Military Desertion: A Display of Courage or Cowardice?
by Daniel B. Honigman
Many people, civilian and military, consider the war in Iraq to be unjustified and foolish. An article in the March 7 edition of USA Today cites Pentagon statistics indicating that about 8,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces have deserted their branches since the war began in 2003. While the desertion rates are lower than they were before September 11, 2001, and much lower than they were during the Vietnam War, a concern is raised about the morale of soldiers stationed overseas and those yet to be called to duty. Is going A.W.O.L. a legitimate way for soldiers to make a political statement or are they neglecting their duties?
Click to watchName: Tito Miro
Occupation: Restaurant employee
Residence: Buffalo
What would you do if you were an active member of the military and called to go to Iraq tomorrow? I would go over there and kick some ass, for real—go and represent my country.
If one of your siblings were to be sent to Iraq, but decided to desert instead, what would you say to them? I would say what I said to my brother: You’re chicken-shit.
Pentagon records indicate that an estimated 8,000 members of the U.S. military have deserted since the invasion of Iraq. What do you think about that? I say that [the government is] not doing enough over there to help support our troops. Maybe if they stopped going into situations like that, they wouldn’t lose so many people. If we kept our noses out of Iraq and more in our own country, more people would join the Army.
Name: Elinor Whidden
Occupation: Student
Residence: Halifax, Ontario
What would you do if you were an active member of the military and called to go to Iraq tomorrow? I’d somehow try to get all my cronies to desert.
If one of your siblings were to be sent to Iraq, but decided to desert instead, what would you say to them? Right on!
Pentagon records indicate that an estimated 8,000 members of the U.S. military have deserted since the invasion of Iraq. What do you think about that? I think it’s good, but the military is difficult. I think that the presence in Iraq is terrible, and they need to get out, but it’s just a difficult subject.
Name: Dale Danner
Occupation: Letter carrier
Residence: Buffalo
What would you do if you were an active member of the military and called to go to Iraq tomorrow? I would serve my country and go.
If one of your siblings were to be sent to Iraq, but decided to desert instead, what would you say to them? I would talk them into trying to uphold what they signed up for and follow through with their original commitment.
Pentagon records indicate that an estimated 8,000 members of the U.S. military have deserted since the invasion of Iraq. What do you think about that? I really would have to know the circumstances for each individual. I would hope they’d have stayed, but I guess I can understand [that] some people have problems with being active in a war zone.
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