Texas Labor Against the War

Operation Recovery Team (Under the Hood, May, 2011)

Friday, August 19, 7-9 pm

at 5604 Manor community center (5604manor.org)

Screening of film on GI coffee house at Fort Lewis, Washington

“Grounds for Resistance,” is a documentary about
the “Coffee Strong” coffee house located outside the Fort Lewis, WA, Army base.
Inspired by the Vietnam-era G.I. coffee house movement, Coffee Strong provides a
safe space where service members, military families, and veterans can gather and
discuss their experiences of war, deployment concerns, the hardships of life in
the military, and veteran benefits.

Aaron Hughes, an organizer with Iraq Vets Against
the War, http://www.ivaw.org/, will be on hand to answer questions and
speak about IVAW’s “Operation Recovery” program to assist active-duty and vets
with issues related to repeated deployments.

Staff and volunteers from the “Under the Hood”
coffee shop in Killeen near Ft. Hood will also be available to answer questions
about their work. http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/

The $5 suggested donation will benefit Under the
Hood.

Location: 5604 Manor, 5604 Manor Road,
Austin, 78723 – 5604manor.org

Is endless war the American way?

Why militarism permeates our society.

By Jim Turpin / The Rag Blog / July 28, 2010

Orwell would be proud. The United States is about to begin its tenth year in Afghanistan in an attempt to prove that “endless war” is not only possible, but the accepted norm in American society.

But why has militarism become such an integral part of our political and social lives in this country?

I see three main areas of influence on why we accept the present state of aggressive militarism in this country:  

1. The state’s use of messaging on “war” and “terrorism.”
2. The media’s servitude towards aggressive militaristic policy.
3. The social and cultural reinforcement of militarism.

Messaging on war and terrorism, or
Why my brain is always scared

G.M. Gilbert, an American psychologist who interviewed Herman Goering at Nuremberg in his Nuremberg Diary quoted Goering as saying:

…the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

The human brain is well constructed to deal with danger and fear on an automated and highly developed level. The amygdala is responsible for both fear conditioning and memory consolidation. These combined are the neurological area of the brain to condition and retain fear memories.

In other words, a sweet spot to frighten at will and control the masses.

The use of the phrase “war on terror” is at best a disingenuous means of simultaneously stimulating the fear response and the use of metaphors that have no real meaning.

The words “terror” and “terrorism” are the most politically manipulated words of our time and may be applied to any country, group or individual you wish to bomb, torture, or indefinitely detain.

It may also be used by the United States to nimbly point out those who are “state sponsors of terrorism,” which presently include Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria. Never mind that we sponsored El Salvadoran death squads or backed the likes of Marcos, Mobutu, Pinochet, or the Shah for decades that led to the torture and death of hundreds of thousands, possibly millions.

The cowardly MSM or
How to be a poster child for cognitive dissonance

Does the mainstream media (MSM) really ignore what is happening or change reality to fit government policy?

As Glenn Greenwald, in a recent Salon article, so succinctly put it:

A newly released study from students at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government provides the latest evidence of how thoroughly devoted the American establishment media is to amplifying and serving (rather than checking) government officials. This new study examines how waterboarding has been discussed by America’s four largest newspapers over the past 100 years, and finds that the technique, almost invariably, was unequivocally referred to as “torture” — until the U.S. Government began openly using it and insisting that it was not torture… Similarly, American newspapers are highly inclined to refer to waterboarding as “torture” when practiced by other nations, but will suddenly refuse to use the term when it’s the U.S. employing that technique.

Greenwald also points out that such MSM outlets as “the NYT, The Washington Post and NPR explicitly adopted policies to ban the use of the word “torture” for techniques the U.S. Government had authorized, once government officials announced they should not be called “torture.”

So torture is now “harsh interrogation techniques”?

Is this the terminology used in the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment?

This is the document the United States signed in 1988 and reaffirmed in 1994 that defines torture in Article 1.1 as:

Any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person, information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.

Article 2.2 states:

No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.

Orwell was again right: “…the object of torture is torture… the object of power is power.”

Cultural and societal acceptance of war
Or, ‘That’s Militainment!’

“Militainment” or entertainment with military themes is ubiquitous in music, television, movies and video games.

It is even everywhere in clothing. Just look around the next time you walk down the street or go to a clothing store. Desert-style camo wear is EVERYWHERE. Women have camo shorts, men wear camo hats, and even babies have camo bibs and jumpers.

Sears ran a line of clothing in 2008 that “signed a deal with the U.S. Army to launch the All American Army Brand’s First Infantry Division clothing collection. It marks the first time the U.S. Army has officially licensed its marks and insignias; licensing fees will be used to support military programs for troops and their families.

The president of Sears Apparel said the brand will be prominently featured during the retailer’s Fall Forward fashion. The line will also be included in future marketing campaigns, including those slated for the holiday season.

