Living so near Portland, Oregon, one of the more left leaning cities on the West Cost of the country, we become used to the protesters burning soldiers in effigy and even defecating on a burning American Flag. But, a Sanctuary City for AWOL Troops?
Forming an umbrella group for anti-war activists in Portland, the PDX Peace coalition has announced a planned protest today in Downtown Portland. Under the group, recognizing the fiasco of last years protest, protesters have “changed tactics in the hopes of broadening support, creating year-round opposition to U.S. foreign policy and perhaps making the city a sanctuary for AWOL soldiers.”
To that end, the group has drafted a resolution to “make the city a sanctuary where Portland police officers refrain from arresting soldiers who refuse to return to duty because they oppose the war.” The idea lost steam before, but is being revived.
Nearly two years ago a web site was set up called PDX Sanctuary with the words,
“We the people of Portland, OR, seek to provide a sanctuary for members of the military who exercise their duty to object to an illegal war. To that end, we hope to have the County Board and the City Council pass resolutions to not waste public funds on the arrest or detention of service members who are absent without leave.”
Another web site from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, set up a page just for encouraging Soldiers to seek Administrative Discharges. Under their “Mission Statement,” we read,
“The project aims to (1) counter-recruit the military's effort to swindle, coerce, and deceive the youth of America into entering military service; and (2) provide direct counseling and information to GI's attempting to withdraw from military service.”
Going AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) or UA (Unauthorized Absence) from the Military is a Federal Crime. Enlisting in today’s All Volunteer Military, made that way due to pressure from protest groups and anti-war politicians in the early 1970’s, is a contract, legal and binding. If one is opposed to war or fighting, they should not consider enlisting, as many did through the 1990’s, believing it to be an easy way to earn college money instead of service to the country.
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, many found that the easy ride they were led to expect was over and some wanted out, claiming they didn’t join to fight. Those that enlisted after September 11 have to have known what was ahead.
Efforts have been launched to undermine not only President Bush’s prosecution of the war, but recruitment efforts as well, documented lately by the group Move America Forward.
A Military Litigation Law Firm in Virginia lets AWOL Soldiers know,
“If you are absent without authority, or in a deserter status, you have a major problem on your hands. As you are probably aware, once you are absent for more than 30 days, you are declared a deserter and a federal warrant is issued for your arrest. A simple speeding ticket by your local police can result in your immediate arrest, transfer back to the military, confinement, a punitive discharge and a federal conviction that will be on your record for the rest of your life.”
The Department of the Army even has a pamphlet out letting Soldiers know of the consequences of going AWOL, AWOL and the CONSEQUENCES, explaining the seriousness of going AWOL and even Deserting.
Those desiring Portland, Oregon to be turned into a “Sanctuary City” for AWOL Soldiers have little or no idea of the long-term consequences for those they encourage to walk away from their Military Contract. Many never served and have no comprehension of the sense of Duty and Honor most enlistees’ hold when they volunteer for the Military. Going against that sense can have very long term effects that may affect one for the rest of their life.
Like said earlier, AWOL is a Federal Offense punishable by Federal Court or Military Court’s Martial. If picked up by local Police, the AWOL Soldier is turned over to Federal Authorities for prosecution. Those that turn themselves in usually face much less severe punishment, depending on length of time gone.
Portland has an FBI Office Downtown and other Federal Law Enforcement Officials as well as Recruitment Offices for all Branches of the Military. Would such a Sanctuary City arrangement degrade cooperation between law enforcement? Would activist fight to keep one from being arrested or detained by Federal Officers?
Portland is already on thin ice with Federal Officers over the Mayor’s withdrawal from the anti-terror task force in 2005, because he didn’t get his way over access to top-secret information. Would this ill-conceived idea further deterioate the relations in Portland?
Over the years many have condemned Southern States for their secession from the Union that led to the American Civil War. Efforts as this by the anti-war groups seem like they have decided to secede cities from the rest of the country now.
Where this anarchist attitude will lead is anybodies guess. One thing for sure, though, their misguided efforts will not diminish terrorists nor help any of the Soldiers they encourage to go AWOL.
