…Not a conscientious objector
Military deserter Pablo Paredes has been denied conscientious objector status. His request for an Other than Honorable discharge in lieu of a court-martial trial has also been denied.
Michelle Malkin reports on this press release e-mailed this morning by Pablo’s brother:
Massive support activities for Pablo Paredes are being planned for May 10th. These activities will include a staged symbolic public trial to denounce the war and its immoral impact on Americans and Iraqis alike. The May 10th proceeding will include the participation of other public military resisters such as Camilo Mejia. In addition, many important figures from the political and activist community are expected to participate. More details will be made public shortly.
Let’s take a quick look at the ‘immoral impact’ on Americans and Iraqis—America is safer today than we were before we went to war in Iraq. This is partly evident in the number of attacks on American soil since the war started: 0. When terrorists are on the run and fighting for their lives on their own soil, they are not attacking ours.
As for the immoral impact the war has had on Iraqis—do you have your head up your ass? Did you not see the recent elections that took place over there? Are you unaware of Saddam Hussein’s torturing and murdering of hundreds of thousands of his own people? The only ‘immoral impact’ we could have had was to have done nothing.
The only thing your mock trial will symbolize will be your hatred of America and your siding with our enemies.
The press release concludes with:
…The rejection of his CO and OTH are strong indication that the military intends to firmly punish Pablo Paredes for his decision to follow his conscientious (sic) and not support inhumane acts of aggression. Navy jags have attended Pablo’s public speaking engagements and have provided sworn statements that will be used against him in his Special Court Martial.
As Michelle commented: Good. I hope he spends some good, hard, long time at Ft. Leavenworth.
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Previous/Related:
Pablo Paredes: You’re a Dumb Ass
There needs to be a clear message sent to new recruits who JOIN of their own free will that this is not a civilian job. You are signing a contract and that contract includes a commitment to go to war if so ordered by the President of the United States. You do not have the right to “choose” what you think is right or not. You can’t claim to be a “conscientious objector” after the fact. If you don’t agree with this contract, you may NOT JOIN the U.S. military. Do you understand what this means? Yes No
In the case of “draft”, well then it is a different story.
Yeah, he sounds pretty naive: “never in a million years did I imagine we would go to war with somebody who had done nothing to us.”
He must have never had US history in high school…
[...] …Hasan Akbar Sentenced to Death This is why I support the death penalty. Pablo Paredes might be a cowardly dumbass, but at least he didn’t go to Iraq and [...]
Pablo Paredes is not a conscience objector. Did he think he was joining the boy scouts of America? For nearly four years he enjoyed all the benifits that his military career afforded him without voicing any significant oposition. He was not drafted. He joined the armed forces as a volunteer.
Now he does not want to be held accountable for his actions. I, for one, am against the war in Iraq but the conflict with what he has done during the past years and what he says is so great that I cannot buy his story. As a Puerto Rican I am embarrassed by his dishonorable conduct. Pablo, don’t be naive, next time, read the fine print.