Unjumbling thoughts

It's a first post so don't expect much.

Lt. Watada made the difficult choice to not accompany his unit to Iraq. What I have learned up to this point is that this decision came after much soul searching over a period of time. As much as I despise the war in Iraq, I can't help but not applaud nor support this. As a veteran and the wife of a veteran who served in Desert Storm, we both learned that being in the military isn't about politics.

Being part of such an organization takes a commitment that goes above and beyond most any other that we have in our daily lives. Upon joining the military, one swears to serve his country. They do so with the understanding that they may die in combat during their service. The time may come when a soldier will be sent to a foreign country to fight. Soldiers don't have the luxury of picking and choosing their fights.

If a person volunteers to put on a uniform, they do so with the understanding of what exactly it entails and what they may be called to do. When a person swears an oath, they do so knowing they are making one of the most serious commitments in their lives. Marriage can't even compare to this sacrifice.

Lt. Watada knew what he was getting himself in for when he volunteered. As an officer, he should have even been more aware of tasks that would be asked of him. He spent his career leading and helping those serving under him.

He has shirked his responsibility to those serving under him, he believes he has the right to choose his fights and he ignored his obligations and the oath he took at the beginning of his service.

We have chickenhawks in power who have sent our troops off to a war based on lies. They have never served let alone been in combat. Their activities to date have proven they don't have a care whether or not our troops have the proper equipment or leadership in the field. Their lack of empathy shows through their attacks on those who have served in combat with distinction. The cutting of benefits to those veterans who have already given much of their lives to serving this country goes to show how little time is spent considering the costs these people have suffered.

As much as I support those who have chewed the same dirt and bled the same blood as those who went to war, I cannot in good conscience give Lt. Watada the same props. His moral principles are needed more in the field than in his comfortable chair here in the states.