US soldier refuses to serve in 'illegal Iraq war'

Brave young man, lets hope he's started something that will impeach Bush and co. for this farce.

YES! I wish they would all refuse to fight this illegal war, their life is worth something.

Matthis Chiroux, is a hero, he is supporting the troops in the way they should be supported. By withdrawing his support of the illegal occupation. Many thanks Matthis.

we need more like him, we need more like him!!

we won't let that happen,

he won't go to jail because we will not let it happen

you believe you are fighting for me, but the iraq war is not to defend the American people

you have been brainwashed

How are we going to stop him going to jail? We've pretty much failed to impeach bush/end the war/indict Rove/stop global warming/etcetera.

If he's going to jail, he's going to jail. He's not Lindsey Lohan.

lol, no he is not lindsey lol

but he won't go to jail,

i still have faith afterall

and at least he is loyal to his values, i would rather go to jail than become a bully for the US government

It takes courage to stand up and say no to the Iraq mistake. I admire this young man.

clayjj05-

I'm sure you didn't join the Army to get used and abused like some corporate tool..

Your blind faith is scary.

You should really take a step back and see what this administration is doing in Iraq. It's abuse, it's mis-use, and it's a terrible tragedy.

You joined the Army to serve and protect this country, not to fight for Corporate profits. You are being USED.

Think about it, and please, drop the derogatory comments (ie "faggots").

I wish you all the best. I hope you find peace-

Clayjj05, let us clarify something. Some of us* were for invading Afghanistan. Some of us* might even know people who volunteered for the army before and after 9/11 and those people who did volunteer proudly went over to Afghanistan to fight the terrorists. However, many of those "some of us*" don't know anyone who volunteered who thinks that going to Iraq was either the smart or correct choice of action. If this soldier is refusing to serve in an illegal war, and by the way the war in Iraq is indeed illegal, then good for him.

Personally I think that a good soldier is one who can read the situation, evaluate orders, and make a decision about what orders are illegal what orders are not, and have the conviction to disobey orders that are illegal. A soldier who is a blindly following sheep might as well be a storm trooper. Yes I realize that is likely offensive, and no I don't particularly care.

* Some of us is being used as a general term to include all of those who would agree with the statements, but still allow people to be isolated from the comment rather than forcefully or fraudulently associated with this train of thought. It is not meant to be a weak attempt to make a sweeping generalization.

Great effort... I fear the attacks this man will face for speaking the truth... Something the importance of which has been forgotten by the majority of Americans.

he didn't "man up"!!???

he did'nt 'man up'???

WTF

he worked his way up from private to sergeant.

he served in Afghanistan, Germany, Japan, and the Philippines

and you think that some how he is not man enough or afraid to go to iraq?

get a clue!

Dissenters were the first Americans, read Thomas Pain if you have any doubts. These soldiers have every right to speak up regarding this issue.

Soldiers fight to preserve The Constitution, not a “president”. I’ve used the term president regarding Bush only because his daddy actually did get him the job. Freeloader…

How can people be upset or sad to fight for people who speak up and voice their opinion? The 1st Amendment is the crux of our democracy and “ironically” part of The Constitution.

Credibility on any standpoint goes much further when a clear, precise argument is presented.

A TRUE MAN OF GOD.

What seperates a professional United States solider from a hired thug in a 3rd world dictatorship?

Morality.

When you volunter to become a professional US solider you do not check your morality at the door -- it is, in fact, a critical tool necessary to the proper functioning of our democracy. Our soliders work for the country, not as the personal mercenaries of George W. Bush.

Our Presidents and Generals are not infallible -- and they make bad decisions and give immoral orders. If it's offensive to the morality of a US solider then they have a duty to refuse that order. How else can Generals be kept in check?

How will any leaders know that they have crossed the line if no one will stand up to tell them so?

What makes human soliders superior to bombs or unmanned drones is that humans can tell when a mistake is occuring and they can do something to correct it. If a bomb is falling on a Iraqi orphanage instead of an insurgent stronghold -- the bomb can't tell the difference. It's just doing what it was programmed/ordered to do.

If US soliders are ordered to kill everyone inside an orphanage and they know they have the wrong intel -- is it a point of honor that they go ahead a obey the orders? Should they just "man up" and start blasting away and act as if the orders came from a god instead of a human?

It's a gray area and a tough call -- but we shouldn't be so quick to call people who make that tough call traitors.

As for the broader war itself -- again our Presidents and Generals aren't gods. Our President has the authority to order our military into Mexico or Canada and start killing people for goodness sake. Hell, he has the power (as Unitary Executive) to order massive carpet bombings anywhere at any time.

If no one ever stands up and says, "Whoa! You're making a huge mistake!" then we're no better than a 3rd world military dictatorship.

It's a system of checks and balances.

