Blake Ivey says "no" to Afghanistan deployment
By Sarah Lazare, Courage to Resist for AlterNet. October 23, 2008 "I believe war is the crime of our times," Blake Ivey, a specialist in the U.S. Army, said over the phone in a slow, deliberate voice. Ivey, currently stationed in Fort Gordon, Ga., is publicly refusing to deploy to Afghanistan. The 21-year-old soldier filed for conscientious objector status in July but was ordered to deploy while his application was being processed. He is determined not to go, and as of our last phone call, was still actively serving on his base, weighing his options for refusal. To read Blake Ivey's blog, go to: www.blakeivey.com/blog/ Judge bars retrial for Lt. Watada's refusal to deploy to Iraq
By Mark Jensen, UFPPC. October 22, 2008 A federal judge said Tuesday that Lt. Erhen Watada cannot be retried on the most serious charges against him, because he is protected by the U.S. Constitution's ban on double jeopardy, the Associated Press reported.[1] Lt. Watada refused to deploy to Iraq in June 2006 on the grounds that the Iraq war is illegal, and his U.S. Army court-martial in February 2007 ended in a mistrial. Where we are at. An appeal for support
Jeff Paterson, Courage to Resist Project Director. November 14, 2008 www.couragetoresist.org/donate I’m proud to report that we doubled the number of military objectors advised or directly supported since last year. To do this, our organizing collective has stepped up to the challenge in major ways, and we increased our staffing as well. We’re now attempting to do this work in the context of an unprecedented economic meltdown that financially affects every one of us in some way. Even prior to that, we were competing with a historic presidential election campaign for your donation. With the election of Barack Obama, I know many hold out hope for a new foreign policy not based on brutal occupations, and while I count myself among the hopeful, I’m not holding my breath. Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan: Eyewitness Accounts
Available now from Courage to Resist, by Aaron Glantz with forward by Anthony Swofford (paperback). “The only way this war is going to end is if the American people truly understand what we have done in their name.”—Kelly Dougherty, executive director of Iraq Veterans Against the War In spring 2008, inspired by the Vietnam-era Winter Soldier hearings, Iraq Veterans Against the War gathered veterans to expose war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. Here are the powerful words, images, and documents of this historic gathering, which show the reality of life in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hart Viges on becoming a conscientious objector after Iraq
By Courage to Resist. September 29, 2008 Benjamin “Hart” Viges joined to defend America in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Hart quickly found himself as a mortar man attached with the 82nd Airborne. Later he participated in the initial invasion of Iraq. “After we killed enough people (with artillery), we moved into the town… I saw dogs fighting, donkeys fighting, birds fighting in the sky. It seemed like the violence from humans fighting spread out to the rest of life that lived there....I came head on with the question of how can I be a Christian and live the teaching of Jesus, and be a soldier at the same time?”
Part one. 19:06 min. (above). Part two. 8:12 min. (below)
Jeremy Hinzman granted Canada deportation stay
September 23, 2008 The first U.S. Army deserter to seek refugee status in Canada, Jeremy Hinzman, was scheduled for deportation today, however, Crown Justice Richard Mosley granted a stay on the deportation order. Hinzman's lawyer, Alyssa Manning, had argued that "evidence suggests U.S. soldiers who have spoken out against the 2003 U.S.-led Iraq invasion have been facing more punishment than other deserters." Furthermore, Manning stated that the immigration officer had not properly assessed the hardship Jeremy and his family would endure. In the shadow of the RNC, war resisters convene to stop war Courage to Resist workshop on GI resistance with Hart Viges, Selena Coppa, and Matthis Chiroux Sarah Lazare, Courage to Resist. August 29, 2008 This past weekend, as Republicans prepared for their national convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, a more somber gathering was taking place, a few miles away. At a Ramada hotel in Minneapolis, Veterans for Peace along with Iraq Veterans Against the War held a convention calling for an end to the U.S.-led war and occupation of Iraq. These are the soldiers who are called on to fight the war that their government chose to start. While the Republicans continue to celebrate the so-called "War on Terror" and the success of the "surge" in Iraq, the veterans have a different story to tell about carnage, destruction, and physical and mental wounds that have yet to heal. Jeremy Hinzman ordered deported from Canada
By Courage to Resist and War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada). August 13, 2008 The first U.S. war resister to apply for refuge in Canada has been ordered deported by September 23rd. Jeremy is in Canada with his wife Nga Nuyen, and their two young children. This decision flies in the face of the motion adopted by Parliament on June 3, 2008 which calls on the government to allow US war resisters to apply for Permanent Resident status in Canada. Supporters are calling on Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, to intervene. Phone 613.996.4974 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Airman Michael Thurman wins CO discharge
By Courage to Resist. 14:21 min. July 29, 2008 During basic training, Air Force recruit Michael Thurman began to have misgivings about the war in Iraq -- and all war. By the time he was assigned to his first duty station, he realized that he could not continue working for the war machine. He applied for conscientious objector status, and after working with Courage to Resist, he was discharged from the Air Force eight months later.
Actions at 14 Canadian Consulates in U.S. for war resisters
By Courage to Resist. July 16, 2008 Select "Read more..." below for photos and reports Actions were organized in less than two weeks in response to a deportation order issued against U.S. war resister Corey Glass, an Iraq War veteran who was a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard. In a surprising victory, while the delegations were taking place, a Canadian Federal Court granted Corey a last minute reprieve of at least several months while his lawyers are given an opportunity to appeal earlier negative rulings. Corey’s victory was related to a similar recent win by Iraq War veteran Joshua Key. According to the Federal Court in Joshua’s recent favorable ruling, the regular abuse of Iraqi civilians at the hands of the U.S. military are systematic violations of the Geneva Conventions, and should be a basis for granting refugee status. William Shearer gets out of Army
By Courage to Resist. 19:40 min. June 18, 2008 While GI William Shearer was serving in Iraq, he began having serious problems in his personal life. Shearer felt he got no support from the Army for dealing with those problems and began to feel that he was only a body to the military. When he returned home, his marriage had fallen apart and he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Again, he felt that he received no meaningful help from the Army, and decided to find away to get out. Shearer talked with Courage to Resist from his home in Florida.
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