and everything that i feared happened i was called the coward i was called a traitor. i was accused of assertion i was try. i was convicted i was sentenced i was put in jail and then me tell you after never felt freer in my life you know there's a higher assertion of your freedom. to follow your conscience. when it comes to conscientious objectors one thing that occurs to me right up front is their freedom to dissent is made possible by the soldiers that they criticize that in a perfect world it would be great if we could all be peaceful and not harm each other but we don't live in a perfect world. and i wonder about the conscientious objector. what would he do if that was his or her responsibility. to defend others. it's one thing to say that i will sit and take the punishment. and if someone wants to do it based on their religious beliefs or their convictions then i respect that absolutely. but i have trouble respecting them saying i will allow someone else to get hurt when i could stop it. people tell me you know what would have happened if hitler was not stopped. w

you know being a coward and being a traitor and you know losing your freedom. and then suddenly you know i say you know. i'm not going to go to war i'm not going to go back to that i'm not going to go back to everything that i'm told. and i'm going to say no. when one applies for conscientious objector status there is a regulation that fully guides a soldier through the process. the soldier makes a formal application to his chain of command requesting conscientious objector status. the soldier has a burden of proof the soldier has to prove that the beliefs are genuine that the beliefs are real that the beliefs crystallized after the soldier came on active duty the soldier is interviewed by the chain of command by a chaplain by a person through mental health and they compile a complete application documenting their beliefs and why they think they should be a conscientious objector an independent investigating officer is imported then the entire package has to go through the chain of command is all timidly reviewed by a board of vavasor's at headquarters departme

are you a coward. why did this soldier go away won't this soldier won a will because the soldier does not think that this is a good war and when you look at the war a look at the reasons that took us to war and you don't find any of the things that we were told that we're going to war for trying to be true when you don't find that there were weapons of mass destruction and what you don't find there was a link between saddam hussein and al qaeda and you see that you're not helping the people and you see that the people don't want you there to me there is no military contract and no military duty that is going to justify being a part of that war. and it just exploded because i was the first combat veteran to come back from iraq and go public and say this is wrong. i did not prepare a statement because what i have to say i have to say from the heart and it's a very simple mission it a message and it simply is that i'm saying no to war. i want to run and i was an instrument of violence and now i have decid

. >> i'm calling him a coward. anybody that would abuse children like this is, by definition, a coward. >> reporter: prosecutors had prepared alleged victim number four to be the first up. he waited 45 minutes close by to take the stand. and when told to go home, wrote this note, read by his attorney. >> this is the most difficult time of my life. nothing has changed. i still will stand my ground, testify and speak the truth. >> reporter: why the last-minute change? some observers believe that sandusky's attorney was trying to intimidate the accusers by promising a vigorous cross-examination. when that didn't work and they all showed up, he chose prudence over bravado. jim avila, abc news, bellefonte, pennsylvania. >>> and there's a new development in the sex scandal at syracuse university, as well. two men who claim assistant basketball coach bernie fine molested them repeatedly when they were young are now suing the school and head coach, jim boeheim, for defamation. boeheim called them liars simply out for money

. >> i'm calling him a coward. anybody that would abuse children like this is by definition a coward. >> reporter: prosecutors had prepared alleged victim number four to be the first one up. he waited 45 minutes to take the stand. and when told to go home, wrote this note, read by his attorney. >> this is the most difficult time of my life. nothing has changed. i still will stand my ground, testify and speak the truth. and he's underlined the word truth. >> reporter: why the last minute change? some observers believe that sandusky's attorney had hoped to intimidate the accusers by promising a vigorous ross examination. but when that didn't happen and they all showed up, he chose prudence over bravado. diane? >> all right, jim avila, reporting in tonight. >>> and now we move to politics, your voice, your vote. republican front-runner newt gingrich has taken on mitt romney and how romney made his millions, raising the question, did romney lay off u.s. workers to reap big corporate profits? abc's anchor david muir tak

