Benderman Case sparks media feeding-frenzy ...

[bemildred]

as Army desperately initiates damage control measures

Mods: seems like LBN to me, do what you think fit.

On Friday, January 7, 2005 Sergeant Kevin Benderman, stationed with the 2-7 Infantry Battalion at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, refused an order from the Command Sergeant Major of his unit Samuel Coston to deploy to Iraq and requested a General Courts-Martial.

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In further developments this weekend, it has been confirmed that Specialist J.R. Burt and Specialist David Beals, also of 2-7 attempted suicide rather than deploy to Iraq, and an additional seventeen soldiers in 2-7 Infantry Battalion have gone AWOL for the same reason. Army sources who have been granted anonymity because they feared retaliation stated that both Burt and Beals are being harassed and mistreated on the Psychiatric Ward of Winn Army Hospital by unit commanders and a civilian, Dr. Capp who in apparent violation of state law is reported as informing them of the harsh punishments they may expect should they refuse deployment. In addition, SFC Johnson, 2-7 platoon sergeant for Spec. Beals reportedly told him recently "…when I get you to Iraq, I’m going to get you killed," in the presence of several witnesses who say this incident was a catalyst in Beals’ attempted suicide.

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Benderman’s congressional representative, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has written a letter to his Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Todd Wood expressing her concern for Benderman’s rights and suggesting that Wood designate him as non-deployable to Iraq.

Support for Sergeant Benderman has been overwhelming, says his wife, Monica. "We are being swamped for interview requests by the media," she said on Monday.

AxisOfLogic

[bemildred]

1. C'mon. This is HOT.

Sergeant refusing deployment.
Soldiers trying to commit suicide.
Cynthia McKinney writing supportive letters.
Zero coverage in the MSM.
Isn't this worth a few flames?

[UpInArms]

2. okay, you want flames

:evilgrin:

[bemildred]

5. All phasers on kill Mr. Scott, warp factor nine. nt

[UpInArms]

7. I fear the sheep is breaking up, cap'n

I'm not sure she can take much more.

[Clovis Sangrail]

4. and the guy in Ceres

Last night or the night before last a marine scheduled to be sent back to Iraq slipped away from camp pendleton.
He walked into a liquour store and got the clerk to call the cops;
when they showed up he opened fire on them.
He was killed a short while later.

Suicide by cop.

[NYC]

3. Another one who didn't want to return to Iraq:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1140431

Suicide by cop.

Marine 'Committed Suicide by Cop to Avoid Iraq Return'
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3989210

[bemildred]

6. Yeah, the Ceres thing.

And the recent rise in Canadian immigrants.
And the fellow in San Diego that said "they can't arrest all of us".

I was struck by the fact I can't find this ANYWHERE in ordinary "News"
sources, and it got me wondering what else I can't find?

[WillyT]

8. Is DU Linked To All These Horror Stories ???

If not, we should be!!!

:shrug:

Thanks for the article, BTW!

:hi:

[NYC]

9. Mostly, what we can't find is

the truth.

[Moderator]

10. Locking

The article posted is a second hand re-publisher. The primary publisher posted the article several days ago, in it's editorial section. This is not Late Breaking news.