War Resistance Today
In the past few years, tens of thousands of service members have resisted illegal war and occupation in a number of different ways—by going AWOL, seeking conscientious objector status and/or a discharge, asserting the right to speak out against injustice from within the military, and for a relative few, publicly refusing to fight.
According to IVAW, 10,000 soldiers deserted in the first four years of the Iraq war. According to the Army, the number of deserters has increased every year of the war: 3,301 active-duty soldiers deserted the Army in 2006, compared to 2,543 in 2005, and prosecutions for desertion has likewise increased. Many of the soldiers speaking out have already served one or more tour in Iraq or Afghanistan and are refusing to return. This is a crucial moment to build the GI resistance movement to push from within the military for a complete withdrawal of troops from Iraq and change our national priorities away from militarization.
As the the U.S. shifts its focus from the occupation of Iraq to Afghanistan, it is essential that we call into question the conception of Afghanistan as a "just war". The occupation of Afghanistan is just as illegal, traumatizing, and unnecessary as the occupation of Iraq. We must continue to support troops who are forced into active duty in Afghanistan; and most importantly, we must continue to support their acts of resistance.
Source: Washington Peace Center
Here are some recommended links available to better inform you about GI Resistance. This is a work in progress and NNOMY will be adding new documents as they are prepared and as policies change that effect enlistment. Check back periodically.
Resources:
- The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth 2013 Back-to-school Kit for Counter-recruitment and School Demilitarization Organizing is now available to assist you in understanding the work, your rights, and the challenges to return to the public schools to counter-recruit. Please visit this page and review the materials we have assembled for you and feel free to ask questions as well at Our Contact Page and we will do our best to answer you or your group in a timely manner.
- Find a Group
- Materials/Training
- Iraq Veterans Against the War
- Veterans for Peace
- GI Rights Hotline - Phone: 877 447 4487
- Afghanistan Veterans Against the War (In development)
- Courage to Resist
Documents:
Articles on the web:
- Inside G.I. Resistance - Counterpunch - August 05, 2009
- With Lt. Watada's Case, GI Resistance Grows - AlterNet - August 17, 2006
- 1961-1973: GI resistance in the Vietnam War - Libcom.org- Sep 3 2006
- Winter Soldiers Move Toward GI Resistance - Antiwar - March 22, 2008
- Winter Soldier (IVAW): The Future of GI Resistance- Garett Reppenhagen - bliptv
- GI Resistance Resources and Info - Washington Peace Center
- Winter Soldier Rules of Engagement - Z Magazine - May 2008
