[Peace-discuss] Selling the War on Iraq (fwd)

Wed Oct 16 09:28:15 CDT 2002

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 16 Oct 2002 13:20:01 -0000
From: MoveOn Bulletin <moveon-help at list.moveon.org>
To: Dr. Paul Patton <ppatton at uiuc.edu>
Subject: Selling the War on Iraq

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
MoveOn Bulletin
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
Editor: Susan Thompson, susan.thompson at moveon.org
Editorial Assistant: Leah Appet, leah at moveon.org

Subscribe online at:
http://www.moveon.org/moveonbulletin/

CONTENTS:
---------
1. Introduction: Saying No to War, Drafted or Otherwise
2. One Link: All About Conscientious Objection
3. Conscientious Objection and the Draft
4. Conscientious Objection and Taxes
5. Conscientious Objection, the "War on Terrorism", and Iraq
6. Conscientious Objection in the Past: Some Examples
7. Actions, Organizations, and Links
8. About the MoveOn bulletin and MoveOn.org

INTRODUCTION:  SAYING NO TO WAR, DRAFTED OR OTHERWISE
-----------------------------------------------------
Our readers may already be wondering why we've chosen to spend a
bulletin on the topic of conscientious objection when US citizens
aren't facing a draft.

It is important to remember that conscientious objection does not
only affect draftees -- it affects anyone who is considering or is
currently involved in military service. And it's more about
determining one's personal beliefs and opinions that it is about
legally qualifying as an objector.

But while we are not currently facing a draft, it is not outside
of the realm of possibility. In every war since Vietnam, the US
has managed to conduct military operations using the resources of
the volunteer-based military alone. The campaign against Iraq may
buck that trend. According to plans leaked to the New York Times,
it's likely that after a war the US will occupy Iraq and put a
military government in control for five years or more. And US
military personnel remain engaged in operations around the globe,
from the Philippines to Georgia. As the armed forces are stretched
thinner, the likelihood of needing to find the personnel to
supplement them increases.

Some leaders are calling for a draft for reasons other than
personnel shortages. They believe that the change to an
all-volunteer army has contributed to a generation of young
Americans with no sense of duty or obligation to their country. A
draft would supposedly correct this problem, while also helping to
increase safety and security at home.

In fact, after years without any legislation on the subject, a new
bill was introduced last year that would reinstitute the draft. It
continues to languish in the House, but the possibility remains
that the bill could be given more serious consideration if a need
arises for replacement troops -- or if the idea of making young
Americans more patriotic by enlisting them gathers more support.
18-year-old men are still required to register (in many states,
they can't receive their driver's license unless they do so),
meaning that it would take little time to begin calling people up
for a draft once Congress approved it.

A new draft remains unlikely for the moment -- but is not nearly
as far-fetched as we may wish. What does this all mean to the
person who opposes war? Ultimately, it means that it is still
important to understand what conscientious objection means, and
how to legally qualify to become one of the two federally
recognized types of conscientious objector. And it means giving
some serious consideration to your own beliefs and principles as
they relate to war and peace. Although the term "conscientious
objection" can certainly be limited to the legal meaning of
refusing to participate in some or all military service because of
religious or moral objections to killing others, at heart
conscientious objection is simply opposition to war. Asking "am I
a conscientious objector?" means reviewing the moral, spiritual,
political, and personal beliefs that help you determine the code
of conduct for your own life and balancing a love of, or devotion
to, the principles of your country versus other principles that
guide you.

This is why we believe that learning about conscientious objection
is important whether or not a new draft is instituted. Whether
legally recorded or not, the root of the matter remains the same
-- determining one's beliefs about war and peace. It is an
essential part of any antiwar action.

