My personal opinion is this:

When you sign up for the military, you know what you're getting yourself into. America's history of going into other countries, of butting into their business, has been well documented.
I know, personally, many people who signed up for the educational benefits, thinking they'd never see any action. Then, when they are called up, they try and think of ways to get out of it.
Nothing is for free. This is the military. We fight. Simple as that.
Unless you're ignorant, you shouldn't have signed up unless you were prepared for that possibility. To "quit" when the going gets rough is simply cowardice.

even so i don't think all of us have a right to judge, HE DID GO, he does not want to go back and he KNOWS what the consequences are to making that choice and he has to deal with that

Latin,
If he is not capable of returning due to mental problems there are ways to address that through his chain of command. If you read the article he says nothing about mental problems, he says "he says he now has concluded the Iraq war was "an illegitimate, unnecessary campaign“ and he shouldn’t have to take part."
Can you give me any reason he should have contacted the press on this issue? Others have rejected returning and dealt with the consequences without the press? WHy do you think he is doing this?

For all the people bashing Walker do you even know if he is mentally capable of going again, maybe this really has effected him in a way that most of us will not ever have to experience. He choose not to go back with knowing what the punishment could be and what people are going to be judging him on. He is okay in my book for going even once that is more than most people have done including myself.

Walker has decided that it's OK for someone else to serve and get wounded or die in his place -the opposite of heroism.

I apologize the blunt comment, but I believe that anyone who has not served in the military, or has a close relation to the military and its functions should get their facts straight. In regards to the fact that all the supporters of this soldier continue to argue the point of the war being necessary or not, it is really a non-issue. This reservist signed up for his commitment, and he has failed to live up to his contract. He should be issued an Article 85 under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and undergo his required trial. This is no different than if he decided he just wanted to get out of the Army Reserve. Just because he has been to Iraq once, does not give him the "right" to opt out. Many of our National Guardsman are leaving for their second or third tours this very week. Let us support THEM for serving their country, and leave this young soldier in the background. The fact that we are paying so much attention to this reservist is ridiculous. Why don't we stand up and be proud for those who commit, and serve with dignity.

Gone mad,
Sounds like you have gone mad. The "standard" tour for army personel is 1 year or twelve months. Don't believe me ask anyone in the military. I do have a clue I actually got off the plane and did a twelve month tour. And as for having people in Iraq since the first war you are wrong. We had people in Kuwait since the first war not Iraq.
And don't criticize me about math. If you hauled in 6 planes of people and only brought one out than that would mean that we continuously were building up troops. Which we were not. We have been holding steady as to the number of troops in theatre for extended times until the decision was made that more were needed, hence the term "troop build up". If your theory is true and only one plane brought people home and 6 dropped off I guess either way more than 4-5000 died or they maybe they took another plane home?
As for you getting offered to be bought, maybe you should have taken the money and took some classes on current events instead of getting highlights in your hair. If I were you I would stick to serving pretzels and maybe next time instead of pretending to use the oxygen mask you should actually take a few puffs it might get some much needed oxygen to your brain and help you think more clearly. (Stewardess? just a guess)
Sorry to be so rude but telling me I don't know Jack and to get a clue was the wrong move on your part.

To Realist:
Goes to show how much TV you watch,you don't know JACK. The standard term for the Army is 18 months in Iraq. When they got extended it was for 3-6 months. I invite you to do the math! Just because your a little slow...18+6=24. Wow you should go work for NASA! Furthermore, We never did a full withdrawal from the Kuwait and Iraq area since Desert Storm, so yes it is possible to have 8 terms over! Yes they may have volunteered, but maybe they shouldn't be allowed to serve that many terms! Did you ever think of that??? Probably not! 6 plane loads in, 1 out was the standard rotation. When we were on troop build up times it was 18 planes in, none out! I was there. I left the airport for your information. I had Iraq people offer to buy me because I am an american blonde haired woman. So you need to keep you mouth zipped and get a clue! What you hear on the news and what you read in the newspaper most often are not what is really going on!

i said it before i think he is brave for standing up for what he believes in despite what people are going to think or the punishment he will receive

latinmami2, apparently he has been to Iraq twice, but is working on not returning after a 2 week leave. The details are pretty sketchy.
truthbtold, thanks for that insight. I could see a young soldier being so afraid to admit "weakness", (afterall, who can be really prepared for such a situation, such a departure from life in high school which may have just been a short time before?), afraid to admit fear of the unknown, apprehension, countless other emotions in front of his peers (who very likely could be hiding the same fears) or superiors (some may not think of their soldiers as men and women, like you, but as commodities that should have no personalities), his family (because he fears disappointing them or because they are already scared, too), and especially people like gazettefan who would think of and call this soldier a coward. Truthbtold, what you do, then, for these same soldiers is very humane, and it is probably helpful to them, their families, and those they'll be working with. Is it mandatory for people in your position, and a priority? I bet it would solve some problems, but some might call the individuals who needed your help "coddled" or cowards. I'd rather they get help with their fears, and maybe not come back as cold-hearted "victims" of a compassionless leader in the still formative part of their lives. Anyway, I commend your compassion and understanding. How about this: are these soldiers screened before enlistment to weed out unsuitable people, or are teens sometimes recruited under pressure to get a high head count, regardless of possible future "failures"? (Please understand, I'm asking a real question that I've had and read about, I'm not asking you in a personal way.)
Gazettefan, I said earlier, "It would be much easier to "judge"..... knowing what his particular circumstances were." so I'm speaking kind of generally, and, for the same reasons, can you really say " I've been through more than Walker " though we have the same information about his circumstances?
So,G'fan, I guess I have a warm (not bleeding) heart and you, apparently, have a cold heart. It's probably tougher on me, but I'll keep it that way. So, like it or not, I have compassion for you also. Honest.

I could see bashing this man if it was his first time going there and he was backing out, but he has been there and we have no idea what he seen or what it has done to him emotionally or mentally, i thank him for being brave enough to go there even one time.

Its not the lack of help out there for our young soldiers but the warrior culture that we live by in the army. Some soldiers fear that they would be percieved as weak if they seek help. But as I stated in an earlier post there is help out there, My favorite source to recommend to young soldiers is Militaryonesource. As a first line supervisor I make it a point to know my soldiers. If there having any problems I make it a priorty to help them. Here is a good article to read
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2...

This so-called compassion for military people who want to present themselves as victims feeds perfectly into the hands of those who genuinely have no respect for people who serve in the military.

From what I can tell, I've been through more than Walker and I don't want to be regarded in the same that he sees himself and the way RUserious sees him.

Is this related or not to this story? Is this how we should thank those who serve us in the military? I wasn't even going to comment more on this story but ran across this as I was reading this issue of the online Gazette. Front "page" under Nation/World:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/A...
But to get the full impact, don't just skim it. Read the whole thing. It makes me sick. And it should enlighten others as to why some of us have some compassion for service people like Kristoffer Walker, and why some might need our compassion. What hardships do we overlook, expecting these mere humans to continue on through maybe unspeakable conditions without a breaking point?

Yada; Checked out the site and sorry I wasted my time. Also, read Salon. Why is it folk's like you never bring up the positive side. You all continually look for the negative so that it will support your views. Is that the kind of support our troops need. Is this an example of the support for our country you want the rest of the world to see? You whine when it is convenint to justify your cause otherwise it is the farthest thing from your mind. What have you done that helps to allievate the problem? Why arn't you out there providing the support and care you claim is missing? Do something positive and maybe, just maybe you will save a life- not use it as an excuse after it is lost. Please do not think this is aimed just at you, far from it. It is aimed at those who have nothing better to do.