this guy is a selfish coward. i am disgusted. >> are you the boyfriend she called 911 about domestic violence? >> no. i am the boyfriend that called 911 on somebody else actually. >> you called it on her? >> no, before she and i were living together. >> another story then. >> what is it about giordano that rubs you wrong? >> say for a second she went snois snorkeling. she didn't go snorkeling. he's scare have had of t she ise ocean. >> he saw her swim in the ocean she was fine. >> i have been in the pool with her in the ocean with her but she won't go past her knees her was waist? >> you don't buy the whole story? >> no. >> which part rubs you the worst? >> the fact that he is trying to say she went snorkeling. she has hair extensions held in by blew. the salt water will eat right through that. she was particular about her hair and makeup. it is 5:00 in the afternoon. she was dressed ready to go out. her hair is done. she takes a lot of time and care to take care of herself. >> we will go to jose biaz who is monit

you coward!

this is the attorney general who said that the country was coward, nation of cowards in dealing withue of race. and then this comment. raised eyebrows. >> it did. i think you have to question the attorney general political instinct. if the idea of giving an interview like this is to try to hold off the hounds in congress, if you were a republican in congress sitting on subpoena power, you hear this, essentially eric holder is saying you are going after him because you are a racist. that is not going to stop the scrutiny. the fast and furious is a scand that has nothing to do with race whatsoever. i think it's -- again, the poor political instincts to try to make an argument like this. even at any kind of couched way. >> steve? >> i agree. the reason they are going after eric holder is he is incapable of answering questions. when he does, he says i didn't know about this thing, he should have known about. my concern is going forward looking to 2012 i am worried we will see a lot of investigation of voter fraud and minority intimidation camming out of the justice department. >> bret: t

you coward! >> gentlemen, i shall be brief but i would like to use the remaining time i have with you to remind you that this case is not a difficult one. it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant. to begin with, this case should never have come to trial. this case is as simple as black and white. the state has produced not one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime tom robinson is charged with ever took place. it has relied instead on the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence is not only been called into serious question on cross-examination but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant. the defendant is not guilty. but somebody in this courtroom is. i have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the state, but my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man's life at risk which is what she has done in an effort to get rid of her guilt. i say guilt,

it had nothing to do with cowardness or gamefulness.se of the process, the prosecution chose not to do that and i understand that. anybody else? i'll take men, women. >> from cnn, susan candiotti. did you flag this to the prosecutors as a possibility last night in your discussions and what all did you discuss with them? >> well, what we discussed is that if we were to waive the hearing based upon the realization that a probable cause hearing, which is what a preliminary hearing is, there is a really low threshold of proof for the commonwealth. all they have to do is establish the element of the defenses that case held for court on those charges. realizing that and realizing credibility was not going to be an issue when, in fact, the prosecutor, i think correctly stated that he would object to any questions i wanted to ask about credibility. and having given that information, we talked about if we waived a hearing would they facilitate discovery, for example. would they agree to maintain bail where it is, for example, because i think mos

at the moment there is noxd shooting.t( bashar, you're a coward, they chant, "we don't fear your soldiersias." it was añr similar scene in oth towns. they're calling for more international help forqÑi protected buff ever zones. nine months into their uprising,t( president assad's opponents can'tt(fá oust him, n protests. but their efforts have had a heavy human9 cost. such asp, killing of children, beatingçó or shooting during demonstrations, brearw3 -- arbitrary deÑitension, torture and il lfert treatment. >> delegates wereÑi given a chilling report the >> our message is firm and clear. to the people of syria, the ou and we will not ignore yourxdçóÑifá plighn face of on going violence. to the government, the time has comet( to lx"át continued violations ofÑi civil rights of your peoplet(qxdçói]t(w3r >> they were unhurt. but, to the ambassador's horror, they face aid much bigger problem. he'd sent his nonessential staff to a different compound to be stephen a. but the protesters had gone after them as well. >> one had pressed a safe against the iron door, put a bed against the safe and