ONE LINK: ALL ABOUT CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
--------------------------------------------
This excellent page answers important questions about why
conscientious objection is important, what it is, what types of
conscientious objection are recognized by law, what other types of
conscientious objectors there are, and what obligations a person
has to fulfill as a conscientious objector. It also includes a
brief worksheet to help prepare for filling out the appropriate
legal forms (relevant only in the event of a draft, but useful to
have prepared beforehand).
http://www.nisbco.org/What_Do_I.htm

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION AND THE DRAFT
--------------------------------------
This is a chronology of conscription in the United States.
Currently, "the U.S. operates under an all-volunteer armed forces
policy. All male citizens between the ages of eighteen and
twenty-six, however, are required to register for the draft and
are liable for training and service until the age of thirty-five."
http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-5669.html

This is a brief page about what to do if you are facing draft
registration (all men residing in the United States who were born
on or after Jan. 1, 1963 are required to register for the draft
within 30 days of their 18th birthday or face a possible penalty
of $250,000 or five years in jail.)
http://peace.mennolink.org/articles/co_advice.html

It is unlikely that a draft will be instituted during the current
phase of the war on terrorism. Still, if you have any questions
about the draft, this quick page of questions and answers provides
a good introduction.
http://www.csmonitor.com/explainers/Draft.html

This is a valuable explanation of what kinds of beliefs can
qualify a person as a conscientious objector in the eyes of the
government.
http://www.scn.org/ip/sdmcc/co.htm

People who are drafted for military service and successfully apply
to become conscientious objectors will probably be reassigned to
alternative service for the same amount of time as they would have
served in the military. This service could include working in
health care, education, conservation, or another job which is
"deemed to make a meaningful contribution to the maintenance of
the national health, safety, and interest." This is the official
fact sheet on alternative service.
http://www.sss.gov/FSconsobj.htm

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION AND TAXES
----------------------------------
The Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill was introduced into the
House in 2001. It would ensure that conscientious objectors could
pay taxes to a Peace Tax Fund, and thus still pay taxes without
supporting the military.
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/advact97.htm

Rather than waiting until this or another bill is passed, some
people still refuse to pay part or all of their taxes as a form of
protest and civil disobedience. Different methods carry varying
degrees of risk, but for a person of conscience, this risk may be
a reasonable alternative to funding a war effort that is killing
people.
http://www.nonviolence.org/issues/taxes.htm

You may also consider contributing to the War Tax Resisters
Penalty Fund, which helps pay the taxes of American conscientious
objectors who are being prosecuted for war tax resistance. This
action carries much less personal risk and still expresses a
financial objection to the war effort.
http://peace.moveon.org/r.php3?redir=7

A group of Quakers in New York and Connecticut has set up an
escrow account where you can send the "military portion" of your
federal taxes as a form of civil disobedience. The funds are
returned if the IRS levies them from other assets. They are
considered to be taxes paid on time and in good faith, even if
this is not recognized by the US government.
http://w3.execnet.com/elkins/peace_tax_escrow_account.htm

Take a quick look at war tax resistance over the last 30 years as
told through pictures:
http://peace.moveon.org/r.php3?redir=9

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION, THE WAR ON TERRORISM, AND IRAQ
-------------------------------------------------------
Who is opposing war on Iraq? This article provides an overview of
recent polls that show how support for the war is plummeting, and
also that the core supporters of war on Iraq are rural, white,
male, southern Republicans without a college diploma.
http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/18/judis-j.html

For many of the 133 House members and 23 senators who voted
against war powers for Bush last week, their vote was a vote of
conscience.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1011-02.htm

Would those who support war on Iraq still do so if it meant
enlisting, or a draft? Or do most of the people calling for a war
on Iraq want "war on the cheap?" While this article sometimes
reads more like a call to enlist to protect the country than an
anti-war statement, it still offers a compelling argument that
"[b]eing unwilling to offer our flesh and blood is tantamount to
confessing that overtaking Iraq has nothing to do with democracy
or freedom."
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/1008-01.htm

Whether or not there is a new draft, those people currently
enlisted in the military also have the option to reconsider their
service and become conscientious objectors. David Wiggins of
Alternet calls on all US soldiers to resist and refuse to attack
Iraq.
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14289

