Stephen Funk on Today Show

[marine]

Anybody else see this waste of oxygen this morning?
Marine Reservist refuses to go to the Gulf and fight. The reasons he had were that he was against the war and was "excercising his OPTOIN" not to go over there.

He was very proud of the fact that he had discovered this "option" that allowed him to collect paychecks and money for school from the USMC, but not have to fulfill his end of the bargain by reporting for duty.
He quoted some numbers like 200,000 were objectors to Vietnam and didn't go, but only 1100 objected to the Gulf War and didnt go and this is an "option" that a lot of people forget they have, and he is excercising it.
He says he thinks they will stick him in the brig for a month and that will end it all.
I double checked my enlistment papers and I certainly cant find that clause in there about showing up when you want to. Guess I got screwed?

He looked to be about 21-22 years old and was from northern california if I remember right. I am guessing he is in college and has a job lined up that he thinks is more important, and a girlfriend that cried on his shoulder and said she would break up with him if he left, and a mother that still feeds him the tit on a daily basis.
Stephen, it's people like you that make us all sick.
I wish you nothing but the worst in life and pray that you fail miserably in everything you ever attempt again you freeloading f*ck.
How the hell do you go thru boot camp, get your paychecks every month, take $60,000 for college FREE and then say you a conscientus objector?

:thefinger

 

[ryson]

Well said Marine, what kills me is that people only seem to think that the military is a way to get college money. They tend to forget that first and foremost your job is to defend the constitution. I guess the oath that they took prior to basic didn't mean anything and they have not reviewed their code of conduct cheat sheet either. It's a freaking volunteer military for chistsakes, folks like this should have their citizenship revoked and a one-way ticket. I bet our forefathers are turning in their graves

 

[GlobalTrance]

Pitiful , just pitiful ... what compounds this for me is that the Today show felt the need to put this guy on tv . And the word on the strees is that TV has no liberal bias ! hahahahahahahaha . Hopefully , his fellow bedmates in the brig know why he's there and perhaps teach him a lesson or two .

 

[TheShrimp]

maybe surprisingly, this disgusts me.

while I continue to oppose this war, a guy who signed up for service and has garned the advantages of that service is bailing out when it comes time to uphold his end of the bargain. at least he can live the rest of his life knowing his was a coward and had no honor when he needed it most.

I'm just guessing are there clauses like if he was originally iraqi (would Hellah have to fight in Lebanon???) but I'm guessing by his name that he's not.

 

[StevieD]

How is airing that story part of a plot by the so-called Liberal Media? I don't think too many people agree with him. Please excuse me but I miss the "Liberal Media" bias in this?

 

[Blazer]

Any solider who "ops-out" of any conflict should repay all monies sopent on him in training and bonuses.

 

[ozball]

He should have to repay it all back, and if he refuses, should pay it off in the brig at the rate people pay off parking fines (? $100 per day), which should put him away for several years.

A deal is a deal, and he should go. There is a big difference in being a conscientious objector to the draft, and objecting to the job you signed up for....and received all the benefits of...

ozball

 

[neverteaseit]

Need someone like Patton in charge and this this tool to the front line ASAP!!!!

 

[bjfinste]

I don't understand how he wouldn't have to pay 100 percent of it back. Not even looking at if from the pro-war/anti-war point of view, it's a blatant breach of contract. It's not like he was drafted against his will- he ****ing signed up!!!

But in response to neverteaseit's post... much along the same lines as how I'm opposed to a draft barring WWII-like circumstances.... is this really the kind of guy you want on the front line? I don't like nor agree with the war, but I sure as hell don't want the Americas that are on the front lines (which includes people close to me) to have to deal with someone that's likely to bury himself in sand until the bombs stop going off and not do shit to help. He could do more harm than good.

 

[AR182]

Shrimp & ozball,

I think what you are basically saying is that this guy should live up to the contract he signed. But why are you against saddam living up to the contract that he signed after the gulf war. After all a deal is a deal.By him signing the contract he had the benefit of staying in power & being able to steal his people's money.

Why the double standard?

 

[ozball]

AR,

if I applied the same standard of contract enforcement to this marine deserter, then we would be:

#1 executing him

#2 killing several family members, and thousands of his innocent neighbours

#3 In the process risking (and losing) the lives of many of the law enforcement officers sent to do the job

If there was consistent enforcing of UN "contracts" by the US and UN, with proportional responses and punishments, then I would agree. This war is still a poorly thought out disaster, and out of proportion to the threat that Iraq posed to the US.

Israel has flouted numerous UN resolutions to withdraw from its illegal occupation of the West bank, and not a single US cruise missile has been pointed in their direction. On the contrary, the USA has used their veto to block any action.

ozball

 

[AR182]

Ozball,

Do you really think that this is a poorly planned war? In about 2 weeks the allies are within 20 miles of baghad.

A couple of questions for you,

Who do you think killed more iraqi civilians, iraq or the allies?

How would you have handled this situation?

 

[ozball]

AR,

before I answer "the situation", question...exactly what was "the situation"?

?abuse of his population....lots of countries to invade if this is the cause

?building and storing "weapons of mass destruction" that the UN inspectors operating with the best of US intelligence could not find?

?Supporting terrorism...despite no link with the 9/11 attacks despite widespread searching for same

?being in disagreement with US policy in the mideast

With the ongoing UN inspection process, Hussein was essentially impotent in the WMD department. with numerous inspectors on the ground, spy plane flights overhead, his WMD potential surely was almost nil. He is a ruthless dictator, who no doubt was aware of the US's strong desire to sh!t on him...Knowing this, any attempt at an attack on the US would mean an end to his regime. Instant justification for even us doves to back a war. I think he values his own skin a little too much to risk that. He invaded Kuwait with the tacit approval of the US ambassador (Shrimp...help me with the link....) and the US then turned on him, and rightly so. I believe he would never want to risk the wrath of the US again. I believe his danger to the US population was zero.

The Bush administration, rather than work with the UN to completely neutralize his development of WMD, has elected the current course, which involves the death of hundreds of young Americans, and countless Iraquis. It also will likely lead to far more terrorism than was faced.

The disaster of this war is the fallout after it is over...not the execution of it.

respectfully

ozball

 

[neverteaseit]

bjfinste my response was not to actually send this pussy to the front line. Patton would have sent the yellow bastard out with a bullseye on him, end of story.

But its the same ole shit. Use the military to get an education and bonuses without filling an obligation. He volunteered to be a marine and last time I checked there where only 2 things Marines know how to do. Kill and masturbate. No offense MARINE but I was Army. Lil military humor.