By protecting their children, are they fostering a lack of culpability?
For the LA Times story, "In Defense of Their Soldiers," by Rennie Sloan and Ellen Barry, 19OCT04:
" [Theresa] Hill [a long haul truck driver and mother of one of the soldiers involved in the recent refusal of orders] said she was certain the publicity has helped her daughter. "As soon as [Clarion-Ledger reporter] Jeremy Hudson broke the story, they were released miraculously," she said. Hill also believes that the effort has smoothed the way for soldiers to resist orders in the future.
"More soldiers are going to be standing up and saying: 'Look, this is a dangerous mission. It's going to put others in harm's way,' " said Hill, 42. "
From the Philadelphia Enquirer, "Fate Of Defiant Soldiers Undecided, Military Says," by Tini Aran, same date:
" The mission was later carried out by other soldiers from the 343d, which has at least 120 soldiers, the military said. "
So, more soldiers will be able to refuse orders, thereby giving the work that they feel is too dangerous for them to other, more dutiful soldiers. Joyous rapture.
It's a bad precedent on a slippery slope of unaccountability. I feel it's symptomatic of our current society, and I've felt the effects of it myself. If there are no repercussions to these soldiers, how can there be repercussions further down the line for others?
[quotes extracted from Early Bird news provided by Department of Defense, 19OCT04]