I don`t believe this man is a coward.. I believe he is a disgrace to himself, his unit, and this country. He is a deserter.

Thank you GINA51 - Another EXCELLENT point - these fine men and women are coming home and are NOT getting the needed help that many are seeking.

To those of you who think there is so much help for these young people coming home from this war, think again. Salon did an in depth article about the murders and suicides and the "help" these soldiers received. If you really want to real story check it out.
http://www.salon.com/news/special/coming...

The internet is a wonderful thing. It offers a wealth of recourses accessible almost instantly to everyone connected. However, we are still obligated to credit the source of any copied material (whether it has been copyrighted or not) and not present or claim it as our own as Wiexguy has done twice now. Once in his post below dated February 21 at 3:32 p.m and then again dated February 22 at 10:09 a.m. Those clever phrases were in fact plagiarized from a man named Larry Gelbart and posted on the Huffington Post on April 24, 2006.
.
Wiexguy, if you steal someone’s work and present it as your own, when you get caught, your claim to moral ascendancy is ruined like a preacher who gets caught with a prostitute or a governor who gets caught taking a bribe. By the way, in case you are wondering how you were caught, all I had to do was Google the first 11 words of your first post below on Feb.21 at 3:32. Other than the last sentence which you prefaced with ****, not one word of that post was yours.

RIGHT ON WOODY! Look at the suicide rate for soldiers! I will ALSO agree with WOODY and will not judge this fine young man who has already served there! It is NOT an honorable war and it is one that Pres. B made a HUGE mistake and entered. Sometimes in life our eyes are opened and we realize that certain thing are wrong. I commend him for taking the stand that he has. Regarding the commissioning oath that appears here - Check out couragetoresist.org and READ - toooo MANY innocent people on both sides have been killed in this unjust and immoral war. You might also want to research our former Pres B and his "dedicated" service for our country -PEACE

I have to agree with crafty. Regardless of whether or not we should have gone into Iraq in the first place, to not finish what we started would be extremely unethical.

Gonemad
When you exaggerate in your story it instantly makes your story unbelievable. Stick to the facts(Which you obviously don't know).
It is nearly impossible for someone to have been deployed to Iraq 8 times. The war is 6-7 years in. If someone has been there that many times it wasn't because they were forced to but because they volunteered all those extra times.
Also, you took 6 plane loads in and brought one load home. Was that because you were flying during a troop build up? And don't act like you know Iraq and what it is like there because you flew people there. I have been many places in the world but never left the airport, doesn't mean I know anything.
By the way, soldiers were extended and unless they were in a special unit almost none were ever in country for 24 months continuous. Most that were extended were there for an extra three months past the original 12 they were orignally expecting.
Wiexguy,
I understand that you may not agree with the war or the reasons we went in, or that we were lied to. Whatever. Hindsight is 20/20. What do you suggest we do now? Pull everyone out? Lose a war that we are winning? Give up everything that we and the Iraqi people have fought for? Tell the Iraqi people that we are sorry for taking away any stability in thier country when we dismanteled thier entire government and walk away and leave the country up for grabs?
You made reference to Darfur, do you think we should go there?

Blah, blah, blah, the War on Drugs exceeds that ten fold! Where are we in that victory?
This kid needs to beg to go to Iraq, or he will be screwed. Even if you don't believe in the war you must finish what you started.

to gonemadtown, there is not only something wrong with your picture, there is something wrong with the war!!!! It simply does not add up. We have been told too many things too many times, and people are fed up. unless of course you been in living in a cave the last few years.

Iraq and Afghanistan war costs are $410 million PER DAY!!! And for what? We can’t even clean up after a hurricane or build a hybrid car. All while our own economy (jobs) are going right down the drain. Our new security measures are to take off shoes at airports and throw away your shampoo!! All this for $410 Million per day?? Unblievable! I'm suprized more soldiers havn't walked out like this one is...

To: In_My_Opinion... many cheered when we invaded a sovereign nation because we were told Iraq had WMD, or weapons of mass destruction, or simply put, WE WERE LIED TOO by our former President. Would we do the same thing now? Not me! You wrote "The same people I heard cheer years ago when Bush announced we were going to war (both times) are now crying that it's illegal. I love how most of you change your views based on public opinion/pressure" Wow, I cant believe you said that.

My views have always been we NOT invade a sovereign country. Did we invade England when the British Indian Army declared Kuwait part of Britain under British protectorate after World War I?? I guess that was ok.... Iraq wasn't part of 9-11. We have and still currently support Saudi Arabia, where people have no voting rights, and this country WAS a part of 9-11. I wonder if O-I-L has anything to do with that?????? Saudi nationals were responsible for 9-11. How many Americans supported Nixon when he befriended the Shah of Iran, a butcher who was 10 times worse then Saddam Hussein, but did we invade Iran? nope... Nixon gave him political asylum instead. nice..... And is it OK to invade Iraq but not Darfur?? Do you people know what is happening in Darfur right now?? Research these topics and then tell me what is right and wrong for this poor soldier.

As I stated below, all it takes is one person to prove the adage, "There is nothing more dangerous than ignorance in action."

Good for this solider. I understand how he is feeling. At least he made it known where he was and offered to work at the local reserve building. He could have just went AWOL. Me personally, I have been to Iraq, I took the solider's over for their tours of duty. It was so sad. Many of them so young, leaving new babies home, repeat tours for the 8th time, etc. The thing that got to me the most, was that in one week, we would take 6 planes loads into Kuwait, holding 210 soliders. We would bring out 1 plane load to take home. There's something wrong with that picture. Not to mention, They just spent 18-24 months of their life there seeing crazy stuff, they weren't aloud to push the call button on the plane or even have a beer. Thanks for your service!!!

I agree with retiredairforce on this one. There are alot of organizations out there to help the soldiers when they get back from theatre. Some of the avenues that these soldiers can turn to is ACS, Military one source, Chaplains, mental health counselers. During my mobilizations as a chaplain assistant I had found that most soldiers do not ask for help. Not from the lack of information, but you have to put youself in there shoes for a second, Here you have a soldier that just got back from theatre from being gone for 16 months and all he's thinking about is getting back to his wife, girlfriend, and kids. All the information that is giving out during a demobilition breifing goes in one ear and out the other. The bottom line is he signed a contract and he needs to fulfill that the best he can, if he can't he needs to see the chaplain, first line supervisor, 1SG or commander because there are options ex. compassionate reassignment, conscientious objector. I wish him good luck.

RUserious: We are all for peace and if it can be negotiated thats all the better. The trouble is that a peacenik (Not all of them mind you) were bent more on demonstrations that resulted in damage to property, injury and in some cases death. At times they were worse then what they marched against. Burning draftcards, destroying recruiting offices, all in the name of peace. Their hate for all things military, those are just a few reasons why I used the word in a derogatory manner.
Negotions are great but you need strength to back up your position. Force, while not always the answer, sometimes it is the only way to get their attention to actually accomplish negotions. I'm glad you took the time to research and learn and as you said, there are usually two sides. The military provides methods that this young man could have taken. He didn't. Now he must face up to the fact that the action he took will effect him the rest of his life. I hope it was worth it.

