To Stop a War - Welcome SGT Kevin Benderman and his wife Monica to DU!!!

[Tinoire]

Goooood morning DemocraticUnderground!!!

For years we watched appalled as the neo-con machine overtook our country, aghast that we couldn't stop it, aghast that our politicians embarked on another leg of their insatiable thirst for oil and gun-boat imperialism to reshape the world in a more subservient manner.

We couldn't stop them despite our faxes, our phone calls and our protests. We couldn't stop the neo-chickenhawks from slaughtering innocent Iraqis and sacrificing young American men to do so.

The tide is turning! Foreign leaders are calling our political leadership thieves, liars and courageous soldiers are adamantly saying NO.

Without further ado, please, allow me to introduce to you Kevin Benderman and his awe-inspiring, kick-ass wife, Monica.



They have graciously agreed to answer any questions DUers may have and if they can't, they'll just tell us they can't answer.

I think they prefer to talk about soldiers more than anything because what they are doing is to help soldiers see that they do still have a voice, and that they should be using it, especially now.

Since Kevin's last hearing fiasco, many more soldiers have come forward in support of Kevin because they are starting to see that both Kevin and Monica are speaking for them. That is something they would like to address in this thread as well.

"We tell the truth, and we tell everything we know. We do our best to give people the perspective of soldiers and family members. Kevin's case, and the mess going on with the Conscientious Objector application need to be talked about because there are about 2000 soldiers who have been denied CO status. We want to show them that they have options, and we want them to know that they shouldn't give up.

Let's not be shy - let's give them a WARM welcome, ask whatever questions we have and see how we can help stop this damn war.

On April 28, 2005, Representative Cynthia McKinney entered Kevin Benderman into the Congressional record as an American Hero.

Welcome Kevin and Monica!!!

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The Deserters: AWOL Crisis Hits the American Forces by Andrew Buncombe, The Independent, May 16, 2005.
New charge added as second investigative inquiry starts in Benderman's case by Kelly Cramer, Savannah Morning News, May 12, 2005.
New Hearing Ordered for Objecting Soldier by Russ Bynum Associated Press), The Guardian, Thursday May 12, 2005
Interview with Kevin and Monica Benderman by Dori Smith, WHUS Storrs, Radio for the People, May 4, 2005.
Conscientious Objector status for Army Sgt. Kevin Benderman Denied by Robert S. Finnegan, Online Journal.com, April 29, 2005.
Defense lawyer, investigator square off over Benderman's conscientious objector application by Mike Fabey, Savannah Morning News, March 28, 2005.
Two years after the war began, a growing number of US troops are refusing to return to Iraq by Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian, March 19, 2005.
Opponents of War: Kevin Benderman, Alvin York and the Voice of Conscience by Joel T. Helfrich, Dissident Voice, March 17, 2005.
Kevin and Monica Benderman on Air America's "The Charles Goyette Show," Thursday, March 17, 2005 (Click here for Audio Link 1 Click here for Audio Link 2
Kevin Benderman interviewed by Amy Goodman on the "Democracy Now" radio program, Tuesday, March 15, 2005Click here for link to program audio and transcript
Court Martial Date Set: Soldier prepares rebuttal for recommendation to deny him conscientious objector status Savannah Morning News, March 8, 2005.
Soldier seeking conscientious objector status loses a roundSavannah Morning News, March 2, 2005.
Kevin Benderman interview on National Public Radio (NPR), Army Sergeant Refuses Return to Iraq; February 28, 2005.
Court-Martial Recommended for Soldier; New York Times, February 23, 2005.
Recommendation:Benderman Faces Court-Martial on Desertion Charge Savannah Morning News, February 22, 2005.
Some in Military Just Say No to Iraq Service; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 19, 2005.
One Man Has Stopped Killing; ZNet, February 18, 2005.
Sincerity questioned: Sergeant seeking conscientious objection status defends timing and conviction of request; Savannah Morning News, February 8, 2005.
"Breaking Ranks to Shun War," Los Angeles Times, Column One, Front Page, February 7, 2005; article currently only for purchase on the LA Times website, but available for free on the Common Dreams website[/I>].
Uncertain Desertion, " Savannah Morning News, February 7, 2005.

Other Recent Articles About Kevin



Soldier Charged for Refusing Return to Iraq; CNN, January 21, 2005.
Army Charges Soldier for Refusing Iraq Stint; MSNBC,January 20, 2005.
U.S. Army Sergeant Kevin Benderman Charged for Refusal to Return to Iraq; Axis of Logic, January 19, 2005.

Ain't Gonna Study War No More; Salon.com, January 17, 2005.
Soldier Explains Refusual to Return to Iraq; CNN, January 17, 2005.
Army Sergeant Refuses 2nd Iraq Deployment; CNN, January 13, 2005.
U.S. Army Sergeant May Refuse Re-Deployment to Iraq; Information Clearinghouse, January 5, 2005.

From: http://www.bendermandefense.org

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