Fort Hood Soldier Refuses Deployment to Afghanistan
New America Media, Interview with Victor Agosto, Aaron Glantz, Posted: Jul 17, 2009
Editor’s Note: President Obama has ordered 21,000 more troops to deploy to Afghanistan this summer, seeking to more than double the 32,000 deployed in the next few months. The move is controversial inside the military and a handful of soldiers -- like Specialist Victor Agosto of Miami, Fla. -- have refused to deploy. Agosto, who has already served one tour in Iraq, told his superiors that the U.S. military occupation of Afghanistan is “immoral and unjust” and “does not make America safer.” He faces a Special Court Martial, with a maximum punishment of one year in prison and a bad conduct discharge. Agosto spoke with NAM editor Aaron Glantz from the U.S. Army base at Fort Hood, Texas.
Spc. Victor AgostoWhy did you decide to join the army?
I’d been in college for two years and I was tired of it. I wanted to be something. I wanted to see the world. I was in Miami Dade College and I really didn’t have a clear idea of what I was going to do. I was just focusing on my classes for my associate’s degree. I had always wanted to join the army, but I had initially wanted to graduate from college first so I could have a commission, but then I just decided to go in and be enlisted.
Is your opposition to the war in Afghanistan based at all on your previous military experience in Iraq?
I would say, not really. I was in Iraq when I turned against it, but it wasn’t because I had a traumatic experience or anything like that. I never shot anyone. I never got shot at. I never felt I was in any danger or anything like that. I was on the FOB [the base] the whole time. I was doing I.T. work: configuring computers, routers, servers, switches, providing customer service.
So you didn’t see or do anything while you were in Iraq that caused you to have any particular opinion about it one way or the other?
I guess the main thing that got my mind going was seeing how much money the contractors were making, and how little sense that made to me. And I guess that just got me thinking, exploring in that direction. Something is not right here. It’s a jump from that to concluding that the war is not right but that’s what got the ball rolling.
And once the ball got rolling, how did you get to the next step?
Well, I was reading books, like Noam Chomsky’s Hegemony or Survival. That was the one that just totally shattered any conception I had about moral superiority or good intentions.
Obviously there are many theoreticians writing various things about American policy. Why did this resonate with you?
Well it was just that the stated reasons for the war didn’t make sense.
And so the reasons that you concluded after doing your reading were what?
Ultimately, just for more control and to project American power. Obviously, there’s oil in Iraq. And American corporations stand to benefit a great deal from controlling the oil fields, but the main thing is just that there are benefits to obtaining control, and it’s the same in Afghanistan.
But the big difference of course is that there is no oil in Afghanistan.
That’s right.
So how did you go from having this particular feeling about the war in Iraq to refusing to deploy to Afghanistan, which is of course a different war. And there are a lot of people who would say ‘Iraq is a bad war but Afghanistan is a good war, because the people who attached us on 9/11 were based out of Afghanistan.’
Well, to me there really isn’t a difference. To me the main thing is control, just to project power. If you look at what the goal of the war in Afghanistan was -– to make American people safer -- an occupation can’t accomplish that. Those things can’t be accomplished through military means. The occupation in both places just increases resentment against Americans and actually endangers the soldiers that are there because the occupation fuels the insurgency. We go after an insurgent and kill several innocents in the process and it just creates more insurgents. And the process would continue like that indefinitely. And I think that those in power know this. And so the reason that we’re there can’t be to make the American people safer.
And that’s what you wrote in a statement to military counselors that you would not deploy to Afghanistan because it is “immoral and unjust” and “does not make the American people any safer.” What would make the American people safer in your opinion?
Victor Agosto's handwritten declaration to a military counselor
Well I think that the terrorist networks gain recruits from populations that have been oppressed. Until these grievances are addressed, there will always be a fresh supply of people who will join up with these extremist groups and decide that they want to attack America. There is really no battlefield solution to terrorism.
People say, 'Look, I know the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan are not necessarily the most productive, but imagine there were no American soldiers there -– the Taliban would just take over again.'
I don’t really see that as worse than what we’re doing now. As I said before, until we actually address the grievances of people in that part of the world, we’re really not going to defeat terrorism. Being there does make things worse. It wouldn’t be an ideal situation to just leave and then perhaps the Taliban would re-establish control over the country, but that to me would be better than what’s going on right now.
How do the other soldiers that you interact with at Fort Hood feel about your decision to refuse to go?
They’ve been generally positive. I really don’t get a lot of negative feedback from people. I know that negative feeling exists but people don’t usually come up to me and tell me that. And when they have, they always set it up saying they really respect me and stuff, but they disagree with what I’m doing. It’s never a bitter type of response.
Why did you decide to contest this head-on instead of just passively resisting during your deployment to Afghanistan, since as you describe it, you’re more of a back office soldier?
