President Obama has failed to end the war in Iraq and has dramatically escalated the war in Afghanistan. A surge of new U.S. combat forces has brought mounting civilian casualties in Afghanistan, while the U.S. military denies responsibility for recently revealed criminal attacks on unarmed civilians in Iraq. Both Iraq and Afghanistan are occupied by more than 100,000 American troops, and the people of both countries what U.S. forces out. Billions of our tax dollars are spent on brutal wars abroad, yet at home we’re facing cuts to education, health care, and affordable housing. Military recruiters, who disproportionately target low income people, are using the economic crisis to intensify pressure on vulnerable youth. On Thursday April 22, Minnesotans will say no to war, military recruitment, and cuts to social programs, with a day of coordinated protests.

Recruiters Lie, People Die! Bring the Troops Home Now!

The war in Iraq is not about freedom or defending America. It's a war for oil, profit, and control of the Middle East. 4,000 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq, along with untold tens of thousands of Iraqi people. A majority in both countries want the occupation to end. Yet every day, military recruiters manipulate young people with false promises and pressure them to join the U.S. military machine.

Joining the National Guard used to mean staying close to home. But no more. President Bush sent more than 37,000 National Guard soldiers to Iraq in late 2003 to replace forces already on the ground – the largest mobilization of the National Guard since the Korean War. Since then, National Guard mobilizations have only escalated with a new unit being called-up to active duty every few weeks. We are not here to criticize individual soldiers, but rather to oppose the war they are fighting, and the system that abuses them.

Stewart Zamudio, a member of the NY National Guard who appeared in a recruiting video but now opposes the war explains, “In contrast to my message in the Army National Guard commercial, I ask you NOT to join the Army National Guard. The risk of being killed or injured in combat under this nation's foreign policy has risen dramatically."

We our presence at National Guard and other military recruiting stations will discourage young people from joining the armed services, by bringing light to the lies that recruiters tell. On April 22nd, we hope no Minnesota recruiting office will recruit anyone to fight, kill and die in Iraq.

We say no to predatory recruiters! Bring the troops home now and take care of them when they get here! Money for human needs not war!

Lie: The military will pay for you to go to college

Truth: Less than a third of recruits ever get any money for college, and colleges can reduce their financial aid to students by the amount of the Army scholarship so there's no benefit. You have to pay a non-refundable $1200 deposit into the G.I. Bill fund to apply for educational benefits. Most don't have the qualifications necessary to take advantage of the program. Over half of all veterans get no money at all. In its first ten years, the program actually made a $720 million profit.

Lie: Military training will help you in civilian employment

Truth: Only 12% of male and 6% of female veterans make any use of the skills they gained in the military in subsequent civilian jobs. Veterans earn 85 cents per hour, or $1700 per year, less than non-veterans of comparable socio-economic status. Pensions, benefits, and healthcare are being dismantled, leaving many veterans destitute. Around a third of homeless people in the U.S. are military veterans. Two-thirds of army families live on food stamps or other public aid. As Dick Cheney succinctly put it, the military's role is "to fight and win wars… It's not a jobs program."

Lie: You won't see combat

Truth: The military can assign you wherever they please. Sue Niederer's son, Seth, joined the military right after college. With a written promise that he would not see active combat, he enlisted. Five months later he was dead. He had been assigned to find enemy remote-controlled bombs. His mother said, "They are supposed to call for experts in explosives. By the time you call for an expert, you're dead. These guys are sitting ducks every single day. They didn't have proper vests, the helmets are questionable, they didn't have computers." (counterpunch.org, 5/22-23/05)

Racism and Sexism in the Military?

Black and brown soldiers fill the bottom ranks of the military, often doing the most undesirable and dangerous jobs with a much slower rate of promotion than their white counterparts. Aiden Delgado, an Iraq War vet, spoke about the anti-Arab racism. "I remember Army chants... had anti-Arab themes. Like burning turbans, killing ragheads, killing the Taliban…" He explained that "Hajji" is the new slur for Arabs and Muslims. "It is used extensively in the military… with the same kind of connotation as 'gook,' 'Charlie,' or the n-word. Official Army documents now use it in reference to Iraqis or Arabs. It's real common." (blackcommentator.com)

More than 70% of women who have served in the military have reported sexual harassment, and many on multiple occasions. It's estimated that around 30% of female soldiers experience an attempted or completed rape (Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center).

Here are a few sites where you can explore these issues:

AFSC National Youth & Militarism Program
The AFSC National Youth & Militarism Program has been active since 1986 in movements to reduce the impacts of war and military institutions on young people's lives. We aim to halt the growing influence of the military in U.S. schools and to help students and educators work for peace and better education in their communities. We also support those who refuse to participate in militarism and work to expand every person's right to walk away from war and violence.

Not Your Soldier
The Not Your Soldier Project organizes to shut down the military invasion of our schools, our communities and our future. We are committed to creating positive alternatives to militarism. We believe that young people can and will stop war abroad and the war at home by ending military recruitment and the poverty draft.

National Network Opposing Militarization of Youth
Bringing groups together to help the nation understand that providing youth with peaceful and viable alternatives to achieve success in life is an important sign of a civilized society.