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January 24, 2005
Bending it
Kevin Benderman is a mechanic who is trained to fix Bradley armored vehicles. On December 20, 2004, he applied for conscientious objector status. Yesterday he made time to talk with us about his decision.
Omar Khan: Kindly tell us your name and a little about your background—your age, where you live, where you born and raised, where you went to school, things of that sort.
Kevin Benderman: My name is Kevin Mitchell Benderman. Currently I’m living in Hinesville, Georgia, with my wife, Monica, and my stepson Ryan. I was born in Alabama. I was raised between there and Tennessee. I’ve gone to various schools, and I’m currently studying Criminal Justice out of Ashworth College for a Bachelor’s Degree.
OK: A Thursday, January 13 CNN article has a subtitle that tells of your “claim” that others “just don't know how bad it is” in Iraq. But that article gives none of your or any other observations of how bad it is. Can you tell take a few moments to tell us something about how bad it is over there?
KB: The things that I have seen in the war zone that I’ve been to—and I am referring to this as all war, because my father told me about things he saw during World War II, and I’ve talked to Vietnam War veterans, I’ve talked to Korean War veterans, and they’ve all told me similar things that they’ve seen. And that is how peoples homes are destroyed. That’s how people are destroyed. And just how insane, really, the entire thing is. War destroys everything in its path. It’s the most destructive force on the planet that mankind has come up with, I can tell you that.
When we were moving from the southern part of that country to the north, we saw numerous people that were having to get drinking water from mud puddles on the side of the road. One thing that really sticks out in my mind, is that young girl—probably 8, 9, no older than 10 years old—standing there with her arm burned, black—you know, charred all the way up to her shoulder. And her mother was there and they were both crying, both begging for help [whom the executive officer refused to help because troops had limited medical supplies]. I saw mass grave sites full of old men, old women, children, you know—I saw them all over that country.
OK: Article 3 of the 21 October 1950 Geneva Conventions reads: “Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de [outside of] combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely.”
To the extent that your experience in Iraq sheds any light on the matter, can you comment on the commitment with which this principle has been held up by the armed forces of the United States in Iraq?
KB: I don't want to discuss specific wars. But I’ll tell you that by the very virtue of war itself—what is humane treatment? I mean, you answer that question, if any one can answer that question: what is humane about war period? There’s nothing humane about it. The very virtue of what war is the design to inflict casualties on other human beings.
OK: The Nuremberg Tribunal was adopted by the International Law Commission of the United Nations in 1950. It lists under the heading “war crimes” the “wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages” and other actions against persons that constitute “devastation not justified by military necessity.” Please share any thoughts you have on this.
KB: I’m not a government, I’m just a man. And I feel that the only true way to prevent any of those things that you’re describing is for men—and women—to reach across the table and open themselves up for discussion so that this stuff won’t happen between people. If war is a tool to achieve peace, then why do we still have war?
Monica Benderman: War is not a necessity. Necessity is defined in alternatives to war.
OK: Lt. Col. Robert Whetstone, a Fort Stewart spokesman, was quoted by MSNBC on January 20th. He said—referring to you, Kevin—“We’re still going to treat him with honor and respect. He’s a soldier, he’s wearing the uniform and he’s a veteran,” Whetstone said. “But when regulations are broken and orders are disobeyed, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”
Now, the same Nuremburg Tribunal says that “the fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.” But it says more: “The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.” Can you tell us a little bit about that “moral choice” today?
KB: Well, I’ll tell you where I’ve exercised that moral choice. When that captain, who I was with over there, ordered the people—including me—to shoot small children that were throwing rocks at us, and I refused to obey that order, I exercised that moral choice in that particular case, that particular incident. When that order was given, we ignored it. We all looked at each other like, that man has lost his mind. So I would say that everyone who was with me at that time exercised their moral choice not to follow that illegal order.
OK: Mark Stevens, a military defense lawyer and retired Marine Corps judge advocate has been quoted repeatedly in our media, with reference to you. He asked, “If he went to Iraq and then comes back and says, ‘I'm now opposed to war,’ the issue is are you opposed to all wars or just this one you don't want to go back to?” said. “He wasn't opposed to war two years ago, why is he opposed to it now?” Now, the same media that energized and continues to reenergize the country for this war—telling nothing of its gross illegality—is being used as a forum to say, “why didn’t you know earlier?”
