Wounded child, mass graves behind soldier's refusal to return to Iraq

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=53056

The Associated Press - HINESVILLE, Ga.

A young girl clutching her arm blackened by burns, dogs feeding off bodies in mass graves _ the images still haunt Sgt. Kevin Benderman 15 months after he came home from Iraq.

Witnessing the brutal reality of war, Benderman says, made him choose conscience over his commitment to fellow troops. That's why, after 10 years in the Army, he can bear the insults.

An officer called him a coward. His battalion chaplain shamed him in an e-mail from Kuwait. That's because Benderman, whose unit just deployed for a second combat tour in Iraq, refused to return to war.

"Some people may be born a conscientious objector, but sometimes people realize through certain events in their lives that the path they're on is the wrong one," Benderman says. "The idea was: do I really want to stay in an organization where the sole purpose is to kill?"

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[Redstone]

1. There goes a brave man...

I sure hope things work out for him. My sincere best wishes.

Redstone

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Sounds like he saw some things in Iraq

that he had not witnessed in the first Gulf War.

I remember during the Vietnam War reading an article about a WWII veteran who had also gone to Vietnam. He was amazed by the difference in the two wars and described Vietnam as being lots more intense and a much harder war to fight.

You are right, the guy in the above story did re-enlist so he had a choice. But I do think wars can be different.

[readmylips]

5. They re-enlist for the money...misserable pennies...

that's all the soldiers get.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Yes I agree

that is sad.

Also remember the college tuition deal. My sons in their 20s have several friends who enlisted out of high school just so they could go to college. One of them is leaving soon for Iraq. Another just got back.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[liberalmuse]

20. Nope.

It takes PSTD some time to kick in for many returning troops, and to realize, once settled in to 'normal' society, the absolute horror of what you've seen and done.

I salute anyone who conscienciously objects to this godforsaken war.

Also--are you military? You seem to think you have the right to judge this man. Why don't you go to Iraq in his place? I really wish everyone who's sitting on their ass supporting this war, or sending troops to war would enlist and die/kill/suffer in the places of those who have had to go to Iraq, knowing it was an atrocity.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. And people can't have things happen that change thier way of

looking at things?

<snip>
Benderman acknowledges that waiting more than a year, until right before deployment, to seek objector status may seem "out of the blue." But he insists his decision came from long deliberation, not desperation.
<snip>

If you are so verklempt over this situation, there are several here who can point you to your local recruiting office.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Oh, I'm sure he won't find such a drastic step necessary, heheh.

Supporting the cause just as much by posting here.

[Name removed]

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[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. There have been men in their 50's called up, so I think you might be

surprised at the answer your recruiter might give you. (And at least one 70 year old surgeon who was not only retired from the Army but retired from work completely for 2 years.) Give it a try! What could it hurt?

The answer to your questions, though I don't see what relevance they have to the topic except as a general "swipe" at DU:

1) I don't equate Bush as being as bad as Hitler, but his disregard of law and human rights and reliance on propaganda/disinformation is pushing our country in that direction. Given what we are seeing, and NOT seeing, in Gitmo (where I was stationed once before it was a concentration camp), Abu Ghraib, and from Gonzales memos etc. it can't be ruled out just how bad this government could get under Bush. This is why I, and most here, opposed Bush. Did you?

2) Yes, I think both elections were stolen.

Welcome to DU, enjoy your stay...

[Name removed]

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[Mayberry Machiavelli]

28. You didn't answer my other question about whether you supported or voted

for Bush, although I suspect we are starting to know that answer. If so, how could you when he is so clearly responsible for this war which you feel is a massive mistake?

"Unwise and unnecessary" are mild adjectives when we are talking about the deaths and maiming of tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands, the destruction of entire cities not to mention the economic cost to the nation.

On this thread those who have responded have basically said Bush is not as bad as Hitler.. yet... but there is no guarantee that it will not get that bad.

We (I) cite as evidence administration memos justifying the use of torture (by narrowing the definition) and the administration attempting to reserve the right for itself to detain indefinitely, incommunicado and without charges, anyone it deems to designate a terrorist. We are seeing in Iraq that definition extends to anyone who opposes its goals.

You make a blanket statement that we're not going in the Hitler direction. What evidence do YOU support your position with, aside from 'faith', since you are so ready to point fingers at people posting on this board?

What is your purpose here?

[Name removed]

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[Mayberry Machiavelli]

30. So we should put you down for one Bush vote then, despite him being

entirely responsible for getting us into this "unwise and unnecessary" and catastrophic, evil war?

Or did you get more than one vote?

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

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[Warren Stupidity]

34. that's nice but....

I just checked with my recruiter

http://www.army.com/enlist/requirements.html

The basic qualifications for enlistment in the U.S. Army include:

• being from 17 to 34 years old

http://www.army.com/enlist/reserves01.html

To enlist in the Army Reserve you must be:
• Between the ages of 17–34

Those are enlistment restrictions. They do not in any way preclude men and women who served, and having served remain in the reserves and are now in their 50's, from being activated, which is why some indeed have been activated and shipped to Iraq.

Other than that you do make a good point.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Looks like it was a short-lived stay

Welcome to DU, enjoy your stay...

But it was nice of you to be so hospitable :)

[RetroLounge]

12. Why don't you go on down to the recruiter and find out

or are you one of those people who think could NEVER be as bad as Hitler and he won both elections?

:puke:

RL

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. A 70 year old doctor

was called up recently and is now in Iraq.

