Soldier in Desertion Case Says Opposed Iraq War - Reuters

[WillyT]

<snip>

FORT STEWART, Ga (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier charged with deserting from the Iraq war on Thursday cited opposition to the conflict and testified the U.S. Army had no authority to extend his term of military service.

Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia, a Florida National Guard member who failed to return to his unit in Iraq after taking a two-week leave to the United States last October, said at his court-martial he had sought to be released from the Army under a U.S. military regulation that prohibits noncitizens from serving more than eight years. He was unaccounted for for five months.

And...

In opening statements, prosecutors depicted Mejia as a traitor. "Mejia behaved like a coward," said Capt. Tad Warfel, one of Mejia's superior officers.

Defense lawyers called three witnesses who described Mejia as an excellent soldier who looked out for his men. "He was very calm, focused, competitive," said Master Sgt. Frank Cabadiana, who served in Mejia's unit.

<snip>

Link: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=5212769


Does a 'stop-loss' order allow the military to do this? He served his eight years. Anybody know???

:shrug:

[izzie]

1. It is a contract that the man signed.

He may be right not to want to go back but he did sign up for so many years. In our govt. we let congress make war( or now the President with congress saying it is OK) but there it is. I think congress should take this right from the President.