KB: I can’t tell you about international law violations or anything of that nature, but that man who made that statement about me: he doesn’t know me. You don’t know me either. You don’t know how long I’ve been thinking about a particular subject before I decide to speak out about it. And I think about a lot of things that no one knows what I think about. But this one was important enough for me that I needed to speak out about it to anyone that would listen.
Posted by at January 24, 2005 04:07 AM
Comments
Having watched and observed life from the standpoint of soldier for ten years of my life, I felt there was no higher honor than to serve my country and defend the values that established this country. My family has a history of serving this country dating back to the American Revolution and I felt that to continue on in that tradition was the honorable thing to do.
As I went through the process which led to my decision to refuse deployment to Iraq for the second time, I was torn between thoughts of abandoning the soldiers that I serve with, or following my conscience which tells me: war is the ultimate in destruction and waste of humanity.
Thoughts that we could, and should, consider better ways to solve our differences with other people in the world have crossed my mind on numerous occasions. And this was the driving force that made me refuse deployment to Iraq a second time. Some people may say I am doing so out of fear of combat; I am not going to tell you that the thought of going back to that place isn't scary, but that is not the reason for my decision to not return.
I want people to know that the longer I thought about just how stupid the concept of war really is the stronger I felt about not participating in war. Why do we tell our children to not solve their differences with violence, then turn around and commit the ultimate in violence against people in another country who have nothing to do with the political attitudes of their leaders?
Having read numerous books on the subject of war and having heard all the arguments for war, I have come to the conclusion that there are no valid arguments for the destructive force of war. People are destroyed, nations are destroyed, and yet we continue on with war. The young people that I went with to the combat zone looked at it like it was a video game they played back in their childhood.
When you contemplate the beauty of the world around us and the gifts we have been given you have to ask yourself, " Is this what humanity is meant to do, wage war against one another"? Why can't we teach our children not to hate or to not be afraid of someone else just because they are different from us? Why must it be considered honorable to train young men and women to look through the sights of a high-powered rifle and to kill another human being from 300 meters away?
Consider, if you will, the positive things that could be accomplished without war in our lives; prescription medication that is affordable for seniors; college grants that are available for high schools seniors; I could name a list of reasons not to waste our resources on war. The most important being to let the children of the world learn war no more.
I've received e-mails from people who said that I was a coward for not going to war, but I say to them that I have already been, so I do not have anything to prove to anyone any more. What is there to prove anyway, that I can kill someone I do not even know and has never done anything to me? What is in that concept that anyone could consider honorable?
I first realized that war was the wrong way to handle things in this or any other country when I went to the war zone and saw the damage that it causes. Why must we resort to violence when things do not go our way? Where is the logic of that? I have felt that there are better ways to handle our business than to bomb each other into oblivion. When you are on the water in a boat and you have a chance to see dolphins playing with each other as they go about their business, you realize that if they can live without war then humanity should be able to as well.
Can't we teach our children to leave war behind in history where it belongs? We have come to realize that slavery was an obsolete institution and we realized that human sacrifice was an obsolete institution and we left them behind us. When are going to have the same enlightened attitude about war?
I look at my stepchildren and realize that war has no place with me in giving them what they need to survive the trials and tribulations of early adult hood. And if you look at all the time soldiers lose in the course of fighting wars such as birthdays and anniversaries, their children going to the senior prom and college graduations, and other things which can never be replaced, then you have to come the understanding that war steals more from people than just the sense of humanity, it also steals some of that humanity from their family.
I have learned from first hand experience that war is the destroyer of everything that is good in the world, it turns our young into soulless killers and we tell them that they are heroes when they master the "art" of killing. That is a very deranged mindset in my opinion. It destroys the environment, life, and the resources which could be used to create more life advancing endeavors.
