Derek Hess

I left the army in protest, because like most Iraq-era veterans, I believed and still believe that this is an illegal, lying, and immoral war. Forget why I joined! I took an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies both foreign and domestic. The illegal and unjust occupation of Iraq goes against the U.S. constitution as it violates the law that All men are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as our occupation is only hindering the Iraqis from choosing their own destiny, and our presence in Iraq is detrimental because it contributes to the wholesale slaughter and oppression of the middle eastern nation. In refusing to fight, I am refusing participation in an illegal lying war that was started to keep rich people rich and fill money in certain people's pockets. I filed for conscientious objector status in January of 2007. The papers were appealed until I told my unit that I would kill myself if I was sent to Iraq, so I could not be used as a weapon of mass destruction for the U.S. government. I can speak from personal experience when I say that the Iraq war is nothing but a bloodbath. Also it is an assault on humanity as more soldiers are forced to give their lives in a war not for freedom but, for profit. This war has caused many innocent American boys and girls (17-20) to be put to death, though they did nothing to deserve such a punishment. The Iraqi civilians are caught up in the middle of a massacre we created, and they are killed being unarmed and in non-combatant status just because of the U.S. occupation and oppressive regime in Iraq that has contributed to the ultimate extortion of these people. I refused to fight in a war started by men who refused to fight in a war. By refusing to fight this war, I am upholding the constitution by refusing to participate in actions that would sentence me to a court martial for war crimes. And I believe it is my choice as a human being to deny my participation in the slaughter of innocent human beings. In closing with my own quote I say "Supporting the troops does not mean supporting the war, it means actually listening to what we have to say, instead of discrediting us, it means ending this illegal war, and letting us go home, because that is really just all we want." THE NATION THAT FORGETS IT'S DEFENDERS WILL ITSELF BE FORGOTTEN