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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOne way to end the wars is if the troops refuse to go
(I posted this comment in response to another thread, but wanted to post it one it's own. I volunteer and support Vets For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Military Families Speak Out, so I don't make these remarks lightly)
Many of us have given up most of our personal lives have been protesting 12 years. Giving up friends, relationships with family, not having relations in doing so.
Many of us have done so as an obligation to the troops, their families. To speak out for them because we thought they couldn't.
We spoke out and marched because we knew these invasions and occupation and based on lies and immoral.
Many of us did so because we worked with Veterans who attempted and committed suicides. We listened to the active duty troops of these past 12 years. We have listened the families who had military family get killed, get maimed, commit suicide, and in some cases their family members commit suicide because their military family member was killed.
And we listened to the civilians.. we listened to the civilians who visited the US from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Somalia.
the civilians who's family were killed by the US, who were maimed by the US, who's communities where thrown back 300 years because of our bombing, drone attacks, propped up corrupt leaders who are killers.
*** One very effective way to end these wars is if troops refused to go and others refused to sign up, because our calls, marches, sit-ins, arrests, rallies, aren't ending the occupations, the invasions, the continued drone attacks, or Guantanamo. There isn't enough of us with the strength anymore.. many of us have passed away. It will take more of the Veterans, and active duty troops speaking out.
http://www.couragetoresist.org/about.html
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)LOL
Yeah that'll happen
cliffordu
(30,994 posts)annm4peace
(6,119 posts)but it doesn't seem our protests are working either.
A couple years ago a WWII Veteran for Peace told those of us in the group that the protests we were doing wasn't going to stop the Iraq and Afghanistan invasion but will stop the Next War.. that gave me so strength.. but now with all the Democrat Congress members support the bombing of Syria.. even our progressive members.. it seems like the only thing that will end our endless wars is the end of this empire or the troops refusing to fight.. or several national disasters in the US big enough to end our empire building
ForgoTheConsequence
(4,868 posts)But Carlin said something similair.
I blame the soldiers, a lot of people blame the politicians. I blame the soldiers who just keep showing up. These assholes since the Turks, the Greeks, everybody. Testosterone: not smart! No wonder they say, You want an education? Come [to the military]. They NEED an education I just think, if [soldiers] never showed up [for war], what would the statesmen and politicians do? Theyd have to just have fist-fights! Im suggesting theres an alternative, although its probably not doable, its a macro idea The idea is: Fuck these people. Dont go. Nobody goes! If nobody goes, theyre gonna kill them all? Theyre gonna have trials for everyone? Im just living in a different kind of world, I dont subscribe.
BainsBane
(53,026 posts)The plan is to fire cruise missiles from battleships already in the region.
annm4peace
(6,119 posts)war is not predictable
the Iraq War was suppose to be two weeks.
annm4peace
(6,119 posts)this group was incredible.. and I know they saved many lives of returning troops and active duty who were tired of fighting for wars based on lies.
Their name: "Military Families Speak Out" is a powerful statement.
https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6726/t/12810/shop/shop.jsp?storefront_KEY=641
Over the past year, the Board of Directors has worked hard trying to keep Military Families Speak Out running as an all-volunteer organization while facing a number of serious obstacles. After much consideration and in consultation with past and current leaders and allies, we have no choice but to close down the organization. This was a very difficult and emotional decision for all of us, as MFSO has represented a source of strength, support, and comfort to so many families whose loved ones are currently deployed or who carry scars from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Politically, MFSO thrived as an important part of a vibrant anti-war movement during the height of the Iraq War. The organization grew to include opposing the war in Afghanistan, but as the anti-war movement struggled to maintain resources and momentum after the election of Barack Obama, so too did MFSO. With a dedicated staff and active leadership from members, MFSO continued to lobby Congress, share our stories with the media, hold vigils, participate in protests, and build a community of support for military families and Gold Star families who opposed these wars.
annm4peace
(6,119 posts)IVAW'S STATEMENT AGAINST MILITARY FORCE IN SYRIA
published by IVAW National on 08/29/13 7:14pm
posted to:
Staff
On August 23rd, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry addressed the suspected use of chemical weapons by Bashar al-Assad, and a proposed military response. In his remarks to the nation, Secretary Kerry condemned the use of chemical weapons, calling it a moral obscenity. Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) agrees. We believe that US military action in Syria is also obscene. Our vision includes building a movement that is an ally to the oppresseda community connected in solidarity with war torn peoples, including the people of Syria.
We condemn the use of chemical weapons, not only against civilians, but against all peoples in all nations. We know intimately that chemical weapons indiscriminately harm, maim, and kill, while causing long-term health problems and environmental destruction.