“Over the years, military-inspired clothing has played a distinct role in shaping fashion trends,” Mr. Israel said. “We are now able to exclusively offer a line that is pure to the origins of that inspiration.” (Military.com 9/3/08)

Recent war video games are international best sellers (Call of Duty, Modern Warfare, and God of War) and are excellent training for future military recruits. At the least, they can be considered realistic “war porn.”

The Army recently had to close a $12 million recruiting station in Philadelphia with interactive video exhibits, nearly 80 video-gaming stations, a replica command-and-control center, conference rooms, and Black Hawk helicopter and Humvee combat simulators.

It was repeatedly targeted for protests by those who said the Army’s use of first-person-shooter video games desensitized visitors to violence and enticed teens into the military. Anyone over 13 could play games, though the most graphic ones were restricted to those 18 and older.

War movies and TV specials are making a comeback with The Hurt Locker (2009), Inglorious Basterds (2009), and the HBO special The Pacific (2010) which all sell war as the “Band of Brothers” myth to perpetuate heroism and nationalism.

Music sells war, especially the country genre including Toby Keith’s lyrics:

Justice will be served/ And the battle will rage/ This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage/ And you’ll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A./ ‘Cause we’ll put a boot in your ass/ It’s the American Way.

Endless war… It is indeed the “American way.”

From the Rag Blog:  http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/jim-turpin-endless-war-and-american.html

War Resister Speaks Out on Afghanistan and showing of film “Rethink Afghanistan”

Date: Friday, July 2nd
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: 5604 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78723 (http://5604manor. org/)
Admission: $10 donation recommended (*)

Victor Agosto will speak on his refusal to deploy to Afghanistan and other experiences as a war resister while stationed at Ft. Hood. He will also discuss his experiences at “Under the Hood” Café & Outreach Center (www.underthehoodcafe.org).

Victor is on the boards of both Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and “Under the Hood” Café & Outreach Center

After Mr. Agosto’s presentation, the film “Rethink Afghanistan” will be shown in its’ entirety. This film has been highly praised by Michael Moore, Oliver Stone and Arianna Huffington.

(*) All donations benefit “Under the Hood” Café & Outreach Center which is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501 c (3) tax-exempt status. Donations may be treated as tax deductible.

–from Heidi Turpin of CodePink Austin

War resister Sgt. Travis Bishop flashes peace sign to supporters as he is taken to the Bell County (Texas) Correctional Unit after being sentenced to one year in prison at court martial on August 14, 2009. Photo by Eric Thompson.

Afghanistan War refuser:
Ft. Hood’s Travis Bishop gets reduced sentence

By Alice Embree / The Rag Blog / February 10, 2010

Sgt. Travis Bishop has learned that the 12-month sentence he is serving at Fort Lewis will be reduced by three months. Sgt. Bishop was sentenced at Fort Hood near Killeen, Texas, in August 2009 for refusing orders to deploy to Afghanistan.

Sgt. Bishop, a Kentucky native and country singer, enlisted in 2004. He was deployed to Korea and then to Iraq. He had served five years of active duty when he refused orders based on religious reasons.

One of the people testifying against Bishop at his court martial was the chaplain he had hoped would listen to his concerns. Instead, Lt. Col. Ronald Leininger had reduced the amount of time scheduled for their original interview and then repeatedly took phone calls during the session. In his official statement, the chaplain said that people with Bishop’s religious heritage were “generally pro-military service with no pacifist tendencies in doctrine or practice.”

Lt. General Robert Cone, commanding general of Fort Hood approved the sentence reduction on February 4, after considering Sgt. Bishop’s clemency application. The clemency request included a legal brief alleging problems in the processing of Bishop’s conscientious objector claim, problems with the trial proceedings, and mistreatment at Fort Lewis where Sgt. Bishop has been detained.

In large part, the reduction in sentence is due to the dogged perseverance of GI rights attorney James Branum, and the public pressure that was brought to bear. Sgt. Bishop’s clemency request included 433 letters (signed by a total of 538 people from 21 different countries). Many came from pastors who disagreed with the military chaplain’s view on their churchs’ support for conscientious objection.

Through his attorney, Sgt. Bishop relayed his thanks to all his supporters. He said he had no regrets and urged others who are feeling moral conflicts with war to follow their conscience, but not to wait as long as he did to get help.

Attorney James Branum released the news of Sgt. Bishop’s early release and ackowledged many supporters, including the GI coffeehouses, Under the Hood in Killeen and Coffee Strong near Fort Lewis in Washington, Amnesty International’s London office and Courage to Resist. Sgt. Bishop’s release is expected to be no later than March 31, based on the amount of good behavior credit he has earned.

Supporters of Sgt. Bishop can find instructions on writing him at www.couragetoresist.org.

Susan Van Haitsma writes: “A few of us Austin CodePinkers went to Killeen yesterday to participate in
their “Sick of War” demonstration at the gates of Ft. Hood. Others I spoke
with came from Ft. Worth, Denton, San Marcos and Austin. Despite the
weather, a number of news people showed up to document the event. Here is
an article published today in the Killeen Daily Herald:

http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=38454

Jan. 16, 2010

By Rebecca LaFlure
Killeen Daily Herald

Despite chilly wind and rain, anti-war protesters huddled outside Fort Hood’s East Gate for six hours Friday calling for increased mental health resources for soldiers and veterans.

