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One soldier echoes the hearts and minds of millions


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As John McCain plans to continue the occupation of Iraq for at least five more years one soldier stands up and says No. Sergeant Matthis Chiroux is willing to fight, but not to commit war crimes or fight in an "unconstitutional and illegal" war. As Americans it is time to ask ourselves which direction we want to go in Iraq.
captainjackie

23 responses // One soldier echoes the hearts and minds of millions

  • Brave. Hugs.
    tranism
  • I try to think what it would be like to be in Sgt. Chiroux's position, and I cannot fathom the courage that it would take to defy the orders to show up and serve, knowing the consequences. But this is an example of a human being who cannot live otherwise with the consequences of participating anymore. God help him.
    Swizzle2
  • Lets see a revolution.
    ipodrulz
  • Does anyone know what the consequences of defying the orders would be? How long do you think he could stay in prison. Until the end of the war?
    captainjackie
  • Brave man. He should receive an award.
    Greg_Bunker
  • One of the most obvious and pervasive aspects of a democracy is its inherent ability to be cognizant at all times tha at unanimity of opinion will be shared by a vast number of people at all times is most unlikely. Consequently, states (comprised of people) are regulated by laws that keep society functioning in an orderly fashion. Without such laws legislated by the people's representatives, society would disintegrate into chaos. Everyone, in that instance, who had a strong opinion would naturally want their opinion to become the accepted order of the day. No reasonably functioning society could continue to function under such anarchy. Further, despite the charade of the Military being run by a civilian, the fact nonetheless remains that in this particular democracy it's a group of folks housed in a structure known as the Pentagon that puts forth all rules of law pertaining to the armed forces. Indeed, this rather large and imposing group even has it's own schools, legal code, equipment, and it's own courts which the civilian populous finds very difficult to thwart. Contrary to popular opinion, it doesn't take a brain trust to see right through some of the more incredible decisions made by the military in concert with the president who's their leader and the Joint Chiefs of Staff who make certain that these orders/decisions are carried out by one and all. We have but one option available to us, the citizenry, to protest vociferously against military decisions that we disagree with. That is, we have a vote which, to some people, seems like a very small thing by comparison to other people's power - but, it is not. It is a gift extended to every member of a free and democratic society by which they can express their disagreement. People have also been given what's known as a first amendment which allows them the freedom to express their dissent in an orderly fashion. If a large enough group of people disagree with the decisions being taken by their leaders and they're simultaneously fortunate enough to have the general media support them in their notions, then, chances are that change over time will be provoked. But, telling you all of this is much like taking coals to Newcastle. You already know the route and the process which is one of the reasons you're proud to be an integral part of this country. I really don't think you'd want a minority of one or two or ten leading the country, would you? Well, in a way that's what you're suggesting and I'm suggesting to you that there are far better ways to achieve your goal.
    drbehavior
  • The way is to STOP the War! Actually that it is the only way!

    Everything else is bla, bla, bla, beautiful and eloquent blas!
    stopnoise
  • http://www.military-network.com/main_ucmj/SUBCHAPTERX.h...
    well i think they should just give him a general discharge and send him on his way . theres no need for military personel unwilling to obey orders. I know they have used death sentence in the past for cowardice but that would never happen these days. he could be charged under the ucmj for articles 82 , 94 , 83 and probably others. not sure what kind of time he would recieve. I had a guy in my platoon that went ua(unauthorized absence) the army calls it awol, all he was given when he came back was reduction in rank, 1 month without pay, and confined to base til we deployed which was like 6 weeks. we never had anyone that refused to fight . they ask you when you sign up if you are a conscientious objector. just don't join if you are.
    sephig
  • drbehavior - you are wrong about society. Laws don't keep society functioning in an orderly fashion - people do, good people.

    Your position implies that people are basically uncivilized, not so. Based on this twisted perspective - humankind should have never come this far, let alone even exist today.

    Think about it, you've got it backwards, people, the masses, the multitudes which comprise societies have always had a common enemy - idiots espousing the very view you are - who ignorantly believe and greedily desire to impose their self-serving, self-appointed higher perspective on the lowly ignoramus hordes.

    History teaches us over and over again - it isn't the ignorance or moral-less actions or behavior of the masses which has wrecked the most havoc on humanity - it is a tiny percentage who murder, cheat and steal their way to power and authority.

    Millions and millions of people every century haven't lost their lives as a result of chaos of the masses, but of genocide and waring of the elite few. You can't argue it isn't so.

    This soldier has courage, more courage than the Busheney gang and mccain combined. This soldier has integrity, more integrity than the Busheney gang, mccain and hillbilary. This soldier has wisdom, more wisdom than the Busheney gang, mccain, hillbillary and all the enabling ripusoffican's (and Dems) combined.
    VoyagerFilms
  • I suppose God got it wrong as well Mr. Films when he handed Moses the ten commandments on Mount Sinai. Twisted defines your thinking and garbled speaks to your articulation -
    drbehavior
  • We are all adults here, right? Try articulating yourself without the name calling.

    I think the manner in which this sergeant is speaking up against this war and his part in it, is a rather calculated move. Smart on his part to make it a public stance as oppose to simply defecting, and quietly being prosecuted. I commend him, because people like me, would never sign up for such a duty. He's done it, and he's saying he's done.