Retired Airforce don't even go there talking about health services, they are a freakin joke. Look at all the suicides and the care our vets have NOT got when they do get home and ask, I say ask for help.. Many, hundreds have been turned away and received inadequate help or care. Especially when it comes to mental health. YOU lose on that argument. It's shameful you even brought that up.

usaret: I meant Peacenik. I did look up the meaning, and found this: "someone who prefers negotiations to armed conflict in the conduct of foreign relations - someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes". I guess I would consider myself one. I only wondered what you meant because you made it sound so shameful (to prefer negotiations to armed conflict in the conduct of foreign relations, and to be opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes.) Do you mean that? You do not care for people who prefer peace? Should I be ashamed that I do? I'm not.
realist: I understand what was written now, that this man was in the middle of his second tour of duty, not heading back for a third. I still do not know when he enlisted, or under what beliefs he enlisted. It would be much easier to "judge" (but I don't claim that right like some others do), knowing what his particular circumstances were. There should have been a legal way for him to do what he did. If there isn't, then why not?
But as far as this discussion here, there are obviously two (or more) different ways of looking at it, and a waste of typing trying to see eye to eye. It'll never happen. I'm for a peaceful impasse. Any better ideas?
cardtrader, I agree with you. Each citizen should have to serve his country in some way for a certain amount of time, maybe for 2 years right out of high school. I don't mean that everyone should be sent to some war or other (unless OUR country is invaded) unless he chooses, (does everyone really think everyone else is cut out for war? Then that means you've all served your time?) but there are many ways to serve your country. Rebuilding in our own devastated areas, reforestation, highway maintenance, public farming, and so much more. And maybe, instead of monetary payment, it could be in conjunction with some post secondary education. Now that would kill two birds with one stone (for those of you who think killing is necessary to make a person worthy); service to country at no cost (except sustenance) and free education for the masses.

ya know cardtrader...there was a time I felt the very same way..."I think it is time to make it mandatory for everyone when turning 18 to serve at least 2 years."

But that was back when I actually trusted the government to be looking out for the best interest of its' citizens...

instead of selling out to the highest bidders.

AS the mom of a currently active US Marine I will say this: My son has been to Iraq, and will be heading to Afghanistan in the near future. There has been occasion, when he has come home for leave, that he does not want to report back to base. But he does return because he believes it is his duty. He tells us of things that he as has seen, both aweful, and even the postive changes that he has witnessed. He even attended his young cousin's 1st grade class as her 'show and tell' project, showing these children pictures of schools being built, etc. I have no doubt that Walker has been witness to things that cause him to question his presence/mission in Iraq. That being said, he did take the oath and his fellow soldiers count on him to 'have their backs' when the going gets tough.

To those that think this man was at his “edge” and did not want to go; there are avenues he could have chosen to seek help. His leadership and chain of command as well as health facilities are all trained to understand stress, depression, and mental illness(s); you don’t want an ill person holding a weapon. I am sure there is more to this story than the 6 sentences of this story and for his part I sure hope there was more communication than the e-mails saying he decided not to go.

Woody—Do you have any idea what the rate of suicides are for “normal” America; about 20 per 100,000. The Rate for those in the military is about 21 per 100,000. Not much different.

No matter what your opinion of the war this soldier deserted his unit at a time this nation was at war. Desertion is not an acceptable method in this country or any other country. In some countries, I imagine, when he was caught he would not have the chance to defend his actions because he would be shot. Again I repeat that he will be tried by UMCJ and not by the public opinion of which there is so much of. No soldier is denied their right to object-they only have to follow the rules and it takes time. But come-on, sending an e-mail! He bailed out on his unit and potentially jeapordized not only the mission of the unit but the lives in that unit. Maybe an extreme way of putting it but what if your son or daughter, husband or mother, or some other relative was in that unit. Where would your concerns be--for them or for the deserter? We know little of this lad and what he went through that made him make this decision but he made it and he will have to take what is metted out in the end, not any of us.

Maybe he is right at the edge. 29 troops commited suicide in January 2009 alone. I will NOT judge this young man.

Toss him in Jail to finish out his Contract with the U.S.A You know what is sad only 1% of this countrys youth sign up for Military Service. I think it is time to make it mandatory for everyone when turning 18 to serve at least 2 years. Put it up for a Vote and I will Vote YES

Madman--If you can decipher US title code 10 (and track changes) it is in there. To give you an exact date on the changes congress placed will take some digging.

For those of you who didn't serve your country but have such a harsh lashing for this person I would expect you do want to replace him correct? Monday first thing you'll be in a recruiters office signing up. For those who served your country, thank you. But unless you've walked a mile in this man's shoes and seen what he's seen you have no right to judge, nor do you have any right to be so mean.

No where in this article does it say this guy served 2 tours and is on his third. He is in the middle of his second tour.
The military is based on discipline and following orders. That is the first thing you learn in basic training. The other main, and almost equally important, thing you learn is to always look out for your fellow soldiers. This guy obviously forgot about his comrades he left over there. Hopefully they don't force him or give him the option to return to his unit because if he does the mental punishment he recieves from them will be much worse than any time in the brig.
This guy is a coward who only cares about himself and his own well being. And for those of you who think he is not just look at the way he is doing it. The press didn't break into his email to find out what was happening, he obviously contacted them to gain public support for his cowardice. He new the liberals would see his side and support him. I hope the military makes an example out of him. If he is such a man and a hero he would not coward behind the press. If he truly believes the things he stated and didn't want to return he could have sent an email and dealt with the consequences privately.

Ruserious: You must be very young.

in_my_opinion: "It's just my opinion..." Ok-so you get to have one but some of us don't (if they're not the same as yours)? Lot of good freedoms are if that is the case. And, for the record, you never heard me cheer that we were going to war. I didn't see the connection, and still don't.
And don't forget, re: this man "changing his mind" about his war service, which of course, is not completely true-we also changed our minds about Saddam Hussein and Iraq-there are photos of him hand in hand with Bush's former Sec. of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. We, at one time, backed him and helped him during a time when he was already committing atrocities on his own people. We overlooked that while we even provided him with weapons. Dick Cheney (through his BUSINESS!) also did business with him at such times. For financial gain. Lots of it. They apparently "changed their minds" or, possibly, found other ways to get what they wanted (whatever that was.) This is another time, you might say? Yep, I agree. It's even a different time than 2003. Just ask Walker.
I, for one, wish there were no dictators in power who would do such things to their people, however, how do we choose which peoples to protect? Can anyone shed some light on that?
Miltonalum, did you see that info on the "No Child Left Behind" and funding for it require schools to divulge contact info of high school students for contact (hounding) by recruiters? You said it wasn't so, but I think it appears to be true. You know why it isn't common knowledge? Because it was never openly discussed.
And useret, what's a peakenik, and what is bad about one? The word Peace in their name?

Lock his butt up.

What I wouldn't give to go back in time with a recorder! The same people I heard cheer years ago when Bush announced we were going to war (both times) are now crying that it's illegal. I love how most of you change your views based on public opinion/pressure. You stand by your convictions as long as those you are talking too agree with you. The first time someone disagrees, you start backpeddling. Do you stand for anything?
Every single one of us shuddered in horror when we read about Saddam gassing his own people, the mass graves, etc. etc. Bush announces we are going to war and we all sing "It's about time!" Then, we get disappointed, maybe embarrassed even than "shock & awe" didn't exactly happen and instead of standing firm, you start saying that we were lied too, there are/were never any wmd's blah, blah, blah. The Iraq headlines were written long before Bush came into office. Long before Clinton came into office. The only difference between then and now is that you people don't want to admit we screwed up. No, we didn't screw up by going to war. We screwed up with tryig to do it nice, politically correct, clean and without death. Here's a newsflash. War is not nice, it is not clean, people die and you can't please everyone. If we had went in there, guns blazing, got the job done, got out and let the pieces fall were they may with a big fat "winner" sign above our heads, you hypocrytes would strutting around like peacocks.
As for the soldier. Pretty simple. He did his time, went back and did some more time, got a chance to come home and is now thinking that he may be pushing his luck by going back. I respect him for his first tour. I am disgusted by him for refusing to go back. Too many soldiers have came home and said that would do it again after having seen what they seen. It's just my opinion but I think that he feels he may be pushing his luck by going back again. He's rightfully scared. He wasn't a coward, he went once. Having said that, he knew what he was getting himself into when he enlisted. He has an obligation to finish. Since he's not, he deserves whatever punishment he gets. Even if that punishment just comes from those he served with and those he served for. Sometimes, we are harsher judges than the law is.

