The Way Out of Iraq

On May 11, Navy Petty Officer and US Army Sergeant Kevin Benderman will stand before military court martial tribunals for refusing to participate in the Iraq war. These men applied for and were denied conscientious objector status because of their public statements against the continuing war. They now face military jail time and forfeiture of pay and benefits.

On May 2, Pablo's brother Victor Paredes, Kevin's wife Monica, and anti-war, veteran and military family organizers from across the country sent a public letter calling for May 10th to be a National Day of Action in Support of GI Resistance. Support actions are being organized in 20 cities, including San Diego, Baltimore, Buffalo, Burlington, Charlotte, Deerfield, Helena, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New Haven, New York City, Orlando, Ventura, Providence, Rochester, San Francisco, and Springfield. A group of supporters from across California will caravan to San Diego to be present at Pablo Paredes court-martial, where Paredes says he intends to "put the war on trial. After all, it's the real crime here."

There are thousands of other resisters. While many of them keep their resistance private, all of them are taking courageous stands against the war and in support of international law. GI resistance has the power to stop the war and occupation in Iraq. The Bush Administration can't fight war or maintain an occupation without obedient troops. Nor can they begin new wars without enough compliant soldiers. Courage to Resist, a new group of concerned community members, vets and military families, has helped organize the May 10th day of action as part of their goal to "organize support for military objectors to illegal war and occupation and the underlying policies of empire."

Courage to Resist's campaign has three key areas:

1. Supporting troops (or private or government employees) who refuse deployment or otherwise resist the war and occupation. 2. Counter-Recruitment. Use education to reduce the military's ability to recruit young people, disproportionately low income and of color. 3. Resisting the Draft and Draft Registration. Support young men to refuse to register for the selective service and prepare for mass resistance to a possible draft.

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