Deserter leads anti-war march

[Colin]

Awol Soldier Leads Anti-Afghan War March

A British soldier has broken military law by leading a march through London calling for the UK's troops to be brought home from Afghanistan.
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton is the first serving member of the armed forces to have headed up an anti-war demonstration since the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.
He is facing court martial for refusing to return to the war-torn country and was warned he would face further charges for involvement in the anti-war protest.
L/Cpl Glenton was joined by former colleagues, military families and anti-war protesters for the march through the centre of the capital.
Addressing the crowd, Lance Corporal Glenton said: "I'm here today to make a stand beside you because I believe great wrongs have been perpetrated in Afghanistan.
"I cannot, in good conscience, be part of them. I'm bound by law and moral duty to try and stop them.
"I'm a soldier and I belong to the profession of arms. I expected to go to war but I also expected that the need to defend this country's interests would be legal and justifiable. I don't think this is too much to ask."
Afghanistan Protest March In London: Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, A Serving Soldier, Among Protesters | UK News | Sky News

LCpl Joe Glenton, you are a fucking deserter and a law breaker. Not only are your words worthless, but you are a disgrace to the British armed services and every man and woman serving Queen and country. There is little doubt in my mind that most serving soldiers will be wishing today they could face you and utter the words, ‘Ready. Aim. Fire!’

”War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”

 

[JakeStarkey]

The LCPL is not a deserter but one who has refused to follow the lawful orders of this command: there is a difference. I disagree with what he is doing, but let's be accurate.

 

[Colin]

I think this says it all. An open letter, picked up from a British military forum.

Dear Joe,

As you are a Lance Corporal in the Royal Logistic Corps and I was Sapper in the Royal Engineers, I thought I would write to you, junior soldier to junior soldier and let you know my thoughts on the actions you are currently taking. I have no idea why you originally decided to go AWOL from the army but I went AWOL once as well – for no particularly dramatic reason – and, like you, I have also deployed on operations (in my case, to Bosnia and Iraq). I like to think that I am reasonably well informed and as you are obviously an intelligent man, I hope that you will listen to what I have to say with an open mind.

You have said on many occasions that the war in Afghanistan is illegal, and some of the people you have chosen to side with on this issue have supported and applauded your stance, whilst likening the arguments of those members of the armed forces who have concerns about the campaign in Afghanistan but who continue to serve to the infamous Nuremburg Defence – ‘I was only following orders’. This issue is worth examining in some detail as it highlights a number of points that I believe fatally weaken the position that you have taken.

All soldiers are bound by the Law of Armed Conflict and, as you will know, all members of the British armed forces receive training in this area, both during normal annual training and immediately prior to an operational deployment. As junior soldiers, we have a clear obligation to refuse to carry out illegal orders, be they those that may break the Geneva Convention or those that conflict with theatre-specific rules of engagement. Professional soldiers have both a moral and legal responsibility to recognise when an order is illegal and an absolute obligation to refuse such orders; no one in the armed forces from the Chief of the General Staff to the most junior teenage Private could argue against that point and, indeed, all share a responsibility to be familiar with the Law of Armed Conflict as in applies ‘on the ground’. However, as ordinary soldiers, our competence in the matter only goes so far.

As far as questions of the legality of any particular conflict are concerned, we must rely on the decisions of those who are qualified to judge, meaning the legal establishment headed by the Attorney General and the democratically-elected Government of the day. To take an example from the ‘Nuremburg era’, individual junior soldiers and officers cannot be held accountable for joining the German army or for their Government’s decision to invade the Soviet Union. That was – as the army saying has it – far above their pay scale. However, if that soldier, whilst taking part in Operation Barbarossa, obeyed an order to shoot a Soviet civilian, he would make himself a war criminal, entirely responsible for his actions. The distinction between the two is clear.

This leads us on, Joe, to personal conscience and how that applies to us as junior soldiers. Whatever those that you currently choose to associate with may tell you, we live in a democratic country and, furthermore, one that does not practice conscription. Everyone who serves in the armed forces does so on a voluntary basis, without compulsion, and with a clear understanding of what they signed-up for. I did, you did and the nine thousand British troops currently in Afghanistan did as well. Anyone who decides that they disagree with the direction the country’s foreign policy is taking or, in light of their personal experiences decides that they no longer wish to be part of the profession of arms, can give one year’s notice and leave. They do not, however, gain the right to pick and choose which operations they deploy on whilst still serving – and for a very good reason. A military coup is unimaginable in Britain precisely because the army does not question its orders except at a level where people are qualified to do so. Your friends in the Stop the War movement would do well to think about where having an army of free-thinkers could lead – there would be some soldiers like yourself who’s views they would applaud to the rooftops but plenty of others who would enjoy nothing so much as to put them on the point of a bayonet. Societies with such armies do exist but thankfully Britain is not one of them. Were every soldier to follow your example, however, it would swiftly become one and under such circumstances we could all kiss our freedom goodbye. Be careful what you wish for.

