"In following Jesus' example, I could not have fired my weapon at another human being, even if he were shooting at me"

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier who said his Christian beliefs compelled him to love his enemies, not kill them, has been granted conscientious objector status and honorably discharged, a civil liberties group said on Tuesday.

Capt. Peter Brown -- who served in Iraq for more than a year and was a graduate of the elite U.S. military academy West Point -- said in a statement issued by the New York Civil Liberties Union that he was relieved the Army had recognized his beliefs made it impossible for him to serve.

"In following Jesus' example, I could not have fired my weapon at another human being, even if he were shooting at me," said Brown, who plans to continue seminary classes he began by correspondence while in Iraq.

While in Iraq, Brown processed insurgents and detainees, the NYCLU said.

Brown said he had no conflict between his faith and military service until after he graduated from West Point in 2004 and began to study scripture and his belief.

During his Iraq deployment he applied for discharge as a conscientious objector but the request was denied, the NYCLU said. In July 2007 the NYCLU and the American Civil Liberties Union asked a federal court in Washington, D.C., to order the honorable discharge.

"Before the court acted, the Army reconsidered the issue, this time granting Brown's request," said the NYCLU, adding it would now withdraw the lawsuit.

The U.S. Army was not immediately available for comment.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071016/ts_nm/...dier_beliefs_dc

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Good for him.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Good for him.

Yeap

[almaty 19]

i agree.. it is his beliefs and there is recourse..he needs to be strong in them..cause hell is coming to down ..via the us army investigation/

[peejay 327]

It's not as if this guy was a conscript that was drafted into combat against his will.

Maybe he should have chosen a different career other than the military in the first place?

[Jasman0717 9]

Stand by his beliefs Don't see that too much these days

[natty bumppo 297]

It's not as if this guy was a conscript that was drafted into combat against his will.

Maybe he should have chosen a different career other than the military in the first place?

Maybe all he wanted was the government to pay for his education ... then quit when it became time to pay for the education.

[mendeleev 69]

Sounds like he had no religious scruples until after he started reading the Bible after he graduated from West Point.

Are you suggesting, peejay, that maybe he shouldn't have started reading the Bible because of his career choice?

[natty bumppo 297]

Sounds like he had no religious scruples until after he started reading the Bible after he graduated from West Point.

Are you suggesting, peejay, that maybe he shouldn't have started reading the Bible because of his career choice?

he could still serve as a corpsman .. or another function ...

makes me wonder ... did he welch on his commitment? and the army said good riddance ?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That's essentially how I got out of serving on the German-German border back when. I just told them bastards that I won't shoot at anyone that wants to make a run for it. And I told them to really take note just in case someone slips through on my watch - no surprises, you know. I had quite a bit of trouble because of that very statement but ended up doing service elsewhere. Doing service on the very wall that was the sore spot for me growing up - seeing that it separated my hometown from the free part of Berlin - just wasn't an option for me. Couldn't have done it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That's essentially how I got out of serving on the German-German border back when. I just told them bastards that I won't shoot at anyone that wants to make a run for it. And I told them to really take note just in case someone slips through on my watch - no surprises, you know. I had quite a bit of trouble because of that very statement but ended up doing service elsewhere. Doing service on the very wall that was the sore spot for me growing up - seeing that it separated my hometown from the free part of Berlin - just wasn't an option for me. Couldn't have done it.

A very commendable thing to do, brother...standing up for your convictions.

[natty bumppo 297]

Sounds like he had no religious scruples until after he started reading the Bible after he graduated from West Point.

Are you suggesting, peejay, that maybe he shouldn't have started reading the Bible because of his career choice?

lets see ...

he made one personal commitment ... gave his solemn word then wanted out

now he claims to make another … for G_D

Darn .. I hope this guy never marries ... I would pity his wife … he already made one commitment and didn’t try to work it out

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I hope Brown is aware that the following well-known soldiers were strong Christians:

• George Washington (US first president)
• Peter Muhlenberg (pastor of Aglican church in Woodstock, VA--and commander of the militia brigade that kicked tar of Cornwallis @ Yorktown)
• Bernard Law Montgomery (British field marshall in WW2, who kicked the tar out of Rommel @ El Alamein--turning tide against Germany in west)

So, his objection is historically rather swiss-cheesy!

[Caladan 19]

It sounds like the kid thought he'd be helping people and was sorely disillusioned. That could trigger a crisis of faith, and the Army's not usually inclined to give someone conscientious objector status, so I'm inclined to think his objection was genuine.

The smear machine will probably move pretty quick on this kid. Our God is a God of War who hugged the moneychangers.

[natty bumppo 297]

It sounds like the kid thought he'd be helping people and was sorely disillusioned. That could trigger a crisis of faith, and the Army's not usually inclined to give someone conscientious objector status, so I'm inclined to think his objection was genuine.

The smear machine will probably move pretty quick on this kid. Our God is a God of War who hugged the moneychangers.

helping people ?!? he should have joined the peace corps. give us a break .. he joined the military.

Genuine? He found his belief AFTER receiving a great education .... he has a commitment problem and the army decided he wasn't worth the effort.

meanwhile ... taxpayers paid for his education ...

maybe he fulfilled his minimal requirements ... then found religion .. .schmuck