Post-Traumatic Stress Troubles
2/19/2007

According to recent army study, about 20% of the servicemembers returning from Iraq suffer from mental health problems.

One of the most serious problems is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder but many local vets are having a hard time getting benefits and treatment for PTSD.

An Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq

Many active duty, reserve, and guard service members are concerned about the war in Iraq and support the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to their Congressional Representative and US Senators to urge an end to the U.S. military occupation. The Appeal messages will be delivered to members of Congress at the time of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January 2007.

The wording of the Appeal for Redress is short and simple. It is patriotic and respectful in tone.

As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq . Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.

To sign this petition, click on www.appealforredress.org

Death Of Traumatized Minn. Marine Came After Iraq

(AP) Stewart, Minn. Jonathan Schulze tried to live with the nightmares and grief he brought home after serving as a U.S. Marine in Iraq, but it overwhelmed him. And he didn't get the help he needed to survive, his family claims.

Two weeks ago, Schulze told a staff member at the VA hospital in St. Cloud, Minn., that he was thinking of killing himself and asked to be admitted, according to his father and stepmother, who accompanied him. They said he was told he couldn't be admitted that day. The next day, a counselor told him over the phone that he was No. 26 on the waiting list, his parents said.

Poll: More Troops Unhappy With Bush's Course in Iraq

By Robert Hodierne
Military Times

Friday 29 December 2006

The American military - once a staunch supporter of President Bush and the Iraq war - has grown increasingly pessimistic about chances for victory, according to the 2006 Military Times Poll.

For the first time, more troops disapprove of the president's handling of the war than approve of it. Barely one-third of service members approve of the way the president is handling the war.

Thousands of troops say they

won’t fight

By Ana Radelat
Gannett News Service

Swept up by a wave of patriotism after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Chris Magaoay joined the Marine Corps in November 2004.

The newly married Magaoay thought a military career would allow him to continue his college education, help his country and set his life on the right path.

Less than two years later, Magaoay became one of thousands of military deserters who have chosen a lifetime of exile or possible court-martial rather than fight in Iraq or Afghanistan.

“It wasn’t something I did on the spur of the moment,” said Magaoay, a native of Maui, Hawaii. “It took me a long time to realize what was going on. The war is illegal.”

Magaoay said his disillusionment with the military began in boot camp in Twentynine Palms, Calif., where a superior officer joked about killing and mistreating Iraqis. When his unit was deployed to Iraq in March, Magaoay and his wife drove to Canada, joining a small group of deserters who are trying to win permission from the Canadian government to stay.

Army charges Lt. Watada with contempt towards president;

Faces over seven years military prison

On July 5, U.S. Army First Lt. Ehren K. Watada was formally charged with three articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: two counts of contempt towards officials (Article 88) - specifically President G. W. Bush, three counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman (Article 133), and one count of missing movement (Article 87). If convicted of all six charges by a general court-martial, Lt. Watada could be sentenced to over seven years in a military prison (Army press release and actual charge sheet).

Lt. Watada’s lawyer, Eric Seitz, said: "We expected the missing movement charge, but we are somewhat astounded by the contempt and conduct unbecoming charges. These additional charges open up the substance of Lt. Watada's statements for review and raise important First Amendment issues. We are delighted that the Army has given us the opportunity to litigate these questions."
Most previous prosecutions of Article 88 took place during the Civil War and World War I, and the last known prosecution was in 1965 (Howe vs. U.S.). Lt. Henry Howe protested U.S. foriegn policy during the Vietnam War.

Even before Lt. Watada refused to ship out to Iraq on June 22, the Army was focusing their investigation on his speech. The formal charges confirm that the Army’s primary objective is silencing Lt. Watada’s dissent.

Learn more...

What is Conscientious Objection?

Military regulations allow for discharge or transfer to non-combatant status for people who object to participate to war in any form. This is referred to as conscientious objection (CO).

There are several constraints for CO's. You must object to war on moral or religious grounds.You have to be against all war. You have to be sincere. This may sound simple enough, but deciding whether or not you are a CO and applying for CO status can be very hard...

The following guide is available to help you.

Read the guide Advice for Conscientious objectors on-line.

Read the guide Advice for Conscientious Objectors in pdf.

reprinted from CCCO

older articles...

SDMCP is growing and expanding
in a number of ways!

We can always use your help.

    * Increasing our phone and office hours. We are all volunteers and are looking for more people.

    * Creating and distributing the newsletter. Please submit any articles or written material that you would like to include.

    *  Expanding the information available in Spanish and increasing the number of Spanish speaking counselors.

    * Improving the on-line and office library for your education and research.

To find out more about how to get involved, please email to info@sdmcp.org or call (619) 280-2373.

SDMCP has been awarded several grants to cover our expenses. We would like to recognize the following foundation for their generous support.

Agape Foundation, Agape (pronounced “ a ga pe ”) is a Greek word meaning “unselfish love of one person for another

AJ Muste Foundation,  “There is no way to peace — peace is the way”

Foundation for Change

Resist, Inc, A Call To Resist Illegitimate Authority