Well said, usaret.

Thanks, mcdlear1.

What ever the reason this Reservist had we will never really know. Doing it the way he did was to gain publicity and sympathy from the media and the public. He broke the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). He will get a trial and have the chance to explain and or justify his reasons for not living up to his obligation. He made the decision to do what he did and I believe he would have done it regardless of who started the war or whether he was lied to. How many jobs have you quit because you were lied to? We expect others to honor contract's why should they not expect the same in return from you? While on active duty and now retired, I served the people of the United States, not the right or left, Dem or Rep. While I do not care for peaceniks I respect their right to protest but when it interfers with the defense and safty of the lives of American citizens then they no longer deserve that respect even tho I would still defend that right. The military wants to do its job with out having to fight off the slings and arrows of those whose hate an administration. Get over it and maybe this war will end a little sooner.

Look at Hitler! Would you still have been following his orders????

wiexguy, you sure like to take credit away from a lot of other people. And that ain't right.

Look how one person in 1981(Lech Walesa)and Solidarity made a difference. He forever changed a country.(Poland for you who dont know your history) He made a difference!

Reed the Rosa Parks story. Thank goodness she had the courage to break the law!! and make a difference!!! Yes, One person can make a difference.

All of you posting here, Please read the infamous Dred Scott v. Sandford case of 1857 and then someone tell me if one person can make a difference. To do what he thought was right and correct and most importantly human. Yes, ONE can make a difference.

Woodsman, I agree with you and having had 2 brothers in Viet Nam,2 cousins in The Gulf War I resent anyone telling me I am spitting in the faces of soldiers because I don't support this war.I know soldiers who don't support this war. It was based on lies.

Two roads diverged in a woods, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
--Robert Frost

All it took was one person to lie to the world about the war-making ability of another nation.

All it's taking is one person to continue to cause the deaths and the maiming of thousands of his countrymen and women, while rarely, if ever, saying one word about the countless "enemy" who he has caused to be similarly killed or afflicted.

All it's taking is one person to bankrupt the present and the future America by promulgating a six year-old (and still counting) war at a cost of ten (and still counting) billion dollars a month.

All it's taking is one person, who, making loyalty to his country, its citizenry and its military secondary to loyalty to one of his appointees, stubbornly refuses to fire the chief architect of a discredited, depraved waste of human and financial treasure.

All it's taking is one person who is prepared to defy the judgment of science thereby putting the entire planet at risk.

All it's taking is one person to prove the adage, "There is nothing more dangerous than ignorance in action."

****Now read this twice, especially the last sentence!! and then think about it people.

Speaking as a veteran returning lats November and going again soon. This yong should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. There is a big difference between being a coward and being afraid. As for those ant-war liberal pansies who think they should have everything hande to them on a silver platter, you do not have all the facts on Iraq as to our successes there because of the liberal biased media we have in this country. We in this country have forgotten the cost of freedom and liberty. The Irag's have not and never will I hope. We will however, will learn the cost one way or another. Most likely through the erosion of our constitution.
What's so bad about it is we mat be called upon to make a decisiion as to honor oath or obey our leadership in regards to America. I hope I continue to have the courage to honor the oath.

HONOR; What do you really know about it,what you hear! People sign the marriage license every day,it's a contract for life,RIGHT? How many live up to that contract? should you chastise them too,or off with their heads. Leave the MAN alone,he's tired of this game,he doesn't want to play,no more,leave it at that.

i think he has shown bravery and honor for going the first time around. i get that most people go back for the second tour over seas and do what they have to do because of honor and because that is what they signed up for and because it is the right thing to do, but do you get that not all people can handle that and that he is being brave he has chosen not to go back because he does not believe in what the war is about and he doing this even though there are severe consequences for the choice he has just made, not only does he have to face punishment but he also is facing all of the people looking down on him just as they have in this forum because he is standing up for what he believes is right. that is brave to stand up despite what everyone thinks

It`s called honor in who you are and what you stand for...Many join reserves for the extra pay check and bennies, forgetting that duty may be involved.

all of the people i know family and friends who have joined the service have stayed in and they enjoy it, what they have gone through has been a lot but they stayed with it because that is what they wanted to do even after my best friends time was up in the service she signed up to the reserves because it was the best choice for her life, but that is what worked for her and just because it works for most people who do sign up does not mean the man standing behind them can handle the lifestyle

very well put bennr, we don't have the right to judge we have no idea what is going through his mind, he does have to live with the consequence regardless of what all of us think and say, he did go once already, if choose not to go back and faces what he has coming to him well then he holds his own fate in his own hands. i commend him for even going one time that is more than the most people do including myself he is braver than i am

HANG HIM by the left one!

Woodsman- BUNK! Listen, I understand your views along with latinmammi`s BUT yes-it is a job.. Yes, if he is mentally not capable then he should go through the proper procedures.. No, I am not a past or present soldier. Yes, I tried to join 20 plus years ago- but due to a knee surgery they could not accept me.
I am ashamed of some of the comments here. Did my brother agree with all his duties and missions..NO.. But he took an oath, and he lived by it. Just like millions more..
Hear me please, I totally understand why he does not want to go back.. TOTALLY. I have seen many of my Brothers missions that were recorded. Its horrifying. But it is this mans JOB. He knew exactly what he was signing up for. Not only do service men and women get great benefits, education etc.. They may have to go to war.

It's desertion: He didn't return to his unit for the purpose of avoiding difficult duty.

He should have returned. But, it is easy for me to say that as an armchair quarterback.

Wouldn't him writing that email on rainbow letterhead gotten him the same result--just minus the AWOL/court marshall??

All you bleeding hearts that know nothing: If your so worried about the job he has,"YOU" replace him tuff guy's or girls.Your back here protecting our interests,maybe 1% for your heroism,& how about 99% for the soldier,your job is just important,give us protectors of yours& mine,a break, & real heavy on the mine. Because i have more right to call this country mine,then some couch protector! I would like to talk about the NEW armed forces ,it is ALL voluntary,SOOOOOOOO it should be like any other job,you have a right to quit any job,when ever you like,RIGHT! Women quit the military all the time,that is fact,so why not this hero? Until you all WALK in his shoes, or any other protector of our country,you all have squat to contribute to this subject. Just enjoy what "WE" give you,you will NEVER understand the proudness we have for our country,so don't pretend you do. You have to of HAD a military mind,to be able to understand it. LEAVE THIS MAN ALONE,he has gone above & beyond the call of duty for his country,HAVE YOU ALL?????

RetiredAirForce...

...When did it go up to 8 years?

The contract I signed 30 years ago was for 6 years...4 active and 2 inactive reserve.