War should be left behind us; we should evolve to a higher mindset even if it means going against what most people tell us in this country, such as that we can never stop fighting with other people in the world. I have made the decision to not participate in war any longer and some people in this country cannot comprehend that concept but to me it is simple. I have chosen not to take part in war and it was easy to come to that decision.
I cannot tell anyone else how to live his or her life but I have determined how I want to live mine--by not participating in war any longer, as I feel that it is stupid and also that it is against everything that is good about the world.
Posted by: Kevin Benderman at January 23, 2005 09:35 PM
For the past two weeks, my husband Kevin and I have answered questions from reporters, journalists, interested citizens from almost every state in the union, and about 8 foreign countries. After all of these interviews, I have a few questions of my own.
What is wrong with a country in which a man and his wife have to jump through hoops, take psychological tests, and wait three months for the results of an application that declares he has made a conscious choice to never go to war again?
What is wrong with the state of affairs of a country when a man and his wife must use every media source available, and during those interviews face the questioning of his and their character, all because that man has decided he cannot in good conscience ever participate in war again?
What is wrong with the direction of the world when a man and his wife receive phone calls and emails from all over their country asking them to explain themselves, calling them cowards, wondering if they have ever read the Bible or studied the scripture, all because that man has chosen to speak out against war and violence, and his wife has chosen to stand with him?
What is wrong with a country when an application for Conscientious Objector status is reviewed and questioned, when a man's mental state is evaluated, when his morality is brought into question by a supposed Chaplain (a man of God), all because this soldier has decided he cannot use a weapon to kill another person for any reason?
What is wrong with a country when a man can walk into a military recruiting office, sign on the dotted line and find himself in a war zone 2 months later, without one question directed toward his sanity?
What is wrong with a country when a boy can meet a recruiter in high school, before he has even graduated and chosen his life's path, upon graduation leave for training, and 2 months later find himself in a war zone, without one question directed toward his sanity?
What is wrong with a country where war is glorified and fighting for peace is cowardly?
People ask us how my husband arrived at his decision that he could no longer bear a weapon and go to war against another man. They are amazed that after all of the years he has served in the military that he has come to this conclusion. I am amazed that anyone even thinks Kevin should have to explain himself.
People want to know the process of how my husband came to his decision. They ask if I watched the process, if he agonized, if I felt his anguish. This questioning is beyond my comprehension. I answer the best I am able, in awe that I am even asked.
People want to know if it was stress, PTSD which caused him to change his mind. They want to know what terrible things he saw that made him make such a drastic change. People want to know if there was thunder and lightning, an awakening, an epiphany. I stand in silence, words escape me. Have we gone so far away from Truth that people actually believe war and killing is right, and that a man must be crazy to want to walk away?
There was no "bright light." There were no angels, no mighty bolt of thunder. There was only reality and facing it with eyes wide open. All the sensationalism of preparing for war, the "glory," the "honor," the absence of reality in any training and any preparation, the illusion of the fight, and the altered perceptions of what we would face, not only in combat, but as a family dealing with the effects of war and its consequences were not strong enough to keep us from seeing the reality when it slapped us in the face.
WAR IS WRONG. War brings nothing but death and destruction. War takes away all humanity, not only from the people who die, but also from the people who do the killing. War is insanity, and killing is the pleasure of the truly insane.
What brought my husband, and me supporting him, to the conclusions that he has come to? What great light shown bright and told him that he could kill no more?
Reality: life is all that matters. Life is the greatest gift we have been given, and we do not have the right to take it away. One person stops, and there is one less person killing.
One more person has stopped, and his reward? To be treated as a coward, to be called insane, to be judged as stressed, to be held up as immoral and as a failure for not following through on his duty to the men he served with.
One man has stopped killing. One man has chosen to find a path other than war. One man has taken the right road, the only road that leads to sanity, and leads to peace. That man and his wife hope that one more man will follow, and another after that; And the duty they adhere to will be saving a life. The honor they receive will be knowing they stood strong in their commitment, they stood for their faith, and they honored the highest order, and respected Life. Anything else is a travesty, anything else is the act of a coward, and anything else is to walk away from God and to fail one of Life's greatest tests.
One man has stopped killing: hope for more to do the same.
