Jan
23
2007
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Article 94 |
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Written by JD Johannes
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Tuesday, 23 January 2007 |
What if they refused?
It is unlikely, but in some ways, probable.
What if the Congress refused to appropriate funds to to continue the United State's military presence in Iraq?
It is unlikely that would happen, but even more interesting is what would the Soldiers and Marines do, when given the lawful to pack up the bases and leave Iraq?
What if they refused? What if a few platoons, then line companies and even battalions disobeyed direct orders and decided to stay?
Sounds like an interesting plot for a paperback novel.
The idea came to me as I was running on a treadmill at the gym (part of my pre-deployment training program) the woman in fron of me was wearing a t-shirt with iron on letters--Support The Troops.
I have never thought much of that phrase--especially in light of recent polls showing some 20% of Americans do not want the troops to be successful in their mission.
The phrase I prefer is Let Them Win.
At this stage, nearly every member of the armed forces joined or reenlisted after the Congressional authorization of force against Iraq.
There are only a handful who signed up or reenlisted before 9/11.
Knowing those two facts you can only conclude two things, they joined or reenlisted knowing the risks and willing to engage in the fight or they were, as John Kerry thinks, dupes.
If they joined or reenlisted knowing the risks and willing to engage the fight, they obviously want to win.
To support the troops, means wanting them to win.
Which brings me back to my idea for a paperback novel, what if a several battalions of Marines wanted to win so much, they would not accept a Congressional defeat foisted upon them and refused to leave? Would they back the Court Martial of infantry officers and NCOs who refused to surrender?
Of course this brings up Article 99 of the UCMJ as an interesting public relations defense.
What if Congress refused to appropriate the funds, but the administration found alternate sources of funding and did not order a withdrawal?
What if the only order given to the troops was that those who wanted to leave the fight could come home and continue to serve in the military, but those who wanted to stay could stay and continue the fight?
What would the fund cutting Congress do? Criminalize the fighting of America's enemies?
I doubt we will have to face those situations, which is why it will make for fodder for a paperback novel.
But it still nags at me, why are so many people opposed to winning?
Support indepdent filmmaking in Iraq, buy a DVD
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