How To Stay Out Of Iraq: Ask A Friend To Shoot You

Jim Moore | March 24 2005

This is not meant to be a joke. Not even a bad one. In a recent New York times article, reporter Monica Davey describes in graphic detail how U.S. troops are trying to find ways of not going back to Iraq. And some of the techniques they use go beyond bizarre.

Specialist Marquise J. Roberts, an Iraq war veteran from Philadelphia, is accused of asking a relative to shoot him in the leg so he won't be sent back for a second tour of duty in Iraq. He says he saw enough killing.

One tour of duty was enough for Sgt. Kevin Benderman, a resident of Georgia, so he filed for conscientious objector status, and now may be court-marshaled for failing to report for duty. He says he'll face that rather than go back to Iraq.

Pvt. Brandon Hughey was supposed to meet his unit to fly back to Iraq. The unit has left but Hughey is not with them; he is now somewhere in Canada. "It wasn't what I thought it would be," says Pvt. Hughey. He had some doubts about going to Iraq even during basic training but tried to push those doubts aside. Then, as his unit prepared to leave, he realized that he just could not go.

In a call from Toronto, Hughey explained further, "There are people who would want to hang me for this. The thing is, yes, I did sign up. I had visions that I would be a good guy. But killing people for something I don't believe in, just to fulfill a contract, just didn't seem right to me."

These cases are typical of the wake-up call that is insinuating its way into the minds of many of our soldiers and marines. And it's not an instant case of jitters, a sudden change of mind, a spurt of "religion", or even raw fear. No, these and hundreds of other cases of non-combatus militaire are causing the Pentagon to wonder what on earth is going on.

If the pointed heads at the Big P really want an answer to this question, here are a few they might paste in their helmets, er, hats:

"I was scared and I didn't want to leave my family." said Specialist Roberts. "I felt that the chain of command didn't care about the safety of the troops. I just know that I wasn't going to make it back."

"There are a lot of people, many more than normal, who are trying to get out now," said Sgt. First Class Tom Ogden of Carson Colorado, just before he left for a second tour of duty in Iraq.

One group of conscientious objectors even created their own website to show soldiers "on the edge" some of the techniques of avoiding service in Iraq, including dodging into Canada where residents supply American soldiers who cross the border with money, food, and a place to bed down. Their website had 3,000 hits the first day.

Another "hold out" technique is "failing" their drug test, or claiming bad backs or necks. Anything to keep from being sent back into that hellhole. "And," says Sgt. Ogden, "they're coming up with even more creative ways to do it".

These appear to be typical responses to further calls to action in Iraq from our military. It's nothing new. Every soldier or marine is scared of going into combat at first. Every one also feels at times like he may not make it back: that's natural, and the price of war.

But feeling that "the chain of command doesn't care about the safety of the troops", or that they're going into combat for the wrong reasons, or that this so-called war in Iraq has nothing to do with the safety or security of America, is quite another thing.

In reality, a soldier or marine is willing to fight for his country when he knows that the cause is just, the decision for war is logical and right, there are no ulterior motives involved, their mission is well-defined, and the top brass knows how to get the job done. About all of which, the boys being sent into combat, have their doubts.

And why wouldn't they? They are finding out that their tour of duty which was to be for just so long, is suddenly extended, without notice; when they get back they find that their veterans' benefits have been cut or reduced; they knew that war was "hell" but never expected to see crying, wounded children that nobody would help, or soldiers setting fire to wild dogs just to pass the time, or civilians (not just soldiers) being indiscriminately killed; or a variety of inhuman acts that sickens their heart, wracks their conscience, and makes a mockery of human decency.

There are always, of course, men and women who let a uniform guide their conduct for better or worse, letting inhumanity, immorality and indecency have its day. But the vast majority of individuals in uniform are men and women who are upright citizens, who mean well, are compassionate, and ask only for a fair shake----and to be told the truth about why they are being sent to war.

With the possible exception of World War II, it is difficult for me to think of one major U.S. conflict that has been fought for a good reason, with a well-defined objective; a realistically assessed time table; regular and accurate communication with troops; honest and decisive leadership; and the absolute prerequisite of putting America's interest first.

No wonder that today's soldiers are doing whatever it takes to keep from going to war in Iraq. If I were 50 years younger, I probably would too.