What a lot of people often fail to realize is that god gave humans free choice. This god given right is protected (or theoretically protected) by the United States and our long standing constitution. If this man chooses to refuses an order, he will pay the consequences set in place and move forward with his life. He is entitled to make that decision. None of us commenting on this article are in any postion to judge this man for his decision. We too are entitled to our opinions, but that is all they are, opinions. I believe the people who question this man's patriotism or integrity need to remember that this war, along with every war fought in American history, has a political agenda that we as American citizens are not required to agree with. That's what makes this America. Our country was founded by a group of intelligent, free minded individuals that took a stand against something(s) they felt was wrong and unjust, just as this man is doing. There is nothing more patriotic in American society than standing up against a stronger power for something you believe in. Think about that before you attempt to pass judgement.

mikki - i do know, and i am not spitting in their faces my uncle and best friends husband are over there or did you not read that part. do you understand what i wrote some people can not handle the stress my co-workers brother lost his mind or did you not read that either. i do support my troops and your opinion is not the only one that counts FYI

I applaud him for leaving. He was good enough to go in and fight for our freedom, but found out how corrupt our government can be, and decided that it was not for the right cause, and that he was lied to. VOID AND NULL! I don't care if you sign a contract or not. You think you are going there to do good to find out, it was not for the right reason.

Well, miltonalum, granted it might be hard to decipher for a layman (me), but that is sure what it sounds like here:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/h...
But-didn't some of you say you served so that I, and others, could espress our opinions without fear? And now you try to take that away?
gazettefan, I did NOT insult you or those who served! Disparaging comments?? Where? On the contrary-I applaud all of you who honorably served. But if you did it for ME, and those like me, do not hold it over our heads.
But again-for that service, I owe you my utmost respect, and you have it.
Well, actually, maybe Walker was just afraid he might be electrocuted by one of Cheney's showers....but hey-speaking of that-wasn't Cheney arm in arm with Saddam's government before 2003? Maybe we should applaud him especially, he's been there, or has had an interest there, longer than most. I'm sure he has something to do with this. He, too, thanks those who go over and over again. Just for different reasons.

latinmammi- STOP, you are spitting right in the face of men and women who are not only serving in Iraq NOW- but those that have served in any WAR.. You don`t think these men and women haven`t had to deal with issues? Hmmm, seeing a friend or possible ALL YOUR friends blown away before your eyes. (Vietnam) was terrific for that. I have an Uncle pretty messed up from all that..You don`t think many of these men and women are not mamed whether physically or emotionally? ~snort~.. You are not hearing what some of us are saying..

No, he does not want to go back. Yes we understand why. BUT IT IS HIS DUTY/JOB.. Period. And yes, he is totally spitting in the face of past and present American Soldiers.

Any problem that veterans have that came from their combat experience should not be exaggerated and exploited for political purpose.

The politics of psychiatry and psychology and the profit motive of drug companies and the politics of a certain element in this country did severe damage to the reputation of the Vietnam veteran. The same thing is going on now with the reputation of Afganistan and Iraq veterans.

For Vietnam veterans, the damage was done to a degree that most people can't think of a Vietnam veterans without the disparaging image created and fostered by the hard Left and the psych and drug industries.

i don't think crying compassion for this young man when he did go there is spitting in their faces i have family and friends who are in the army this young man did not back out the first time around, he did go, he came back and maybe it messed with him like it does so many other people who do go there, i support my troops i send them items over seas and am waiting with open arms for my uncle and best friends husband to return, it is a hard thing to do knowing that you are putting your life in danger and some people can't do that twice. like i said before people who are in the service and have to go to war it effects the whole family.

usret- EXACTLY, could give you a big kiss and Hug! Another true American Man! My younger brother and cousin re-enlisted with reserves in their late 30`s 2 years ago..WHY? Because they are AMERICANS. My hats off to you and Gazettefan- true MEN taking on their ORDERS and responsibilities.. You others crying compassion etc.. are doing NOTHING but spitting in the face of MEN and WOMEN who are following orders, leaving family and friends behind to FOLLOW THROUGH. Get a clue!

mickie, great posts. A thank you to your brother.

I'm retired military and old but hell yes, I would go. At least there I know who and where the enemy is.

Gazettefan- VERY well said.

ruserious - you have it right on, to call him a coward is not right he at least was brave enough to go there in the first place which is something MOST of us would never do. i commend him for going there, and i hope he can get through all of the stuff that is going to come at him, the critisism and hopefully he will all so have some who support him and are not so judemental

RUserious, Walker gave no indication that he presented himself for medical treatment or any other kind of treatment for the condition you describe. He didn't make any statement to the effect that he fits the description that you ascribe to the people who've served and are serving in Iraq. He only erroneously claimed that the war is illegal.

And as for your broad, disparaging description of the those who served or are serving, that description is an insult and largely political. I served this country in war -as a teenager- as a combat infantryman and was wounded twice. I reject your description of combat veterans as does the great majority of combat veterans -we consider you cock-eyed self-serving screed as insulting.

Again, you have a special political interest in disparaging those who served this country. Don't do me or anyone else any favors with your "sympathy."

Quote - "the schools are REQUIRED to distribute to recruiters each student's name, address, and phone number so these impressionable KIDS can be pressured over and over and over again to join" - "Quote"
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There is no such Requirement of anyone under that or any act. Recruiters are granted permission to come into schools and give their spiel, Nobody gives them a mailing list of kids information nor are they required. Besides you dont think the United States government which runs all armed forces doesnt already have everyones information at their disposal? Its called applying for a social security card.
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Additionally if he is 28 years old and on his 3rd tour in Iraq, his 4 year committment is long past which means he Re-enlisted of his own free will.
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Now i do think that their should be an opt out clause, especially after your original committment is up, maybe something to the tune of loss of VA benefits if you leave early, i do not think someone should spend time in prison for wanting out, although their must be some sort of penalty.

PS- I could never be more PROUD of another human being then I am of my brother.. A true American, man and soldier.

Ruserious: Would you trust this man to protect you? He signed a contract saying he would but at the last minute decided that he done this before and didn't think he should have to do it again. He sent you an e-mail. He left you out to dry. So, would that mean you have no recourse to get any money paid back because you believe he had the right to walk-off? This is just an idea but maybe this will get to you if it effects YOU and your life and the lives of others.

OK- here`s my opinoin. My brother who had been a Long Bow Apache Pilot until retirement last year after 24 yrs- did 3 tours in Iraq (along with many others in Korea, Germany etc..).. He infact took the third for one (Iraq) for one of his men who had a child dying from Cancer..One of his tours that he was Commander for that was in Korea came right when his first Grandchild was born at only 1 pound..Yet he still had to follow through with his duty not knowing if his grandchild would live or die..That tour was sceduled to leave the day 9/11 happened.. He then came home, and went to immediate training and tour to Iraq...Did he want to go to any of these tours? NO. But it was his duty, and his compassion for others that he went the third time for his fellow man. He also lost 2 very best friends that he had flown with for 20 plus years in Iraq and more.
Its not a matter of if this man should return. He should period. We can all totally understand why he would not want to return, even though it is much worse then what we can imagine. However this dis-honor he is doing is terrible. It`s his job, like it or not.

WOW. Gazettefan says they found WMD's in Iraq....Why didn't we see that in any headlines? Bush lied to us about going into the war and now young men and women are coming home with serious mental health problems that are not being treated correctly. Some are committing suicide and some are committing murder. We've now been in Iraq longer than we were in WW2. For what? So George Bush and Dick Cheney could make big money. Contractors in Iraq are laying plenty of new pipelines for all the oil the US is investing in over there. I don't believe we went into Iraq to save the people from a bad leader. If that's the case why didn't we invade some of the countries in Africa where genocide is pervasive? NO OIL ...What we are doing over there is protecting our interests. As for the Young man not wanting to go back, is there anything in the contract that refers to being lied to by the President?

