Aaron Michael

I joined the US Navy in January 2000. I love the Navy, proud to be a sailor and warrior for my country. However, when the US invaded Iraq I was deeply troubled. It just seemed wrong, and unjustified. I have become increasingly convinced that the US's actions in Iraq border on criminal, violating international law and human rights. In the last couple months, reading the book "The Dark Side" and learning more accurate versions of the story of Iraq from a Palestinian friend, and investigating videos on YouTube I have become increasingly sure that this is an unjust and illegal war, but represents only the current manifestation of a pattern of unjustified military actions on the part of the US. I love my country, I love to serve in the military, but I feel the military is being used to commit grave offenses against humanity and to threaten the freedoms that most of us signed up to protect. The war in Iraq was not an act of self-defense, but of aggression. The doctrine of pre-emptive strike was used to justify this, but no argument can justify criminal behavior. The greatest weapons of the enemies of the freedoms embodied in the Constitution which I am sworn to defend, are misinformation and propaganda. Western media is heavily controlled by corporate and financial interests which in turn are hold the US government and armed services hostage through economic slavery and dependence. It's time to raise awareness, exercise the right of free speech, and expose the oppressive elements that have infected our nation and our government. I swore to defend the constitution against ALL enemies, foreign or domestic, and it is apparent that there are as many if not more domestic enemies than there are foreign. I am considering not reenlisting because of my feelings on this subject, but I would hope there is a way to redeem our military and our government from the grip of tyranny.