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Editor's Corner

Should soldiers be able to choose their war?

Sat Aug 08 02:44PM

This week has had a very military feel about it. Yesterday the Ministry of Defence announced that three more British soldiers have been killed, with a fourth critically injured following a blast in Afghanistan.

These deaths came two days after 21-year-old Craftsman Anthony Lombardi, from Scunthorpe, was killed in an explosion in Babaji, Lashkar Gar.

Thursday we saw thousands of people line the streets of Somerset to pay their respects at the funeral of the Last Tommy, Harry Patch.

Bear these deaths in mind while we look back to Monday when Lance Corporal Joe Glenton faced his court-martial for refusing to return to fight in Afghanistan.

Glenton's rebellion, which could see him sent to jail for two years, has split opinion among the media and the public. Many back Glenton's defiance, asking ‘Why should he fight for a war he doesn't believe in?' while the argument against him points out that he signed up to fight for this country and that he should return to duty.

"I always expected to divide opinion and I understood it would happen," Glenton told his local newspaper ‘The Press' in York.

"I welcome the debate and appreciate some people don't agree with me. But at the end of the day, what I'm doing is what I feel I have to do and the positive thing is that the whole Afghanistan issue is being discussed - there are places in the world where people don't get the chance to do this."

Glenton, from the Royal Logistics Corps, also wrote a letter to Gordon Brown explaining why he refuses to return to Afghanistan. In summary the letter states that he feels British soldiers are being used to advance US foreign policy.

"I believe this unethical short-changing of such proud men and women has caused immeasurable suffering not only to families of British service personnel who have been killed and injured, but also to the noble people of Afghanistan," he wrote.

To me what Joe Glenton has done is equally as brave as the soldiers who are in Afghanistan fighting. The argument used by some calling him a coward simply doesn't stand up. He faces two years in prison away from his newlywed, all to make a point. A man who will make that sacrifice to stand by his convictions should never be labelled a coward.

I saw an argument this week comparing the job of a soldier to that of a doctor. "A heart surgeon can't decide on which patient to operate, so why should a soldier decide if he should fight or not?" The difference is substantial - the doctor won't die.

Four soldiers died in Afghanistan this week. Why should we expect a soldier to return to a war zone to fight for something they don't believe in? It's unreasonable for us to expect soldiers to be willing to die for reasons not chosen by them or even by us, but by our government.

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Though I agree with the reasoning for the soldier not supporting the war itself I do not agree with the opinion: "It's unreasonable for us to expect soldiers to be willing to die for reasons not chosen by them or even by us, but by our government."
The reality is that our soldiers are our line of defence and represent our military strength in this world. For foreign powers to know that any one of our individual soldiers can waiver in their convictions and just not fight means that we have no defence at all. If this soldier does not wish to fight this war he should hand in his notice like any other person who no longer does not like his job and if that means he loses any benefits related to this job then so be it. Let him stand by his convictions and endure the loss, let him lead by example. But let's not kid ourselves, the man is a soldier and he is paid to fight our fights and tragically they shed there blood for us too. Whether we like our government or not is another matter, again our government chooses our fights. When the time comes...choose another party into power!!!

From nai_tamashi on Sat Aug 08 03:03PM
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Though I agree with the reasoning for the soldier not supporting the war itself I do not agree with the opinion: "It's unreasonable for us to expect soldiers to be willing to die for reasons not chosen by them or even by us, but by our government."
The reality is that our soldiers are our line of defence and represent our military strength in this world. For foreign powers to know that any one of our individual soldiers can waiver in their convictions and just not fight means that we have no defence at all. If this soldier does not wish to fight this war he should hand in his notice like any other person who no longer does not like his job and if that means he loses any benefits related to this job then so be it. Let him stand by his convictions and endure the loss, let him lead by example.

From nai_tamashi on Sat Aug 08 03:04PM
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If the soldier takes the Queens shilling then they go where they are told or anarchy reigns.
Poor bloody tommie is always the one to be let down by his Government and People.That unfortunately has always been his lot.
The politicians are the idiots who cause the wars and conflicts for their own egostistic ambitions.They are the ones who are accountable to the soldiers but never submit the balance sheet..

From pauljen1 on Sat Aug 08 03:04PM
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Absolutely not. They joined, was not forced. Are we getting soft, YET AGAIN. Come on do gooders send your Sons to fifgt if needed. The UK is one of the best places to live in, dont screw it up!!
I did my conscriptio, Learnt anawful lot.

From mohanellawala on Sat Aug 08 03:05PM
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Joe Glenton has made on one hand a brave stand but also a selfish one. What about his comrades who have obeyed and done their duty? What about the guys who have already lost their lives? I beleive he has shortchanged his comrades and the memory of his fallen comrades. As an ex serviceman I know that Queen & country don't come into it.........its your mates who count.....you go in together and you hope and try to come out together.....Joe Glenton is in the wrong trade. Do your time Glen and go on to plumbing.

From waggonner2004 on Sat Aug 08 03:05PM
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Why did Glenton sign on if he was not prpared to fulfill his side of the contract?
Perhaps he was attracted by the uniform which he has now dis-honoured!
Mike

From michael.prior on Sat Aug 08 03:05PM
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Sorry, I should sat Carpet Bomb Afganistan. Nobody will ever conqer them.

From mohanellawala on Sat Aug 08 03:06PM
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he should be able to resign his commissionfghanistan and also avoid jail? i dont really know about what a soldier signs up for and if that is possible but if it is possible and he chooses prision instead then he is in no way a coward? i agree up to a point with his stand... He is fighting for the pharmaceutical industrys need for illegal opiates. Wheter that is in the British interest can be debated also whether he should be lied to about the reason for war are a different matter. Remember the Taliban were great to the western goverments until poppy production hit zero.

From sanjivdale on Sat Aug 08 03:09PM
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Unfortunately, no wars are "chosen" by the soldiers who have to fight them. Believe me, as an ex serviceman, soldier would choose not to fight. Whilst I understand Joe Glentons sentiments regarding Afghanistan, I cannot condone his decision. Whilst he is in the UK, watching the cricket and drinking beer, his comrades are in harms way and are one member short with the shortfall being taken up by others.
No-one said that an Army career would be all beer and skittle and I´m sure that all the participants in past wars would have preferred not to be involved(as recently reiterated by the late Mr Harry Patch) but, when you take the Queens shilling and swear allegance, you commit yourself to forces beyond your control.
AR Tait

From sandrajoantait on Sat Aug 08 03:09PM
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I think Corporal Glenton is write in his convictions, soldiers are humans aswell, with ideals and principles.

From jonnywilloughby on Sat Aug 08 03:11PM
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