Free Republic

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Army said Friday it has denied conscientious objector status for a soldier who refused to deploy to Iraq for a second tour, saying he became morally opposed to war during the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Sgt. Kevin Benderman, 40, filed his objector application Dec. 28, just 10 days before he skipped his unit's deployment flight. The Army mechanic faces a court-martial May 12 on charges of desertion and missing movement. The conscientious-objector denial came Wednesday from the Army's Headquarters Department, Fort Stewart spokesman Lt. Col. Robert Whetstone said. Benderman and his military attorney, Maj. Scott Sikes, did...

WELLINGTON, Fla. (AP) -- An Army sergeant who left his Georgia post six months ago was tracked down at his parents' home after a notebook with anti-American and anti-Semitic writings was found in his discarded backpack. Karim Iraq, 25, was arrested as a deserter and is being held without bail at the Palm Beach County Jail, sheriff's officials said. His father said the soldier fled Fort Stewart after the Army extended his enlistment because he had soured on the U.S. military mission in Iraq. The father said the soldier was also harassed over his Palestinian heritage. "He was feeling rejected...

Sgt. Kevin Benderman faces a tougher battle in his bid for discharge as a conscientious objector. The Fort Stewart soldier learned Wednesday that the investigating officer considering Benderman's request is recommending against his application. Benderman, 40, is still in the early stages of the process that could lead to his obtaining conscientious objector status. Experts say it could take a year or more. But the negative recommendation now makes Benderman's task more difficult. Benderman said that the investigating officers' packet includes incorrect information and material that has nothing to do with his conscientious objector application. "I'm going to file a...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A Fort Stewart, Ga., soldier credited with saving dozens of lives by beating back an Iraqi attack before he was killed will receive the first Medal of Honor awarded since 1993, according to the officer who nominated him. Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, 33, of the Tampa Bay area, was killed in action when his outnumbered unit was attacked by Iraqi forces at the Baghdad airport on April 4, 2003. Lt. Col. Thomas Smith on Tuesday notified the soldier's wife, Birgit, that President Bush would present the nation's highest award to her and their children,...

President Bush is saluting troops that stormed Baghdad and ousted Saddam Hussein's regime, a day after he visited an Army hospital to pin the Purple Heart on soldiers wounded in the war on terrorism. The president was to fly on Friday to Fort Stewart, Ga., home of the 3rd Infantry Division, which has suffered more casualties than any other American military division in Iraq. "The president will personally express his gratitude to the troops of the 3rd Infantry for the sacrifices that they have made in defending freedom in Afghanistan and, more recently, Iraq," White House press secretary Scott McClellan...

The horror of 9/11 was bad enough, but what makes it worse is the positively sinister undertone of what we are coming to learn about the events surrounding that singular event. In reviewing my "what's up with that?" file of 9/11 news stories, it looks like I have enough material for a whole television series: "Unsolved Mysteries of 9/11." 9/11 – WHO DIDN'T KNOW?To begin with, there is the Israeli "art student" mystery, which I have gone on about at some length in this space – check the archives for details. Essentially this story raises the possibility that the Israelis...