Spot on!

[whotheheckami]

I would like to say that I'm pleased and relieved at the result of this trial. To me the individual's issues about the legality of the war in Iraq are utterly irrelevant to the case. He refused to carry out lawful orders from his superior officers - end of debate. He is more than welcome to have personal feelings about the conflict and I admire him for taking such a strong moral stance. However, he was a volunteer memeber of a fighting force and is being justifiably punished for disobeying orders.

Forgive my cynicism, but I only hope his moral purity continues to the point where he donates any profits from subsequent book deals to charity.

Comments

[zoeimogen.livejournal.com]

This all seems to be a recipe for ensuring that nobody volunteers for the army or TA ever again.

AFAIK, no member of the Territorial Army who really didn't want to go was made to - in fact, because of the rather clever way the system works, most people that went were probably volunteers but no official stats are kept - SNCOs will know everyones personal preferences and can pass that up the chain. Everyone is treated as a compulsory call up as it causes less trouble with partners/employers etc and if you really don't want to go you can just deliberately flunk the fitness tests.