Spc. Kristoffer Walker of Green Bay Correct Not To Return To Iraq War
I always find it rewarding to see the effects that one person can create when standing firm to principles and inner convictions. When that happens it creates headlines as so few adhere to the moral compass that we all have, but too often let slip in order to go along, and get along, with what so many others are doing.
Not so for Spc. Kristoffer Walker of Green Bay who says that he is not going to return to duty in Iraq. He is on leave, and plans not to return to the war as he is rightfully disillusioned with the US role in Iraq. Welcome to the majority opinion Kris. The soldier correctly added, “I believe Operation Iraqi Freedom and the campaign in Iraq we’re conducting is an immoral conflict,” said Walker. “It’s most definitely not in our self interest to have gone there in the first place.”
The reason that Walker is right not to return to active duty is that the honor code that is supposed to exist between government and military was snapped like a frozen twig under the Bush Administration. The people who volunteer to go to into military service have the right to expect that our elected leaders will not lie our way to war. There has to be an honor code in the way this nation works, or we will have those like Walker who say “no” to returning to war.
The great thing about Walker is that he is not running away, but instead contacting the military and forthrightly called this war for what it is……a pile of lies that does not deserve the treasure of this nation in any way furthering it. He will be arrested, and will spend time in jail. But he has shown what principal is all about, and one day his grandchildren will have a very important reason to be proud of him.
There are long lists of those in history who are remembered for awful crimes and decisons. Let us never forget that there are also lists of patriots such as Spc. Kristoffer Walker of Green Bay who listen to the inner ideals that make our nation stronger, and acted on them. Men like this serve our nation with pride.
Does the fact that he swore an oath to obey the orders of personnel that are senior to him mean anything?
Does the fact that he voluntary enlisted and was not conscripted mean anything?
Does the fact that his comrades are currently taking up his slack mean anything?
He is shirking his duty. The correct and honorable thing to do would be to return to his unit and fulfill his commitment.
Sure is easy to get all those benefits of being in the military (even just the Reserves), then completely back out when you’re actually expected to do some work. Good job there Kristoffer Walker, way to take the easy way out. What a traitor to our uniform.
Lacy,
No one said that Obama would end war…..just not start or continue needless ones. You do understand that your husband fights (and might die) for a lie. That makes you what….proud……or…what?
Maybe it is your husband that needs to re-think the Iraq War now.
He should go through the proper chain of command instead of being immature and going AWOL and then crying about it all over the news. My husband has been many times and sees a huge change over there. We took Sadam out of power which was huge. He may not agree with it but many others do. I also find it amusing that many of you liberals thought that by electing Obama he would end war- he just authorized 17k more troops to go to Afghanistan! Now that Iraq is safe, he’s taking the war over there.
My Man Godfrey: It sure beats taken more than my share of hits of the left wing acid.
How many places would Tom have this nation take over given his list could fit many despicable leaders around the world? He seems not to like government spending, but likes war. How does he think wars are funded? Or do we put that off-budget and let my kids pay for it? I think that Tom has drank more than his share of the right-wing Kool-Aid.
But those were not the reasons we went into Iraq.
You will recall that Bush in 2000 said that the US was not going to be ‘nation-building.’
We were told there was WMD’s, and that was purported reason for the invasion.
We were not going there to start a new government.
Or were we?
I truly respect Spc Walker’s stand on the war. But here are some of the accomplishments of the Iraq War:
1. Saddam Hussein’s rape rooms have been shut down permanently.
2. The acid baths have stopped completely
3. The executions of anyone that dared attempt to vote against Hussein have stopped
4. The human chipper machines have been thrown into the scrap pile.
5. Iraqi’s now have a democracy where in the recent election had over 14,000 names on the ballots, including women for the first time ever.
6. You now have Sunni and Shia working together for the first time in history.
7. Oil and all of the financial benefits it brings now belongs to the PEOPLE, not Saddam and his minions.
8. Women actually have some semblence of rights also for the first time in history.
When are you holding Spc. Walker’s canonization?
Another question would be what if he had been sent into Afghanistan under the current administration and he decided not to go back. Would he be such a martyr to you then?
So why has he stayed in the reserve?