SUPPORT FOR TROOPS 

& 

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION

Home

*Peace at Home:

Informed opinion

Justice/Peace

Eco-justice

Patriot Acts

Government Contacts

Because we are a peace group, our most fervent hope is that you, members of our military services, will come home safely and come home without violent engagement. If you must fight, however, we support you in the hope that you will act according to your best understanding of humanitarian values and with a minimum loss of human life---and that you and those you are bound to protect will come through your battles physically and emotionally whole.  

If you have questions about involvement in this (or any war, or any continuation of the present war into the Middle East "neighborhood"), we want for each of you the chance to question, explore and formulate your own position according to your convictions. Below you will find resources relating to conscientious objection in general, as well as enlistment (with alternate opportunities for service to our country), GI rights and structure of the military services. There too is a section relating to fighting a just war and information about international laws of engagement.  These are included so that you can be informed about the world's best expectation of military conduct and reassured if you fight upholding everyone's human rights during conflict.

Know that are thoughts are continue to be with you and your families during this time.

Bill Moyers: Memorial Day Week-end Message on Being a Journalist

Norah Vincent's Memorial Day Op-Ed Piece in the Los Angeles Times

An Open Letter to the U.S. Military that Attacked, Invaded, and Now Occupies the Country of Iraq
by Charlie Liteky in Baghdad (5/05/03)

By way of introduction, my name is Charlie Liteky, a U.S. citizen, a Vietnam Veteran, and a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. However, I renounced the Medal of Honor on July 29,1986 in opposition to U.S. foreign policy in Central America. What the U.S. was
supporting in El Salvador and Nicaragua, namely the savagery and domination of the poor, reminded me of what I was a part of in Vietnam 15 years earlier.

I placed the medal at the apex of the Vietnam Memorial Wall into which are etched the names of 58 thousand young American men. In depth study of the Vietnam War
revealed political and military liars insensitive to the value of human life, inclusive of their own countrymen. The biggest liar was the Commander in Chief of U.S. armed forces, President Lyndon Johnson, who lied to Congress about the Gulf of Tonkin incident. It was this lie that motivated Congress to vote the money for the war. As a veteran of an
ill-fated war, in the waning years of my life, I'd like to share some reflections on my country's attack on Iraq.

Once again, I find myself in protest of a U.S. military action that no court in the world will
declare legal. The U.S. attack on the sovereign country of Iraq fails to meet any of the necessary provisions of a just war. Iraq on the other hand, met the most fundamental condition for a country to use military force against an adversary, namely the defense of its homeland against an unjust aggressor. But, because of the incredible superiority of the U.S.
military, there was no possibility of a successful defense.

In its attack on Iraq, the U.S. violated the UN Charter, international law and universal standards of morality. This is borne out by the worldwide condemnation of the U.S. attack by mainstream religious denominations and spiritual leaders. Claiming liberation of the Iraqi people as a just cause for a war that kills thousands of innocents is hypocrisy at its worst. If liberation of an oppressed people were the real motive behind the invasion of Iraq - why did the U.S. wait 25 years to act? Why did the U.S. refrain from condemning Saddam Hussein's use of chemical weapons in its war with Iran in the 80s? Why did the U.S. fail to prevent chemicals critical to the production of biological weapons from reaching Iraq? How is it that what we condemn today we approved yesterday? Many Iraqi people rejoiced at the sight of their American/British liberators, but many more did not, because they had no legs to walk to the sites of celebration, no arms to wave in jubilation or they had no life left to celebrate. The sanitary military term for such people is "collateral damage."

I first came to Iraq in November of 2002 in response to the bellicose words of war coming from the President of the U.S. and his staff. When I think of children, the most vulnerable of the innocents. In my imagination I could hear them crying, I could see the terror in their eyes and faces as they heard the planes overhead, followed by bombs exploding. I wanted
to be with them to offer what small comfort I could.  This cartoon [of a sly, American eagle with its talons deeply planted in Iraqi earth] published in the Jordan Times on April 23, 2003 depicts what many Arab people believe is the U.S. motivation behind its attack on
Iraq, namely, a deep-rooted, long-lasting presence.  Recently, newspapers have reported that plans are underway to establish four military bases in Iraq.  What the cartoon does not include is the U.S. interest in and access to Iraq's immense oil reserves. A two-time Medal of Honor recipient, General Smedley Butler, said that "War is a Racket" and that he spent
his 33 year military career being a bodyguard for U.S. business interests. I submit that protecting U.S. business interests, sometimes referred to as "national interests" is still the primary mission of the U.S. military. Wartime profits go to a select few at the cost of many. 

Again to quote Gen. Smedley:  "War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly
the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."

This letter containing some of my reflections is not meant to cast blame for an attack on Iraq on U.S. military personnel. I'm sure you believe that what you are a part of is right and just. I once believed the same of my participation in the Vietnam War. I share my thoughts and conclusions as gifts of truth revealed to me through years of studying U.S. foreign policy.
                                                          Sincerely,
                                                                  Charlie Liteky, Vietnam Veteran

PS: God be with you in your search for truth, your
quest for justice, and your efforts to help a
beautiful people.

