There are rights and there are rights. But what this represents to me is unadulterated bulshit. Read on..

LOS ANGELES: A Malaysian-born US Army soldier has launched a legal bid to prevent being sent to Iraq, claiming deployment to the war zone would conflict with his religious beliefs, lawyers said on Friday. 

Calvin Lee Chee Keong, a 26-year-old Malaysian who has permanent residency in the United States, said in a lawsuit filed here that he had been duped into joining the military by recruiters in 2004. 

Lee, a Buddhist, said he had been told he would never have to leave the United States during his three years’ military service or go to war, lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said. 

However, he sought conscientious objector status after discovering that his service was being extended and his unit was being deployed to Iraq, the ACLU said in a statement. 

“Every action of killing is so evil and wrong, I don’t want to do any evil things and see any suffering happening right in front of my eyes,” Lee said in the statement. 

Wow! How convenient. I don’t understand this. Calvin Lee is a Malaysian. He joined the US Army. I suspect that decision is more to do with furthering his own ends , certainly an opportunistic move, rather than anything altruistic. After all, joining the US military does bring with it tremendous opportunities for growth and personal development.

Mr Calvin Lee, here’s the news, you idiot. Those opportunities are a recognition by the US government, of the sacrifices of soldiers, who are supposed to be the defenders of the ncountry (in my idealistic parlance anyway).

You are a soldier, for God’s sake. No one put a gun to to your head to join the army. You should know that a soldier is required to bear arms, and maybe even kill, in defence or offense. So, to cry that you have been duped by recruiters is indeed laughable.

Takut mati ah? Kiasi ! What was a Buddhist doing in a profession that one certainly knows, requires aggression and violence? I’m not disparaging your religion at all. Buddhists are determined peace-loving folks. But it is your motives that seems to me, rather impure.

You are a disgrace to all brave soldiers out there. There are millions of soldiers worldwide who sacrifice time, effort, personal safety, individual rights and even their lives, just so that they don’t compromise their team.

I was and will never agree with the US war on Iraq. That was a stupid, highly immoral war that will have repercussions for generations in the Middle East….maybe long after Bush, Cheney and his Haliburton gang are six feet under.

But to cringe at going to war after reaping all the benefits of your host state? That is a new low. Mr Calvin Lee would not even have defended the country of his birth, should push come to shove. That’s the way I see it. Shames me to read that he’s a Malaysian.