I guess a combination of things. I concluded some time while I was in Iraq that these wars were wrong, but I wasn’t ready to make that jump because I feared the consequences. But after a while I got to meet a lot of people in the peace community who would be supportive of me if I were to take such an action. That, combined with the fact that I just wasn’t sure if I could live with myself if I were to deploy, if I actually got on a plane and went over there. It made it almost a no-brainer for me and something I needed to do.
You’re facing a Special Court Martial, where you face a bad conduct discharge and a year in prison. Suppose you were to get a bad conduct discharge and some amount of prison time. How would you compare that to deploying to Afghanistan?
I’d say it’s more than a fair deal. I mean, if those are my two options, I’d say that’s a no-brainer right there. I would much rather go to prison for a year than go to Afghanistan for a year.
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User Comments
Richard Brodie on Aug 05, 2009 at 08:44:12 said:
Amanda responds: "The other guy that claimed Obama had no birth certificate probably wasn't sent to prison because he's obviously a MENTALLY INCOMPETENT person. That stupid left wing fanatic rumor was disproved long ago."
I'm afraid the mentally incompetent are the brainwashed Obama worshippers like yourself, who
a) don't know the meaning of the word "proof", and
b) don't understand the difference between
1) the inconclusive Certificate of Live Birth posted on Obama's website which, at the time of his birth in Kenya, was being given out by Hawaii to any woman living there with a child, sans any proof that the child had been born in the state, and
2) the conclusive Long Form Birth Certificate, which Obama WILL NOT produce, because he can't, which has the names of the delivering physician and the hospital.
Explain to us Amanda why this pretending USURPER has spent hundreds of thousands of campaign dollars on lawyers to avoid having to produce a simple piece of paper that would put to rest all speculation.
To see the vast difference between these two types of documents just go to
www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=103810
amanda on Jul 23, 2009 at 09:36:33 said:
Bella on Jul 19, 2009 at 14:46:41 said:
\"It will follow him the rest of his life especially into job placement and other issues after release from prison.\"
\"Even if this were true (which it obviously isn\'t) at least Victor will have his limbs, his life, his soul, his sanity and his CONSCIENCE! I know which I\'d rather have.\"
YOU Ma\'m, have no clue what you\'re talking about. Obviously you don\'t know anyone in the military, nor have you ever been in. A dishonorable discharge will hurt him a lot. The governments, Federal, State, and most Local will not hire him. Same with most major companies. Educate yourself. And I will have you know that my husband still has his limbs, soul, sanity and CONSCIENCE in tact. Don't generalize. It's offensive. This kid's never been in combat, he has a desk job.
amanda on Jul 23, 2009 at 09:26:06 said:
*right wing fanatic... sorry
Amanda on Jul 23, 2009 at 09:24:31 said:
The other guy that claimed Obama had no birth certificate probably wasn't sent to prison because he's obviously a MENTALLY INCOMPETENT person. That stupid left wing fanatic rumor was disproved long ago. The kid was a sissy who fell out. He tried to be a martyr and looks like an idiot. My husband went to Iraq, and even though he didn't agree with Iraq, he will go to Afghanistan. These guys knew what they were facing as far as deployments when they joined. This guy never crossed the wire. Maybe he should have educated himself BEFORE he signed a contract. The dishonerable discharge will follow him for the rest of his life. May I remind you, that it was YOUR REPUBLICAN President that sent them there in the first place? I'd like to know how long you served in the Army...
Richard Brodie on Jul 22, 2009 at 23:41:47 said:
A different soldier has refused to go to Afghanistan because he has seen no proof that Obama was born in the United States, and therefore may not be eligible to serve as Commander in Chief. Why was HE not court martialed. Instead they rescinded his deployment order.
Now there's a real patriot who evidently takes seriously his oath to defend the Unite States against all enemies, foreign AND DOMESTIC. He has found a perfect non-violent way to call attention to the fact that Barack Hussein Obama is such a domestic enemy.
Bella on Jul 19, 2009 at 14:46:41 said:
"It will follow him the rest of his life especially into job placement and other issues after release from prison."
Even if this were true (which it obviously isn't) at least Victor will have his limbs, his life, his soul, his sanity and his CONSCIENCE! I know which I'd rather have.
Bella on Jul 19, 2009 at 14:41:46 said:
What an AMAZING young man. This right here is a US hero. A peacemaker, a man of integrity and intelligence, someone that KNOWS that the purpose of war is and always has been for the benefit of the rich and powerful. If every US soldier woke up and followed Victor's example, the imperialist project would be over - dead in the water. Bombing the crap out of poor people thousands of miles away is obviously not for the good of those people. Wake up the soldiers of America - go home to your family. You can be real heroes too rather than corporate-sponsored "heroes" - the media that is controlled by the powerful pretend to be your friends and call you heroes for carrying out the dirty work of the establishment. If they were your true friends they would order you to put down your weapons and go home, just like Victor has done. To those who are here to insult Victor, more fool you. Secretly you wish you could be this brave too.