So 48 is pretty young.

[liberalmuse]

21. In your own words, 'BULLSHIT!'

I know vets, and they don't sound like you after having been to war. I call your bluff and say you are one of those wingnuts who rah-rah's for war, but when you are called on it and asked why you don't fight, you lie and say you're military, or you've been to war. LOL! Armchair facists are so transparent.

[Ms_Mary]

22. And what kind of person would you be? What's your take on the war?

[TahitiNut]

25. Everyone knows we can't say Bush is like Hitler ...

... until his regime has murdered 11 million people! Heaven forbid we preemptively make such allegations! Gosh! Let's wait!

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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[TahitiNut]

32. Aw shucks! I missed it. (sigh)

I'm sure my life will never be the same. :evilgrin:

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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[Mayberry Machiavelli]

35. Nice try to bait the board into advocating something sure to invite

"outside intervention".

[TahitiNut]

36. Gee... everyone knows that advocating the violent overthrow ...

... of the guvmint is a felony. :eyes:
Wouldn't want to do that. Nope. Wouldn't be prudent. Nope.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

14. I'm sure he feels he's doing his duty by enlightening all of the poor

misguided liberals here at DU.

He really ought to contribute and hang around to teach the evils of the pacifism in a democracy. Goering was one of the first to use that tactic.

[Name removed]

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[leftchick]

38. here you Go Mega You can come out of Retirement to go to Iraq

Uncle Sam needs all of you Patriots. Or are you all talk?

For 53-year-old, recall by Marines 'very important to me'

CAROLYN KASTER

Associated Press


LEBANON, Pa. - This is what Frank Ryan is bringing with him to Iraq:

Fourteen pairs of socks, 10 pairs of underwear, eight uniforms, and an alarm clock with his son Matthew's picture in it. Four razors, the lubricated kind for dry shaving, a knife, one sweater, two hats, long thermal underwear for sleeping and more family photos on a CD.

And that's not to mention the venison jerky for instant protein from Jan and Chuck Soulliard, friends from the post office.

Ryan is a 53-year-old retired Marine colonel with 32 years of active and reserve duty under his belt.

An accountant from Lebanon, he got a phone call from the Marine Corps' manpower office in August. Officials wanted to see if he would come out of retirement to serve in Iraq.

Could he pass the physical? Was he interested?

Yes, he said, he would be ready to go. "Being able to be part of this is very important to me," he explained.

On Nov. 3, his orders came in the mail, marked "Involuntary Presidential Select Recall." This was no longer a courtesy call. He would deploy on Dec. 5 to serve as deputy chief of the multinational force in Iraq. Ryan's assignment: to be responsible to the chief of staff and commanding general to coordinate the planning and operations of ground forces.

[Just Me]

41. Those who don't believe in change, won't change even if necessary,...

,...to avoid destruction to themselves and/or others.

I missed all the deleted posts. However, I got the impression that the power of free will, an individual's gift to choose, was not only being questioned but cynically denied. The past need not be cast into our future.

Every human being has the power to change his/her heart, mind and/or actions. That power is vested in the concept of "free will" which is the most valuable power humanity possesses. It allows us to grow, change, evolve and break from reproducing the cycle of past mistakes.

[NVMojo]

16. this response haunted me ...brought back memories of the Swiftboat vets

attacking a fellow vet for political reasons. Sorry, Megawatt, but I question your intentions here.

[noamnety]

17. Look at his MOS's

He went in as a Food Inspector, that's what he was during Desert Storm.

There ARE people who oppose the war that care about the safety of our troops. I am opposed to war, but I was MI and CI - I am not opposed to having good information and protecting our information. I know a safety officer who opposed the war but doesn't have a problem with trying to reduce our own incidents of fratricide. Supporting some objectives and not others is more common than people outside the military realize.

He reenlisted as a vehicle mechanic, right? He seems to have always signed up in a capacity to "support the troops" while not taking part in killing anyone. I'm sure there are people who oppose the war but support giving our troops armor for their vehicles ... do those same people oppose having mechanics who can actually install the armor once it's shipped?

As for what he learned after reenlisting and prior to deployment, I would guess he had a chance to reflect on the experience, and recover a bit from a state of shock. Not everyone realizes the full impact of trauma in the first 5 minutes.

[methinks2]

11. sounds plausible

When confronted with the reality of war (collateral damage) , he realized what his service was supporting. So he did the only honorable thing for a person of conscience. He refused to do any more damage to innocent civilians. Makes perfect sense to me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Tens of thousands of Vietnam vets

came to that same conclusion during that war. Surely no one my age can ever forget the massive demonstrations against the war by these veterans.

Our friend here needs to watch 'Born on The 4th of July.' True story, BTW.

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. THANK YOU MODS

I love DU for many reasons but knowing you mods are there to respond and delete when necessary makes this the best discussion board on the internet.
:yourock:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

40. Seconded.

They do a great job! :toast:

[peacebird]

42. wow - this poster imploded quite quickly!

must've been on quite a roll - to have so many posts blipped into oblivion by the Magnificent Mods!

:toast:

Here's to the Mods! for all you do, this toast is for you!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

43. He had over 100 posts... Something like this always draws them out...

They just can't stand the idea that war is anything but glorious.

[NYC]

44. Benderman seems to be getting quite a bit of attention.

That's good. I hope everyone hears his reasons for not returning to Iraq. Many people have remained wilfully ignorant of these things:

...A young girl clutching her arm blackened by burns, dogs feeding off bodies in mass graves...