Barbara's Sharebook 

1. Like Iraq, it is also illegal
2. No military solution to terrorism
3. Funds used for war are needed at home
4. Civilian casualties are not acceptable
5. War is not good for women in Afghanistan
6. Support the troops: Bring them home now
7. Torture and human rights abuses
8. Climate change and resource wars
9. War destabilizes Afghanistan and the region
10. Respect Afghani self-determination; No to global military intervention

Afghanistan: Ten reasons to resist

By Courage to Resist. August 5, 2009

..... While the military is not forthcoming with information about the number of troops refusing deployment to Afghanistan, statistics suggest military resistance overall is on the rise. Since 2002, the Army has court-martialed twice as many soldiers for desertion and other unauthorized absences per year than for each year between 1997 and 2001. AWOL rates in the Army are at their highest since 1980, with the desertion rate having jumped 80 percent since the start of the Iraq War, according to AP.......Several individuals have publicly refused deployment to Afghanistan......

[War Resistor Victor Agosto wrote:] "There is no way I will deploy to Afghanistan. The occupation is immoral and unjust. It does not make the American people any safer. It has the opposite effect." The words were scrawled on a military counseling statement, a routine piece of paperwork turned in to the commander of a Ft. Hood, Texas Army unit headed for Afghanistan. It was signed Victor Agosto, U.S.Army........Agosto is now awaiting an August courts martial for publicly refusing orders to deploy to Afghanistan. Having served in the Army since 2005, including a tour in Iraq, Agosto can no longer bear to serve and says that he is, "ready for the consequences, whatever they are."

.....Agosto admits he has been scared of what might happen to him at each step along the way, from writing his refusal on his counseling form to refusing an order on base. Yet, he is determined not to fight this war.

"Overwhelming support from the central Texas peace community has made things easier," says Agosto. "People at Under the Hood and in the greater peace community have been there for me every step of the way."

Agosto has also received support from fellow soldiers as well. "Some of the people in my unit will flash me peace signs when they walk by me," he says. "The other day when I was coming back from the shop, this soldier stopped me and said he wanted to shake my hand. He told me he looked up to me for not going to fight a war I don't believe in."

Help support Victor! Donate to his defense at couragetoresist.org/victor

From "Courage To Resist; Supporting the troops who refuse to fight!"   www.couragetoresist.org  facebook.com/couragetoresist     

484 Lace Park Ave #41, Oakland, CA 94610     510-488-35

Military resisters, their families, veterans and concerned community members call for public action Dec. 8-10th!

photo by : Jeff Paterson

• GET INVOLVED TODAY! HERE'S HOW..

• Participating Groups and Individuals
• Downloadable Organizing Kit
  

Objection by military servicepersons is a healthy and important assertion
of democracy, particularly in a country where the decisions to invade, to
maintain occupation, and to engage in widespread ongoing torture, human
rights violations and war crimes are made undemocratically in violation of
the US Constitution and international law and based on continuing lies and
disinformation.

Showing widespread support for soldiers who resist is one of the best ways
those of us outside the military can encourage the growing momentum of the
GI resistance movement—a movement that has the direct power to end this
war.

Supporting GI resistance, together with counter recruitment and draft
resistance, is key to stopping illegal war and occupation ourselves. If
the government can't recruit or draft enough new troops, and if troops
refuse illegal immoral orders, it will help end the war and occupation and
help prevent the next one. Look at the Vietnam War!

We ask you to begin mobilizing your group, community and networks now. As
well as educating your organization’s members, please consider hosting one
or more public events to help raise awareness and build support.
Visit http://www.CourageToResist.org for more information or to contribute
to build this campaign.

 WHY YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL:

Your participation in these days of action—and beyond-- is crucial to
realizing these goals: together, we do have the power to end this war and
prevent the next one. As the antiwar movement builds its support for these
brave people and their important actions, we hope more will take a stand
if we show them they won't be alone.

Those of us outside the military must match their bravery by escalating
our support for all GI resisters. They've got to know we're out here for
them!

Different Drummer Cafe, GI Coffeehouse, to open its doors Oct. 27, 2006