Iraq Unit Refuses Risky Mission

[skippythwndrdog]

<snip>With many of Iraq's major roads turned into shooting galleries, 19 members of an Army reserve unit are under investigation for refusing an order to deliver a convoy of fuel trucks, reports CBS National Security Correspondent David Martin.

One of the members of the unit, Sgt. Larry O. McCook, told his wife they refused to go because the trucks they were driving weren't adequately protected.

"They don't have bulletproof protection on the vehicles, they just don't go fast at all. It's just not safe to be in a hostile territory,'' said Patricia McCook, relaying her husband's words.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/15/eveningnews/main649727.shtml

Sorry, but they knew that military service was dangerous when they enlisted. Whether we or they agree with the U.S. being in Iraq or not, orders are orders. IF you want a safe job don't join the military in any form.

I personally think a Courts Martial is in order. Pop followed his orders in wartime and anytime you're getting shot at and shooting back it's wartime.

What about the troops that need the fuel? No fuel for vehicles places those dependent upon those vehicles in danger. Contaminated or not, G.I. vehicles will generally run on anything.

[NuttyFluffers]

1. even irresponsible suicide missions?

sorry, i want an military with thinking personnel, too. otherwise more WWI meatgrinders would happen. generals/civilian leaders need to be more responsible before throwing troops into harms way. i'm all for courtmarshal for the people involved in the spy plane incident in china recently, their job was thoroughly detailed and then fully ignored. but here... sounds like hackneyed maintenance of supply lines to "make an incident" for political convenience. sorry, can't agree with you here.

[Steelangel]

2. Errr. it is totally unnecessary to carry out suicide mission IMHO <eom>

[southlandshari]

3. Fuel was contaminated, according to many news accounts

of this story. See this thread for more:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x906709

[ThePhilosopher04]

4. Given the choice between potential courts martial and near certain death..

or enemy capture, I would choose courts martial every time. It's one thing if this were WWI or WWII and we were literally fighting for the survival of America, and a high risk mission was essential in achieving a military victory. Unfortunately, that is not the case in Iraq and we have no business being there.

[wishlist]

5. There are provisions for disobeying orders under certain circumstances

Soldiers do not have to blindly obey all orders regardless of all of the circumstances.

[Moderator]

6. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=906709&mesg_id=906709