Anti-war Seattle reservist faces military court-martial

[Nambe]

NEW ORLEANS (AP)

A Marine reservist from Seattle who faces a court-martial here says he's being prosecuted for criticizing the military at anti-war rallies and for publicizing his application for conscientious-objector status at a news conference.

The Marines argue they pursued charges against Lance Cpl. Stephen Funk because he skipped 47 days of training in defiance of orders.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled tomorrow, when Funk's attorney, Stephen Collier, intends to ask a military judge to dismiss the charge of "shirking important duty" on the basis that Funk has been selectively targeted.

"People go AWOL (absent without leave) all the time and they don't get court-martialed," says Collier, who has handled military clients off and on since the first Gulf War. "He's a conscientious objector who went public with his beliefs, and that's something that should be respected, not retaliated against."

There are 23 Marine reservists now seeking conscientious-objector status, which soldiers may do if they can prove that during their service they developed deep opposition to all wars. ---

[sujan]

1. I salute him

[symbolman]

2. He needs to use

The Bush Defense..

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

3. Bush junior was AWOL--no prob right? during wartime--

If this guy goes down they need to prosecute Baby Bush too !

[dmr]

4. What a compliment to his Commander and Chief <sarcsam>

To follow in the footsteps of Bush*.

Seriously, though, I respect this young man, who is standing up for his beliefs when Bush* disappeared during his AWOL status, not being able to pass drug testing.