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US soldier refuses to serve in Iraq: Should he be termed a traitor?
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E-mailMade Popular May 17 2008
United States :
Sergeant Matthis Chiroux served in Afghanistan, Germany, Japan, and the Philippines; however he refuses to go to Iraq. Chiroux said in the sun-filled rotunda of a congressional building in Washington: “I stand before you today with the strength and clarity and resolve to declare to the military, my government and the world that this soldier will not be deploying to Iraq. My decision is based on my desire to no longer continue violating my core values to support an illegal and unconstitutional occupation... I refuse to participate in the Iraq occupation.” Unlike thousands of other soldiers who decided to quit, Chiroux vows to stay in the United States and face whatever charges the army levels against him.
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Tiam
May 17 2008
Tehran,
Iran
Of course..How could he refuse the order of his super boss President George Bush. The US soldier should be termed as traitor, not for refusing to serve in Iraq but for refusing the order coming from White House. The people of US could forgive the US soldier but not the Bush administration.
Comment Link
(Global Perspectives)
Yes, once you decide to join armed force in your country you have to be prepared for taking orders to serve at any place. A soldier cannot decide about the place where he should work. This is the duty of a soldier to take the order from his boss and complete it without questioning it.
(Global Perspectives)
Without any doubts, He is a Traitor! No matter how wrong, or right, the decision taken by his nation may be, but a soldier, once he has taken the oath to serve his nation, has no right to violate the orders given by his superior, no matter how foolish he is.
Emotions and sentiments are best kept out of such areas.
But wait, he still has a chance to wash that label of traitor off his a** ... let him gather enough support from his mates (really large numbers though) and make his concerns known to the White House and the world.. loud and clear. Then no one will call him traitor because the perfect term to describe such act or situation is REVOLT.
Emotions and sentiments are best kept out of such areas.
But wait, he still has a chance to wash that label of traitor off his a** ... let him gather enough support from his mates (really large numbers though) and make his concerns known to the White House and the world.. loud and clear. Then no one will call him traitor because the perfect term to describe such act or situation is REVOLT.
(Global Perspectives)
As a member of the armed forces, he should have taken his orders quietly. His refusal to go to Iraq, may be deplorable but that cannot brand him as a traitor. In all fairness, he has not committed any act of treason. He may be called a deserter, but in no way is he a traitor.
A traitor wouldn’t stand in the congressional building to declare his unwillingness to go to war, and a traitor wouldn’t stay in the same country. Sergeant Matthis is not guilty on these accounts, and he is not a traitor per se.
A traitor wouldn’t stand in the congressional building to declare his unwillingness to go to war, and a traitor wouldn’t stay in the same country. Sergeant Matthis is not guilty on these accounts, and he is not a traitor per se.
(Global Perspectives)
it is quite obvious that a US soldier is saying no to fight in war on terror in Iraq or Afghanistan. how long to pursue the mad cause with blind eyes. US army has fought a lot on the foreign soil without any result while wasting money and soldiers. war in Iraq or Afghanistan will not end until such protests will not come to the fore. yes we need such heroism to end the war or else there will be no end to foolishness. Making our own borders safe makes more sense than to waste money and soldiers for a foreign cause on the foreign land. bring the troops home....
(Local Perspectives)
Do you mean to say a person should blindly follow his leader when the leader is doing something wrong? By doing so he will be harming his country in the long run. Not obeying the government doesn’t make him a traitor but harming his country’s reputation will definitely make him a traitor. A person who is truly loyal to his country will see that no harm befalls his country, maybe from the very persons ruling it. Infact his guts to stay put in the US and face charges are congratulatory and characteristic of a true patriot.
(Global Perspectives)
this is not a soldiers' prerogative to decide whether he is willing to go to the war. this is not the army all about. their duty is to obey the orders and not to question what is right or wrong. if this will be allowed to happen, then no war will be fought as now the soldiers will start saying no at a crucial hour. this is ridiculous!!! he deserves a court martial for that and just letting him go will only prove that all our soldiers fighting in iraq are fools. he is a traitor , a coward... he shirking responsibility. this is not the army is all about.
(Local Perspectives)
Your primary duty as a human being is to your conscience alone. If you cannot face yourself in the mirror after an act, then that is simply, best avoided. No matter if you are called upon to do something for country, your clan, your religion or even family. If something does no sit well with your self, you are justified in saying ’NO’.
I admire Sergeant Matthis Chiroux for his courage. His ability to raise his voice from within the ranks is stupendous. He has chosen to make his voice heard without leaving the army and that says a lot about him.
I admire Sergeant Matthis Chiroux for his courage. His ability to raise his voice from within the ranks is stupendous. He has chosen to make his voice heard without leaving the army and that says a lot about him.