Posted by: Monica Benderman at January 23, 2005 09:44 PM
I read your comments and they are well written
If your husband cant shoot and go to war he should be relieved and let stay at home
I do not understand the morals of people who say your a coward ,, are they fighting ,are their kids in the white house fighting ,
I just want to say that I feel for your family and all goes well
I see the pictures of this war ,and I see how we train people to kill as Vietnam and most came home and were given no respect
My brother was one of them ,it took over 20 years to get him some help
He had tomatoes and things thrown at him calling him a baby killer etc
He got agent orange that they will not admit too
War is wrong for those who dont want to fight
War is right for the ones that do think its a video game and can laugh and joke at each person they shoot to death
I seen that video made me sick very sick
Well good luck and I hope all goes well
Its ironic the ones that believe in god are the war supporters ,,but dont talk about gays and abortion they are first ones to disagree
ITs not a two way street ,,they get money from the war ,they churches are already tax free but they like the perks they get in the millions to keep this war going ,,and politics ,,
peace
Posted by: ohgorsh at January 24, 2005 05:57 AM
>>>>>While I applaud the decision of Kevin Benderman to file for conscientious objector status, what I wonder is "what took so long?" As a ten-year career military serviceman, where was Kevin before the US committed to this illegal little war? Certainly the Viet Nam vets could have told him stories of the atrocities of war. How villages were torched; women, old men, children executed. Or, many of the books he read could have shown him that "Diplomacy" should be exercised to completion before engaging in an armed conflict. Yet, he deployed for his first tour in Iraq, a country which he seems unable to call by name, referring to it as either "that country" or "over there".
>>>>>When a person, young as they may be at 18, signs on the dotted line to enlist in the military, in my opinion they are giving up a specified number of years for some gain to be recognized at the end of that period - education, training, job opportunities, whatever. As part of that commitment, they are required to deploy where there orders state. The argument Kevin brings up that "war steals more from people than just the sense of humanity, it also steals some of that humanity from their family", is a false argument. I know people that work on the road as salesmen or service technicians that miss a litany of holidays and family events. But there are certain "agonies" that are part and parcel of any "job". During "times of peace" I wonder if Kevin's commitment as a conscientious objector would be the same?
>>>>>"Why do we tell our children to not solve their differences with violence, then turn around and commit the ultimate in violence against people in another country who have nothing to do with the political attitudes of their leaders?" Why do we as a nation blindly "re-elect" (term used liberally) the very political leaders that launched this country into this atrocity? Because similar to many Iraqis, Americans are like little lambs; fearful of change and unable to stand-up to their "leaders" to affect change. It will always be the "little people", those expendable in society that will sacrifice and die in war time. The wealthy, the elite, fled Iraq or are holed up in "safety", while the Americans with means send their children to college. I believe this situation will only worsen as the second administration gets under way in America. I believe that more young people will be called into service for their country. Read between the lines - the draft.
>>>>>Looking back over what I've written, I realize I sound pretty hard on Kevin. I'm sorry his state of awareness did not occur sooner, but hope that his decision will be able to influence other servicemen or want-to-be servicemen from taking up arms.
Posted by: Milo at January 24, 2005 05:59 AM
Dear Benders:
I can't express how very sorry I am for what's happened to your family. The war only affects me personally in that the crimes against the Iraq people are done in my name by a country which represents me. I have no family members there. Every day I feel such disgust. I pray that Americans will wake up and cause an end to all the insane destruction. Then we'll have to do something about PNAC since the administration has their eyes on other parts of the world. You are very brave for joining the service as well as for speaking out.
Posted by: THAMBER at January 24, 2005 09:36 AM
For Monica and Kevin.
the clarity of your thoughts is very powerful.i choose to believe with Monica that one more man will follow and one more and another...
Posted by: bs at January 24, 2005 09:38 AM
Am though a little puzzled on the following...
Why are certain sections of iraqi people, blowing their own people up, destroying pipelines and causing further damage to their own people... what are they gaining out of this... why, their own people.
Am also puzzled about the fact that much is being written about the occupying forces and their inhuman attrocities, but what really is the picture of the elements destroying pipelines, carbombing their own people.