"assad, you are a coward." they chant. they are calling for more international help. nine months into the uprising, president assad's opponents cannot oust him and only he can stop the protests. his efforts have exacted a heavy human cost. >> there is widespread systematic and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by civilian authorities by acts such as killing of children, by beating or shooting during demonstrations, arbitrary detention, torture, and ill treatments. >> this is an emergency session of the u.n. human rights council. delegates were given a chilling report. >> our message is firm and clear, to the people of syria, the world stands by you and we will not ignore your plight in the face of ongoing violence. to the syrian government, the time has come to and the flagrant violations of the human rights of your people and to step aside so that syria can transition peacefully and democratically. >> the council passed a resolution condemning the abuses. the high commission would like them refer to the international criminal court. the report

>> that's what really did happen, then he's the biggest coward i know. >> on this dark heart iron hand. the vanishing. it is the u.s. marine motto, their code of honor and words they live by. semper fi, always faithful. but this crime file investigation is about a marine accused of violating that faith, accused of leading a double life and committing a series of crimes from child sexual abuse to murder. for years he managed to slip through the cracks of military justice, his secrets hidden beneath a stellar reputation as a marine. when the law finally caught up with him, he escaped again by taking his own life. or did he? here's keith morris. >> the end came on february 3, 1994, an explosion in a lonely gorge east of las vegas. the scripted end to a flawed life. when police reached the camping trailer, the propane fire had reduced it to ash and the body inside was unrecognizable. authorities ruled that the man inside, a united states marine, had ended his own life. it was suicide. should they have known? could they have known that nothing about the fire or the man inside was quite as i

now attorneys for some of the alleged victims say waiving the hearing was an act of cowardism, but sandusky's lawyers say it was a tactic to avoid a hearing that was stacked against him. tight security, a mass of media, and jerry sandusky preparing to face the public testimony of five of the young men he is charged with abusing. >> stay the course. wait the opportunity to present our side. >> but the former penn state football coach failed to stay the course for this preliminary hearing. instead of listening while the young men detailed allegations of abuse, dating back to when they were 10 or 11 years old, sandusky's lawyer decided it waive the hearing, infuriating the attorneys for some of the alleged victims. >> he didn't want the boys to be heard or seen. >> sandusky's council spent weeks accusing them of lying. >> putting these kids through this is a total disregard for them and is further abuse. >> sandusky's lawyers say the hearing -- cross examine the accusers in detail. >> this is the fight of jerry sandusky's life. this is the game of his life. >> defense attorney says the accusers

the young men who say penn state coach jerry sandusky molested them call him now a coward. >> that'sinary court hearing at the last minute in a major legal surprise. it's wednesday, december 14th. >>> good morning, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm sunny hostin. a surprise move in pennsylvania. i don't think anyone was expecting that when sandusky's legal team waived his right to a preliminary hearing. we'll explain what happened in court and what's next. >> i know you have a lot to say. you didn't see this coming? >> i did not. i don't think anyone did. >> wow. i wonder what the strategy is here. >> i have some ideas. >> now this will go directly to trial. >> i think probably the smartest thing he has done. >> really? >> yes. >> we'll get to more of that. >>> also this morning, an intruder accused in a church break-in picked the wrong place. this pastor packed some heat as a trained battlefield soldier before he took his career in a higher direction. what went down before services got started. >>> and later this half-hour, the lowdown on a police officer who left his squad car i

. >> i'm calling him a coward.e children like this is by definition a coward. >> so let me get this straight, you, captain rogers, want to apologize to alec baldwin? >> yes, mr. baldwin is an american treasure. >> did you think wearing the mask was kind of weird? >> this is stupid. why am i wearing a mask? i kind of realized the older i got he only tried to protect us. >> if you look at ten days leading up to christmas, about 45% of the overall holiday gifts get purchased then. people look to push it to the whej they know they can get great deals. >> santa comes once a year. i'm here every day. >> if you believe you, know, unbelievable things can sometimes be possible. >> would it be possible for them this weekend? >> we will see. we will see. tebow is the man right now. and "insomniac theater" is coming up next. don't go far. niac theater is coming up next. don't go far. " is coming up next. don't go far. but it doesn't cover everything. in fact, it only pays up to " 80% of your part b expenses. if you're already