As veterans of the Global War On Terror, we are acutely aware that these sorts of indiscriminate and inhumane weapons have comprised our own arsenals throughout history, and that we inherit this legacy. Americas atomic bombs, napalm, and agent orange have killed millions of innocent civilians. For strategic gain, the U.S. actively supported Saddam Hussein while knowing that he was simultaneously using chemical weapons in the Iran-Iraq War. Nevertheless, we were called upon to deploy to Iraq under the false pretense that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, we were party to Americas introduction of white phosphorus and depleted uranium and know all too well their disastrous legacy on the people of those countries. We continue to watch our veteran brothers and sisters die of cancer from exposure to these and other substances employed on the battlefield. As veterans, we cannot help but recognize the glaring hypocrisy of Americas leaders as they demand immediate military action against any country that uses chemical weapons.
Our condemnation of chemical weapons is also based on the principle that military violence against civilians by any means is wrong. Whether through Assads artilleryor through American bombs, bullets, Tomahawk missiles, and droneskilling civilians for military and strategic gain violates international law and basic human decency.
Many of us are Iraq veterans and know what sacrifices have been made in the name of fighting against illegal weapons, only to find that the justification was a lie. We implore our leaders not to follow the mistakes that led to the Iraq war by violating national and international legal conventions.
But beyond law, the use of military force in Syria would be reckless, dangerous, and morally wrong. It will destabilize the conflict and lead to further civilian casualties. As Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, we have also seen how narrow military actions have devolved into invasions and occupations.
So long as non-military avenues exist, we demand their use before war. According to current opinion-polls, the majority of Americans share our deep opposition to military intervention. As veterans, we know all too well the limitations of military action to bring meaningful resolution, and this is why we now call upon the U.S. and international community to exhaust every available non-military option to ensure that a cease-fire is diplomatically secured in Syria. We firmly believe that the Syrian people have the right to self-determination and that international leaders should work tirelessly to secure a space within which the Syrian people can pursue a lasting reconciliation free of outside interference.
***********************************
annm4peace
(6,119 posts)Who we are and what we do
In the past few years, tens of thousands of service members have resisted illegal war and occupation in a number of different waysby going AWOL, seeking conscientious objector status and/or a discharge, asserting the right to speak out against injustice from within the military, and for a relative few, publicly refusing to fight.
While there are those who would like to dismiss war resisters as "cowards," the reality is that it takes exceptional courage to resist unjust, illegal, and/or immoral orders. For many resisters, it was their first-hand experiences as occupation troops that compelled them to take a stand. For others, "doing the right thing" and acting out of conscience began to outweigh their military training in obedience.
Although the efforts of Courage to Resist are primarily focused on supporting public GI resisters, the organization also strives to provide political, emotional, and material support to all military objectors critical of our government's current policies of empire. As a grassroots project with limited resources, Courage to Resist nevertheless has a record of successfully working with many resisters and their families in raising the needed funds for civilian legal representation as well as public education campaigns.
Courage to Resist believes in "informed resistance." It's important for service members contemplating public resistance to have a basic understanding of both the benefits and consequences of doing so, particularly in the context of the very arbitrary military discipline and justice systems.
Those who decide to resist while in the military have powerful stories to tell about how they came to the decision to take a stand. Courage to Resist makes a special effort to work with resisters to tell their stories, in their own words and from their own unique perspectives. We publish those stories on our website, as well as arrange media interviews and public speaking engagements.
annm4peace
(6,119 posts)"I say without any pride that I did my job as a soldier. I commanded an infantry squad in combat and we never failed to accomplish our mission. But those who called me a coward, without knowing it, are also right. I was a coward not for leaving the war, but for having been a part of it in the first place. Refusing and resisting this war was my moral duty, a moral duty that called me to take a principled action. I failed to fulfill my moral duty as a human being and instead I chose to fulfill my duty as a soldier. All because I was afraid. I was terrified, I did not want to stand up to the government and the army, I was afraid of punishment and humiliation. I went to war because at the moment I was a coward, and for that I apologize to my soldiers for not being the type of leader I should have been."
Mejía is interviewed in "The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends (2006)", a documentary about the training and dehumanization of U.S. soldiers, and how they struggle to come to terms with it when they come back home. A quote from him in the movie:
"To the troops, I want to say that there is a way out. We signed a contract, and we swore to protect the constitution and to fight for freedom and democracy, but that's not what we're doing in Iraq. And if it means jail, or if it means disgrace or shame, then that's what it's going to take.... There is no higher freedom that can be achieved than the freedom we achieve when we follow our conscience, and that's something that we can live by and never regret."
annm4peace
(6,119 posts)nor will MSNBC, CNN, or any of the networks.
I doubt they will interview any of the members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, or reporters like Jeremy Scahill.