James Circello, AWOL from Vicenza Italy
I'm posting this after receiving it from Meike Capps-Schubert.
Sergeant James Circello is an Army Airborne Infantryman who went AWOL in April 2007 because of his opposition to U.S. military intervention in the Middle East.
James enlisted in the Army in 2001 following the attack on the World Trade Center. He spent a year in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq with the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade from March 2003 to March 2004.
After much soul-searching, James left his base in Vicenza, Italy (Caserma Ederle) on April 10, 2007. Recently he has attended the Veterans for Peace National Convention in St. Louis this August, the mass anti-war march on Washington DC last month, and is currently working with Iraq Veterans Against the War and Courage to Resist.
James plans to turn himself over to military authorities soon and will undoubtedly need our support.
read on at http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/445/1/
Video James at 27th october protest new orleans:
http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/blipplayer.swf?autoStart=false&file=http://blip.tv/file/get/FluxRostrum-AWOLJamesCircelloNewOrleansO27Protest755.flv
A reasoned Awol video by James see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mkcsmfydoM
"An Open Letter to the Government Ending All Military Obligations" by James Circello read here:
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/bbs/message.php?page=1&messageid=452722&showdate=10/22/07&mpage=1
Sergeant James Circello is an Army Airborne Infantryman who went AWOL in April 2007 because of his opposition to U.S. military intervention in the Middle East.
James enlisted in the Army in 2001 following the attack on the World Trade Center. He spent a year in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq with the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade from March 2003 to March 2004.
After much soul-searching, James left his base in Vicenza, Italy (Caserma Ederle) on April 10, 2007. Recently he has attended the Veterans for Peace National Convention in St. Louis this August, the mass anti-war march on Washington DC last month, and is currently working with Iraq Veterans Against the War and Courage to Resist.
James plans to turn himself over to military authorities soon and will undoubtedly need our support.
read on at http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/445/1/
Video James at 27th october protest new orleans:
http://blip.tv/scripts/flash/blipplayer.swf?autoStart=false&file=http://blip.tv/file/get/FluxRostrum-AWOLJamesCircelloNewOrleansO27Protest755.flv
A reasoned Awol video by James see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mkcsmfydoM
"An Open Letter to the Government Ending All Military Obligations" by James Circello read here:
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/bbs/message.php?page=1&messageid=452722&showdate=10/22/07&mpage=1
Gus Hagelberg - 31. Oct, 18:57
James Bradley (guest) - 31. Oct, 22:33
James Circello was a volunteer, no once but twice. Once to serve his country and obey the orders given by his officers and NCOs but also as a paratrooper in that he would go "All the Way." I believe that is weak in character and mind. He lacks honor and he should be dishonorably discharged for this. But since he chose to help encourgae (recurit) others to do the same as him, then he is acting as an agent against our government. For this treasons act, he should do a long stretch behind bars and be happy this is not years ago when cowards and traitors were hung.
Gus Hagelberg - 4. Nov, 21:13
disgraceful?
How can it be a disgrace to decide to live by your conscience? Do you forfeit all of your human rights when you join the service? Are you required to follow commands that are illegal?
Bill (guest) - 9. Nov, 04:43
Because he lacks the moral fiber to fulfill a commitment he made. Illegal? Hardly!
mhatlie - 12. Nov, 09:43
Illegal - certainly
The war is clearly illegal. It is a clear violation of international law and, as such, is also against the laws of our own country. (The last several presidents have all violated those laws with the support of congress, unfortunately.)
It is an interesting question, however. to what extent contituent parts of that war constitute illegal actions on the part of someone of low rank carrying them out. It would have been interesting if the Watada case had been argued to the finish on those grounds, but it wasn't, unfortunately.
As for the "moral fiber to fulfill a commitment" - What about the president's commitment to uphold the constitution? And what if this soldier's commitment was to uphold the constitution and defend the country? This war does neither.
There is small-group loyalty within his unit and a certain commitment that goes with that. I can understand some resentment on that level.
It is an interesting question, however. to what extent contituent parts of that war constitute illegal actions on the part of someone of low rank carrying them out. It would have been interesting if the Watada case had been argued to the finish on those grounds, but it wasn't, unfortunately.
As for the "moral fiber to fulfill a commitment" - What about the president's commitment to uphold the constitution? And what if this soldier's commitment was to uphold the constitution and defend the country? This war does neither.
There is small-group loyalty within his unit and a certain commitment that goes with that. I can understand some resentment on that level.
While he is "planning to turn himself over to military authorities soon," he should consider the commitment he made.
Mr Cirello pledged to "obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice."
While members of his unit honored their commitment , he ran the other way.
I only support those honorable men and women who lived up to their commitment. He is a disgrace.
Honor