. >> i'm calling him a coward. abuse children like this is by definition a coward. >> so let me get this straight, you, captain rodgers want to ale - apologize to alec baldwin. >> did you think this is kind of weird? >> this is stupid. why am i wearing a mask. >> if you look at ten days leading up to christmas. 10% of the overall holiday get purchased then. people look to push it to the end. >> santa cups once a year. i'm here every day. >> if you believe you, know, unbelievable things can sometimes be possible. >> would it be possible for them this week ♪ >> we will see. we will see. tebow is the man right now. and insomniac theater is coming up next. don't go far. medicare supplement nsurance card, too. medicare is one of the great things about turning 65, but it doesn't cover everything. in fact, it only pays up to " 80% of your part b expenses. if you're already on or eligible for medicare, call now to find out how an aarp... insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company, not paid by medicare part b. that can s

. >> he's a coward for not showing up and facing them today. once they were prepared and gone through the wrenching gut check of getting ready to do this, depriving them of a chance to tell their story to his face. >> reporter: but they'll get another chance if there's no plea deal and this case goes to trial. michael isikoff, nbc news, bellefonte, pennsylvania. >>> up here next tonight, there's something you should know about those plans to cut back at the post office. >>> and a plan to do something about the volume of what you're about to see, commercials on television. >>> about those postal service budget cuts that are supposed to cut back on our mail service and slow it down a bit, well there's been a delay placed on the planned closing of those 252 regional sorting centers. now delayed until may while senate democrats try to pass the funding to save them. >>> and they say it doesn't happen officially, but it happens and we've all heard them and complained about them. the television commercials that air at a higher volume than what you're

a lawyer for one of them called sandusky a coward for not facing his accusers, but there was also a sense of relief. >> every time he has to tell it in preparation and otherwise, it relives those -- those ghastly moments for him and now he doesn't have to do that. >> meanwhile, sandusky's attorney is in some hot water for comments he made after the hearing was called off. joseph amendola said that if anyone thinks penn state officials knew about sandusky's alleged behavior and failed to act, they should think again. >> their response was simply to tell jerry sandusky that don't go in the shower room any more with kids, i suggest you dial 1-800-reality because that makes absolutely no sense. >> amendola said he has used that 1-800 phrase for years to mean something doesn't make sense. to his embarrassment, the number turns out to be a gay sex line. >>> now to a story that illustrates changing social attitudes in this country. the percentage of married adults has fallen to a record low. just 51% of adults 18 years and older are now married. a pugh research center says that is a drop from 57

they handed us notes, we don't shed tears for the martyrs, we shed tears for the cowards, one read. certainly it's a regime that shows no signs of listing its crackdown on the opposition. what's your message to president assad? >> leave. leave now because you know that you will leave in the end, but with more victims and more suffering of the people. so just leave and leave us to start our new future and our new country. you have enough of our blood. >> cbs news, new york. >>> and coming up on the morning news, a major lawsuit in the gulf oil spill. plus, a rare night of frigid temperatures and heavy snow near mexico. this is "cbs morning news." this is "cbs morningews." race l without a helmet. i took some steep risks in my teens. i'd never ride without one now. and since my doctor prescribed lipitor, i won't go without it for my high cholesterol and my risk of heart attack. why kid myself? diet and exercise weren't lowering my cholesterol enough. now i'm eating healthier, exercising more, taking lipitor. numbers don't lie. my cholesterol's stayed down. lipitor is fda approved to r

"we don't shed tears for the martyrs, we shed tears for the cowards" one read. later on, razan introduced us to people who have paid a high price for demonstrating against the assad regime. this 20-year-old was shot three times at this protest in july, captured on a cell phone. five months later, he is bedridden, but he says the minute he can walk he will be back on the streets marching for freedom. he says "the regime is the dev devil." certainly it's a regime that shows no signs of lifting its crackdown on the opposition. what's your message to president assad? >> leave. leave now. because you know that you will leave at the end, but with more victims and with more suffering of the people. so just leave and leave us to start our new future, our new... you've got enough of our blood. >> pelley: clarissa ward joins us tonight. clarissa, what do these people want from the assad government. >> reporter: i think in the short term clearly they want for assad's regime to be overthrown. but more broadly speaking, this is really a battle for freedom and i spoke to one