Re: How to approach the troops?

[Yoshie Furuhashi <furuhashi.1@xxxxxxx>]

At 9:43 PM +0200 3/30/03, Jeff Kinkle wrote:
> 'ok jeff...here's my reponse.
> I don't know shit about that OPEC crap...I'm not gunna lie. So I'll
> take a break from my training next week to look it up. But for now,
> I'd like to say that I think you are looking way too deep into the
> reason behind this war. I don't think its about oil, even though a
> significant case could be made for that. Unlike you, I don't
> generally assume that everyone in government is full of shit. With
> that being said, I believe that this war is not for oil, and not to
> boost the US economy, but is rather based on the honorable cause of
> protecting our nation from terror. If I find out in the future that
> I'm wrong, then I'll admit my faults then, but I refuse to look
> beyond the obvious and try to dig up a conspiracy. I think the Bush
> administration made the right call for war, and I wish I could be
> there jammming my hellfires in some republican gaurd ass.'
>
> My question is, and I think it has to do with Walter's question, how
> should we respond to questions like this when every attempt at
> unraveling the truth behind the actions of power is dismissed as
> being a 'conspiracy theory'?  When there is absolutely zero proof
> that Saddam and Osama are linked yet a large percentage of Americans
> still believe they MUST be?  Any thoughts?

The US government (as well as corporations) has a long history of
damaging US soldiers' (and civilians') bodies and minds, denying the
truth about what they did, and shirking (especially financial)
responsibility for it.  See below for some on-line sources that you
may present to your interlocutors:

Articles, Fact Sheets, Organizations:
Harvey Wasserman & Norman Solomon (with Robert Alvarez & Eleanor
Walters), _The Disaster of America's Experience with Atomic
Radiation_, 1982, <http://www.ratical.org/radiation/KillingOurOwn/>.
National Association of Atomic Veterans, <http://www.naav.com/>.
The Atomic Veterans History Project, <http://www.aracnet.com/~pdxavets/>.
National Gulf War Resources Center, Inc., "2002 Gulf War Statistics,"
<http://www.ngwrc.org/Facts/default.htm>
<http://traprockpeace.org/depleteduranium.html>.
"Gulf War Casualties and 'Depleted' Uranium: An Educational Campaign
Providing Resources on Radioactive, Chemical and Biological Weapons,"
<http://traprockpeace.org/depleteduranium.html>.
Ted Sexauer (a poet, peace activist and wounded Vietnam veteran), "VA
Budget at Peril -- Does the President Support the Troops?"
<http://www.sonomanews.com/articles/2003/04/04/news/editorial/letters01.txt>.
"Death on the Job: Toll of Neglect,"
<http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/safety/upload/deathonthejob.pdf>.

A Sound Bite on Occupational Safety:
"You have a right to safe jobs -- your job isn't supposed to injure,
kill or maim.  But each year more than 6 million American workers are
injured or become sick on the job -- 50,000 American workers die from
occupational illness -- nearly 6,000 are killed on the job.
<http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/safety/>.)

Talking Points:
* Why do the US government and corporations prefer to make profits by
sacrificing workers' lives?  At least, 56,000 deaths and more than 6
million injuries and illnesses are annually caused by greed in the
United States, a higher toll than any terrorists have or will ever
manage to inflict on Americans in a year.  Bosses are more dangerous
than terrorists.
* Gulf War veterans can tell you that far more US soldiers have died
of the Gulf War syndrome than were killed by Iraqis during the Gulf
War, the syndrome very likely caused by Depleted Uranium in US
ammunitions.  They can also tell you that you can't count on the
government for taking care of you in the event that you get laid low
by debilitating illnesses and disabilities suffered during your
faithful service.
* You trust the US government to know "what's good for you" and be
interested in protecting you from dangers to your lives?  Trust them
at your own risk.
--
Yoshie

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