UN Task Force

[Orleander]

I see them on TV in blue hats/helmets. How does a person become part of the United Nations military task force (if thats the name for then).

[Norm357]

Well since the U.N. is next to worthless, why would you want to?

[EX_529]

I see them on TV in blue hats/helmets. How does a person become part of the United Nations military task force (if thats the name for then).

they are assigned to the task force by their respective countries.

[Oldbillplod]

How does a person become part of the United Nations military task force

You have to be very bad and then they pick you. :(

[Orleander]

American troops have one obligation, and that's service to the United States of America. The United States Constitution makes no provision for the loaning or hiring of our troops out to any other sovereign.

Does that mean no US soldiers serve in the UN force because its not in the Constitution? Isn't that like saying "Its not in my wedding vows to have sex with my husband, so I don't have to."?

[Orleander]

But if a woman says "I want to" then its ok. If a soldier says "I want to" can they? Or does the US say "No, you are our property for the duration of your hitch and you aren't", even though headquarters is on our soil.

[Norm357]

Orleande go here

http://www.mikenew.com/index.shtml

To find out what happens when a soldier refuses to serve under the U.N.. Mike New should have been promoted and rewarded, instead he was forced out of the military and damn near jailed.

[Norm357]

Exactly!

[Orleander]

It's specifically illegal for United States citizens to serve in the militaries of other countries or organizations. It was done to an extent during WW2 (American pilots joining the Flying Tigers and Royal Air Force) but it was still illegal.
It's also illegal for U.S. citizens to sign on as mercenaries in foreign conflicts and people who have done so have been fined and jailed for doing so.

So an American joining a UN task force is the same as an American fighting with the Taliban?
Do we hunt down these mercenaries?

[Orleander]

Orleande go here

http://www.mikenew.com/index.shtml

To find out what happens when a soldier refuses to serve under the U.N.. Mike New should have been promoted and rewarded, instead he was forced out of the military and damn near jailed.

GREAT link Norm! Thanks!! I'll have to read up on it.
But I always thought when you joined the military, you basically became their property and HAD to do as you were told. I mean, don't soldiers get in trouble now for refusing to get the anthrax shot?
Please show me where it says the US military can't use you in another military in the Constitution.

[Orleander]

The way our Constitution works, the government can only do what is specifically permitted by that document.

And that's how it should be.

Uh-uh, no siree bob. I am so disagreeing.
The Constitution is wrong in many many places. That is why there are so many amendments. :p

[greenlead]

One gave women the right to vote. (OK, that one may have been a mistake...)

LOL :D

[Orleander]

So an American joining a UN task force is the same as an American fighting with the Taliban?
Do we hunt down these mercenaries?

So, what about this? Why are they not hunted down?

[oscarmitre]

This is interesting. I agree with you DC when you say that your Constitution is a great protection as is the Bill of Rights. I've said it before but we need a written Constitution and Bill of Rights in my country. Anyway that's another argument which is best pursued elsewhere.

Where I disagree - and it is in a sub-conversation in this thread - is on the question of the soldier disobeying an order. He chose to disobey the order therefore he should accept the consequences of his actions. It's called personal responsibility. There can be sympathy for his motives (I have to admit I don't agree with him but that doesn't matter) but the consequences must follow.

[Norm357]

Where I disagree - and it is in a sub-conversation in this thread - is on the question of the soldier disobeying an order. He chose to disobey the order therefore he should accept the consequences of his actions. It's called personal responsibility. There can be sympathy for his motives (I have to admit I don't agree with him but that doesn't matter) but the consequences must follow.

Oscar, it is against military law for a U.S. service member to serve under a foreign power. Therefore he was disobeying an unlawful order. In the U.S. a soldier does not have to follow an unlawful order. This case should have never gotten as far as it did. Mike New was railroaded period. End of story.