Is the United States Military a Terrorist Organization?

[unhappycamper]

Jared Hood
Branch of service: Army National Guard of the United States (ARNG)
Unit: 220th MP Co
Rank: Spc E-4
Home: Denver, Colorado
Served in: Fort Carson,Camp Navistar, Hurricane Katrina relief, Denver Colorado, Ft Bragg, Vilseck Germany

I am a 24 year old college student attending Metro state college of Denver pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Administration. I have been in the Army since 2003, first serving in a reserve MP detachment (5025th) out of Fort Carson, CO. Our mission was to train units preparing to deploy to Iraq in MP tasks and Internment operations. Taking part in this mission was really the beginning of my knowledge of the truth about this illegal war. Speaking to returning soldiers opened my eyes to the real meaning behind this war. At this time I started researching all of the facts information that lead to the war and I have not stopped researching and speaking out since. In February of 2005 I transfered to the 220th MP CO COARNG and have remained with this unit since. The 220th served in Iraq in 2004 and I have spoken to many soldiers about there experiences and have further strengthened my discontent with the war and this administration. On my spare time I enjoy arguing and debating politics, snowboarding, skateboarding and playing guitar. Two months ago I began my application for conscientious objection (1-0) Honorable Discharge for moral and ethical reasons. Although I have only two years remaining on my contract I cannot train and support a nation that condones illegal war.



Is the United States Military a Terrorist Organization?
by Jared Hood | Fri, 07/13/2007 - 9:10pm

Is the United States Military a Terrorist Organization?

There I beg to ask the question! If no one else is going to bring this up, then I guess I’d better. As I get older, wiser and a bit more accusatory of the intentions of our “great Government,” I think back on some of the arguments I used to find myself in the middle of before my opinions shifted. I am not proud to say it, but I once bought into the rhetoric that this was the greatest nation and that our Military is only used in the defense of freedom. I can’t say I’m too ashamed because our congress buys into it time after time and these are so called, highly educated individuals. Anyways, I think back and wonder why I was a leader in the Colorado Young Republican’s? Why was my Senior Yearbook Award “Most likely to vote for George W Bush”? Why was I stupid enough to vote for him!? And why was it that I so adamantly wanted to be a soldier in the US Army? Four years is a long time for self-discovery, especially when you’re thrust full force into the most miserable institution known to man, second only to prison, that of the US Military. I’ve changed, everyone knows that, otherwise my family would be talking to me and I wouldn’t be writing this.

I’m thinking back on one particular incident that hit close to home here in Colorado a few years back. Many might recall Professor Ward Churchill and his ominous lecture at CU Boulder about 9/11 and our US Military. If not, I encourage you to research what he said. Now without going into some long, drawn out discussion about whether or not teachers should be allowed to use their position as a political platform, I just want to focus on the controversy of what he said. Throughout his various classes and lectures, Professor Churchill made several statements referring to the US Military as a terrorist organization. This infuriated me! At the time I had just joined the Army. I had a father who served proudly and no 21 year old wants to think of their father or themselves as a terrorist. I remember an argument I got into with a man at a bar particularly. I was making an admittedly, uneducated argument for the logical invasion of Iraq, and ferociously attacking Ward Churchill’s comments. The man I was arguing with…calm, collected and intelligent. He knew what he was talking about. I could have learned something from him if I wasn’t so busy letting my emotions get in the way. You know, I was arguing the typical right wing rhetoric! “Well we got to fight the terrorists over there so we don’t have to fight em’ here.” “If you’re not with us you’re against us.” And “Ward Churchill should leave this country if he doesn’t like it.” God…to even think that those were arguments I used to make. It makes me want to vomit!

Now, four years after serving in a racist, sexist, homophobic and disastrously ineffective Army, remembering these past discussions has a profound affect on me. It gives me a sense of assurance to know that I stood on the other side, put my money where my mouth was and joined the Army, and inevitably came out on the other side. This as you know, is not the usual result. I’m not talking about politics so much as I’m talking about morals, ethics, values and self respect; along with the ability to see the bigger picture. Did Ward Churchill bring up a valid point that most people not dare speak of? Is the United States Military a Terrorist Organization? Well…in my opinion, yes. Now, I myself am not a terrorist and I’m not going to call every member of the Military a willing terrorist. But there is something to be said about the United States Government when the Department of Defense receives over 80% of the yearly budget to work diligently to train soldiers, create weapons and seize property all to carry out acts of terror. Because let's not escape it; war creates terror, it is an act of terror and it is terrifying. What else can be said? Terrorism is defined as “the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce esp. for political and or economical purposes.” So, according to this definition, and all others in comparison, it would also be concluded that an organized group which carries out these acts would be a “Terrorist Organization.”

Let’s look at what this Government has used it’s Military for just since 9/11/2001. They bombed civilian populations and invaded Afghanistan citing “Justice for 9/11”. They collected doctored, outdated and inaccurate intelligence reports to convince the majority of Americans that a clear case for war with Iraq was rational, also citing “justice for 9/11.” They dropped thousands of “precision” guided bombs, of which none conveniently hit their targets, on Iraq months prior to the invasion. They sent 200,000 US Soldiers to invade and thus occupy a nation of innocent people, using brutalizing tactics. They sent over 150 private corporations to pillage and exploit the instability in the region. This was all dramatically and fearfully called, as we have seen forced down our throats time and again, “The War on Terror.” For a person who, for some ungodly reason still supports this war, the fact still remains; how do over a million deaths justify 3,000 deaths on 9/11? Only in this era of war profiteering, Commander in Chief’s who spent more time at college cocaine fests than studying policy, American Idol, McDonald’s and Paris Hilton do rationalities of “Fighting Terrorism with Terrorism” make sense.

Why did I not see this absent minded, illogical concept four years ago? Why did I allow myself to join a terrorist organization called the US Army? And why am I now writing something like this. Well…for me it all goes back to that conversation in the bar. It goes back to Ward Churchill even. Those events, no matter how insignificant, still find themselves in my mind four years later. And the US Army, no matter how much I hated my experiences; will never be regretful. After all, now that I know why I joined, I can think of those reasons and stop as many other people as possible from joining a terrorist organization. As for McDonald’s, American Idol and Paris Hilton…I’m still working that out.

[againes654]

1. Yes

sad to say. That was a chilling read. So sad to hear

[shance]

2. Thank you for posting UC*** I imagine there are many Jared's out there.

And its always hopeful to see that we all have the capacity to open our eyes if we have the courage to do so.

Thanks for posting.

[superkia]

3. If it walks like a duck....

[Hydra]

4. And the Doom Prophets such as myself are vindicated yet again

In Haig's presence, Kissinger referred pointedly to military men as "dumb, stupid animals to be used" as pawns for foreign policy.

-Woodward and Bernstein, The Final Days, chapter 14

The Military is being misused by people who are unconcerned with their safety. How is this "supporting our troops"?

[AntiFascist]

5. K&R, wasn't it a 4-star general who suggested...

that Bush, as commander in chief, had turned the military in Iraq into a mafia-like organization? This is nothing short of organized crime: the CIA capitalizing on the drug trade, "friendly fire" killings of political dissidents, torture, and the pirating of oil. The longer we stay in Iraq the more this truth will become painfully obvious.