Backlash Confronts Conscientious Objector

[struggle4progress]

<snip> Sgt. Kevin Benderman, who served one tour of duty in Iraq, is refusing to serve another. When his fellow soldiers of the Third Infantry Division packed their gear and left nearby Fort Stewart for Iraq last week, Benderman stayed home. He says he has chosen to follow his conscience, not his commanders.

After 10 years in the U.S. Army, Benderman has applied for discharge as a conscientious objector -- a heresy to many in the military brotherhood at a time when the country is fighting two debilitating wars overseas.

Monday, Benderman, 40, will attend a military court hearing at Fort Stewart that will determine whether he will face a court martial for desertion and failure to report for a unit deployment. He would face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

"War is the greatest form of wrong," Benderman wrote in his seven-page conscientious objector application. "I believe that my moral obligation to humanity is to not allow myself to be a part of this destruction." <snip>

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-na-objector7feb07,0,1219921.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[babylonsister]

1. Kevin Benderman has been there, done that, and

knows better than to want to do it again. I cannot blame him-no, I applaud him!
No, not EVERY soldier or Marine believes in this war, and I'm thinking many troops are wondering why we're sacrificing so many people for this.

[w4rma]

2. Biased headline. "Backlash, Support Confronts Conscientious Objector"

There is both support and a backlash. The headline should reflect that.

[babylonsister]

3. Well, write to the LATimes and tell them that!

Do your THANG!
Other than that, what did you think of the article or did you read it?