What can we at DU do to organize support for the troops refusing orders?

[Kanary]

I watched that wife's face, and I can guess what she's going through.

I'm not as practiced as some of you...... how can we manage to get messages of support through to the troops involved, and their families?

We need to let them know we're solidly behind them! You can be sure they'll get all kinds of ugly crap from RWers!

Let's put our heads together, and figure out something on this.

Thanks, DUers...... so glad I have people here to work on these things with!

:hi:

Kanary

[proud patriot]

1. Letters to the editor

:hi:

[Kanary]

2. That's a definite start. I'd like to get messages through

to the families and the troops involved.

Kanary, starting a LTTE right now........ :)

[ladybugg33]

19. Make the media pay attention.

Revolution is on the way, huh?

[Kanary]

21. There is a difference between "the media" and "the troops"

Once more...... I"D Really Like For Us To Send Supportive Message To The Troops.

Surely we can do this........??

Kanary

[lastknowngood]

3. Sorry but I don't agree. If these guys are ordered to charge up

hill in the face of machinegun fire, that is the job. The army is not a debating society nor is it a job you do until you want to quit. The order may be stupid, but unless it is illegal their job is to follow the orders. I speak as a veteran of 7 years during the Vietnam mess, if you are not willing to lay your life on the line, don't join.

[DrWeird]

4. Horseshit.

nt

[lastknowngood]

22. Sometimes a few have to be sacrificed to save an objective that

will save more men. That is reality, if you want to ignore that fine but understand that as a soldier you are required to follow any legal order. Failure is a court martial offense, like it or not that is how it works. I understand how those who have never served or live in the "new" world created by our society but war is a at best a 19th century concept which depends on discipline. If orders are disobeyed the result could be catastrophic, the loss of many hundreds or thousands of lives. Unless you have been there, you don't know and you don't realize how strong the brotherhood and shared responsibility is. When you see these kids with arms and legs blown off in the hospital, the one thing which stands out is how they feel they are letting down their unit and many want to return to the unit. It's how they respond until reality sets in.

[DrWeird]

23. Port of Chicago "mutineers"

right or wrong?

[txindy]

31. They were ordered to make a fuel delivery without armed support

Oh, and by the way, the fuel was contaminated. The people at the fuel's destination would've refused it just as the first stop on their delivery route refused it. So, this mission was really for....What, exactly? Gratuitous cannon fodder, at best.

[Kanary]

5. You're entitled to your opinion.

I'm here to join with others in offering their support, so I ask that you state your objections on the many other threads about what they are doing.

Thank you.

Kanary

[jerryman814]

11. Yes, but the point is...

...to fight tactfully, not distastefully.

The army makes their group sound like a magic place where men/women become men/women and where you can go to learn the skills of tomorrow. If you send your troops in to get mutinied in a "suicide" mission as it was reported, I believe you have every right to say, "Wait a minute. Is this the best way possible?" What happened to Bush's machines that are supposedly replacing soldiers? We have to stop treating our soldiers like numbers... I am tired of seeing grieving mothers on television tearfully wondering why her child had to be killed.

By the way, I don't know if you volunteered or not, but it must have been fun "laying down your life" as a drafted soldier...

(meant to prove the point that kids were sent in and killed like this for nothing back then, not to be disrespectful, thank you for your service)

[sam sarrha]

15. sorry but this is a different army..than was in Viet Nam. Mentally ill

officers need to be exposed to prevent the unnecessary death and suffering of the troops... Time to wake up and respect the value of our troops and recognize that their input about things that may be not known to the chain of command like condition of trucks and fuel that if used could cause the death of other soldiers.. they are responsible also for the other troops and are required to inform and insist if necessary.

you can go ahead and be cannon fodder but you can also Fuck yourself if you think our troops don't have the responsibility to their comrades in arms

[manic expression]

18. Everyone

has the duty to stand for what is RIGHT. This is not a case of fear, as it takes untold courage to stand up to such a wrong. They are doing the most important job: fighting injustice.

[anarchy1999]

6. Connect them up with Vets for Peace, Vietnam Vets, Iraq Vets, it is

so easy and there are so many resources. This is something we can do.

[Eloriel]

10. Uh, first you hve to find a way to CONTACT them --

Before you can connect THEM up with these groups. And that, my friend, was Kanary's question, in part. Get it?

[anarchy1999]

13. Agreed, El, That is the toughest part. Connecting with the families in

pain. You are so right and I just wish you knew how much I know on a first hand basis how right you are. Thanks for your insight.

[Kanary]

16. I got the families names of the two who were reported, if that helps.

Thanks, Eloriel! this is really important to me.

:hi:

Kanary

[knowbody0]

7. count on me

they are the first in the news to do this, many are threatened with a bullet in the back for refusing an order. i support them anyway that i can.

[southlandshari]

32. kick

kick

[w4rma]

8. All they want is to be equipped properly for the job and to have

the armed escorts they need to do their job. Push for those things. It's what they want. From what I can tell, the Democratic leadership in Congress IS pushing for at least the equipment part.

[FlemingsGhost]

9. Tread lightly. This is a PR firestorm in the making. (n/t)

Dems

[sam sarrha]

20. The troops were told if they got a better attitude about the situation

they would not be prosecuted

[Eloriel]

12. Anyone have a link for the UCMJ portions that

support NOT obeying orders that are illegal or that amount to "suicide missions"? Someone on another thread said that this is the case. That would be very helpful to include in any LTEs, but we ought to make absolutely sure that's what the UCMJ says.

TIA

[anarchy1999]

14. Go to www.dallaspeacecenter.org they have a tape for

concientious objectors organization along with Scott Ritter's speech in June in Dallas. Full of INFO.

[Kanary]

17. I know we can do this, if we decide to. DU sent TONS of messages to Whoop

to Whoopie, and lots of others.

THESE Troops are the ones who really NEED that support!

I realize that there are lots of other things that need to be done, like pressuring for more and better equipment, and whatever we can do to ensure that these troops receive the legal advice they need, etc. BUT>........

But, my main focus right now is finding a way to send them messages of support, so they know they have friens at home who are thinking of them, appreciating their circumstances, and sending them caring messages.

Surely we can do this.............?

Kanary

[GoldenOldie]

24. If refusal to obey orders are a result of equipment,

such as deadlined vehicles and contaminated fuels thus leaving the troops as sitting ducks to be picked-off one by one, it is not the troops fault but that of their Commander-in-chief, that sent them into battle ill prepared and ill equipped. On top of this you have a contractor that is suppose to furnish supplies and they have been paid billions to do so yet they do not have the supplies or the supplies they give the troops are contaminated or unusable.

Every State in the Union is providing Reserve and Guard Units for this war and it is the responsibility of Congress to ensure that our troops are treated fairly and well. I suggest a callup, e-mail, snail mail begin to our Representatives. Remember many of them are up for election and they need all the votes they can get.

[Kanary]

25. I give up. I can't seem to get anyone to understand at all.

I thought I said it plainly.

I'll now let this thread be taken over by all the other stuff.

:(

Kanary

[KG]

26. i support these troops.

:thumbsup:

[in_cog_ni_to]

27. Calling Vetwife!!! She'll know what to do!

This is what she does! It's her specialty. Keep this kicked until she sees it.

[GoldenOldie]

29. Kanary sorry got off your intent

What about sending e-mails,letters of support to the local papers where the families are located.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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