Colchester, U.K.
Two British soldiers deployed in Iraq came home this week after they refused to fight. Their lawyer said the two, whose names have not been released, wanted no part of a campaign “which involved the death of civilians.” The British army, like the U.S. Army, is an all-volunteer outfit, so it is presumed to be free of conscientious objectors. British military authorities said professional soldiers who refused to fight could be charged with a range of military infractions, from the serious, such as cowardice in the face of the enemy (a charge formerly punishable by death), to the relatively minor, such as conduct prejudicial to good order. The “Nuremberg defense” would only apply if the soldiers were refusing to carry out a heinous order, such as to execute civilians.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Political cartoons for January 17Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include hard hats, compliance, and more
-
Ultimate pasta alla NormaThe Week Recommends White miso and eggplant enrich the flavour of this classic pasta dish
-
Death in Minneapolis: a shooting dividing the USIn the Spotlight Federal response to Renee Good’s shooting suggest priority is ‘vilifying Trump’s perceived enemies rather than informing the public’