For everyone calling this man a coward-whether he's right or wrong, even having signed an oath, how much can the human soul (mind, psyche-whatever you want to call it) take; he's already been there two times! All who label him a coward, how many times have you, or could you do the same thing he has? How many times before your breaking point? And what will they do for you to help you get back to normal when you return? How many suicides will it take before you realize what is being created out of these young men and women? Their lives (physical and mental) are expendable and of no value? Why don't you all go over so all of these men and women only have to go once?
And what about that "he knew what he was doing when he signed up"? There's a story in the gazette about a 17 year old having an affair with an older school worker, but they didn't use her name because she was a minor-but that is the age that many of these kids are recruited because, under the No Child Left Behind act (no child left behind in the US?), the schools are REQUIRED to distribute to recruiters each student's name, address, and phone number so these impressionable KIDS can be pressured over and over and over again to join, amid promises of this and that.
Before you call him a coward, mull over how many times you might be able to do the same as he has when you offer to take his place for awhile. Oh? You don't have to because you didn't sign up? It's not your responsibility; it's his? I see.
All who serve once honorably are heroes, all who serve honorably twice are heroes beyond measure. That can be revoked because he can't do 3 times what most of us haven't even done once?

gazettefan, CNN didn't say it, Pres Bush's press secretary said it.

RUserious, here's the problem. W, didn't go to Iraq - we were already there. We'd been there since the first Iraq war and there was no way that we would ever leave. We couldn't. The instant we stopped enforcing the no-fly zones, the Iraqi military would have been on the move again.

You should remember that we also had a UN mandate to not only prevent Saddam from acquiring weapons of mass destruction but also to make sure that he didn't have any. That's the point here - he didn't let inspectors do their jobs and so they had to assume that he was hiding something. There were a lot of people before the war that thought that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Our going there wasn't illegal - we were there because we couldn't ensure that he wasn't getting those weapons, regardless of whether he actually had them or not.

I don't agree with the shoe thrower. I'm not proud of the shoe thrower, but proud of the progress made in the country from the rule of Saddam. Yeah, he will probably get convicted for it, but under the previous rule, his bullet-ridden body would have been dropped in the nearby river.

I'm not whitewashing the fact that we made mistakes over there and I'm not pretending that nothing is wrong there now. What I am saying is that the country as a whole has made real progress.

Beloit Police are searching for a 17-year-old from Janesville and his mother in connection with the theft of nearly 20 guns earlier this week.

Police identify the teen as Jared D. Johnson, who has recently attended high school in Janesville. He has not been in school the past few days. His mother is also being sought for questioning. Police say 39-year-old Laurie A. McAtee was last seen in the 900 block of Vine Street in Beloit. Police say she also has arrest/warrant commitments regarding worthless checks from a Janesville incident and housing code violations in Beloit.
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I had to show this to everyone because i am just in shock about this story. forget about the war over seas we have our own war going on here especially with parents who are helping their children steal guns

Oh No.. This is Bush's former White House Staff member stating this.. NOT CNN.. It's just on CNN.. There are hundreds upon hundreds of reports stating there was no W.M.D... This war is a crock..

curtaincall, Saddam had used poison gas to kill thousands of people. The U.S. found poison gas there. Poison gas is an WMD. I don't care what CNN says.

who knows what he even seen over there, maybe he thought he was braver than he actually is, he did go which is more than most of would do in the first place so i do give him that. some people just can not handle what the war involves which i will be the first one to say i don't know what it involves either because i have never experienced it. i have a co-worker who has two brother both have served one it has messed him up mentally and emotionally and the other is still going strong in the service so i think each person handles the situation differently. who really knows what this young man is thinking or feeling, we only know the teeny tiny article that has been posted.

This was just posted on CNN today.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/we-wer...

Titled, We Were Wrong About W.M.D...
Perfect timing.

Perhaps if he thinks Iraq is an "illegitimate" campaign, he'd be willing to join a unit going to Afghanistan?? I doubt the military would have a problem with that. Sounds like he just doesn't want to go back...anywhere.

mccheese, you appropriately named yourself after animal mucus. What I said earlier is true. Know what you're talking about before you bang on the keyboard.

and how much oil from those poppy fields???

This country overwhelmingly was and is for the war. WMDs were found there -poison gas. The Iraqi government and people want us there. The only chance for the enemy to be victorious is by way of eroding the will of the American people.

Walker is trying to walk the line with the terms of his email. He thinks that being willing to serve in another unit will save him from the charge of desertion and instead he'd only be charged with being AWOL. But a deserter is defined as someone who for the purpose of avoiding difficult duty refuses to report back to HIS UNIT. (He cannot just decide to serve in another unit.)

Also, our presence in Iraq is immeasurably valuable for its nearness to Iran. Iran has an unstable, fanatically religious regime that either has or is near nuclear capability for destroying Israel and other countries, including the U.S.

"How ironic that the institution that instituted stop-gap measures forcing personnel to stay longer than they signed up for, thus violating the contract of many soldiers,"
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The correct term is stop loss, and you are wrong. In the contract, signed by all military members [including the person in this story] is an initial commitment for 8 years (not 2,3,4, or 6). The active term might be shorter but an inactive ready reserve commitment still stands; means being activated at the discretion of the President. For those past 8 years there is a legal clause that can continue their service for 6 additional months at the discretion of the President. None of this is new, and has been in ALL the contracts for decades!

us - i do agree with what you are saying and i believe that people should really think about what they are getting into before they sign up for the service, it is by far the hardest job anyone could ever choose to do and i applaud the people who have the courage to take on such a load for their country. my best friend and her husband both served in the army and are now in the reserves they have loved it both have done tours in iraq their lifestyle is live around the service, and again this is not a job you sign up for without considering everything you might endure

This guy sucks. He signed an oath and now he's refusing to support his country and help his fellow soliders and americans. This guy needs to be court martialed, jailed and be labeled a coward!!

When you are in a critical MOS (job) or position and there will be a shortage if you let too many separate, then you compromise the job to be done. Every soldier is aware of the stop-gap and the need for it. Doesn't mean one likes it but it is part of the job and many step up and accept that fact and go on doing their job. To do anything less puts others in an increased danger.
I guess it is hard to imagine if you have never served in the military. There you need a team and when one member leaves and there is no replacement----- the whole team suffers. Read all the comments from soldiers on both sides not just the ones that further your belief's.

Prosecution of military deserters has risen sharply in the past 4 years http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/09/n...

woodsman us "civilians" have the right to speak as well it does not make u any better than us because you choose to serve or were drafted because while you are over there fighting for our country we are back here fighting to keep your homes ready for you when you come back, wives are waiting children are waiting friends and family are waiting for their loved ones to come back home and are just as much a part of the stress that the solider is going through. Everyone feels the pain

Oh, and Woodsman, I suggest you research what Bush and Cheney were doing to stay out of the war. How much action did either of them see?

