Military opposition: Bravery by another name
For those of a certain age, it’s impossible to forget all the brave soldiers who decided they would not fight—or continue to fight---in Vietnam. Once they were there, some realized it was a war without end, a war without an exit and a war against ordinary people, rather than an enemy. Arguably, their opposition and open rebellion in the field was more decisive in ending the war than all the marches put together by the anti-movement.
Is it happening again? This morning, June 22nd, First Lieutenant Ehren Watada, the highest-ranking soldier to defect from the Iraq war to date, refused orders to fly to Iraq. Watada believes the war and occupation are illegal and therefore refuses to join the military effort in that country.