Finally, Joe, let us forget for a moment that you are a serving soldier and treat your case as simply that of a citizen exercising his freedom of conscience and freedom of speech. Take a look, if you would, at some of the people that are currently shouting themselves hoarse in support of your stance. Whilst there are many good and sincere people in the Stop the War movement, there are also those who represent the left-wing equivalent of the British National Party; tendencies, factions and Parties who would soak the country in blood as surely as would any fascist party, were they to gain power. How much freedom of conscience or freedom of speech do you think the Socialist Worker’s Party would be willing to grant you on any issue where you find yourself at odds with their point of view? In choosing to align yourself with such people for short term exposure, you have sided with the kind of totalitarian militant who uses peace as the basis of glib placard slogan and as a means to an end that I would hope you do not share. What do you imagine the fate of a Cuban soldier would be, were he to do what you have done?

Joe, by your recent actions you have crossed from fulfilling your own moral code to giving comfort and succour to the enemy. You have gone from being someone that I could not agree with but certainly sympathise with, to someone who has betrayed his former colleagues, some of whom share your doubts and many of whom are currently numb with fear in the place you refused to go. Stop whilst you can. I share your liberal mind-set in many ways and, having witnessed the results of war at first hand, share your disgust at what conflict can mean in reality. But despite what those around you may say, you are not a hero. You are close to becoming a traitor – not to any abstract notion like the State, but to those who wear the same uniform as you and who you claim to care about.
Joe: not in my name.

Yours,

D***y C******ne

 

[Sunni Man]

LCpl Joe Glenton is a brave soilder and should be applauded as a patriot to his country.

 

[Colin]

LCpl Joe Glenton is a brave soilder and should be applauded as a patriot to his country.

No Sunni. He will not be applauded. He will be reviled, most of all by those he left behind to risk their lives. He is a piece of shit who will now never get a job in civvy street...and a good thing too. There are many on the front line who question this war, but they do their duty. They don't go running off when called for active service. They grit their teeth and get on with it.

He certainly is NOT a patriot to our country and how fucking dare you say he is. He is but one step from being a fucking traitor. What a pity the EU prevents us from using the death penalty!

 

[HUGGY]

Awol Soldier Leads Anti-Afghan War March

A British soldier has broken military law by leading a march through London calling for the UK's troops to be brought home from Afghanistan.
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton is the first serving member of the armed forces to have headed up an anti-war demonstration since the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.
He is facing court martial for refusing to return to the war-torn country and was warned he would face further charges for involvement in the anti-war protest.
L/Cpl Glenton was joined by former colleagues, military families and anti-war protesters for the march through the centre of the capital.
Addressing the crowd, Lance Corporal Glenton said: "I'm here today to make a stand beside you because I believe great wrongs have been perpetrated in Afghanistan.
"I cannot, in good conscience, be part of them. I'm bound by law and moral duty to try and stop them.
"I'm a soldier and I belong to the profession of arms. I expected to go to war but I also expected that the need to defend this country's interests would be legal and justifiable. I don't think this is too much to ask."
Afghanistan Protest March In London: Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, A Serving Soldier, Among Protesters | UK News | Sky News

LCpl Joe Glenton, you are a fucking deserter and a law breaker. Not only are your words worthless, but you are a disgrace to the British armed services and every man and woman serving Queen and country. There is little doubt in my mind that most serving soldiers will be wishing today they could face you and utter the words, ‘Ready. Aim. Fire!’

”War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”

Are all english males taught cross dressing in school? Just asking. It looks like the kid has more guts than the average limey fuck. This is america sparky...we don't look up tp queens.

 

[Colin]

Awol Soldier Leads Anti-Afghan War March

A British soldier has broken military law by leading a march through London calling for the UK's troops to be brought home from Afghanistan.
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton is the first serving member of the armed forces to have headed up an anti-war demonstration since the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.
He is facing court martial for refusing to return to the war-torn country and was warned he would face further charges for involvement in the anti-war protest.
L/Cpl Glenton was joined by former colleagues, military families and anti-war protesters for the march through the centre of the capital.
Addressing the crowd, Lance Corporal Glenton said: "I'm here today to make a stand beside you because I believe great wrongs have been perpetrated in Afghanistan.
"I cannot, in good conscience, be part of them. I'm bound by law and moral duty to try and stop them.
"I'm a soldier and I belong to the profession of arms. I expected to go to war but I also expected that the need to defend this country's interests would be legal and justifiable. I don't think this is too much to ask."
Afghanistan Protest March In London: Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, A Serving Soldier, Among Protesters | UK News | Sky News

LCpl Joe Glenton, you are a fucking deserter and a law breaker. Not only are your words worthless, but you are a disgrace to the British armed services and every man and woman serving Queen and country. There is little doubt in my mind that most serving soldiers will be wishing today they could face you and utter the words, ‘Ready. Aim. Fire!’

”War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”

Are all english males taught cross dressing in school? Just asking. It looks like the kid has more guts than the average limey fuck. This is america sparky...we don't look up tp queens.

