deserters trust us by sending them back to their units? Tough. Mr. Snyder is afraid he'll have to return to his unit until discharged. He should be afraid to face those he abandoned. And his problems are complicating the lives of 220 deserters who want to come back? Good. I want their lives in turmoil. Mr Hart might consider returning if there's an amnesty program? I don't care if they ever come back. They violated an obligation they freely agreed to. They are without honor and deserve nothing but contempt. I stayed. I served. Others still are. They have my respect and my prayers.
posted by Dalt Danyon at 7:36 PM
1 Comments:
RIGHT ON DALT!!!!
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