I found it interesting that the justification for the "mutiny" was that the soldiers would not be able to stop themselves from going berserk and killing everything, and that this reasoning met with considerable sympathy from the higher-ups. It stands in contrast with the image of the US military killing and torturing with abandon, and gives me hope that there is still courage and honor in our armed forces.
I loathe this war. I want to believe in my country and its ideals. Snark away. posted by Quietgal at 11:05 AM on December 16, 2007
Powerful stuff. posted by Thorzdad at 11:12 AM on December 16, 2007
He didn’t know 2nd Platoon had gathered for a meeting and determined they could no longer function professionally in Adhamiya — that several platoon members were afraid their anger could set loose a massacre.
“We said, ‘No.’ If you make us go there, we’re going to light up everything,” DeNardi said. “There’s a thousand platoons. Not us. We’re not going.”
Outstanding. Soldiers acting like human beings. THIS is the kind of stuff that gives me hope for this damned human race.
The fact that they weren't punished for it is icing on the cake.
But they were punished in a way, weren't they? They were broken up, their records flagged, and many of them has promotions denied or delayed based on their actions.
I think their "mutiny" was heroism of the highest order. Knowing you have that rage building up inside of you and doing what you can to prevent yourself from flying off the handle despite possible consequences, that takes a lot of self-awareness and courage. posted by schroedinger at 12:21 PM on December 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
“Captain Strickland read us our rights,” DeNardi said. “We had 15 yes-or-no questions, and no matter how you answered them, it looked like you disobeyed an order. No one asked what happened. And there’s no record — no article 15. Nothing to show it happened.”
and this is being published in Army Times. So, the question I have, if this is how the military responds to mutiny now, what is there position on "mutinies" going to be under President Hillary? posted by geos at 1:06 PM on December 16, 2007
their their their posted by geos at 1:06 PM on December 16, 2007
This story brought tears to my eyes. I can't help but feel like we (Americans) have failed. Every day this war drags on, and every day that another person is killed in Iraq, is another failure. What is it going to take to end it? posted by wuwei at 1:42 PM on December 16, 2007
What is it going to take to end it?
Well, the American people aren't the ones giving the orders to the soldiers to deploy.
It's all on one guy. One single person is all that stands between those soldiers and U.S. soil. They could be home tomorrow if he wanted. It could be over in an instant, with the snap of the fingers.
Well, there's an almost eponymous answer, Civil_Disobedient. That "one single person," that "one guy" could be the trigger-puller himself or herself. posted by John of Michigan at 3:27 PM on December 16, 2007
Yeah, but then we'd have to deal with the deluge of "Bush Memorial Airports" and "Bush Interstates" and "Bush Libraries" and "Bush Middle Schools". Fuuuuuck that. posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:10 PM on December 16, 2007
Just an observation to the people saying they weren't punished - they may not have all been officially punished, but there were definitely some signs of 'unofficial' punishment. Some noncommissioned officers were relieved or transferred, and the rest were administratively flagged - in other words, they couldn't receive any favorable actions such as awards, promotions, etc. until the flag was lifted. So, while they did successfully refuse to obey orders, they didn't emerge completely unscathed.
That being said, it took a lot for these guys to do this. posted by zbaco at 4:16 PM on December 16, 2007
zbaco: True, there were repercussions. But considering that mutiny--because that is what this was, pure and simple--usually merits the firing squad in times of war, well, these guys got off pretty simple.
Also, Civil-Disobedient, I meant that the soldiers themselves, not Shithead in Chief, could refuse to follow their orders. En mass. Would it happen? Not likely. posted by John of Michigan at 5:58 PM on December 16, 2007
Part 4: Picking up the pieces.
No pun intended? posted by taumeson at 5:52 AM on December 17, 2007
posted by exlotuseater at 10:26 AM on December 16, 2007