Iraq

George Solomou (see picture left), a 38-year-old soldier with the British Territorial Army, announced on 19 January 2005 that he will refuse to deploy to Iraq if called up to do so. Prior to his press conference, Solomou, who had completed his military service in Cyprus for the Greek Army before moving to Britain, talked to Peace News:

"I would encourage soldiers not to join up ...

Muslim Gulf war conscientious objector Mohisin Khan, who refused to take part in the war on Iraq because he did not want to fight against fellow Muslims, lost his appeal in the hight court against his prosecution by the RAF for going absent without leave on 7 October 2004.

Khan voluntarily enlisted in the Royal Air Force in December 1999, and joined the Medical Assistant trade on an engagement for 9 years of service plus 6 years reserve.

The European Social Forum in Paris in November 2003 stated in its final document: "We march for a Europe that refuses war". At the same time, many European countries - Britain, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, to mention just a few - were contributing troops to the "coalition of the willing" occupying Iraq, and the heads of the European Union were discussing a new "EU constitution", with a heavy military component, which would mark a major milestone in the militarisation of the European Union (see article below).

A Europe that refuses war? Hardly.

On 17 September, Amnesty International released an urgent action on conscientious objector Abdullah William Webster, a sergeant of the US army who was sentenced by a court-martial to 14 months imprisonment for refusing to participate in the war in Iraq on the basis of his religious beliefs. Abdullah Webster is a US citizen who has served in the US army since 1985. He had been based in Bamberg, Germany since 2001 from where he was requested to deploy to Iraq between March and April 2003.

The mother of a British soldier killed in an Iraqi ambush has launched a petition for the withdrawal of UK troops as she prepares to sue the Ministry of Defence over the death of her son.

Rose Gentle, 40, whose outspoken criticism of the conflict has fuelled criticisms that her grief has been hijacked by anti-war campaigners, denied yesterday that she was being manipulated. "Let's just make this clear," she said. "It was my decision to speak out. Nobody is using me.

In case of war, those who oppose the Iraqi regime will suffer the most Saddam Hussein in fear about the loyalty of his troops

When during the second Gulf War in 1991 the defeat of Iraqi troops became obvious, mass desertions occurred. Many of those who deserted fell victim to bombardments by the then anti-Iraq coalition. Others were caught by Iraqi security forces, which quickly reorganised after it became clear that the USA were not interested in toppling Saddam.

Nonviolent direct actions and acts of civil disobedience international

This is a summary of some more radical actions against the war on Iraq. It includes nonviolent direct actions and actions of civil disobedience. The document consists mainly of reports from a wide range of sources -- most of the internet based. [webmaster's note: some of the original reports refer to photos which have been deleted from this version for reasons of filesize.

War Resisters' International calls for nonviolent actions at military bases on 5/6 April

War Resisters' International, the 81 year old international network of pacifist organisations with 90 affiliates in 45 countries, calls for nonviolent actions at military bases on the weekend 5/6 April under the slogan "Reclaim The Bases".

After the huge international demonstrations all over the world on 15 February - more than 10 million people took part in protests in more than 600 cities - it is important that the peace movement turns its attention to the military infrastructure

This page contains links to resources for activists. Some are hosted on the WRI site; others may be on external links.

We are veterans of the United States armed forces. We stand with the majority of humanity, including millions in our own country, in opposition to the United Statesall out war on Iraq. We span many wars and eras, have many political views and we all agree that this war is wrong. Many of us believed serving in the military was our duty, and our job was to defend this country. Our experiences in the military caused us to question much of what we were taught. Now we see our REAL duty is to encourage you as members of the U.S.

2 October 2002

1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription is enshrined in art. 31 of the 1968 Constitution, which describes military service as a 'sacred duty and an honour for citizens'. [14]

The present legal basis of conscription is the 1969 Military Service Act, with several subsequent resolutions made by the Revolution Command Council (RCC). Although Iraq has a
formal separation of powers, in practice all power rests with the RCC, a group of men who are also members of the Regional Command of the Ba'ath Party.

Should people be bombed because their government is accused of developing weapons of mass destruction?

Should people be bombed because they live under an undemocratic regime which violates human rights and abuses minority populations?

Should people be bombed because their government's activities threaten the supply of resources to the Western nations?