Time for soldiers to consider: Refuse to Fight! Refuse to Kill! [View All]

[Tom Joad]

When you hear the words of a man telling you to kill, remember instead the words of God: 'Thou shalt not kill!' No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the law of God. In the name of God, in the name of our tormented people who have suffered so much and whose laments cry out to heaven, I beseech you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God, stop the repression!'"
Archbishop Oscar Romero, El Salvador, shortly before he was killed by the U.S. financed military junta.

Americans are now becoming aware of the massacre at Haditha, where 15 civilians were massacred, that took place in November. In March, the Knight Ridder news agency obtained an Iraqi police report accusing U.S forces of murdering 11 civilians by rounding them up them up into one room of a house near the city of Balad and shooting them. These are not isolated incidents. What is remarkable about them is that in each case there were honest journalists who uncovered the story, and persevered despite attempts to dismiss the story. But what happens when there are no journalists… they can’t be everywhere. Or what about the siege of Fallujah, where between 4,000 and 6,000 people were killed?

Most importantly, consider that the war itself is a war of aggression, based on known lies and deceptions.

No soldier is required to obey unlawful orders. In fact, it is her/his duty to refuse such orders.

It has come to the point where soldiers are being ordered to become professional killers. These incidents happened because of what these men have been ordered to do. To induce fear in the civilian population so it will submit to military occupation. It is the commanders who are fully responsible.

"Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot. ... It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling.'' Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Mattis (Mattis is at present the commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., and deputy commandant for combat development

There are choices, there is an alternative. Soldiers are choosing to lay down their arms and refuse participation in this illegal war. Yes, there is often a price to be paid for that action. However, there is also a community of support. Some are choosing to flee to Canada, where there is a very popular http://www.resisters.ca"> support group for military resisters there, and they will help resisters with the legal and practical needs (like housing). For military resisters who stay in the United States, there are also support groups.
Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors is one.
Courage to Resist is another.
Some have already taken this path, and you can find their stories here. One such story is that of Sgt. Kevin Benderman, who is serving a 15 month sentence for his refusal to continue in Bush’s war. More stories are coming.

It was resistance within the U.S. military that finally ended the Vietnam War. It will be a very important part of how we the people end the war in Iraq.

It is time that we at DU again reached out to our friends in the military and provided a haven of support for those who will be making very difficult decisions in the days ahead. We will do all we can to end this war. We will do all we can to make sure that veterans receive full services and medical care, for themselves and their families.
If you choose to resist, we will stand with you!

read (or watch) excellant Democracy Now! piece on the Haditha scandal, and cover-up.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/30/1332253