Replies

"If the regulations and military code are such that you can imagine being given a lawful order that contradicts your religious moral imperatives, then you shouldn't go into the armed forces in the first place. In particular, a Muslim who believes that it is against Islam to ally with non-Muslims against other Muslims should not join the army of a non-Muslim country!"

Precisely -- I really don't care about the so-called "psychological victory" here -- the public request by a US Military Captain, from citizens of a foreign nation, to judge whether US military personnel can fight in this war, is an outrage. If they had any qualms about fighting other muslims, they should have requested immediate discharge as conscientious objectors (i.e. those willing to kill anyone but muslims in the defense of their country.)

the public request by a US Military Captain, from citizens of a foreign nation, to judge whether US military personnel can fight in this war, is an outrage. If they had any qualms about fighting other muslims, they should have requested immediate discharge as conscientious objectors

My point was they probably didn't have any qualms when they enlisted, but the many Muslim clerics reiterating this message might INDUCE such qualms, and it is better to counteract the message directly and reassure the servicemen than to let them become conscientious objectors.