I just don't think it's a good thing if any President, general or, hell, platoon leader should be mindlessly obeyed without question.

a true soldier..soldier for righteousness!

Just watch Saving Private Ryan again. That's how soldiers should function.

I own my own company and would hire him in a second as a Man of Character, not a sheeple.

i think this man has done something very brave and i respect him, one of my doubts about joining the army is that i might have to face off with Iran, and thats just bloody silly.

Tom Cruise bellowing at Jack-"You can't handle the truth!"-Nicholson: "DID YOU ORDER THE CODE RED?!!"

Jack: "YOU'RE G'DAMN RIGHT I DID!"

--A Few Good Men (1992) =D

This man is a very courageous individual to stand up to the U.S. Military. He is an example of unconditional heroism, not only for refusing to serve in the Iraq War, but for saying what it truly is; illegal.

He has (or will likely) become much as Thoreau was in the 1800's. In fact a very similar circumstance was recorded by Thoreau himself (he was put in jail for not paying a tax because he would not support the U.S. gov's ability to wage war).

Click the link if intrigued.
http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil.html

Resistance in the ranks! We need some more enlightened folks in this government machine.

ah, the power of one person. imagine what would happen if everyone stood up and put their weapons down, with or without orders.

there used to be such a thing as the "profession of arms" wherein a guy wanted to fight , and he wanted to fight for the sake of fighting itself , because that was his calling , and he liked his job - it really wouldn't have mattered to him if a war was "illegal" or not , he relished war . you know who represents the last vestige of the profession of arms ? Blackwater mercenaries , and anyone else who actually enjoys getting G'd up and having some trigger time - one may call such people "bloodthirsty war-mongers" , and that's exactly what they are , and they probably like being called such .

its unfortunate that this story & the others like it haven't gotten & won't get any press coverage.

the soldiers that have the integrity to stand up against the system are the most brave & thoughtful. they are the ones that are truly living the change that they want to see in the world.

fight back...or rather don't & love up!

I admire his courage and conviction to stand up to his own government based on his morality. A true American in every respect.

clayjj05, I disbelieve that you have any military experience, or even much acquaintance with anyone who does. He is not "required to do what they say." in fact, he is required under the UCMJ to *refuse* to do what they say if what they say to do is illegal. Nobody leaves boot camp without being absolutely clear on that point.

clayjj05, read about Smedley Butler, the most decorated Marine in the history of the United States.

He will put things into perspective for you. He himself stood against the tyranny of evil men who use nationalism and patriotism as mind control.

Read about him, he was a true American Patriot. God rest his soul.

amen, here is the real hero.

Smedley Butler!

Probably the most shocking scandal to happen in America history that no one has ever heard of (at least nowadays).

If you wikipedia Smedley Butler you'll be stunned at this guys military career. He is a military legend.

Scroll down a little further and you'll find this tidbit:

"In 1934, Butler came forward and reported to the U.S. Congress that a group of wealthy pro-Fascist industrialists had been plotting to overthrow the government of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a military coup. Even though the House Un-American Activities Committee corroborated most of the specifics of his testimony, no further action was taken."

Read the Business Plot link! You'll be shocked. You can draw your own conclusions between what those guys were trying to pull off back in the day --- and what the Republicans are pulling off right now.

Also read his book "War Is A Racket!" basically this ultimate solider says war are started by rich people and only benefit rich people

Now the question is: Is Smedley Butler a "traitor" and a "coward" who didn't "man up" --- or is he one of the greatest American heros in our history?

Why this guy doesn't have a HASBRO action figure is beyond me.

In his 1935 book, War Is a Racket, Smedley (love that name!)Butler presented an exposé and trenchant condemnation of the profit motive behind warfare.

"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."

clay,

If you want to fight for me then you are in the wrong place. My Enemy is not in Iraq he is in Detroit, MI selling crack, killing, and stealing!

You want to fight for me you need to come to my city where the real war is being LOST everyday.

'dogs of war'

on the threshold of the new age
the rage of war becomes
more and more...undesirable

the innocent are much defiled
the children succumb to become the 'dogs of war'
to be eaten by the perverted machine

how many screams does it take
to make it go away...

what if god was all of us
what if god was one of us
would he want to stay

still, the pasive masses ask
if you're who you say you are
then when, on what hour, master
will you be stretching your faith's limits
to the tenth power...to shower the world
with the purveyance of peace

Mortal,
can your mind comprehend the civility
or will you remain forever
the ideologue plundering the human resource
while plying the 'dogs of war'
manipulating your latest demographic
milking the blood from its nurturing goodness

why do we see a mushroom cloud on the horizon
what do we hear
will it forever be the clatter
the screech, the screams from
the victims of the military industrial machine
propped up by the 'dogs of war'

you've fed