SNAFU is helping GIs resist
By Dustin Langley
As the brutal military occupation of Iraq continues and U.S.
casualties have passed 1,100, more members of the armed forces
are looking for ways out.
Every day GIs contact the Support Network for an Armed
Forces Union--SNAFU--an organization formed to support
resisters in the military and to help members inside the Armed
Forces get out. (www.join-snafu.org)
One soldier recently wrote to SNAFU: "I am a soldier serving
in Iraq. I have been here for eight months now and this war
sickens me. My question is, can you still get out of the
military as a CO [Con sci entious Objector] if you have already
been to war? After this experience it has left me wondering
what am I doing here. I do not and cannot fight for a war I
don't believe in and harm people that have done no wrong in my
mind. My concern is I don't do this again ever. It is so wrong
on so many levels with me."
Another GI wrote: "I am seeking a discharge. I can't take it
anymore and I need to know a way I can get out without having
to go the bad route and get in trouble over and over again. I
am at my last rope with this and I am really needing help and
no one around here seems to want to help me that's why I am
writing to you. I really need some help before something bad
happens."
SNAFU counselors are helping both these soldiers apply for
Conscientious Objector discharges.
Other young people facing deployment are inquiring about
their options. One member of the National Guard recently wrote:
"I am being deployed very soon to Iraq. I am adamant about not
going because of the obvious reasons that you probably
understand more than I. What choices do I have concerning
deployment? There are others in my situation as well who feel
the same way."
In addition to many requests for discharge information,
young people who have signed up for the military but have not
yet reported to boot camp are changing their minds in greater
numbers. On Nov. 3, the day after the election, SNAFU received
a flood of calls and emails from young people who had changed
their minds about going.
Fortunately, getting out of the military at that point is a
simple process. SNAFU has already helped dozens of young people
do so.
SNAFU organizers will take part in the Nov. 13-14 Fightback
Conference in New York to report on resistance in the military,
the campaign to stop the draft and strategies to fight the
"poverty draft."
Langley is a GI counselor with SNAFU
Reprinted from the Nov. 18, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
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