Service Members Appeal for Redress

Active duty service members, gathered inside a Norfolk, Va., church on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a rally calling for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Among the speakers were Navy Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Hutto, 29, and Marine Corps Sgt. Liam Madden, 22; both spoke. Madden, Hutto and the other active-duty members who came to Monday's rally are signatories to a petition to Congress sponsored by Appeal for Redress, a group for active-duty, Reserve and Guard personnel started last fall by Hutto and Madden that calls for an end to the war and the "prompt" withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq.

The group has gathered over 1000 online signatures, mostly from enlisted service members and nearly half from the Army, in ranks ranging from E-1 to O-6. This act; which Dr. King an anti war civil rights activist, would have been proud of, demonstrates the highest level of patriotism and civil commitment to justice. There are those however who disagree.

One such dissenter is Wade Zirkle, executive director of Vets for Freedom. "The military's job is to carry out and implement foreign policy, not influence it," said Zirkle, executive director of Vets for Freedom, a nonprofit that supports the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. "That's what separates our country from military dictatorships. That's why we don't have military coups and military people running our country." He believes for service members to appeal for redress "is un-American in principle". Mr. Zirkle, a former Marine Lieutenant awarded a purple heart, is incorrect both in principal and on policy.

Many active duty, reserve, and guard service members are concerned about the war in Iraq and support the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to their Congressional Representative and US Senators to urge an end to the U.S. military occupation. The wording of the Appeal for Redress is short and simple. It is patriotic and respectful in tone. It reads as follows:

As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.

Mr. Zirkle feeling's notwithstanding, this hardly sounds like the seed of insurrection or a call for desertion, mutiny or military coup. It is in fact brave (many soldiers who signed on and attended the rally are still on active duty), patriotic (redress of grievances is one of our most sacred American rights) and most importantly legal. The rights of service members to voice their opinions are guaranteed by the US Constitution, the Congress and the military's own regulations DoD Directive 1325.6 (Guidelines for Handling Dissident and Protest Activities Among Service Members in the Armed Forces). Further, DoD Directive 1344.10 (Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty) actually promotes such activities. It states in part: "It is DoD policy to encourage (emphasis added) members of the Armed Forces to carry out the obligations of Citizenship."

Mr. Zirkle states, "That's (military non-involvement in policy) what separates our country from military dictatorships. That's why we don't have military coups and military people running our country." While passionate, this is an opinion that isn't ground in fact. True, the United States hasn't had any military coups per se (though one could debate a few occurrences of attempted (Northern) and successful (Southern) insurrection. However, it is because of the structure of our command and control system and not for lack of military involvement in government. Many people in the highest echelons of government (including our current president) are ex service members and some (in the House and Senate) currently serve in Reserve and National Guard units.

Veterans like Mr. Zirkle are not without there civilian counterparts who both believe in the President's current surge and overall Iraq War policy. However, unlike Mr. Zirkle whose opinions come from an opinionated veteran standing on principal, many civilians particularly young males have positions that ring a little hollow.

Military Age men who support the president's policy in Iraq in general, and this latest "surge" in particular, fully aware the military is under strength should enlist. It would be the "patriotic" thing to do. This is after all a volunteer military and as with all volunteer organizations the time to help is when the need is greatest. Where are all these patriotic American men who support the president? I found one of them, "David", this week.

David is an 18 year-old from Michigan who called into C-SPAN's popular morning show, Washington journal. He said he supported the surge and the president and that we should not give up in Iraq because it was too important to nation security. The host, referring to the caller's age, asked if he had ever thought of joining the military. David responded by saying it wasn't "right" for him. He ended his call informing the C-SPAN audience of his plans to attend the University of Ohio. David's planned major is Political Science.

I do not single these two men out as hypocrites. I also do not suggest as have some that those who have not served have no right to debate this issue. I take the opposite view. Every American has a place at the table of debate and discussion on military and foreign policy, particularly the men and women in uniform who are most directly affected. This may not be the view of Mr. Zirkle or "David" from Michigan, but thankfully it was the view of the founding fathers and continues as policy of the congress and the military.