By Erin Thompson

Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, a 24-year-old who spent nearly five years serving in the U.S. Army, publicly refused his orders to deploy to Iraq today. Chiroux made the statement in the rotunda of the Cannon Building of the House of Representatives, just minutes after 8 members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War testified about the realities of the U.S. occupation of Iraq to members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Chiroux, a student of political science in his first semester at Brooklyn College, received an honorable discharge last July after working as a photojournalist for the U.S. military in Japan, Europe, the Philippines and Afghanistan. In February Chiroux received notice that he must report to the U.S. Army in June to be deployed to Iraq.

Chiroux made the statement flanked by a dozen members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War. "I would like to let Matthis and everyone here know that IVAW stands in support and solidarity with your decision, which I know is very difficult and very personal," said IVAW Executive Director Kelly Dougherty. "IVAW’s strategy to end the occupation in Iraq is to encourage and organize resistance and opposition to this occupation from within the ranks and from the recent veterans."


Statement:

"Good afternoon, my name is Sergeant Matthis Chiroux and I served as an army photo journalist until being honorably discharged last summer after over four years of service in Afghanistan and Europe and the Phillipines.

As an army journalist whose job it was to collect and filter service members’ stories, I heard many a stomach-churning testimony of the horrors and crimes taking place in Iraq. For fear of retaliation from the military, I failed to report these crimes. Never again will I allow fear to silence me. Never again will I fail to stand. In February, I received a letter from the Army, ordering my return to active duty, with the purpose of mobilization in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thanks in great part to the truths of war being fearlessly spoken by my fellow IVAW members, I stand before you today with the strength and clarity and resolve to declare the military and my government and the world that this soldier will not be deploying to Iraq.

This occupation is unconstitutional and illegal, and I hereby lawfully refuse to participate as I will surely be a party to war crimes. Furthermore, deployment and support of illegal war violates all of my core values as a human being. But in keeping with those values, I choose to remain in the United States to defend myself from charges brought by the Army, if they so wish to pursue them.

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"We haven't turned any corners, we haven't seen any lights at the end of the tunnel. The champagne bottle has been pushed to the back of the refrigerator. And the progress, while real, is fragile and reversible."-------Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq:

Anything said by a member of IVAW is suspect.

They won't commit to anything under oath.

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For real coverage of the Iraq war see
http://michaelyon-online.com/

Conan! What is best in life?
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women

Did they look like psychos? Is that what they looked like? They were vampires. Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits them, I don't give a **** how crazy they are!

He is a traitor to his country and a disgrace to the men and women who wear the uniform. He should be tried for treason. He has no Patriotism.

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Support Your Local Oil and Gas Companies and the Industry. Invest in Oil & Gas Futures.

Take your Kids Hunting and Fishing.

This is easily summed up in one word.

Insubordination

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They can call you back after you are discharged? I did not know that.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Six year commitment! Active and/or guard or reserve, but you are committed for "6".

Any lawyer worth his weight in salt will suggest ya not to sign a military contract, cuz even after your 6 year commitment is complete if there becomes a shortage you can be recalled up until the age of 45 I believe it is?

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There are only two things wrong with this great nation of ours, democrats and republicans!

Not necessarily in that order.

So a discharge is not really a discharge until 6 years pass? Why not just keep people in for 6 years? Whatever........

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Ya gotta read the fine print!

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There are only two things wrong with this great nation of ours, democrats and republicans!

Not necessarily in that order.

Gotta friend who just did her 2 tours and 4 years. She got out in Nov, and started her school mid semester, and she was redeployed May 1st. She got credit for some classes others were a waste of her time & her money! Maybe in a few more years she can start again!

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There are only two things wrong with this great nation of ours, democrats and republicans!

Not necessarily in that order.

I have to say, although the Iraq war is pretty clearly a total waste of time and effort, I have little sympathy for him. If he were drafted I would be on his side. But he signed up. He took the oath and promised to serve if called. So quit acting like a pansy and go fight.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.