2003 - In the News
Beware of Attempts to Revive Military Draft
Newsday/Common Dreams -- December 22, 2003
Recently, there have been rumors going around about a possible draft after the next presidential elections. As more troops are being deployed, fewer people enlist or re-enlist. Draft plans are in place and would only need congressional approval to be reinstated. J.E. McNeil goes through the reasoning and fallacy behind Rep. Rangel's draft bill. In short, a draft could be neither fair nor equitable; it would only serve to prolong war.
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Free Phone Consultations for Depressed GIs
Le Figaro -- December 8, 2003
The GI Rights Hotline gets hundreds of calls every week, and this number is increasing as the holidays approach. GIs on leave, and especially mobilized Reservists, are considering going AWOL rather than returning to their units. Hotline counselors go over different options and their consequences with every service member who calls. Bill Galvin explains how the military does not want to publicize the number of people who have unauthorized absences because it would make them look bad.
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Counter-Recruitment Conference Ushers in Renewed Resistance to Militarism
CCCO -- July 2003
"Stopping War Where It Begins: Organizing Against Militarism in Our Schools" was the name of the first national counter-recruitment conference, which took place in Philadelphia June 27-29, 2003. There were representatives from 11 sponsoring peace organizations and about 40 other endorsing organizations throughout the U.S. CCW was one of the sponsors, and Bill Galvin led one of the workshops. Information was exchanged, issues were linked, skills and resources were shared. A national network of organizations involved in counter-recruitment will be developed.
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Conscientious Objectors in a Volunteer Army
Chicago Tribune/Hyde Park Media -- June 2003
Deidre Cobb is yet another member of the Reserves trying to get out since the war began. The paperwork for her conscientious objector claim, which includes a recommendation letter by Patch Adams, M.D., is currently under review. J.E. McNeil is quoted throughout the article, explaining the different types of COs and the discharge process.
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Rise of Conscientious Objection
AlterNet.org -- April 21, 2003
More and more members of the U.S. military are experiencing a crystallization of their conscientious objector beliefs. With any luck, they will be treated better than their counterparts during the first Gulf War, many of whom were thrown in jail instead of recognized as COs. Bill Galvin, J.E. McNeil, and Stephen Funk are quoted. (essentially the same article as the one below)
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Hundreds of U.S. Soldiers Emerge as Conscientious Objectors
Common Dreams -- April 15, 2003
Since going public with his conscientious objector beliefs, Stephen Funk has become a 'worldwide symbol of resistance' to war. He is one of already hundreds in the military who realize they can no longer serve in good conscience. Military numbers will not reflect this increase because many go AWOL before or instead of getting discharged as a CO, or due to application denials or the choice to get an easier discharge. Many in the military have never heard of conscientious objection; it took Funk months before he found out about the G.I. Rights network.
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Conscientious Objectors Peak during Wartime
The Kentucky Post -- April 2, 2003
During times of war, even without the presence of a draft, the number of conscientious objectors in the military increases as soldiers realize what they are supposed to be fighting for. COs have been documented at least as early as the Civil War, and Stephen Funk is one of the most recent who has spoken out about his beliefs and requested a CO discharge. J.E. McNeil emphasizes that many of those enlisted do not give much thought to war or their beliefs about it until after they join the military.
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Gay Marine Reservist Seeks Objector Status
Gay.com -- April 1, 2003
Conscientious objector Stephen Funk is waiting for his application to be processed. In the meantime, his command at the Marine Corps is accomodating him and letting him work a desk job. Since the war began, there haven't been any COs discharged due to the long CO application process. J.E. McNeil mentions that during the Gulf War, due to stop-loss orders, most COs were imprisoned instead of discharged. It is hard to say whether that will happen again this time around.
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Conscientious Objector Numbers Are Small but Growing
New York Times -- April 1, 2003
Bill Galvin is quoted once more in an article that explores the spread of conscience among service members at the beginning of the war in Iraq.
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Supporting Conscientious Objectors
Witness Magazine -- March, 2003
The Witness interviews Bill Galvin and other key peace/antimilitaristic activists. Organizations such as CCW, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, and the Youth and Militarism program of AFSC are working hard to ensure rights for conscientious objectors both inside and outside of the military. They are also involved in counter-recruitment activities in high schools in low-income areas, more necessary than before since the "No Child Left Behind" Act was passed.
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Conscription Returns to Public Discussion
National Catholic Reporter -- March 21, 2003
With the proposition of two new draft bills in Congress came much national debate regarding military demographics and whether the U.S. will have enough troops for all conflicts in which it's involved. The Bush administration and the Pentagon continue to consider a draft unnecessary and undesirable (for the time being). Though draft legislation is in place and ready to be implemented at any moment, the J.E. McNeil believes there is no reason to panic that a draft will be reinstated in the near future.
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A Few in Military Refuse to Fight 'Wrong War'
USA Today -- March 20, 2003
Although opposition to the Iraq war/occupation is small compared to the Vietnam era, it is catching on. Marine reservist Travis Clark is one of a growing number of military service members who are refusing to go fight in Iraq if their unit is deployed. Some would call Clark disingenuous for having signed up and then changing his mind; others maintain that the military CO regs are there for people who come to realize that they can not in good conscience participate in war.
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