A Duty to Disobey All Unlawful Orders

[Alan Jacobson]

I am sure there is a lot of gung-ho shit going on in the combat units right
now. However it is important to understand that most of the military units
we have over there are not frontline combat units but them PLUS all the
supporting units thats required for a 21st century army to function. Many of
those units are mobilized reservists and NG units, because the US military
has downsized those functions to the part time forces.  These are not
warrior types--they are the guy from the mail room who fixes trucks or the
guidence counselor from the high school whos a Army nurse on the side. They
are very aware of the flimsy basis for this aggression and IMHO will be
disciplined but NOT HAPPY to be doing this.

BTW when I went through Army basic training in 1985, they instructed us on
rules of engagement and the Geneva conventions and proper conduct in combat
re civilians, etc. Its not like they spent tons of time on it, but it was
brought up.  We were all going into technical/support occupations--combat
arms like armor and infantry, etc have combined basic and advanced training
separate from the rest--so I dont know what they tell the folks with the
serious firepower.

I do vividly remember the NBC training (nuclear, biological, chemical)--and
didn't think it would do doodly-squat to save us in the event of an attack.

My career as a warrior was short, I got very very sick half way through
basic and spent the next six months in a hospital, and was discharged out
because of my medical condition.  I did find out a lot about how things
worked post-basic training from my fellow patients, however.

Alan Jacobson