(Global Perspectives)
no why traitor??? only because he let others know his decision. it may seems awkward for many but not to me. the reason is we are not habitual to hear something like that too often. this is simply because the politicians has denied military their say in the decision making. yes this is strange in US or any other nations having political hold over army, however, the countries like Turkey where the army is strong and above all have the political say, this is not strange. so the need of the hour is to give army their role in the policy making, rest will follow.
(Local Perspectives)
Wars are fought for justice, peace and freedom. Every soldier fights by a code and when the code is subverted, he has every right to violate orders. And people, who think a boss’ orders are to be followed without a frown, should question themselves if they wud do the same at work. A soldier’s duty is to fight for his country and protect his people and not to be party to a decision where the human spirit is held at ransom. All of us know what is happening at Iraq and as a conscientious human, he has done what he believes is right. He cannot be labelled a traitor.
(Global Perspectives)
I am an Iraq veteran and am disgusted by this traitor! there are thousand of soldiers who were deployed and redeployed in iraq and no one questioned. but this guy did not complain when he was given promotions but when it came to serve, he just showed the ass... what US army need to do is just kick it hard.
(Local Perspectives)
@ Alpheus
well Alpheus would you please let me know how many wars were fought for freedom and justice? they are more or less for the usurpation or with some political gains and scarcely, if never, for peace and justice.
well Alpheus would you please let me know how many wars were fought for freedom and justice? they are more or less for the usurpation or with some political gains and scarcely, if never, for peace and justice.
(Global Perspectives)
As a member of the U.S. armed forces here is my perspective. He is CERTAINLY NOT a traitor. That is ridiculous. But due to the fact that he signed a commitment to defend the country there should be some, fairly minimal, recriminations. There is a reason we have a ”concientious objector” status.
My recommendation would be immediate general discharge from the military and perhaps a fine. It should also be expected that he act moving forward in a respectful way toward the military and remember his commitments regarding protecting sensitive information, etc.
My recommendation would be immediate general discharge from the military and perhaps a fine. It should also be expected that he act moving forward in a respectful way toward the military and remember his commitments regarding protecting sensitive information, etc.
(Local Perspectives)
One more thing, in the U.S. Military, Soldiers are expected to have the judgement to refuse orders that they deem illegal. The defense, ”I was just following orders” is not an adequate defense in a court of law.
While I completely disagree that the war in Iraq is unconstitutional and I find it perfectly legal, the soldier has a right to be an objector. Refusing an order is not a traitorious action in any way shape or form.
Nevertheless I am very disappointed in this young man.
While I completely disagree that the war in Iraq is unconstitutional and I find it perfectly legal, the soldier has a right to be an objector. Refusing an order is not a traitorious action in any way shape or form.
Nevertheless I am very disappointed in this young man.
(Local Perspectives)
Jay,
For you to say there has been no result in Iraq or Afghanistan is naive and ignorant.
For you to say there has been no result in Iraq or Afghanistan is naive and ignorant.
(Local Perspectives)
@Michael
There is a difference between ’wars’ and ’proxy wars’. What we are witnessing today is a fight for supremacy, which is certainly not coherent with the true purpose of war. The war fought for American Independence is a case in point. And if you need more examples, World War II to eliminate the Nazi regime, the Indo-Pak war to liberate Bangladesh, etc. I totally understand why you feel wars are fought for usurpation or personal gains. That is precisely why people like Sergeant Matthis need to stand up for what they believe in.
There is a difference between ’wars’ and ’proxy wars’. What we are witnessing today is a fight for supremacy, which is certainly not coherent with the true purpose of war. The war fought for American Independence is a case in point. And if you need more examples, World War II to eliminate the Nazi regime, the Indo-Pak war to liberate Bangladesh, etc. I totally understand why you feel wars are fought for usurpation or personal gains. That is precisely why people like Sergeant Matthis need to stand up for what they believe in.
(Global Perspectives)
@Steve
I agree that he needs to be punished ’coz he’s broken a contract. Whether it is the army or a private company, if you’ve violated the rules, you have to face the repercussions. However, at the end of the day, Matthis can feel proud that he is suffering for a good cause. And he can walk with his head held high.
I agree that he needs to be punished ’coz he’s broken a contract. Whether it is the army or a private company, if you’ve violated the rules, you have to face the repercussions. However, at the end of the day, Matthis can feel proud that he is suffering for a good cause. And he can walk with his head held high.
(Global Perspectives)
No. But he should just quit.
Allowing him to stay there and choose where to fight is to encourage anarchy.
Allowing him to stay there and choose where to fight is to encourage anarchy.
(Local Perspectives)
As long as he is on a valid contract,a soldier should obey orders.
(Local Perspectives)
A soldier must respect the decision taken by his nation, whether right or wrong. Personal sentiments and emotions should not guide a solider. Viewed so, I must say the solider is a traitor who declines to serve in Iraq.
(Global Perspectives)
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