"I don't want any other member of our military to have to face the dilemma I confronted: whether to refuse an order and go to jail, or whether to go to Iraq and fight - and perhaps die - for a deceitful and illegitimate occupation." --Camilo Mejia
(The rest his powerful article on Iraq....)
"We need to face up to the problems in Iraq.
"According to the U.S. military's own admission, less than 6 percent of attacks on U.S. troops are conducted by foreign fighters. We are facing off against a national resistance.
"A new poll by the Program on International Policy Attitudes shows that 71 percent of the Iraqis want us out of their country within a year, and a staggering 61 percent of them approve of attacks on American troops there. Even those who support the war should be able to see that our military cannot prevail under these conditions.
"General John Abizaid, head of the Pentagon's Central Command, said that the U.S. military had done all it could, Woodward writes. In no uncertain terms, Abizaid said we need to get out.
"Bush and others, including the authors of the National Intelligence Estimate, say it is crucial for the United States to stay in Iraq because otherwise we will lose standing in the world. But Lt. Gen. William Odom, former head of the National Security Agency, recently told members of Congress that getting out of Iraq would have the opposite effect. He noted that as soon as we left Vietnam, our standing dramatically rose around the world.
"The American people should demand the end of the occupation of Iraq and the immediate return of all troops.
"I don't want any other member of our military to have to face the dilemma I confronted: whether to refuse an order and go to jail, or whether to go to Iraq and fight - and perhaps die - for a deceitful and illegitimate occupation.
"We owe it to our military to bring them home now, and we owe it to the people of Iraq to end the war.
"It will make the world safer, and it's the right and decent thing to do.
--
Camilo E. Mejia, a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, served nine months in a U.S. Army jail for refusing to return to his Florida Guard unit in Iraq.
Salt Lake Tribune 10/6/06
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=739------------------------
I want us to create a special Medal of the American People for Camilo Mejia and others who stood up to this Junta and fought against its war crimes, at great cost to themselves--for their extraordinary courage and moral conscience. When the White House and the Congress belong to the American people again--for which we may have to fight a battle to get rid of the rigged electronic voting machines (step one, priority one)--I would like to see this formally introduced and passed, and medals awarded. A Peace Medal. Perhaps in conjunction with Dennis Kucinich's idea of creation of a Department of Peace. Or maybe even before, in some more informal way. Not that Camilo Mejia wants or needs a medal. He was prepared to face dire consequences for his decision; gave up his career in the military (he was a sargent); went to jail--with certainly no expectation of reward, and nothing but grief because of it. He knows what he did. He doesn't need a medal. But for the sake of honoring such heroes, and educating people in the many kinds of courage. Sometimes courage means REFUSING to fight. Refusing illegal, immoral orders. Thinking for yourself. Drawing a moral line in the sand as to your own conduct, no matter what the consequences.
Blessings upon you, Camilo! I heard of your decision early on, and followed your story. You gave me heart!
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