A recent website, Appeal for Redress has gotten over a thousand active duty soldiers to sign an online petition opposing the war in the two months it’s been online. The petition reads:
As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq . Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.
Signers are wide-ranging and include recent recruits and high-ranking officers. Some are serving in Iraq, others are based in the U.S. or elsewhere. Some reported that they thought long and hard about what signing it could mean to their career, although they are protected by the Military Whistleblower Protection Act, which says that as long as they are not on duty or in uniform, they have first amendment rights.The site maintains attorneys experienced in military law to help service members who need assistance in countering any attempts to suppress this communication with members of Congress.
Our troops are finally finding some of the support that they really need.