Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft (COMD)

: Molly Morgan; Articles Archive; 01 May 2002; Hits: 1355

U.S. Indoctrinated Afghan Children with Hate and Violence

From Draft NOtices, May-June 2002

- Molly Morgan

Less than one month after September 11, 2001, the Bush administration launched a military campaign to establish political and economic control over the geopolitically strategic country of Afghanistan. The cover story invented by the White House for this illegal action is the so-called "war on terrorism." Although 15 of the 19 suspects who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were from Saudi Arabia, the U.S. war on Afghanistan was justified because it harbored the alleged ringleader of the terrorists, Osama bin Laden (who is yet another Saudi, not an Afghan). The military began by bombing the terrorists' training camps, which were easy for them to find. As even the corporate media reported, they had been built with U.S. tax dollars by the CIA.

: Marion Morgan; Articles Archive; 01 May 2002; Hits: 1394

Israeli Refuseniks Raise a Powerful Dissenting Voice

From Draft NOtices, May-June 2002

- Marion Morgan

In recent months, a growing number of Israeli soldiers dubbed "refuseniks" are refusing to serve in the occupied Palestinian territories. As the violence in the current Intifada has escalated, more young men are stating their opposition to the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem by refusing to carry out their compulsory military service in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) in these areas. And while pundits on both sides argue about whether their actions represent the heroic stance of conscientious objectors or a dangerous aberration that cannot be tolerated, the significance of their resistance -- and the attention it is garnering -- cannot be denied.

: Ray Wolf; Articles Archive; 01 March 2002; Hits: 1381

Does the Military Protect Our Freedom?

From Draft NOtices, March-April 2002

— Ray Wolf

"I’d like to thank our military personnel for defending our country and protecting our freedoms." In the wake of September 11, this is a common public acknowledgment from celebrities, politicians, myriad TV and radio commentaries, and many people on the streets of the United States.

As a Navy veteran, whenever I hear statements like these, I think, "What are they talking about? Since when does the military have anything to do with freedom?" If I make this statement out loud, I’m often told that the military protects my right to criticize the U.S. government and the military. I use such circumstances as an opportunity to educate people who believe that the military protects our freedoms. Here is one blueprint I’ve used successfully in conversations with friends, family and even strangers to shift the conversation.