Operation Refuse
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Editorial 15th May is International Conscientious Objectors' Day, and in 2006 War Resisters' Operation Refuse War International focuses on the situation of and support to US war resisters: GIs applying for 15 May – International Conscientious Objectors' Day 2006 conscientious objector status, going AWOL, or finding other ways to get discharged from the US military. The ongoing war in Iraq lead to growing dissatisfaction among soldiers, especially from the US forces, who form the main foreign contingent in Iraq. Those who apply for discharge as conscientious objectors, or who go AWOL, are only the visible tip of the iceberg. The 'stop-loss' policy of the US military – a policy which means that a soldier has to continue to serve although his/her contract has come to an end – is not only a reaction to the growing counter-recruitment movement (see page 3), but also a reaction to soldiers' unwillingness to re-enlist after the end of their contract. However, at the same time this policy adds to the growing dissatisfaction. For anti-war activists it is important to build bridges to soldiers who oppose the war, and who want to get out of the Support US War Resisters military. The US anti-war movement has a better Stephen Funk turns himself in. Photo: WRI Archive understanding of this than most other anti-war movements, especially in Europe. Focusing people who had heard about my Stephen Funk was one of man being? ing effect. It was if I had been on soldiers' resistance from story. I received thousands of let- the first resisters who went to When I discovered I was a con- holding my breath underwater the within – in order to get out – ters from people all around the prison for his conscientious scientious objector I didn’t know entire time and I had finally sur- therefore also provides an world who supported my act of objection to the war in Iraq in that I had any rights to act on faced for fresh air. opportunity to learn from the peaceful resistance. The contin- 2003, serving six months. For those beliefs. Military indoctrina- In late 2002 I lived in San Fran- US experience, and to build ued support meant so much to The Broken Rifle, he tells his tion leads one to think that their cisco and spent one weekend a support structures for me, it meant I had not been im- story. own beliefs are insignificant and month as a Marine reservist. The soldiers/conscientious prisoned for no reason, it meant selfish, and that no enlisted per- rest of the time I spent marching objectors in other countries. that others were out there and I joined the United States Mar- sonnel have the power or the in the streets to protest the inva- Andreas Speck ine Corps when I was 19 years right to act as individuals. While sion of Iraq, and to work on my ap- were working for a peaceful world. old. I was looking for adventure, in rifle training I happened to quali- plication for conscientious I was released in 2004 and for a sense of purpose, and for a fy as an expert rifleman. Instead objection. With support from oth- continue to work for peace and sense of belonging. I had no idea of congratulating me, my instruct- er activists I organized a press justice. I work with various organ- what I was getting myself into. or told me that in a real situation I conference in April of 2003 to de- izations including Iraq Veterans The Broken Rifle When I entered Basic Training wouldn’t have “scored” so well. clare myself a conscientious ob- Against the War, Veterans for and was forced to be violent, At first I was angry, after all I had jector. I was among the earliest Peace, and Vets4Vets. I trans- The Broken Rifle is the shout “kill, kill, kill!” constantly, excelled at what was asked of applicants for conscientious object- ferred to Stanford University last newsletter of War Resisters' shoot human shape targets, and me, but then I thought about what or status in this war and the very fall and have declared a major in International, and is published stab human shaped sandbags, I he had said and realized he was first to go public with my beliefs. I International Relations. in English, Spanish, French knew I had made a grave mistake right. I told him that he was right, went public because it was the May 15th is International Con- and German. This is issue 70, by enlisting in the military. Unfortu- that I would not “score” as well in right thing to do; I was able to go scientious Objectors’ Day. It is a May 2006. nately, like most people who a real situation, because I believe public because of all the support I time to celebrate the victories This issue of The Broken enter a military contract, I had not that killing is wrong. Although it was receiving from the peace com- made by CO’s such as the recent Rifle provides information on seriously asked myself the ques- may seem insignificant, stating munity. release of Mehmet Tarhan of Tur- WRI's campaign for tions military recruiters will never out loud what had been With continued support I key, as well as the progress of International Objectors' Day, ask. Why does war exist? Is war repressed throughout my training, began a public campaign to let oth- the peace movement. It is also a and was produced by Andreas justifiable? Could I kill another hu- that I am a pacifist, had an amaz- ers in military service know that time to renew support for those Speck. Special thanks go to they have the right and the duty who are continuing to struggle in Stephen Funk, Steve Morse, to disobey unlawful and immoral their work for peace. Most re- Kevin Ramirez, and all others orders. The military wanted to si- cently, Flight Lieutenant Dr Mal- who provided the information lence my voice and sought to colm Kendall-Smith was used in this issue. If you want make an example out of me. In imprisoned for his refusal to extra copies of this issue of The September 2003 I was brought be- serve. In the U.S. Kevin Bender- Broken Rifle, please contact fore a military court martial. I was man is serving a prison sentence the WRI office, or download it sentenced to six months in milit- and the military is threatening ac- from our website. ary prison, my military rank was re- tion against Katherine Jashinsky duced to Private, and I was given for her public resistance. These War Resisters' International, a Bad-Conduct Discharge. men and women, and others who 5 Caledonian Road, I went to prison proud of what are being persecuted in the quest London N1 9DX, Britain I had accomplished, but sad that I for peace, deserve and need our tel +44-20-7278 4040 was being incarcerated for speak- support. fax+44-20-7278 0444 ing out for peace. While I was im- [email protected] prisoned the antiwar movement Peace, http://wri-irg.org/pubs/br70-en.htm marched on without me but I con- Stephen Funk tinued to receive support from 2 International Conscientious Objectors' Day: Support for US objectors The Broken Rifle No 70, May 2006 Military Service in the United States of Women Resisting War America: Issues of War Resisters League Peace Award Conscience and holding some of the mightiest of ideals for Human Rights Since 1958, WRI's US the greatest, most powerful country on this section War Resisters League earth. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Ser- honours a person or vice, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Cour- War Resisters' International organisation whose work released a report to the United age; these are the seven Army values, represents the WRL's radical values that I wanted to be able to say that I Nations' Human Rights platform of action with the WRL Committee in March 2006, cherished and possessed... There had to Peace Award. Recipients have be some good that would come of the highlighting "issues of included peace agitator A.J. conscience and human rights" carnage, in the end. But this is where I made Muste, civil rights activist my mistake, because in war there is no end. in relation to the US Armed Bayard Rustin, feminist and Forces. The report forms part of We are still in Germany, we are still in pacifist theorist Barbara Korea, we are still in Bosnia, hell, we're still WRI's activities in preparation Deming, Plowshares for 15 May 2006 - International in America. The list goes on and on, and the movement founder Daniel Diedra Cobb only things that are determined are who will Tina Garnanez Conscientious Objectors' Day - "I was a lost Native," Tina Garnanez Berrigan, Gulf War Resisters, A female African American Army vet stay and who will go, who will live and who which focuses on US COs and and many others. reflected on her journey in the Army. resisters. WRI's main concerns who applied for CO status. "I joined the will die, who will rule and who will serve." The 2006 Peace Award Army thinking that I was, quite possibly, up- Tina grew up on a Navajo reserva- are: goes to Women Resisting War tion and attended public school in Farm- from within the US Military. ington, New Mexico. The only daughter ► The procedure for of five children raised by a single mom, recognising conscientious Katherine Jashinski Tina enlisted when she was 17, to get I am a SPC in the Texas Army Nation- objectors of the present all- money for college.