Soldiers with a conscience

We need more. Today, I add Sgt. Kevin Benderman to my list.

01/05/05 -- Ft. Stewart Georgia, ''Rock of the Marne'' -- This morning Sergeant Kevin Benderman, U.S. Army awoke to face what will probably be one of the most important decisions of his life: whether or not to accept or refuse re-deployment to Iraq to participate in a war that has been increasingly questioned by the American public, and the world. A war that has been ruled illegal by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and has come under increasing fire from both Republicans and Democrats alike who share the same concerns as Sergeant Benderman and the U.N. Secretary General.

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Benderman has a flawless military record and a list of meritorious awards.

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He says that he is proud of his service to his country, but takes no pride in what is happening in Iraq now. In addition, Benderman states that while he signed a contract with the military to ''defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic,'' he says now that ''I am ashamed to be associated with this mess, and I certainly did not join the Army to kill women, children and old men. I just don't see how these innocent people could be a threat to the constitution of the United States: an American soldier should not be ashamed of what they do.''

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''I have both a professional and a moral obligation to call into question why we are still in Iraq after accomplishing the mission ''in President Bush's words of deposing Saddam, and why U.S. military personnel are increasingly killing non-combatants. On my last deployment in Iraq elements of my unit were instructed by a Captain to fire on children throwing rocks at us.'' This is not what he signed up for, Benderman said.

Both Benderman, 40, and his wife Monica realize the possible ramifications of his stand.

''We have no other choice,'' Benderman's wife said. ''This is what we have to do, I have always told my children that the right thing is the most important thing, and doing it is the only thing that allows you to keep your integrity, regardless of the consequences.''

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Sergeant Benderman is scheduled to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at Ft. Stewart Georgia this afternoon after submitting a request for Conscientious Objector Status from the Army.

Information Clearinghouse article

My thanks and best wishes to Sgt. Benderman.