We are veterans of the United States armed forces. We stand with the majority of humanity, including millions in our own country, in opposition to the United States' all out war on Iraq. We span many wars and eras, have many political views and we all agree that this war is wrong. Many of us believed serving in the military was our duty, and our job was to defend this country. Our experiences in the military caused us to question much of what we were taught. Now we see our REAL duty is to encourage you as members of the U.S. armed forces to find out what you are being sent to fight and die for and what the consequences of your actions will be for humanity. We call upon you, the active duty and reservists, to follow your conscience and do the right thing.   

                                                                                                       <full text>

GI Rights Hotline (1-800-394-9544) a network of nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations who provide information to service members about military discharges, grievance and complaint procedures and other civil rights.

Center on Conscience and War: Questionnaire as a tool to explore and examine your own position: "What do I believe about War?"

Conscientious Objection in the "Coalition of the Willing."

Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors---includes "Helping Out" a guide to military discharges.

Conscientious Objection in the Military---American Friends Service Committee; Pax Christi

Military Enlistment Contract and You

National Youth and Militarism Project

Resource Center For Non-Violence

pic credit: Diane Lent

We must make clear to the Germans that the wrong for which their fallen leaders are on trial is not that they lost the war, but that they started it. And we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into a trial of the causes of the war for our position is that no grievances or policies will justify resort to aggressive war. It is utterly renounced and condemned as an instrument of policy.

     — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, U.S. representative to the International Conference on Military Trials, Aug. 12, 1945.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR TROOPS ABOUT JUST WAR 

& FIGHTING IN A JUST WAR

"It will be no defense to say, 'I was just following orders.'" 

---George W. Bush (3/17/03)

Just War Theory---numerous resources on the internet: Internet Encyclopedia of

    Philosophy (University of Tennessee at Martin)

Opinion about the justness of the present war: the difference between just cause and

    just war---Howard Zinn; NPR program; BBC offering. Senator Edward Kennedy on

    the six principles of a just war.

Opinion about the Soldier's oath---Civics 101: Upholding the Constitution

     including the Bill of Rights...

Teach-In & Speak Out Against Iraq War: Veterans Against Iraq War rally with Author Daniel Ellsberg; Bobby Muller, President, Vietnam Veterans & many others. 3/22/2003: WASHINGTON, DC: 5 hr. 40 min.

Disarmament Documentation---Read recent official documents/statements on arms  

    control, non-proliferation and disarmament. A service of the Acronym Institute which

    works with policy makers and non-governmental organizations to promote

    non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament by disseminating information and maximizing

    negotiating opportunities in all available situations. When arms control measures become

    blocked, as at present on treaty ratification and the proposed ban on the production of

    fissile materials, the Acronym Institute will work to promote constructive dialogue and

    alternative approaches.

International Humanitarian Law--- International Committee of the Red Cross site and

    Humanitarian and human rights documents. History of the Red Cross. 

Refusal to fight---Documents by and about Refuseniks, Conscientious Objectors and

    Veterans with 20/20 hindsight (which you should be allowed to benefit from)

Crimes of War Project--what the public should know

Human Rights Watch's Letter to US and Allies about adherence to the laws of war &

    their Letter to Iraq about adherence to the international laws of war. On this site: write

    to UN and Iraqi delegation about Iraq's threat to execute prisoners of war. This is a

    terrible threat in its action and in its potential to incite revenge.

Amnesty International's Information on International Humanitarian Law; AI's demand that

    Iraq follow the 3rd Geneva Convention, re: treatment of prisoners of war.

International Humanitarian Law Initiative---explores and documents the application

     of international law to situations and conflicts. Defines different conflict situations,

     individual status and targets, implementation of international humanitarian law,

     obligations of defensive and offensive combatants. Defines and explains war crimes.

Military Violence and Abuse in the Military---When violence is sanctioned in war as

     a method of conflict resolution, socially unacceptable violent behavior increases---both

     perpetrator and victim are casualties of war. Because of your service, you may be at   

     higher risk: education and insight can and do help. Human Rights Watch's resources on

     women in armed conflict. See MINCAVA's list of articles and

     resources.  Domestic Violence in the Military---facts and resources.

Web campaign to End the War

GROUPS FOR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES

American Gulf War Veterans

BringThemHomeNow.com

Citizen Soldier

Military Families Speak Out

Military Law Task Force---On Watch, publication with updates and discussions of military law

National Gulf War Resource Center

Northwest Veterans for Peace

Refusing To Kill

SNAFU

Swords To Ploughshares

Texans for Peace---publishes a list of resources for military personnel, both pro-war and anti-war

Veterans Against the Iraq War---news of protest at White House

Veterans for Common Sense

Veterans for Peace---numerous local chapters

Veterans Speakers Alliance

Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation

Vietnam Veterans Against War

Vietnam Veterans Against the War---Anti-Imperialist

THINGS TO DO

BE AWARE ABOUT WHAT IS BEING DONE AT HOME: Personnel, Veterans, Relatives & Friends---use your voices to contact legislators when your interests are at stake.  Government Contacts tool.

Current Issues about Gulf War Syndrome

TakeBacktheMedia

Ways to Support Troops

Mothers of Military Personnel---documentary in progress

Send an e-mail to a serviceperson

ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE AND EDUCATION

Alternatives to the Military