The deserters: Awol crisis hits the US forces

As the death toll of troops mounts in Iraq and Afghanistan, America's military recruiting figures have plummeted to an all-time low. Thousands of US servicemen and women are now refusing to serve their country. Andrew Buncombe reports
16 May 2005


Sergeant Kevin Benderman cannot shake the images from his head. There are bombed villages and desperate people. There are dogs eating corpses thrown into a mass grave. And most unremitting of all, there is the image of a young Iraqi girl, no more than eight or nine, one arm severely burnt and blistered, and the sound of her screams.

Last January, these memories became too much for this veteran of the war in Iraq. Informed his unit was about to return, he told his commanders he wanted out and applied to be considered a conscientious objector. The Army refused and charged him with desertion. Last week, his case - which carries a penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment - started before a military judge at Fort Stewart in Georgia.

"If I am sincere in what I say and there's consequences because of my actions, I am prepared to stand up and take it," Sgt Benderman said. "If I have to go to prison because I don't want to kill anybody, so be it."

The case of Sgt Benderman and those of others like him has focused attention on the thousands of US troops who have gone Awol (Absent Without Leave) since the start of President George Bush's so-called war on terror. The most recent Pentagon figures suggest there are 5,133 troops missing from duty. Of these 2,376 are sought by the Army, 1,410 by the Navy, 1,297 by the Marines and 50 by the Air Force. Some have been missing for decades.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=638635

versus being maimed or killed. Pretty easy decision to make.

In fact, I believe they will have to up the punishment - 7 years in Levinworth or 4 years in Iraq is not going to FORCE people to go to Iraq anymore.

Thanks for posting this.

This corrupt administration, despite all lip service from it and its supporters to the contrary, doesn't give a flying fig about military personnel. They don't know from rotations or supply lines or reasonable length of service. It's all just pieces on a big game of Risk, and you keep rolling the dice as long as you've got pieces on the board.

for those now serving. AWOL is a Republican Ideal. No lousy Purple Hearts on our Great Leader.....