The demonstrators, toting signs and the occasional umbrella, said the military overmedicates its service members and does not provide adequate counseling for those returning home from multiple deployments.

Standing in front of a black banner that read, “Sick of fighting your wars,” Cynthia Thomas, manger of Under the Hood Café in Killeen, said she worries the Afghan surge will increase mental health issues in the military.

“We’re sending soldiers to war and not taking care of them when they get back,” she said. “It’s going to be another batch coming back with that many more traumas, both physically and mentally.”

The protest began with a faithful dozen Friday morning and gradually increased to 30 people by the end of the afternoon.

Mike Prysner, 26, a former soldier who participated in the demonstration, traveled from Los Angeles to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and advocate for soldier rights. Prysner said he had trouble obtaining mental health treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder upon his return from Iraq.

“It was a fight to get someone to see me,” he said. “When they finally did, they just wrote me a prescription and sent me on my way.”

Spc. Eric Jasinski, a Fort Hood soldier who also attended Friday’s event, turned himself in to Army officials last month after going absent without leave for a year.

The 23-year-old, who was diagnosed with PTSD and severe depression after he returned from Iraq, said he went AWOL at the end of 2008 after he was stop-lossed and ordered to return to Iraq. “I knew I couldn’t go back again,” he said. “We need to get a better understanding of PTSD. … I want the stigma to go away.”

The protesters hoped the demonstration would encourage more soldiers and their family members to speak out.

“We’ve gotten middle fingers and peace signs,” said Josh, a former Marine. “It’s been a good day.”

Contact Rebecca LaFlure at [email protected] or (254) 501-7548. Follow her on Twitter at KDHeducation

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33920070#33920070

NBC Nightly News, Nov. 13, 2009

Featuring Under the Hood Cafe and Outreach Center, Ft. Hood GI’s, and Cynthia Thomas.

Military Stress. (NBC Nightly News, 11/13/09) “Some pretty frightening new numbers are out tonight on the toll that these dual wars are taking on American troops…” View more

Thanks to Under the Hood for this link.  For this and more news from Ft. Hood, see http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/news.html

Afghanistan war resister needs support..please forward widely

Posted by: “Fran Hanlon” 

Mon Aug 3, 2009 3:40 pm (PDT)

Hello All,
Victor Agosto, who has refused all orders related to deployment to
Afghanistan is preparing to be court-martialed on Wednesday morning.
Supporters plan to rally near the East gate of Fort Hood that evening at
7pm. Please consider joining us to show your support for Victor’s
courageous actions. Below is the press release which went out today. It
was written by an IVAW member at Fort Hood. Visit Under the Hood’s website
www.underthehoodcafe.org for a Killeen map. The rally site is at the
corner of Ft. Hood Rd. and W. Rancier Ave. You can call Under the
Hood (number on website) if you need further directions.

Also, CodePink is organizing weekly vigils every Saturday at the Bell County
jail until Victor is freed. More details on that to follow.

Peace,
Fran

SOLDIER OF CONSCIENCE TO BE COURT-MARTIALED
SPC VICTOR AGOSTO REFUSES DEPLOYMENT
AND FACES INCARCERATION FROM MILITARY

CONTACTS: James Branum 405-476-5620
866-933-2769
Cynthia Thomas 254-768-8300

SPC Victor Agosto, a Soldier stationed with 57th Expeditionary Signal
Battalion, 69th Air Defense Artillery, Rear Detachment, is scheduled for
court-martial on Aug.. 5 at Ft. Hood, TX. A victim of the highly unpopular
stop/loss policy, SPC Agosto, whose contract was over at the end of June,
was told that his next assignment would be deployment to Afghanistan. At
the end of April, with support of local residents, Agosto went public with
his intent to refuse the orders to Afghanistan, on the basis of the
occupation being “immoral and unjust.”

Instead of going ‘underground’ and trying to escape punishment from the
Army, Agosto chose to remain at Ft. Hood as a tangible symbol of GI
resistance. Refusing all orders that directly support the war, he has found
himself in an overwhelming struggle to maintain his honor and position. His
court-martial will culminate with the sentencing portion of the trial, at
which, it is believed that the Army will enforce the highest form of
sentencing it can impose.

SPC Agosto’s attempt to raise awareness and support has not fallen on deaf
ears, even in a military community; he has found supporters and friends who
are willing to help. As the unit serves overseas, he continues to voice his
dissent for an “unjust” war. There will be demonstrators present the day of
his arraignment, located off-post due to military regulations concerning
demonstrations on military posts.

SPC Agosto’s attorney, James Branum will be available for interviews and to
read a public statement by Victor.
Wednesday, August 5
7:00 to 8:30 pm Demonstration for awareness and outreach to Soldiers at
Ft. Hood, East gate