Are you listening to Steph

[OwnedByFerrets]

right now. God, I want to throw something heavy right thru the radio. Every time Paul Hackett opens his mouth, I dislike him more. The opinions he stated concerning Watada this morning were sickening......to me, anyway.
I dont know of anyone she has had on her show who is more smug or self-serving than Hackett-job.

[Phredicles]

1. I didn't hear the interview, but

maybe there was after all a good reason for the Ohio Democratic Party to ask him not to run for the Senate last year?

[OwnedByFerrets]

3. That is what I have begun to think too.......nt

[ShortnFiery]

2. I don't know what Hackett is saying but opinions regarding

Lt. Watada's refusal to deploy to Iraq are far from monolithic, even within the veteran and active duty military community. :shrug:

I'm getting the impression that Hackett is on the side of, "Once you take the Oath as an Officer you must follow through with your duties." I have empathy for that position. To be honest, I don't know what I would do in Watada's place. It's not an easy call.

IMO Afghanistan is beyond hope also. Therefore, both OCCUPATIONS are equally illegal and absurd.

Good people can differ and NO, IMO, Lt. Watada deserves "an honorable discharge" even if he must serve time.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Watada has a responsibility to his unit.

I disagree with this war completely, but Watada doesn't get a choice of which wars to participate in. His first repsonsibility isn't to Prez. Bush, or the USofA, but to the people in his unit that have come to depend on him.

[OwnedByFerrets]

6. That defense makes no sense to me.......

and this may not be a good analogy, but did the officers of the 3rd Reich have an obligation to their fellow soldiers to participate in an illegal occupation? Did the ppl who did the illegal things in Abu Grahib have a responsibilty to their fellow soldiers rather and do those illegal things without question?
Tell me I'm wrong, but its my understanding that if a soldier is being asked to do something illegal, that soldier has a obligation to NOT do that illegal thing. This war is illegal, PERIOD.

[Captain Hilts]

8. An officer has an obligation to the enlisted personnel in their charge.

As much as I, too, abhor this war on every level. It's up to officers to be 'there' for their people. His responsibility is to the people who look to him for leadership in his unit. He knew that when he signed up. If he doesn't want to be there for them, then he has to suffer the consequences.

The German Army was full of conscripts whose officers should have looked out for them. You want an army whose officers didn't give a damn about their enlisted personnel, look at the Red Army in WWII. A crime.

Theda Skocpol is a sociologist who got her start writing a book about the beginnings of the 'welfare state', entitled "Protecting Mothers and Soldiers." The first line of defense for our soldiers is an officer corps that has their best interest at heart.

The US Army went into this war kicking and screaming. They knew what was going to happen.

And, I'm not aware of any international body formally declaring this war 'illegal'. I wish they had.

[Connie_Corleone]

4. Steph asked his opinion on Watada and he gave it.

You may not like it, but there are many people who agree with his position, which is Watada knew what he was getting into when he signed up...Watada's a big boy and can take care of himself.

[OwnedByFerrets]

7. You are absolutely correct......

he has the right to his opinion and I have the right to be abhored by that opinion.;-)