A not unexpected response from you!! Nothing useful to say....yet again.

 

[Sunni Man]

Hopefully, LCpl Joe Glenton's heroic act will encourage other soldiers to follow his lead in protesting this unnecessary war.

 

[HUGGY]

LCpl Joe Glenton, you are a fucking deserter and a law breaker. Not only are your words worthless, but you are a disgrace to the British armed services and every man and woman serving Queen and country. There is little doubt in my mind that most serving soldiers will be wishing today they could face you and utter the words, ‘Ready. Aim. Fire!’

Are all english males taught cross dressing in school? Just asking. It looks like the kid has more guts than the average limey fuck. This is america sparky...we don't look up tp queens.

A not unexpected response from you!! Nothing useful to say....yet again.

Answer the question. I comented on your kneejerk reaction to a young man that is taking the right stand at great personal risk. See that's something you will never understand about US. We take the lead...we work point...we value risk takers. You stupid fuck..we didn't invade Affy to kill the taliban...we went in to capture Ossama. There is no reason to be there now. What we should have done is take a left turn and kicked SA's ass and wipe out the religious schools that preached hatred to the perps of 9/11.

You idea of taking a chance is wether to wear pumps or heels with your cocktail dress.

 

[Colin]

Are all english males taught cross dressing in school? Just asking. It looks like the kid has more guts than the average limey fuck. This is america sparky...we don't look up tp queens.

A not unexpected response from you!! Nothing useful to say....yet again.

Answer the question. I comented on your kneejerk reaction to a young man that is taking the right stand at great personal risk. See that's something you will never understand about US. We take the lead...we work point...we value risk takers. You stupid fuck..we didn't invade Affy to kill the taliban...we went in to capture Ossama. There is no reason to be there now. What we should have done is take a left turn and kicked SA's ass and wipe out the religious schools that preached hatred to the perps of 9/11.

You idea of taking a chance is wether to wear pumps or heels with your cocktail dress.

You should post more often in the humour section. You're a hoot!

 

[Si modo]

As there is little that can legally be done to this coward, I am glad he doesn't have a future as a civilian.

 

[Colin]

Are all english males taught cross dressing in school? Just asking. It looks like the kid has more guts than the average limey fuck. This is america sparky...we don't look up tp queens.

A not unexpected response from you!! Nothing useful to say....yet again.

Answer the question. I comented on your kneejerk reaction to a young man that is taking the right stand at great personal risk. See that's something you will never understand about US. We take the lead...we work point...we value risk takers. You stupid fuck..we didn't invade Affy to kill the taliban...we went in to capture Ossama. There is no reason to be there now. What we should have done is take a left turn and kicked SA's ass and wipe out the religious schools that preached hatred to the perps of 9/11.

You idea of taking a chance is wether to wear pumps or heels with your cocktail dress.

What question? You made a statement contained in a personal attack. Perhaps you need to learn the difference.

 

[Colin]

As there is little that can legally be done to this coward, I am glad he doesn't have a future as a civilian.

He will face a court martiall Si. At the very least he will be dishonourably discharged. End of job prospects.

 

[Sunni Man]

I remember the protesters during the Vietnam War.

Some were soldiers and ex soldiers.

Many people called them traitors and cowards.

But in the end.

The protesters were proven right.

So who were the real Patriots?

 

[HUGGY]

As there is little that can legally be done to this coward, I am glad he doesn't have a future as a civilian.

If the dude was a coward he wouldn't be willing to trash his name in public to reject a stupid policy.

Oh by the way...your in..congrats!!!!!!!

 

[Si modo]

....

So who were the real Patriots?

The ones who fight to prevent those who organize to fly passenger laden jets into buildings where innocents are going about their daily lives from organizing again.

 

[Sunni Man]

....

So who were the real Patriots?

The ones who fight to prevent those who organize to fly passenger laden jets into buildings where innocents are going about their daily lives from organizing again.

Proper sentence structure and syntax do not include "run on sentences".

Because they tend to muddle the subject and confuse the reader.

Please try it again

 

[Colin]

....

So who were the real Patriots?

The ones who fight to prevent those who organize to fly passenger laden jets into buildings where innocents are going about their daily lives from organizing again.

Proper sentence structure and syntax do not include "run on sentences".

Because they tend to muddle the subject and confuse the reader.

Please try it again

If you have nothing of value to contribute, Sunni, take a hike!

 

[Si modo]

....

So who were the real Patriots?

The ones who fight to prevent those who organize to fly passenger laden jets into buildings where innocents are going about their daily lives from organizing again.

Proper sentence structure and syntax do not include "run on sentences".

Because they tend to muddle the subject and confuse the reader.

Please try it again

Oh, my apologies to those who grasp at anything. I'll remove that straw for you: The real patriots are those who fight the Taliban as the Taliban allow Muslim freaks to organize unthinkable violence against innocents.

Now what?

 

[Sunni Man]

Much better!!!