All due respect. NO ONE should ever KEEP THEIR CIVILLIAN MOUTHS SHUT. We are the very reason for the existence of the military. We are the ones who fund it. We are the ones responsible for electing the people who send the troops to war.
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Woodsman, I understand and applaud that soldiers question what their superiors tell them. The issue here is weather or not soldiers should "act" on that questioning. This case, in particular, is troubling because he SIGNED UP for this. He wasn't drafted. He took an oath, and he is breaking it.
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I would like to say;if you people on here have "NEVER" been in the military,& know NOTHING about being willing to give your life for your country,i say keep your civilian mouths shut. You just enjoy the freedoms we give you,but no NOTHING about the sacrifices that we have & had to give. Sure we followed the orders of our superiors,whether we thought they were right or wrong,but their comes a time when we ask ourselves,is this road their going really for the right reasons? The Government just doesn't seem to have the American peoples best interest at heart,i think it's a lot of greed for their own rewards. If you think they will take care of you when their done with you,(dead or alive)think again. I myself have been denied medical benefits from the Government,long time ago war. So this soldier doesn't want to go back,so what,he did two tours,that in my opinion is one more then he should've ,enough "IS" enough let him be,He is a hero in my book & every other soldier. How can ANYONE be a critic here,a lot of you voted for BILL CLINTON & he is the ultimate word of disgrace for this country ,do you forget so soon,HE IS & WAS A DRAFT DODGER?

And there is a huge difference between not "wanting" to go back, and literally "not going" back.

sysco: Yes, we can "blame" the guy. It's easy to understand where he's coming from, but at the same time, he was NOT drafted. He CHOSE to sign up for the military.

How ironic that the institution that instituted stop-gap measures forcing personnel to stay longer than they signed up for, thus violating the contract of many soldiers, would go after a guy who does the same thing. I think we can say that this is a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black.

lakekennedy - I doubt we'll ever see the day when the majority of soldiers will feel comfortable backing out of their contracts. This is a problem with a VERY small minority as most soldiers understand their contract and commitment. When you're in the military, you create a special bond with your fellow soldiers, one which is equatable to that of family, and one which no matter the situation you won't back out of or run from.

A few points...

...the guy will probably NOT do any time in a military prison...brig or stockade for up to six months, yes, but likely not prison.

...the guy will likely get a less than honorable, depending on what his history with the military was leading up to this. It may be as good as a general under less than honorable conditions down to a BCD which is a bad coduct discharge.

...as someone noted, there is a means to get out in this sort of case, the contientious objector...HOWEVER, the way that has worked in the past is that you APPLY for it BEFORE your unit gets called up...the the military reviews your case while you keep doing what you are or have been ordered to do.

...I do think the guy has at least some moronic thought patterns going on if he thinks that another unit will let him work THERE until he is arrested.

...the last time a deserter was shot was indeed Pvt. Eddie Slovak. He was not shot JUST for being a deserter, but he was charged with desertion in the face of the enemy. MUCH heavier charge than simple desertion.

...the last I knew, there were 4 different general charges that could be brought up against someone in this case. AWOL or AOL, which is absent without leave or absent over leave. In general, these were charged against someone being gone less than 30 days. Desertion was used if AWOL or AOL status went over 30 days, OR the military had reason to believe, and could prove, the the person had no intention to return to command. The last one is usually for sailors, but it can apply to any military person and that's missing movement...you ship sails while you are sitting on the beach.

A shipmate of mine went AWOL while we were iat homeport in San Diego...he was gone for 4 months...officially, he was listed as a deserter after 30 days. When her returned under his own power, that is that he wasn't picked up or arrested, he was charged with AWOL because he intended to return and showed that by keeping his uniforms and ID card.

After being convicted in a summary courts martial (the lowest form of three types of courts martial), he was busted in grade, 2/3 pay for 3 months and 30 confinement at hard labor...that's the brig.

That's it...no discharge...I saw him a few years ago and he had retired after 25 years. One big screw-up and then got his head together.

It's horrible this young man has now made a decision that is going to have a heavy impact on his future. i won't judge him because i have never had to see what he has seen and i know there are probably a lot of posters who have been in his shoes and know and maybe you could give him some advice that he could really use right now

Deserter, hypocrite, and criminal are the best words for this man. Yes, a very small minority have refused to return to Iraq, however, a large majority have willingly extended their military service contracts so they could return. Even many injured there have said if it were physically possible, they would return to fight with their brothers again. Off to Ft. Leavenworth with this pathetic fool.

The term "conscientous objector" does not apply here. At all.
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It is easy to understand both sides of this argument, but I agree with wonders earlier post.
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I think it's important to remember that there is no draft, that Spc. Kristoffer Walker of Green Bay volunteered. I refuse to believe that there is any more evidence now than when he signed up indicating that this war is "unjust."
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I'd also like to point out that we, everyone of us who is able to vote, has played a very large role in not only the declaration, but the continuation of this war. While we may not be the ones actually fighting it, we are paying for it, and responsible for electing, or re-electing, those who send our troops into war.
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I respect our troops, and I respect Spc. Kristoffer Walker of Green Bay's decision. That being said, I do fear the day when the majority of our soldiers feel comfortable with backing out of their commitment to the military.

Curtaincall: That,s right we can protect the poppy fields for you?

oh come on.. liberal freedoms?? Not from the war in Iraq. We are there because of oil. Period. Money in the pockets of the rich. That is the only thing Bush could see. He and Cheney helping their buddies...

Now Afganistan that is different. We have a real purpose for being there and I wonder if he would have a problem of going there.

If one is allowed now how many more will go next week?

Yes, his window of opportunity for conscientious objector status was closed a long time ago. Even back then his only chance would come from if his parents were Quakers or something like that.

He will justifiably lose all his VA and educational benefits.

This man made a commitment when he enlisted. He knew what the military was, the obligations, the possibility of being stationed overseas, away from family and friends. He made a commitment to the people he served with to be there for them as they were for him. He broke that bond of trust, and don't give me that tired old cr-- about Bush having lied to us. Clinton used the same tactics only he didn't have the courage of his convictions to do anything about it. What would have happened if he had taken action? We'll never know but it might have left two towers still standing today. Yes, this individual could be a conscientious objector but he should have stated it previously. Many conscientious objectors have served in the military not run and hide behind it. That does a disservice to the term.
If you want a military that can walk away anytime they disagree with a policy then don't start crying when they are not there when you need them. Thank God that we do have men and women in the Military who donot walk away when the going gets tough. Support those who honorably serve not those who desert their duty.

He's a selfish coward. He's going to jail. His cowardice will dog him for the rest of his life. His cowardice is prolonging the war and causing the death of Americans.

i agree with mentor; this was his choice he was not drafted and in taking an oath that if anyone has ever heard those words at a graduation from boot camp and your son or daughter is taking it; it makes you proud, i;m sure that all our military doesn't agree with what is happening in iraq and afganastan, but it is his job until he can officially leave the military, wonder what would happen to me if i didn't want to go back to work, no unemployment for me, no healthcare benefits, not anything, i wish him luck, his unit no longer trusts him, i no longer trust him.

The Military Oath


The Commissioning Oath

"I, _____ , having been appointed an officer in the (Service) of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)

The Enlistment Oath

"I, _____, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

I agree with recon! Good for him to stand up for himself and state he doesn't agree with the war. I hope the government will let it be. Discharge him or reassign him to another post.

As for the rotten comments some of you posted. Shame on you.

wonders, the only soldier shot for desertion during and after WW II was Pvt. Eddie Slovak. I believe others were shot for desertion prior to WW II.

The enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan know they can't defeat the our military militarily. So why do they persist? They persist because they know that their only chance for victory is by eroding the will of the American people.

All you people who are condemning our effort overseas are giving aid and comfort to the enemy and are therefore prolonging the war and killing our fellow Americans.

