Posted on 06/23/2007 7:48:19 AM PDT by lowbridge
On June 19, Army Spc Eleon “Eli” Israel put himself at great personal risk by making the courageous decision to refuse further participation in the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The 26-year-old from Arlington, Virginia told his command that he will no longer be a combatant in this illegal, unjustified war. Eli believes that the U.S. government used the attacks of September 11, 2001 as a pretense to invade Iraq and that “we are now violating the people of this country (Iraq) in ways that we would never accept on our own soil.” Eli is stationed at Camp Victory in Baghdad with JVB Bravo Company, 1-149 Infantry of the Kentucky Army National Guard and intends to seek a discharge as a conscientious objector.
-snip
I have told them that I will no longer play a ‘combat role’ in this conflict or ‘protect corporate representatives,’ and they have taken this as ‘violating a direct order.’ I may be in jail or worse in the next 24 hours. Please rally whoever you can, call whoever you can, bring as much attention to this as you can. I have no doubt that the military will bury me and hide the whole situation if they can. I'm in big trouble. I'm in the middle of Iraq, surrounded by people who are not on my side. Please help me. Please contact whoever you can, and tell them who I am, so I don't ‘disappear.’
-snip
Thank you for your support. I am currently "OK", thanks in no small part I'm sure to the voices that have spoken up in the name of peace. I don't know what the military's next steps are going to be, but my deeply held beliefs prevent me from participating in this or any other war....
I have been in Iraq for over a year. I have served in combat. I have been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, for my actions in Combat. I have been recommended for other medals, that I will now probably never see (nor do I want)
I could spend the rest of my time here (shooting, getting shot at, and watching my friends get killed and maimed) "wondering" why the Bush/Cheney administration lied to me. But I really don't think that I have to understand in full what their interests were in order to understand that they were not my interests, either as a soldier or as a civilian.
I want you all to know, that most of us that are over here, came to Iraq, with the very best of intentions, and really thought that the Iraqi people wanted us here. Now that I'm here, I realize that they want to work it out themselves, and I know we should respect that.
One guy lies about the reason for sending me to Iraq, and then tries to keep me here even after he's caught. Another guy actually believes that we can make up reasons as we go, and still wants to believe the original lie. The third guy realizes it was a lie, but thinks it's the people who were told the lie—and who paid the greatest price for it (those wearing uniforms)—that should be blamed for not making the lie out to be "OK" in the end. This war is and was lost, but not by the military.
I'm attune enough to know that even the kindest Iraqi families that manage a "wave" to me as I pass by (when not done in fear), do it because my smile lets them know that I'm only doing my job, and that I'll try my best not to let my weapons of war hit their children when I have to defend myself that day.
http://thehollytree.blogspot.com/2007/06/in-iraq-spc-eli-israel-pledges-to.html
Yep, all American concientious objectors seem to disappear off the face of the earth, never to be seen or heard from again.
Drama queen.
'Nuff said.
War is hell, Eli.
Sedition. Hang. Next.
I am certain that there is some “highly desirable” duty posts in this A*holes future! But, then again, I relate to an earlier time....
traitor. Plain and simple.
Never worry, Kerry can coach you on how to thorw other people's medals over the fence.
Dishonorable discharge his butt. In an organization of 2 plus million there are going to be some bad apples. Send the loser home. Let him get a taste of what his future employer's think of his ignorant drama queen grandstanding.
Ship this punks arse to gitmo and put him in with the rest of those locked up.
Why, so he can be a f*king martyr for the rest of these idiots? Hell no, tell him to cram it and send him back to the front line.
I'm attune [sic] enough to know that even the kindest Iraqi families that manage a "wave" to me as I pass by (when not done in fear), do it because my smile lets them know that I'm only doing my job, and that I'll try my best not to let my weapons of war hit their children when I have to defend myself that day.
Impressive psychic powers all around.
Latrine duty.
Exactly. If this story was real, the MSM would be all over it.
I haven’t seen it, but believe they still have gallows at the Ft. Leavenworth stockade.
Regarding post #16:
This is NOT Eleanor Israel. Just for clarificaton.
Photo of him at the link.
I believe him.
Really.
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