A young Marine speaks out. Traitor or hero?

Question

Click on the link below, read the letter written by a Marine, and express your opinion.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig7/martin-p1.html

Answer 1

I don't see anything treasonous there. He has sworn to faithfully execute the orders of those placed above him, and as long as he does that, he's doing his job. Swearing in doesn't mean you've given up a right to your brain, heart, and soul.

"In law, treason is the crime of disloyalty to one's nation. A person who betrays the nation of their citizenship and/or reneges on an oath of loyalty and in some way willfully cooperates with an enemy, is considered to be a traitor. Oran's Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as: "...[a]...citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation]." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason

It sounds to me like he's very loyal to his nation and its ideals. I think that someone who has demonstrated that loyalty by serving as a combat Marine has the right to an opinion.

PS - I don't know the validity of this letter or its background, but am just trying to answer the question asked.

Answer 2

He is not a traitor. But he damn sure isn't a hero. He took an oath, the same oath that has been taken by everyone in the military for 230 years to uphold and defend the constitution and to follow the orders of those the officers and those civilians appointed over him. I took that oath. My father took that oath. There are millions of people alive today that took that oath. It is not an oath to be taken lightly.

His job is very simple, he has only to keep his mouth shut and do his job. He is not a politician, and if he has any sense about him, which I highly doubt (only two years in, you knew you could go to war, yet you joined anyway, now you cry foul? Not much going on between the ears, is there?), he would know that there are a few rights that you have to give up.One of those is that you no longer get to say whatever you want, because your job is to do exactly what you are told.

He is not being asked to do anything immoral, anything that goes against his conscience. I highly doubt that he has been asked to murder innocent women and children, or execute old men because someone thinks they need it.

While I was in the Marine corps, I saw people get in trouble for a saying a lot less (about the Clinton administration) than what this guy is saying. I have to say, that, were I this Marine's commander, he would be facing court martial for insubordination and conduct unbecoming, at the very minimum.

While questioning orders has a time, a place, and a proper way in which to handle it, this Marine's remarks a grossly improper, and are detrimental to good order and discipline.

By the way, one of the first things you learn about military life, is that your 'opinion' is way down on the list of things that matter. Nobody gives a damn about your opinion. Nobody can tell you what to think, but you give up the right to express it.

Answer 3

This is a hard one to answer...I personally don't think the Marine is a traitor nor do I think he is a hero. I am not in the military but I do have friends and I do know that once you sign a contract to BE in the military - you basically BELONG to the government. There are strict rules you must follow and if you skip out from the call of duty, well you will have to face the consequences for your actions.

From reading the Marine's except on another site, I think he is a pretty smart guy. It bothers me that he couldn't have came up with his conclusions BEFORE enlisting in 2003. Although he said that he discovered the "truth" after the fact, he KNEW what the possiblities were of being deployed to Iraq. He doesn't have to agree with President Bush but he made a promise to serve his country.

The Marine have made the American public realize that there are servicemen and women who do not believe in the war. I wish him good luck during his trial but it will be a hard one to win.

Answer 4

Neither. But he is way off by saying that they are fighting the Iraqi people and that he can understand why they are trying to kill as many Americans as possible. Not that I believe for one second that the US went into Iraq for any altruistic reasons, but Saddam and his cronies, according to the LA Times, may have murdered over one million people, including little children. And I, for one, think its great that Saddam & Gang didn't get away with it. Unfortunately though, the removal of Saddam from power looks entirely like a case of "having out lived his usefulness" as Saddam was an ally of the US until not that long ago.

Answer 5

Neither, and this letter has been posted here on Y!A countless times with the asker claiming authorship. The letter is designed to do one thing..undermine the efforts of our military in this war. That we have made mistakes is no secret, that we are making strategy changes is no secret.

The man did indeed give up his rights to publicly expressing an opinion about the war and the policies involved. I would only say that his actions come at an inopportune time for him and likely will have little effect on the outcome.

Answer 6

Neither, that is his right as an American. He expressed his opinion. Through out evey campaign in U.S. history there were always dissenters through the spectrum of the Military, the numbers are very small for the Iraq war and it frustrates those on the left.

For those who think it is some glaring example of our men and women in uniform are usually very misinformed or so blinded by their political bitterness.

Answer 7

The Marine violated some statutes of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). He is a Marine first then a citizen. He signed the contract which obligated him to adhere to the command including the orders of the CINC. As a veteran, I disagree with a number of things that happened on my watch under Clinton but had the good sense to keep my mouth shut until after my enlistment expired.

This Marine not only violated some of the UCMJ, he denigrated the memory of a fallen Marine, even more tragic and despicable within the Corps. It shows that, while everyone is entitled to their opinions, this servicemember did not have the common sense, dignity or courage to keep his mouth shut during his enlistment and should be vigorously prosecuted. Insubordination is not a welome condition in the USMC; this Marine is truly insubordinate.

There are a number of ways he can leave the service mid tour; but then those would not allow him to maintain his veteran status. One can see his allegiance runs only so deep to his convictions.

Answer 8

He's not a traitor. Treason is clearly defined in the constitution and this letter doesn't fit the definition. He may be in violation of military policy / regulations. Someone in the service could better answer that than I could.

Answer 9

He's neither one. He's a tired man who has seen too much and risked too much for a cause he doesn't believe in. He's not a traitor or a hero; he's just an honest person who wants to "vent" his feelings and hope that others hear him and understand.

Answer 10

When I took my oath to join the Marines I don't remember anything like "I support the Cmmander-In-Chief, if I agree with him".
I can't bring that site up on the school computer, but without reading it I would he's in a world of trouble. He wasn't drafted, he volunteered. Makes no difference what we think. The military courts are not swayed by public opinion.