Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

The case of Army Specialist Michael New, who refused to wear a United Nation’s uniform and fight under U.N. command, continues as his lawyers prepare to take their appeal before the United States Supreme Court. His attorney, Mike Farris, who is also the president of Home School Legal Defense Association, explains the latest development in the case today on Home School Heartbeat.

Mike:
It’s not unusual to ask American soldiers to fight alongside soldiers of other nations. But two years ago, for the first time in American history, President Clinton ordered our troops to become soldiers for another sovereign as part of the UN peacekeeping operation in Macedonia. Michael New refused to obey President Clinton’s command on the grounds that it violated the United States Constitution and did not have the consent of Congress.

This past November, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia decided that Michael New’s case cannot be heard in the federal courts until the military courts first finish their own proceedings involving Specialist New.

There is no question that the general rule requires soldiers to complete their military appeals before turning to the federal courts. But this is far from a typical case. The federal courts, not the military courts, are the ones who can tell the Commander­in­chief that his power does not extend to the point of ordering Americans to become mercenaries for another sovereign. We are appealing this issue to the United States Supreme Court and expect to hear by late spring whether or not they will take Michael New’s case.

This is a landmark case that will determine whether or not Americans are sovereign citizens or international subjects. I’m Michael Farris.