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.
Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft (COMD)
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.
- Rick Jahnkow
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Alarm Over House Draft Proposal Misses the More Immediate Problem
From Draft NOtices, March-April 2002
— Rick Jahnkow
A Universal Military Training and Service Act (HR 3598) was proposed in the House on December 20, 2001, generating some concern about a possible draft. If passed, the legislation would require young males to report for 6-12 months of training and "education" in the military. Even conscientious objectors would be required to report for non-combat training in the military, a departure from previous drafts that allowed some war objectors to qualify for civilian alternative service.
It is important to know that the consensus among those who follow draft-related legislation is that this particular bill has very little chance of going anywhere. It is poorly designed and not something the Pentagon would want — at least, not in the short term (more on this below). Of course, its introduction may be used to promote a more viable proposal for some form of conscription in the future, and for this reason we need to express our opposition, even to this unrealistic bill. However, if we focus only on HR 3598 and ignore more immediate related developments, we will miss the real point, which is revealed in the details of the bill and the larger context into which it fits.
Ninth CIRCUIT COURT RULING: CONFRONTING MILITARISM BY USING EQUAL ACCESS TO HIGH SCHOOLS
When the military comes to your local high school, you have a legal right to give students an opposing view. This has been the position taken by federal district courts in Florida, Pennsylvania and Illinois and two federal appellate courts. The most broadly-worded decision came from a case that COMD took to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the 1980s. Here is the background:
