AUT: Stop the Endless War: Boycott the Volunteer Army

[Newdem@xxxxxxx]

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Here is a proposal from New Democracy member Doug Fuda for a practical=20
campaign we can start today to undermine the war machine.

Dave Stratman
Editor, New Democracy
<A HREF=3D"newdemocracyworld.org">newdemocracyworld.org</A>
5 Burr Street
Boston, MA 02130
617-524-4073
************
Stop the Endless War:=20
Boycott the Volunteer Army

by Doug Fuda
January 23, 2003
<A HREF=3D"http://newdemocracyworld.org/index.htm";>www.newdemocracyworld.org=
</A>
=20
Since the immense events of September 11, 2001, a large and diverse antiwar=20
movement has arisen in America to challenge the war plans of the US ruling=20
class. It turns out that the death of the "Vietnam Syndrome" (the refusal of=
=20
Americans to support war) had been declared prematurely after the First Gulf=
=20
War. We are having an impact. The corporate power elite has found it=20
necessary to delay their plans for an Iraq invasion.

The problem for us is that, popular sentiment not withstanding, they will=20
attack anyway if they feel it is essential to their interests. They will rel=
y=20
on their control of the corporate media and the overwhelming power of war=20
itself to weather the storms. And even if they don't attack, if the balance=20
of risks and benefits for them militates against an Iraq invasion at this=20
time, then what about the next war, and the next? Remember, they have pledge=
d=20
a "war on terror" that will last 60 years. This promises to be a long and=20
serious struggle over the future of our society. What will it be: permanent,=
=20
aggressive war directed by powerful, super rich elites or democracy, shared=20
prosperity and self-defense of a decent society? It is not just about one wa=
r.

The antiwar movement needs to go on the offensive against the war machine. W=
e=20
need to have a long range strategy to challenge the power and maneuverabilit=
y=20
of the "War Party" so that we don't have to expend all our energy worrying=20
about each and every tactical move of our adversaries.
=20
Vietnam and the Draft
=20
One foundation of the seemingly invincible elite power is the so-called=20
volunteer army which is a solution that the Masters of War devised for a=20
problem they encountered during the Vietnam years. The army of draftees=20
turned out to be unreliable and volatile, and the widely despised draft=20
itself fueled the greatest antiwar movement in American history. Today the=20
rulers seem almost imperial as they have their own private army to wage thei=
r=20
wars, an army primarily composed of young working class men and without the=20
democratic "messiness" of universal conscription.



The volunteer army seriously divides ordinary people in America along class=20
lines. In "Today's Army," the recruitment is aimed at working class, blue=20
collar kids and poor kids, and that's who they get to be their "grunts." The=
=20
sons and daughters of doctors, lawyers, college professors and upper middle=20
class people in general will not be picking sand out of their teeth in Iraq.



Military recruitment tactics are to use bribery and "incentives" to lure=20
working class kids, to try to appear hip and ultra modern with their "be all=
=20
you can be" and their "awesome" 3D computer games and graphics. They prey on=
=20
the legions of somewhat disconnected, alienated young men who feel that they=
=20
have no bright future or meaningful role in society. They manipulate the=20
desire of the young for action and adventure and their need to find meaning=20
in their lives by being part of something bigger than themselves.=20



But the pillar of elite strength may also turn out to be their greatest=20
weakness. A movement to cripple their war-making power has only to focus on=20
one goal=E2=80=94to dry up the supply of volunteers. In that sense the volun=
teer army=20
is a legacy left for us by that last great popular movement against the=20
Vietnam War=E2=80=94it is the Achilles heel of the war machine. By organizin=
g a=20
widespread and focused boycott of the volunteer military of the United=20
States, the antiwar movement can up the ante for the warmakers with a direct=
=20
threat to collapse their armed forces.


The Advantages of a Boycott


The advantages of a campaign to encourage "Refusal" are numerous:



It is democratic in character, relying on persuasion and a direct appeal to=20
fellow citizens to resist the lies of the undemocratic forces that dominate=20
our nation and government. We would be talking to each other rather than=20
phony politicians who claim to represent us but who seem to fall over each=20
other in their rush to praise militarism and aggressive war that Americans=20
don't want.

=20



It is inclusive. Everyone who hates the war machine can participate on=20
whatever level they see fit. It can bring people of different political=20
persuasions and walks of life together in a broad and effective antiwar=20
movement.

=20



It addresses the inequity of the volunteer army=E2=80=94that it is poor and=20=
working=20
class kids who will bear the major burden of the endless war. We are asking=20
people of different class backgrounds to join together and fight for the=20
safety and well being of all our young people.

=20



A "Refusal" campaign can have a large impact in a relatively short time=20
period and it can also have the immediate impact of saving individual kids'=20
lives. Every young man or woman whom we persuade to reject military service=20
is one less recruit to be "cannon fodder" and/or a professional high-tech=20
killer for the elite. They are our kids not the government's.

=20



It is also a long range strategy for fighting the rulers' grandiose plans fo=
r=20
empire over time=E2=80=94not just a plan to fight one particular war. Regard=
less of=20
the rhetorical fury that the warmongers will unleash if we are successful,=20
the jet fighters and the aircraft carriers, the tanks and the nukes will=20
become useless piles of junk if there are too few recruits to man them.

=20

Let's Get Started!
=20
We should go into the schools and colleges, and stand outside recruiting=20
offices and talk to the kids and urge them not to enlist and tell them why.=20
We could also approach people currently on active duty and try to persuade=20
them not to reenlist when their time is up. We could build up our own army o=
f=20
"refuseniks"=E2=80=94potential recruits who change their minds and refuse mi=
litary=20
service=E2=80=94and put their names on the Internet and acknowledge their pl=
edge.=20
Maybe some antiwar businessmen could even set aside some decent jobs and=20
scholarships for them!=20



Public schools in Oakland, California recently held teach-ins to debate and=20
discuss the issues surrounding war. Such teach-ins would be a perfect=20
opportunity to get this effort started. We could easily develop an emergency=
=20
"vaccination" kit of anti-recruitment literature to give to the kids. Instea=
d=20
of terrifying them about smallpox, anthrax and nerve gas we could inoculate=20
kids with the truth to protect them from the rotten pro-war propaganda and=20
slick advertising of the military and government. We should also demand that=
=20
our public schools refuse to cooperate with the "No Child Left Behind Act"=20
and not supply names of students to the military recruiters.



The possibilities are endless and there are already millions of creative=20
people who are profoundly opposed to the orchestrated war fever who might=20
well be galvanized by a plan like this. Short of a revolution, is there=20
anything that has more potential to seriously disrupt our elite rulers' plan=
s=20
for their New World Order?=20



The kids want meaning and adventure and connection in lives robbed of meanin=
g=20
by a warped money-dominated militaristic society. We can offer them a chance=
=20
to join the "greatest adventure of all times," the battle against the forces=
=20
of darkness to make a better world and to challenge the authoritarian contro=
l=20
of our country by a powerful, arrogant but vulnerable minority of terrorists=
=20
which has hijacked our democracy and assaulted our Constitution. The future=20
belongs to the young people. Let's give them an opportunity to create it.



Email the author: <A HREF=3D"mailto:dougfuda@xxxxxxx";>dougfuda@xxxxxxx</A>
****
New Democracy will attempt to launch anti-recruitment efforts in the Boston=20
area and try to bring people together across the country. Individuals or=20
groups can contact <A HREF=3D"mailto:newdem@xxxxxxx";>newdem@xxxxxxx</A>. Thi=
s article may be copied and posted on=20
other websites. Please include all hyperlinks.


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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT  SIZE=3D2>Here is a proposal from N=
ew Democracy member Doug Fuda for a practical campaign we can start today to=
 undermine the war machine.
<BR>
<BR>Dave Stratman
<BR>Editor, New Democracy
<BR><A HREF=3D"newdemocracyworld.org">newdemocracyworld.org</A>
<BR>5 Burr Street
<BR>Boston, MA 02130
<BR>617-524-4073
<BR>************
<BR><P ALIGN=3DCENTER></FONT><FONT  COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D5 FAMILY=3D"SAN=
SSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"><B>Stop the Endless War:=20
<BR>Boycott the Volunteer Army</FONT><FONT  COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D3 FAMIL=
Y=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0">
<BR>
<BR></B>by Doug Fuda
<BR>January 23, 2003
<BR><B><A HREF=3D"http://newdemocracyworld.org/index.htm";>www.newdemocracywo=
rld.org</A></B></B>
<BR><P ALIGN=3DLEFT>=20
<BR>Since the immense events of September 11, 2001, a large and diverse anti=
war movement has arisen in America to challenge the war plans of the US ruli=
ng class. It turns out that the death of the "Vietnam Syndrome" (the refusal=
 of Americans to support war) had been declared prematurely after the First=20=
Gulf War. We are having an impact. The corporate power elite has found it ne=
cessary to delay their plans for an Iraq invasion.
<BR>
<BR>The problem for us is that, popular sentiment not withstanding, they wil=
l attack anyway if they feel it is essential to their interests. They will r=
ely on their control of the corporate media and the overwhelming power of wa=
r itself to weather the storms. And even if they don't attack, if the balanc=
e of risks and benefits for them militates against an Iraq invasion at this=20=
time, then what about the next war, and the next? Remember, they have pledge=
d a "war on terror" that will last 60 years. This promises to be a long and=20=
serious struggle over the future of our society. What will it be: permanent,=
 aggressive war directed by powerful, super rich elites or democracy, shared=
 prosperity and self-defense of a decent society? It is not just about one w=
ar.
<BR>
<BR>The antiwar movement needs to go on the offensive against the war machin=
e. We need to have a long range strategy to challenge the power and maneuver=
ability of the "War Party" so that we don't have to expend all our energy wo=
rrying about each and every tactical move of our adversaries.
<BR>=20
<BR><P ALIGN=3DCENTER></FONT><FONT  COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D4 FAMILY=3D"SAN=
SSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"><B>Vietnam and the Draft</FONT><FONT  COLO=
R=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D3 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0">
<BR>=20
<BR><P ALIGN=3DLEFT></B>One foundation of the seemingly invincible elite pow=
er is the so-called volunteer army which is a solution that the Masters of W=
ar devised for a problem they encountered during the Vietnam years. The army=
 of draftees turned out to be unreliable and volatile, and the widely despis=
ed draft itself fueled the greatest antiwar movement in American history. To=
day the rulers seem almost imperial as they have their own private army to w=
age their wars, an army primarily composed of young working class men and wi=
thout the democratic "messiness" of universal conscription.<BR><BR>The volun=
teer army seriously divides ordinary people in America along class lines. In=
 "Today's Army," the recruitment is aimed at working class, blue collar kids=
 and poor kids, and that's who they get to be their "grunts." The sons and d=
aughters of doctors, lawyers, college professors and upper middle class peop=
le in general will not be picking sand out of their teeth in Iraq.<BR><BR>Mi=
litary recruitment tactics are to use bribery and "incentives" to lure worki=
ng class kids, to try to appear hip and ultra modern with their "be all you=20=
can be" and their "awesome" 3D computer games and graphics. They prey on the=
 legions of somewhat disconnected, alienated young men who feel that they ha=
ve no bright future or meaningful role in society. They manipulate the desir=
e of the young for action and adventure and their need to find meaning in th=
eir lives by being part of something bigger than themselves. <BR><BR>But the=
 pillar of elite strength may also turn out to be their greatest weakness. A=
 movement to cripple their war-making power has only to focus on one goal=
=E2=80=94to dry up the supply of volunteers. In that sense the volunteer arm=
y is a legacy left for us by that last great popular movement against the Vi=
etnam War=E2=80=94it is the Achilles heel of the war machine. By organizing=20=
a widespread and focused boycott of the volunteer military of the United Sta=
tes, the antiwar movement can up the ante for the warmakers with a direct th=
reat to collapse their armed forces.<BR><P ALIGN=3DCENTER>
<BR></FONT><FONT  COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D4 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Ar=
ial" LANG=3D"0"><B>The Advantages of a Boycott</B>
<BR><P ALIGN=3DLEFT></FONT><FONT  COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D3 FAMILY=3D"SANSS=
ERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"><BR>The advantages of a campaign to encourag=
e "Refusal" are numerous:<BR><BR>It is democratic in character, relying on p=
ersuasion and a direct appeal to fellow citizens to resist the lies of the u=
ndemocratic forces that dominate our nation and government. We would be talk=
ing to each other rather than phony politicians who claim to represent us bu=
t who seem to fall over each other in their rush to praise militarism and ag=
gressive war that Americans don't want.<BR> <BR><BR>It is inclusive. Everyon=
e who hates the war machine can participate on whatever level they see fit.=20=
It can bring people of different political persuasions and walks of life tog=
ether in a broad and effective antiwar movement.<BR> <BR><BR>It addresses th=
e inequity of the volunteer army=E2=80=94that it is poor and working class k=
ids who will bear the major burden of the endless war. We are asking people=20=
of different class backgrounds to join together and fight for the safety and=
 well being of all our young people.<BR> <BR><BR>A "Refusal" campaign can ha=
ve a large impact in a relatively short time period and it can also have the=
 immediate impact of saving individual kids' lives. Every young man or woman=
 whom we persuade to reject military service is one less recruit to be "cann=
on fodder" and/or a professional high-tech killer for the elite. They are ou=
r kids not the government's.<BR> <BR><BR>It is also a long range strategy fo=
r fighting the rulers' grandiose plans for empire over time=E2=80=94not just=
 a plan to fight one particular war. Regardless of the rhetorical fury that=20=
the warmongers will unleash if we are successful, the jet fighters and the a=
ircraft carriers, the tanks and the nukes will become useless piles of junk=20=
if there are too few recruits to man them.<BR> <BR><P ALIGN=3DCENTER></FONT>=
<FONT  COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D4 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=
=3D"0"><B>Let's Get Started!</FONT><FONT  COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D3 FAMILY=
=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0">
<BR> </B>
<BR><P ALIGN=3DLEFT>We should go into the schools and colleges, and stand ou=
tside recruiting offices and talk to the kids and urge them not to enlist an=
d tell them why. We could also approach people currently on active duty and=20=
try to persuade them not to reenlist when their time is up. We could build u=
p our own army of "refuseniks"=E2=80=94potential recruits who change their m=
inds and refuse military service=E2=80=94and put their names on the Internet=
 and acknowledge their pledge. Maybe some antiwar businessmen could even set=
 aside some decent jobs and scholarships for them! <BR><BR>Public schools in=
 Oakland, California recently held teach-ins to debate and discuss the issue=
s surrounding war. Such teach-ins would be a perfect opportunity to get this=
 effort started. We could easily develop an emergency "vaccination" kit of a=
nti-recruitment literature to give to the kids. Instead of terrifying them a=
bout smallpox, anthrax and nerve gas we could inoculate kids with the truth=20=
to protect them from the rotten pro-war propaganda and slick advertising of=20=
the military and government. We should also demand that our public schools r=
efuse to cooperate with the "No Child Left Behind Act" and not supply names=20=
of students to the military recruiters.<BR><BR>The possibilities are endless=
 and there are already millions of creative people who are profoundly oppose=
d to the orchestrated war fever who might well be galvanized by a plan like=20=
this. Short of a revolution, is there anything that has more potential to se=
riously disrupt our elite rulers' plans for their New World Order? <BR><BR>T=
he kids want meaning and adventure and connection in lives robbed of meaning=
 by a warped money-dominated militaristic society. We can offer them a chanc=
e to join the "greatest adventure of all times," the battle against the forc=
es of darkness to make a better world and to challenge the authoritarian con=
trol of our country by a powerful, arrogant but vulnerable minority of terro=
rists which has hijacked our democracy and assaulted our Constitution. The f=
uture belongs to the young people. Let's give them an opportunity to create=20=
it.<BR><BR><I>Email the author:</I> <B><A HREF=3D"mailto:dougfuda@xxxxxxx";>d=
ougfuda@xxxxxxx</A></B></B>
<BR><P ALIGN=3DCENTER>****
<BR><P ALIGN=3DLEFT><B>New Democracy will attempt to launch anti-recruitment=
 efforts in the Boston area and try to bring people together across the coun=
try. Individuals or groups can contact <A HREF=3D"mailto:newdem@xxxxxxx";>new=
dem@xxxxxxx</A>. This article may be copied and posted on other websites. Pl=
ease include all hyperlinks.
<BR></B></P></P></P></P></P></P></P></P></P></P></FONT></HTML>

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