Black US Soldier Demands Political Asylum In Germany - SPC. Andre Shepherd

Andre Shepherd:

"It is perhaps fitting that I am applying for asylum here. The Nürnburg trials established that a person cannot defend his or her actions by explaining that they had simply been following orders. If I had stayed in the U.S. Army and continued to participate in the atrocities caused by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I could not argue that I was just doing my job. It is here in Germany that the law was established that everyone, even a soldier, must take responsibility for their actions, no matter how many superiors are giving orders.

There have been many Germans who have called the war in Iraq illegal and immoral. It would be logical to suggest then that soldiers participating in these wars are also doing something illegal and immoral. It is inconceivable of me to participate in the wanton destruction of life and property for the good of a few."



"Es passt vielleicht, dass ich gerade in Deutschland Asyl beantrage, dem Land, in dem vor 60 Jahren die Nürnberger Prozesse begannen. Eines der wichtigsten Prinzipien, auf die diese Verfahren sich stützten, war, dass niemand sein Handeln damit rechtfertigen kann, er habe lediglich Befehle befolgt. Wenn ich in der US-Armee geblieben wäre und weiter an den Kriegen in Irak und Afghanistan teilgenommen hätte, könnte ich nicht rechtmäßig argumentieren, ich hätte nur meinen Job gemacht. Hier in Deutschland wurde festgestellt, dass jede und jeder, auch eine Soldatin oder ein Soldat, die Verantwortung für ihre und seine Handlungen übernehmen muss, ganz gleich, wie viele Vorgesetzte die Befehle dazu gegeben haben.

Es gibt viele Deutsche, die die Kriege im Irak und in Afghanistan rechtswidrig und unmoralisch nennen. Es ist nur logisch, daraus zu folgern, dass die an diesen Kriegen beteiligten Soldaten ebenfalls rechtswidrig und unmoralisch handeln. Die Frage ist nun, ob Deutschland den Soldatinnen und Soldaten, die sich diesen Kriegen verweigern, zur Seite stehen und Asyl gewähren wird."

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Black
• US
• Soldier
• Seeks
• Political
• Asylum
• In
• Germany
• SPC.
• Andre
• Shepherd

[learningfromlife]

SnuffGunnion,

I havent turned a bind eye to anything. Spc Shepard had 2 years and 3 months before he received deployment orders again after coming back from Iraq the first time. During those 2 years and 3 months he enjoyed Germany and Collected an US Army Paycheck. And guess what, he was just riding his enlistment out turning a blind eye buddy. He just so happened to get orders to redeploy and it affected him, so he is doing this now.

[SnuffGunnion]

Turn the page man. He doesn't support these wars and neither should you. Stay on point. Let's hear your justification for the slaughter and all of the crimes that have been committed. Don't forget to factor in all of the US Soldiers and innocent civilians who have be killed and/or injured. Their lives have been destroyed. Not only have you turned a blind eye to reality, you follow them blindly. Wake up troop. Smell the coffee.

[learningfromlife]

SPC Shepard, I went to the bars with you in Germany, served in Iraq with you. In the military you have to be a postive presence and a positive influence. Some soldiers do the wrong thing and you cant help that. I was stopped lossed for 348 days during this last deployment, I didnt like it but I deployed to support my brothers in arms to make sure that I had a positive influence to bring them back home alive. You could have done this fiasco in Feb 05when you came back from Iraq.

[SnuffGunnion]

SPC Shepherd has every right to follow his conscience. This war was started on a lie and continues to be a crime against humanity. Every soldier has the responsibility to uphold the law of the land and the tenets of humanity. Torture, murder & rape are not condoned under any circumstances. Too much of that has go on and yes soldiers like you have turned a blind eye to the facts.

[SnuffGunnion]

As a Viet Nam Veteran I also know the horrors of war and I know what it takes to step up and do the right thing and not go along with the flow. Many of my fellows soldiers rebelled against a corrupt system and helped to bring the Viet Nam war to a close.

[SnuffGunnion]

Just because you were an "obedient" soldier does not give you the right to castigate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for speaking out. They have become the targets of insane and assanine attacks. All of that "My Country, Right or Wrong" is just nonsense. What would it take for you to gather up enough nerve and tell the truth about this war?

[alexgermks]

I'm very proud of this soldier! Our country should provide shelter for him! A very courageous man...

[zangbong1]

How should he have known what's going on there and that he would find out that he was in an illegal war?

Why should he act against his conscience now?

I hope Germany will grant him asylum, because one should not be punished for his conscience.

[55amsic]

DO YOU TIME AND GET OUT THAT IT YOUR IN BIG BIG SHIT NOW NO HOME NOW

[azthundercloud]

You signed a contract.  Honor the contract. When your time is up, then leave. You enjoyed the benefits but they do not come free.

[hotsizzleakadafizz]

@god4488 Supposedly, Germany announced in April 2011 that they have refused his sought for asylum. Personally, as a German I am ashamed my country did not accept his asylum. We should always stand for what is right, not judge things on political standards. He did the right thing, and deserved to stay here in Germany. But I understand that this could have tarnished the US-German relations in the political spectrum, but I still stand by André Shepherd, a true man.

[watertonrivers]

@SnuffGunnion I was stationed in Germany two times during the Cold War. I returned to the USA in 1990 but returned a couple of times to Germany. Now I am back in the US but had I known that my country was going to become a "Police State", I would have stayed in Germany. Germany, with all its faults, I believe has at least not lost its moral compass!!

[watertonrivers]

@mofohains Bullshit!!! Signed, A Vietnam Era and Cold War Veteran!! Just because the USA decides to go to war does not make it moral or legal!!

[watertonrivers]

@mofohains Bullshit!!! Signed, A Vietnam Era and Cold War Veteran!!

[watertonrivers]

AMEN Andre'...I stand with you and I am a Veteran of the US Military!!

[sylvan0707]

He did the right thing, pity there aren't more like him.

[god4488]

@SnuffGunnion Does he now got Asyl? In Germany?

[ecotts]

@jim56o45 oh ,care to enlighten us about Iraq, Mr Book of f**king knowledge?

Like your some expert!

Note: I don't give a toss if you've been, but you need to recognise, your not an expert or a Mr fucking know it all. In fact all the experts sit in a safe area on US soil drinking tea, whilst dick heads like you buy into everything they tell you.

You're like patriotic lemmings, except you're less smart.

You're so patriotic, that you've become blind to reality... Wake the fuck up!