    Just because, as Drbehavior has been pointing out, this kind of behavior, left unchecked, may prompt similar actions throughout, doesn't mean that it's not an action worth taking. It has never been those who follow blindly that make changes in this world. It's always someone who decides to make a stand...like Moses. "Let my people go." If you don't believe in something, you shouldn't keep doing it because you were told to. If it causes the ripple of change you so fear, it was probably due.
    Neghie
  • Thats what we need! People more like Matthis who will speak up and say what he believes in instead of keeping quiet and saying nothin.
    currentkid
  • It is up to us the tax payers to stand up and protect and listen to the voices of reason in this time of madness.
    Where is the outRage America???
    DianaButler
  • As far as McCain saying we'll be in iraq until 2013, he's not war mongering, he's being realistic. Anyone who thinks that the second Obama gets elected we'll be out of Iraq is kidding themselves. That would have drastic consequences and lead to all sorts of bloodshed. Unfortunately, we're stuck, and I commend McCain for doing what other leaders haven't and talking to the American people like they're adults instead of delusional children.
    dgold0101
  • breaking news : Obama cannot end this war , any more than he can just wave a wand and make the trigger fingers of everyone in this world who hates america just fall off - we could ( and i'd say should ) withdraw from Iraq , sure , but Iraq itself is not "the war" - do not be misled by the popular idea that just leaving Iraq is the end of "the war" - leaving Iraq might possibly turn out to contribute to an even larger war.
    malathion
  • Thank all your gods (or whatever) for brave solders like Mr. Chiroux!
    LarzNero
  • Bravo!
    current89
  • Ok! It seems to me that there are bits of confusion here!

    No one is questioning the Army's Ethical Duty to Serve and to defend our Country from invasion. What we are talking here is about supporting a War of Lies! A War that have been in part started by the Media after "9-11" with False Accusations of Weapons of Mass Destruction in which end up to be false anyway.

    However no one denies that Iraq was and still is under a tyrant regime of oppression. So do many parts of Africa, Israel and Palestine!

    Iraq still under a War Regime and any War it is a regime of Oppression and Mass Distresses to both sides. But the question here remains...

    Why Iraq? - It was all the "9-11 psychopath guys" that exploded those buildings using the aircrafts from Baghdad? -Why Iraq? Anybody wants to jump in the give me this answer?
    stopnoise
  • good thankx for your story
    http://www.rozeejobs.blogspot.com/
    Anum
  • Malathion, I agree with you. Obama cannot end this war, nor will it end if we pull out of Iraq.

    However, I do not believe that Hilary or McCain can end this war either, nor will this war end if we don't manage to finish up in Iraq.

    Unfortunately our nations proverbial leg is caught in a bit of a bear trap. It isn't really comfortable to just sit there and not do anything, but at the same time taking any action to get out (be it the right or wrong action) is going to hurt like hell. What we should have done was never go into Iraq, but the past is something that you cannot change. We are stuck, and we need to continue the war on the terrorists who attacked us and still pose a threat. Now I know I have said this more than a few times, and I could easily be labeled as a beater of a dead working mammal. Unless we initiate a draft of get real international aid, we are not going to get anywhere. The draft will never happen unless something really bad occurs because it would be an extreme form of political suicide. And it is very unlikely that we could get real international aid without some serious ass kissing after the bullshit our current administration threw out to get our allies to follow us into Iraq in the first place.

    So here we are, a rock and a hard place. We can't stay where we are forever, and sooner rather than later we are going to have to make a painful choice. What will distinguish the right painful choice from the wrong painful choice is how we feel about it 20 years down the road.
    Varex_Sythe
  • I suppose God got it wrong as well Mr. Films when he handed Moses the ten commandments on Mount Sinai. Twisted defines your thinking and garbled speaks to your articulation -

    Dr. Behavior are you some kind of Biblical expert, you have first hand knowledge or were a witness to the alleged events on Mount Sinai? Do you serve Jehovah?

    This god Jehovah is responsible for the caustic state of affairs existing in the world today. His followers conceived of the idea of mankind being "sinful": and "inherently bad". This idea was born from the Abrahamic religions. They all three, Christianity, Judaism and Islam all worship the same god and yet they are constantly at the center of conflict, war and terrorism.

    What VoyagerFilms said is 100% accurate and true.

    "Millions and millions of people every century haven't lost their lives as a result of chaos of the masses, but of genocide and waring of the elite few. You can't argue it isn't so."

    The elite few use the Abrahamic religions as their personal foot soldiers by manipulating them through guilt, fear, shame, and terror.
    jubal
  • Regardless of what some people might think about this soldier, he is brave to speak up and sure there will be consequences.

    I am against any war of aggression, but I support a fierce defense. Call me a protectionist if you want, but I think that America is playing Big Brother to the world because of the audacity of arrogance that has swept the country when GW came to power; thanks to the Christian and Jewish right. They are the ones at war with Islam and their terrorist actions by proxy are at the heart of the war we are now "Stuck" in.

    We can leave, yes there will be chaos, but America is spread too thin over the entire world, didn't you read? 737 bases all over the world?

    America needs to bring their troops home so they can recharge their batteries and be ready to truly defend America when the war comes to this continent; because if you don't see that coming, then you are in total denial. War is coming to America; sooner or later.
    jubal
  • Liberal_Extinction...we would all do well with some Ignorant_Extinction, but you would be the chief beneficiary.

    People should be free to express their opinion without personal insult.
    Incredulous

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