I've been meaning to post on this since Saturday, but I haven't been able to get to it before now.

As you've probably heard already, last week 19 soldiers of a fuel platoon from the 343rd Quartermaster Company, a reserve unit from South Carolina, refused to carry out a convoy supply mission from Tallil to Taji. They say that their equipment was too unsafe for the mission and they had insufficient security support for the "suicide" mission.

For its part, the Army isn't saying much, which is expected and appropriate. They're investigating the circumstances of the incident, as well as inspecting all vehicles belonging to the unit to see if they're up to safety standards. The Army also claims that the soldiers involved are not under arrest or restriction.

Folks who know me best know that I'm as hard-nosed as they get when it comes to military discipline. There is absolutely no justification for "failure to obey a lawful order." But there's the rub: was it a lawful order?

Anyone (other than family members; they're allowed to support their loved ones unequivocally) expressing an opinion on this, one way or the other, based on the little information available so far, is being, at best, premature. More facts have to be determined.

But here's the way it breaks for me: if the troops essentially made this story up, either because they were afraid, tired, whatever, and they weren't justified in refusing the mission, then they aren't the kind of folks who belong in the military. Boot 'em, with at best a General OTH.

But if their equipment was in as bad of shape as they claim, if they were ordered into danger ill equipped to face likely attacks, those responsible for those orders also don't belong in the military. In this case, though, hard time should accompany their separation under, at least, a Bad Conduct Discharge, although I believe a Dishonorable Discharge would be the right choice.

After our oath to defend the Constitution, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines have one most sacred duty: protect your troops. If you fail in that duty through neglect, impatience, incompetence or selfishness, you have dishonored your uniform. You deserve our greatest measure of contempt.

Update: Reporting on this has dropped off like stepping off a cliff. While I haven't found any update from traditional media since Saturday, through Angela Winters I learn that Black America Web is reporting that the number of soldiers under investigation for this situation have been reduced to five.