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6 comments:
AWOL and Desertion are not federal crimes. They exist only within the realm and reach of the UCMJ, punishable only within military courts.
CoSoldier.org
For Soldiers, by Soldiers
Uh, what do you think Military Courts Martials are? Misdemeanor traffic fines?
Allow me to quote for you from a legal site set up to defend deserters, "If you are absent without authority, or in a deserter status, you have a major problem on your hands. As you are probably aware, once you are absent for more than 30 days, you are declared a deserter and a federal warrant is issued for your arrest."
Military Litigation
Another little quote for you, "The UCMJ is a federal law enacted by Congress; it may be cited as United States Code, Title 10, Subtitle A, Part II, Chapter 47."
Military Legal Resources - UCMJ
Lastly, you must be a walking oxymoron. Somehow, "soldier" and "conscientous objector" don't seem to fit. With an "ALL VOLUNTEER" Army, why join in the first place, expecting freebies and country club atmosphere?
If you are actually in still, perhaps you should ETS soon and join the ilk of IVAW and VVAW and make public spectacles of yourselves, so the public can see who shouldn't be enlisted.
You aren't drafted any longer, haven't been since 1973. Why join what you object to? To be another Watada? Or, do you think you can grow and be a John 'F'in Kerry (who served in Viet Nam, you know)?
I'll ignore your personal comments, as you do not know me, and are simply attempting to rouse more of a argument than discussion.
I was simply correcting your statement. They aren't federal crimes, and they won't be tried in a federal court, which is what your original post claimed. A federal warrant will be issued, but the trial will be in a military court, sentence served out in a military prison.
Uh, if it's a "FEDERAL LAW," violation makes it a "FEDERAL CRIME" tried in "MILITARY COURTS"
If Federal Courts are not involved, how does Federal Courts issue injunctions against a coward like Ehren Watada?
If a convicted one appeals their court martial, where do they appeal?
As for personal comments, you don't know me either, but you chose to make yourself seen here. Why, because you can't get traffic at your own pitiful site?
If any active today feel they must be CO's, I support allowing them out, denying them pay, benefits, awards and all if they do not complete their VOLUNTARY enlistment contract.
Build traffic for your site elsewhere.
While I wil agree it is highly unlikely that your buds would be tried in Federal Court, Federal Courts do become involved over Military Court martials, especially when some slick attorney and protesting deserter desires to make public noise for their cause.
Since you enjoy splitting hairs, Court Martials are another "Federal Court," just in Uniform.
It is not impossible for someone to join the Military, at a young age, and then become a conscientious objector.
I was one for a while, and in the Military.
I wavered, and every time we had alert exercises, and the question came up, and I said "No" I wondered if I was being completely honest.
Often the person one has to kill is just a pawn, for the enemy.
But if faced with my life or theirs, I don't know what I would have done. I certainly believe in my right to defend myself.
But as the JWs believe, if everyone refused to fight, on all sides, we would not have wars.
I served only during peace time.
I often wonder how I would have behaved if faced with War.
In other cases a person really isn't strong enough to serve and maintain any level of mental health.
The military's ability to detect depression and treat it, is horrendously poor.
Or maybe they just don't care.
I know there have been suicides by serving soldiers.
Eileen, Concientous objectors and deserters are two different things. The Military, at least when I was in, had a system set up to grant COs a non-combatant MOS. Some, if they showed adequate cause, could be released.
Just to desert and expect a pat on the back for it isn't right, especially in an all volunteer force.
But I'll ask, why enlist in the first place if you aren't willing to fight in a war? What purpose is there for Armies but for fighting wars? They aren't a Social Club or, as many tried to portray them, an easy way to get paid college benefits for nothing.
Suicides aren't unique to the Military, either. Anti-war factions would like us to think so, but they never do a side by side comparison to non-veteran suicides.
While it may be true that at times, an enemy soldier is "just a pawn," often times they are hard core zealots for their side. In the case of the Viet Cong, they were a guerilla force, ununiformed and some misled as to what lay in store for them.
In the case of Al Qaeda and other extremist Jihadists, they are all religious zealots who have fallen for the false notion of some that the Qu'Ran grants them sole stewardship of the earth by any means. I don't see any of them as mere "pawns."
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