When I read many of the comments made I can tell many of you have no idea what it means to be in the military or what it means to follow orders. The ONLY order that is allowed to not be followed is an unlawful order. What he did was decide not to follow a lawful order, and in a time of war, and YES we are at war, that means under the articles he can be SHOT for desertion. That being said only one, or at least to the best of my knowledge, only one solider has ever been shot for desertion.
The people that decide is a war is just or should be fought are the ones YOU elected to run this country. YOUR Congressman and Senators along with the Whitehouse are the ones that make those decisions. If you do not like what they do then it is up to you to vote and make those changes.
A solider has but on mission in life, follow the orders of those that are over him in rank. That is it, pretty simple and when done can make many changes in the world. The officers and NCO’s that run the army got there because they are good at what they do, they have been promoted through the ranks and have had the training to lead the lower ranks into whatever has to be done.
For all of those that DO NOT HAVE A CLUE…where would we be if the soldiers that stormed the beaches of Normandy had not followed orders? What language do you think you would be speaking today? Do you think that through history if every solider decided that they did not want to go back to their unit what would have happened in this country?
I think it is time that may of you have a wake up call and realize that the reason you have a place to spout of f you liberal views is because a solider fought to give you that freedom. I believe that you have that freedom, and I welcome all opinions, but before saying how good a person a deserter is, or how proud you are that they have made a choice to NOT defend YOU, then I wonder just how much you really know about history and what it takes to keep you free to say whatever you want.

Send him to Afganistan.

Have fun in military jail looser.. what makes you better than the rest of the soldiers over there doing thier job? Like they wanted to go.. When you enlist you no longer have the right to choose if you go or not, you belong to uncle sam.

Which war was Twain referring to?

The war in Iraq is with the almost unanymous consent of the Congress, therefore making it legal. WMDs were found there -poison gas. And there is a greater strategy for our presence there.

Vietnam was made legal by Southeast Asia Resolution. Congress never repealed it until the war was just about to end.

This guy already spent two tours over there, so he probably knows more about the situation than any of you armchair patriots. I doubt that anybody who joined the reserves ever thought it meant spending the rest of their lives in Iraq. His reststance takes far more courage than going along with the war machine. And why are we stii there again?

He won't go to prison. Get a life. My sister is military, and there still is a protection called conscientious objector. It is safe to say his career with the service is over. However the 'oath' and this being called a contract became void when all the lies started. As with any contract when one party misrepresents a contact becomes void. bush is a joke and his ignorance and arrogance will be felt for years.

Based on DOD statistics: American deaths in Iraq since the war began in March 2003: 4,245 (3,411 in combat). Since "Mission Accomplished": 4,106. Since Sadam's capture: 3784. Since the hand-over to Iraqi control: 3,397. Since Obama's election: 16. Total wounded - estimated at over 100,000. Other "coalition" troops: 318. Contractor deaths: 446. Estimated Iraqi deaths: 1,311,696. "To be a patriot, one had to say, and keep on saying, 'Our country, right or wrong,' and urge on the little war. Have you not perceived that that phrase is an insult to the nation?" - Mark Twain, - "Glances at History," 1906

The initiation of force against another country for any reason other than self defense is wrong, and the constitution doesn't give the federal government the power to do so. Iraq didn't attack us, and wasn't a threat to us before the war. That makes it an illegal war. It has served to weaken our position in the world, and puts our homeland defenses at risk. It's not a matter of picking and choosing which cause to believe in. Mr. Walker is taking a stand many other people in the military are taking too. Many of them choose another course of action as their only option, as evidenced by the record number of suicides in Iraq. Mr. Walker had sworn to defend our nation, not violate the sovereign rights of another nation.

Prison time for sure and "bad paper" for the rest of his life. And his chances of getting killed or wounded now-a-days in Iraq are very slim. We only hear about the wounded and the deaths. These are a very small percentage of the Americans there.

More Americans die each day on the highways in the U.S. than die of anything in Iraq.

"I,________,do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith an allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
Army regulation 6120-210, paragraph 6-18 makes the portion "So help me God" optional.
The Code of Conduct.
I
I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
II
I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
III
If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
IV
If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comraades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over and will back them up in every way.
V
When questiond, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering futher questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.
VI
I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my action, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

What part did this young man not understand?
There is a commitment not only to the United States of America, but to his fellow soldiers. If he cannot honor his oath he does dishonor to his nation.

court martial

Next duty station is Fort Leavenworth KS. He could e-mail the prison to get his cell ready.

He is a person who going to be in a lot of trouble now it is called prison time for him felony charges the gov. can send his butt to fort levenworth kans. DESERTION is no way out of the military.

-Quote- "I hope he realizes that refusing to return to his unit will screw up his life forever." -Quote-

So would a suicide bomber or a piece of shrapnel to the head.

The service is like any other job.If you refuse an order you will get some sort of discipline.I serviced during the vietnam war. I didn't like alot of orders that were giving to me but I took an oath to serve and protect. I carried out those orders. If this person refuses he will be AWOL, and be subject to discipline. That is it in a nut shell.We are at war, regardless of what we think about it.

Our military fights for our democracy but our military is not a democracy. No military could operate as a democracy. Anyone with any sense can understand this.

He signed a contract and took an oath.

I sure there will be consequences but I am glad to see him doing this. He is not the only person in the military who knows they were lied to, and this war never should have happened. Because of a few people's lives, people have lost their lives, their lives have been destroyed or disrupted. No where is the oath does it say anything about fighting in wars even if its based on lies. Bush should have been impeached and imprisoned for his lies. This young man is not the only one who feels this way that is currently in the military. They were asked to put their life on the line for a lie, how would you feel?

Mentor, I mean, please read the words of the shoe thrower. And see how he is considered a hero for his act of disrespect to our illustrious former president.
And you're kind of comparing this Iraq war veteran with a murderer changing his mind. It's the contrary, he may not WANT to have anything to do with future deaths. Maybe he thought he would be protecting something. If he enlisted to protect a population of people, and many, many (how many?) of those people suffered and died in the effort, can you tell me what the benefit to their lives was? If many of those people hail this (shoe-throwing) guy as a hero, can you still think there was a benefit?
What about all the other peoples of the world that live under evil dictators, or live lives of oppression? Why didn't we do the same for them?
You are correct in that he did join the military, however there are other places he could go in light of the fact that the Iraqi overthrow is not what it was supposed to be-I'm not sure if there is still something called conscientious objector status-but if there is not, there should be.

Yeah. That Shoe Thrower makes me proud. I'd like to see how much he would have said if he'd tried that under the previous Iraqi leadership. His actions right there prove we should have gone in there.
But again, that's not the point. There are a lot of actions that have lifetime consequences and joining the military is one of them. Do you think convicted murderers thought of all the consequences that might happen to them? Yet, we punish them for the actions of a few moments. Drunk Drivers get punished too, in states other than Wisconsin. It shouldn't surprise a recruit that the military goes around hurting people, nor should it surprise anyone that people in the military have to follow orders - even ones they don't like.

secretary=that is, press secretary.

mentor, maybe he read this story by Bush's Iraqi shoe thrower http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29273263/
or more likely, he saw it all first hand and could no longer justify it or close his mind to it. Maybe when he signed the form, he never imagined he wouldn't believe in a cause that our government promoted. Or maybe-if our government changed their reasons for being there in mid-war, Walker could just as well change his mind about believing in the cause.
By the way, did you see Ari Fliescher, former White House secretary under George W. Bush, begin to admit the truth in an interview in the last couple days? So don't be too hard on Spc. Walker.

He should have thought of that before he joined. I don't believe that, at any point, those who join the military are led to believe that they only have to fight in situations that they believe in.

There is no draft. No one has to join. Signing that form would have been the better time for this decision to have been made.

good for him, i hope he doesn't get arrested though