Desert Storm Vet on Jul 19, 2009 at 06:52:41 said:
Vincent Suetos wrote: "The United States is at war! War is ugly, but that is what you and all the service members signed up for."
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Absolute poppycock! Service members signed up to defend the Constitution and to protect our liberty. They did not sign up for illegal wars for oil and the slaughter of innocent civilians.
Desert Storm Vet on Jul 19, 2009 at 06:49:25 said:
Vietnam Vet said: "Agosto is making a huge mistake in doing this. It will follow him the rest of his life especially into job placement and other issues after release from prison."
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Not to worry VV. I am a small business owner and this man has a job with my company when he's done with his enlistment or prison time if he wants it.
Anti Otio Perfruantur on Jul 18, 2009 at 13:12:09 said:
Bravo Victor Agosto.
The US subverted International and US law to invade Afghanistan under false pretences and establish a puppet government. We continue to occupy Afghanistan, killing its people and using its territory to attack Pakistan without international sanction. This is a classic example of what we referred to in the Nuremberg trials as a supreme crime against humanity and against which every person has the duty to resist.
Should this case reach trial, if there is still justice to be had in the USA, the above should be proved and the criminals shown to be the US Presidents, Bush and Obama. Not those resisting them.
Joseph on Jul 18, 2009 at 12:27:18 said:
According to Catholic principles, these wars are immoral and unjust. The Catholic church is a higher authority than the state. Therefore I am obligated to obey the higher authority and refuse deployment. This man actually thought for himself, and is not a coward. I wish more American men had the balls to do this. The punishment does not matter...obedience to God no matter what matters. God has greater punishments than the state.
Vietnam Vet on Jul 18, 2009 at 06:54:53 said:
Agosto is making a huge mistake in doing this. It will follow him the rest of his life especially into job placement and other issues after release from prison. It is bad enough for a convicted felon to get a job but add to it the disgrace of a bad conduct discharge from military service and the appearance of cowardice will indicate to prospective employers that he cannot be trusted. Trying to explain this will be most difficult.
Lalpert on Jul 17, 2009 at 23:47:30 said:
Isn't it more cowardly to simply follow orders and do what one is told to do than to stand up for one's conscience? We all know what kind of people extreme nationalism breeds.
cesar mocorro on Jul 17, 2009 at 18:58:03 said:
Spcialist Agosto has his own right to reject a deployment.Eliminating terrorist in foreign soil is just like ordering others to be a terrorist.Why not eliminate the head of the Cell and its top ranks member or the head of the STATE which sponsors terrorism.it means the country that sponsor terrorism had a hand for any of it activities abroad or in covert way some of it high ranking cabinet member may have a commission or monetary reward as terrorism may acquire huge sum of money in any way. Let say through drugs ,extortion ,protectionism and politics power.LET YOUR CIA ,FBI,MERCENARIES OR ANY POWER. do the works, it involved only few people and most of all done in a secret way.
Truth on Jul 17, 2009 at 11:38:54 said:
I believe this guy got it right. Hundreds of thousands people, including thousands of US soldiers, were killed and injured in a senseless and purposeless war in Iraq. Most of the victimes were innocents and civilians. There is absolutely no honor in killing civilians and innocents!!!
Vincent Suetos on Jul 17, 2009 at 07:51:12 said:
The United States is at war! War is ugly, but that is what you and all the service members signed up for. When you sign up for the service for college money, the bonus, travel, they are all for the wrong reason. We signed up to serve our country and our buddies that go to war with us. Son you are obligated and the simple fact is: you do this and this is the consequence. So you must live with your actions just like the rest of the world. You want all the benifits without the commitment and contrary to the contract you made with the Defense Department. Make your choice and go with the results. Easy decision be a hero or be a coward. We hung cowards is past wars, we should consider going back to hanging cowards again.
USMC Retired W/Three Marine Sons & a Marine wife all on active duty away for home. No cowards in this family!!!
Mamasauras on Jul 17, 2009 at 06:57:27 said:
My son is a soldier at Fort Hood. He says this is not a growing trend, but an isolated case.
This guy is a disgrace to the Army and deserves to be tossed in prison and have all the negative effects of a dishonorable discharge for the rest of his life!
Jsmith on Jul 17, 2009 at 04:53:11 said:
"I would much rather go to prison for a year than go to Afghanistan for a year."
-->As a veteran who has served in four wars, I hope you do get the opportunity you seek. BTW, that won't be the end of your hard times -- a BCD will haunt you the rest of your life.
BTW, if you got a bonus to join the Army, you owe the taxpayers some money.