How do you feel about U.S military deserters?

Yes, I believe there are circumstances in which going AWOL is acceptable. Firstly, you gotta understand that our government's treating our military very badly, especially the ones which're serving in Iraq. They've asked refunds of the bonuses they gave the soldiers to serve just because they got handicapped and seriously hurt WHILST serving. They need what money they do have to treat their condition! Also...many soldiers don't have the proper equipment over there, which contributes to many unecessary deaths. KBR gave them water which they used to wash themselves and their clothes and they got seriously poisoned...and KBR was not held accountable. Plus, they're holding them beyond their contracts now, they make soldiers serve past the time they signed up for. And many soldiers, since going there no longer agree with the war, especially those who've had internet access and discovered that many of the motives for being there might not really have been for our country's safety, plus alot of the reasons said for going there turned out to be lies, AND there's that little tidbit in the constitution that says this war might be illegal since Bush was the only one who delcared war on Iraq and not Congress. All of these are vey valid reasons to go AWOL in this war, I say. And if you think back on our war on Vietnam when no one had a choice but to go to war, and they were drafted...the deserters were later pardoned because a draft isn't exactly ethical nor what a free country FOR the people does. I'm just giving you examples why I think there are some circumstancs. Obviously not all deserters do it for good reasons, but those who do I think it's very reasonable.

I don't know what I could add that would say it any better than the #3 responder did. In my opinion there are many ways in which our government hasn't lived up to their half of the bargain. There have been calls by members of the Senate and the House for much needed body and vehicle armor and the last I heard they're still waiting! When people ask why the Democratic Congress hasn't refused to fund the war the answer it quite simple - they don't want to leave our troops without the safety equipment they need. They're there and withholding funds won't bring them home but will just leave them high and dry and more like sitting ducks than they are now. Annie

Is there ever a time when it's ok to just walk away from a contract? Is there ever a time when it's ok to commit a capital offense? Is there ever a time when it's ok to walk away from your kids forever? A deserter is someone who would do any and all of he above. A deserter is someone who doesn't give a flying fig about anyone but their pathetic little self. Any government that offers safe harbor for deserters pisses on the country the deserter betrayed. No city, state or nation that openly harbors deserters should continue to receive any kind of benefits from the US Federal Government because they are (in effect), spitting in the face of all those who chose to stay and continue the fight. That being said... Each of us have to make our own choices about how we will live up to our responsibilities and commitments. There are cosequences to those choices, and a deserter is someone who has decided that the consequences of staying are worse than the consequences of deserting. The person made a choice, and should have to live with the choice they accepted. Of course, being the kind that would desert, they aren't willing to live up to any of the consequences of their own choices.. prefering others to pay for them. If a person would betray their comrades in arms during wartime, they would betray anyone, anytime it got uncomfortable for them.