eyes on the prize

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE

AN UPDATE ON LEGISLATION TO HOLD RECRUITERS ACCOUNTABLE

everal attempts were made to find information about yesterday's discussion and final approval of HR1815. What a wonderful trip down the information highway! So nice to go to our "accessible" website at dot gov and find that, for some reason, the audio would not be broadcast for the actual hearings. The best download I could get was, of course, a PDF on spending to keep the war machine gears grinding up and spitting out human flesh.

A phone call was made to the folks who have our eyes and ears, Center on Conscience and War (NISBCO). I spoke with Theo, now a lobbyist for the Center who acknowledged that "open" hearings can be described as "five chairs were available." (Kinda reminds me of the "40 acres and a mule" or the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868...)

THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BAD NEWS

There WAS discussion of the amendment to the bill, as many of the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee heard from you, the constituent! and brought up some discussion about it. Of course it did not pass. The good news is that Snyder (D-AK) called for a congressional hearing on recruitment deception and there will be follow up in the following weeks and months.

A CALL IS OUT¹ for individuals (that are not sent from the Pentagon) who are willing to testify about recruitment claims and are able to back up their testimony. A young man from Arvada, Colorado High School by the name of David McSwane immediately comes to mind (see HOW FAR WILL THE ARMY GO? on the duckdaotsu website or Student Sting Shows Extent of Recruiter's Push-to-Enlist Tactics on duckdaotsu blog).

Another excellent example of verifiable recruitment HELL can be found in an award-winning article by none other than duckdaotsu's dear friend, Becky Oberg. FULL METAL STRAIT JACKET will have you seething and give you a glimpse into the real world of the Army Boot Camp and the tactics used on recruits once they are in and training. You may remember Oberg as the journalist who recorded BRANDON HUGHEY crossing of the Canadian border in The Expatriate. Hughey is expected to attend his immigration hearing later this month, while Jeremy Hinzman awaits appeal on the decision from the officials at his hearing.

It ain't over folks. Keep pacifist resistance while storming those recruitment offices, questioning the rights of recruiters on your campus, and above all, keep your eyes on the prize.

Thousands of lives depend on it.

¹ If you can give testimony or want to contact the Center on Conscience and War about the hearing,
you can reach them at:
Center on Conscience & War
1830 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Ph: 202-483-2220
Fax: 202-483-1246 or
email them at NISBCO