Potentially explosive story here with many wrinkles. First, will this start a trend? We know that Al Qaeda mouthpiece Adam Gadahn called on Muslim members of the U.S. military to rise up in a March videotape and follow the example of the Fort Hood shooter.
Now, judging from this piece, Abdo does not appear to have violent tendencies. But if you get hundreds of non-violent Muslim conscientious objectors, you still have a real problem on your hands, and that is an “uprising” in its own right.
Secondly, who are the “Muslim scholars” that Abdo cites to support his objection to being deployed? Terror clerics like Anwar al-Awlaki and Yusuf al-Qaradawi? And which Koranic verses does he cite? We don’t know. And lastly, how much, if anything, did the military know about Abdo and his beliefs before this all came about? Was he vocal about it?
Here's more from the Leaf Chronicle:
A U.S. Army soldier wants to leave the military service as a conscientious objector based on his beliefs as a Muslim, but he says he's concerned he may be deployed to Afghanistan anyway.
Pfc. Naser Abdo, a 20-year-old infantryman assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, said Monday that if the military orders him to deploy, he will refuse to go despite the fact that it may result in a military charge against him.
Rick Rzepka, a Fort Campbell spokesman, said Abdo's deployment has been deferred, but the military could deploy him while a decision was being made on his request. According to Army regulations, a soldier's submission of a conscientious objector application will not preclude the soldier from deploying. His unit, the division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, has already deployed to Afghanistan. He was assigned to the brigade's rear detachment, which remains at the installation during deployments.
"Obviously the unit is taking it very seriously," Rzepka said. "They have decided to go ahead and let the process play out, and if he warrants status as conscientious objector, he will be treated as such. But for right now, his deployment has been deferred."
Abdo said when he joined the Army more than a year ago, he initially felt he could be a soldier and a Muslim at the same time. But he said he now believes Islamic standards would prohibit his service in the U.S. Army in any war.
According to documents provided to The Associated Press, Abdo cited Islamic scholars and verses from the Quran as reasons for his decision to ask for separation from the Army.
Again, which "scholars" and verses? Read it all.