In 2001, the Pentagon denied that a new draft was being considered
to help supply troops to the "war on terrorism." Senior officials
noted that no draft has been needed to help fight any war since
the volunteer system has been introduced, even the first Gulf War.
However, some analysts noted that a draft could still be more
likely now than in the past, especially as the war on terrorism
increases in scope and length, since draftees would then be needed
to "fill personnel gaps."
http://peace.moveon.org/r2.php3?r=172

Others have argued that a new type of draft needs to be instituted
to train people to protect America from terrorist threats at home.
http://peace.moveon.org/r2.php3?r=173

"After September 11th, the only thing likely to happen is that
which was previously inconceivable. Could war in Iraq bring
terrorism back to our country? Could it lead to a regional
conflagration in the Middle East? Could it lead to another draft?"
According to the author of this article, the answer is very
possibly yes to all of these questions. In fact, on Dec. 20 of
2001, a bill was introduced to the House which calls for the
drafting of all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 22 for
military service.
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=8136

HR 3598 The Universal Training and Service Act has been introduced
but is not currently moving through Congress. It is unlikely that
it will be passed in its current form. However, the fact that it
has been introduced leaves room for a less extreme version to
possibly be passed, meaning that the end result of the bill could
still be conscription. This page includes information on the key
points of the bill and who to write in order to oppose it.
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/200202/notdraft.htm

Meanwhile, in April of this year, Rep. Ron Paul introduced a bill
in the House to eliminate the Selective Service System and the
Selective Service Act.
http://peace.moveon.org/r2.php3?r=174

EXAMPLES OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
-------------------------------------
In Israel, a number of soldiers have refused to serve in the
occupied territories. Israel does not recognize conscientious
objection and many of the men must serve time in prison for their
refusal. This is a brief overview of the history of this group of
"refuseniks."
http://www.flonnet.com/fl1914/19140570.htm

This is another article about the Israeli refuseniks which gives a
more visceral sense of the emotional strain which prompted them to
become conscientious objectors.
http://peace.moveon.org/r2.php3?r=175

Alternative service has, in the past, been very dangerous. During
WW II, American COs participated in road building and
reforestation projects -- and scientific experiments that "gave
COs the opportunity to prove themselves ready to serve in
dangerous situations that would not require taking human life."
http://www.afsc.org/hist/2002/cpsguin.htm

This review of the PBS movie "The Good War and Those Who Refused
to Fight It" describes the lives and roles of conscientious
objectors during the extremely popular second World War.
http://www.afsc.org/youthmil/200112/resource.htm

PBS has a lot of information online related to "The Good War and
Those Who Refused to Fight It." Perhaps the most interesting point
of the film is that conscientious objectors contributed
significantly to many aspects of life within the US both during
and after the war, including powerful social movements and the
arts. Includes pictures, a timeline, biographies and quotes
related to individual conscientious objectors, video clips, and
more.
http://www.pbs.org/itvs/thegoodwar/

The singer/songwriter Joan Baez has long been involved in anti-war
activism, and has often refused to pay portions of her taxes as a
method of conscientious objection.
http://baez.woz.org/jbchron.html

ACTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND LINKS
----------------------------------
The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors.
http://www.objector.org/

Center on Conscience and War.
http://www.nisbco.org/

Peace Taxpayers is a site meant to provide information, resources,
support, and actions geared towards conscientious objection
through not paying taxes.
http://www.peacetax.org/welcome.htm

The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund is an organization
devoted to supporting and instituting legislation that allows
people to withhold part of their taxes as a form of conscientious
objection.
http://www.peacetaxfund.org/

Links for Military Conscientious Objectors. List of organizations
that offer counseling to military personnel seeking a discharge.
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/3899/links.html

This is a list of links to programs around the world that aid
conscientious objectors. It also includes a brief list of articles
related to conscientious objection.
http://www.afsc.org/pindx/cos.htm

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