There are roles in the military for those who do not want to use a gun in a war that they feel is immoral.
Accordingly, I hope that the Army National Guard will reconsider its decision to deny Specialist Jashinski's request for consciencious objector status. It is in no one's best interest to deploy someone (male or female) to Iraq who doesn't want to shoot. Not only is it morally wrong, but it could present a security risk to her fellow troops.
From Ms. Magazine:
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Army National Guard Specialist Katherine Jashinski is the first woman conscientious objector to the Iraq war. In a press conference last week, Jashinski publicly refused deployment and spoke out against the war. She applied for conscientious objector status in 2004, but after 18 months, her claim was denied and she was ordered to weapons training to prepare for deployment. In her public statement, Jashinski said that while she had fulfilled her duties to the Army until that point, she was "forced to choose between my legal obligation to the Army and my deepest moral values… I will exercise my legal right not to pick up a weapon and to participate in a war effort."
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