January 19, 2005
The U.S. Army Has Formally Charged Sgt. Kevin Benderman
By: Jack Dalton
Sgt. Kevin Benderman, who recently refused deployment a second time to Iraq and had filed Conscientious Objector status paperwork, has been today formally charged with violation of articles 85 and 87 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice by the U.S. Army. Article 85 is a charge of "desertion" with "intent to avoid hazardous duty." Article 87 is a charge of "missing a movement" which refers to his refusing deployment from the staging area where all at Ft. Stewart leave for Iraq.
Sgt. Kevin Benderman is absolutely committed in his views and beliefs that war, all war, is wrong. He is absolutely committed to his belief that it is just flat out morally wrong to pick up a gun and kill another human being. And that to participate in war, as is now taking place in Iraq, is not only wrong but is morally reprehensible and therefore he cannot be a participant.
When I spoke with Kevin and Monica earlier today, both were in fairly good spirits, but absolutely committed to what they truly believe is the only path that can be taken, and that simply stated is non-participation in war. Kevin is a man of strong conviction, faith, and moral belief that the position he has taken is the right position; actually the only position a man of deep moral conviction about the inhumanity of war can take.
Kevin has told me many times that due to the strength of his convictions he will not run and most certainly will not back down or away from what the Army will come at him with. He is in this for the "long-haul." But then I would not expect less from a man like Kevin, who in my book is a man of great ethics, high integrity, and a man of honor.
There has been an outpouring of support and offers of help directed at Sgt Benderman from all across the country as a result of the media attention that has been given to his plight. Kevin is being viewed by a broad cross section of this country as a "Beacon of Hope" in a nation gone mad with war, and rightly so, as that is exactly what he has become whether it was his intent or not. But then this always happens with men of honor and unshakeable moral convictions.
Jack Dalton is a disabled Vietnam veteran and co-editor of the web publication Project for the Old American Century http://oldamericancentury.org/index.htm
Posted by rowan at January 19, 2005 4:33 PM | TrackBack | [eMail this article!] |If he thinks all war is wrong, you shouldn't have joined the military. What a moron.
Posted by: Neeple Ring at January 19, 2005 5:53 PMIt would be useful if you informed yourself of Kevin Benderman's situation before passing judgement.
Posted by: rowan at January 19, 2005 6:35 PMAgain I applaud the Sgt. brave and courageous behavior, it is very unfortunate for others if the do not understand this mans decision.
I joined the military when I was 17 and at 19 was in Viet Nam, something I didn't plan. Of course I knew the military is their to provide defense for this country. I am sure the Sgt felt the same way, in the case of Iraq I think the Sgt discovered this is not defense but offense. Frankly, in my case I lacked experience and judgment and it wasn't until I was discharged that I changed my viewpoint on my countrys' military endeavors.
If you have never served in the military I can see how you may not be able to appreciate the Sgt.'s actions, I can tell you he is a very brave man and again, has my full support and I wish him all the strenght he will need to survive this ordeal.
Posted by: Bill at January 19, 2005 7:18 PMThere will always be those who try to pass off cowardice for bravery. If you join the military, you fight war when it comes. Period. Individuals do not have the right to join and then back out once the fighting starts.
Posted by: Neeple Ring at January 19, 2005 10:22 PMEven the military has changed it's rules in terms of fighting to some degreee post My Lai and other incidents. When I was in you HAD to obey all orders, today it is all LAWFUL orders, and I think an very good argument based in international law could be made this invasion is illegal, in which case the Sgt. is justified in his actions.
Last night I watched PBS ran a special on German prison camps and I it appears they all obeyed their orders. Period.
Posted by: Bill at January 20, 2005 5:35 AMBill, I started to watch that same PBS special, but just couldn't watch it after the initial opening images. I thought this quote featured on the iron gates leading into Auschwitz had some chilling resonance to our current work ethic: "Arbeit Macht Frei," which means work makes freedom. Freedom is hard work, sound familiar?
To Neeple Ring, I wish I had your cut and dry, inequivocal certainty about things. Someone doesn't fight, they're a coward. Someone enlists, they must fight. Life must be easy for you. Decisions have no nuances. Unfortunately, my realization that I have made decisions that have been wrong, or that further information has led me to revise a decision or opinion, leads me to avoid absolutism such as you profess. Of course, as Bill points out, that kind of decision-making works very well for societies such as Nazi Germany or China during the cultural purges.
Posted by: Pamela at January 20, 2005 12:40 PMWhy isn't it possible for a person to change their mind when they observe directly the horrors of war. Nationalism is blinding when it confuses state policy with the ideal of America. Many young people, particularly of lesseconomic means, join the service as a way out iof poverty and joblessness. They do not expect that they will end up in a bloody mess as the result of failed government policy which lack ratiionale and direction. This will be known as Bush's war and it is unending. He knows better than to make a draft to spread the responsibility equally but is using and exploiting the reserves because he knows people will rise when their sons have to go. It is time for people to wake up but they seem hypnotized by the idea of freedom which they have and want to impose it on others as a cover for aggression.
Posted by: Alfred Bloom at January 22, 2005 10:54 AMIf you have not served in any military branch please don't comment on the decisions a soldier, because of his experience , takes. Sgt. Kevin Benderman has honorably serve his country for 10 years. He has been in a war most of us soldiers find unreasonable, never-ending and usedless . He has payed his dues. We don't know what he has lived through. I support him and his family and will pray that justice be done.
Posted by: irramir at May 11, 2005 4:20 PM