It is the Iraqis who are getting hurt by this.
This war is illegal alright and has to stop but now that he has been reelected for an another 4, what is the way out... carbombing your own people and damaging critical supply lines for the people will not bring this occupation to any kind of end but would keep dragging on.
This is a crazy world filled with deluded people and I hope someday all of us across all faiths would realise that 'humanity' is god and 'religion is a business racket'.
Posted by: mojo at January 24, 2005 09:41 AM
It's a little ironic that this interview is the first real news of Iraq that I've seen after returning from several weeks in Vietnam.
I don't find it incongruous that Kevin was able to serve in our military without coming to grips with his moral stance until after he'd experienced the evil that is war. Hearing people describe what they experienced in "the American War" in Vietnam or World War II can't duplicate the reality of being in a war, and experiencing and witnessing the devastation personally.
With the American government and most of our media promoting the "just cause" for this war, and downplaying the "collateral damage" of this war (just as in Vietnam), I am grateful to Dahr Jamail for providing a "Fair and Balanced" perspective.
I consider Kevin Benderman a hero - he was willing to serve his country, but when he realized that "war is the destroyer of everything that is good in the world" he had the strength to risk the consequences of standing up for what he believes is right.
Finally, in response to Milo's comment "Iraq, a country which he seems unable to call by name," my impression is that Kevin wants to make clear that his objection is to war, not just the one in Iraq.
Posted by: Bob at January 24, 2005 10:19 AM
Having gone from a patriotic youth supporting the Viet Nam War to a patriotic youth forced by the realities of that war to refuse to be an agent of a murderous misapplication of American might, and to take a hard look at war in general, I find this story of one couple's journey both understandable and laudable.
You are both among the sanest of the sane and the bravest of the brave. And you are both patriots of whom I am very proud, as I am proud of all those soldiers who refused the order to shoot children.
Given choices, most American soldiers make a noble choice. Based just on what I have been able to learn about our invasion and occupation of Iraq, I believe your choice in this situation is the noblest choice a soldier can make.
God bless your entire family.
Posted by: David at January 24, 2005 02:39 PM
At a time when the corporate news media machine sees fit to replace the word "victim" with "hero" on a daily basis, I am struck by the Bendermans' genuine heroism in summoning the courage of their convictions. Exercising one's conscience is often difficult, particularly at a time when the test of jingoistic patriotism requires complete subservience to the government.
Those who refuse to kill for the king are owed a debt of gratitude from a nation that gives much lip service to freedom and liberty.
Thank you.
Posted by: Smythely at January 24, 2005 03:21 PM
Bob, thanks for your comments. I guess I have trouble understanding why it's necessary to "experience war" to realize that it's not a wholesome way to go. I'm sure many of the people serving in the military at this time have there frame of reference as the first Gulf War under Bush I, which was a remarkably sterile war from the perspective of Americans with low casualties and "precision air strikes". Our hands didn’t get as dirty as they have this time during a primarily guerilla war.
I applaud Kevin Benderman's courage for undertaking what I'm sure is an arduous and at times humiliating stand against the military. I'm sure it is not easy to stand up against such a monolith; and as well, to stand against his community.
As you are, I am also immensely grateful to Dahr Jamail for providing a forum that encourages a "fair and balanced" discussion of issues. I only wish the likes of the Kevin Benderman's in the world would realize before they are seduced into the military that it provides no end to a peaceful humanity.
Posted by: Milo at January 24, 2005 03:37 PM
Kevin Benderman is an example of the kind of American I have always believed would never exist on any collective level: one who finally begins to THINK.
In all my life here on this land once called belonging to me and my peoples, have I ever experienced on any meaningful level, a THINKING and thoughtful white American. On the contrary, I have come to believe the overall masses of "American people" are mentally off kilter and even deranged. They are truly a people who suffer a collective mental illness. It permeates their society on all levels. They do not know who they are. They do not want to know who they really and truly are. They are the blindest of peoples.
I can write a litany of their ignorances and stupidities. It started from the beginning - when they thieved and slaughtered the millions of my peoples on this vast land we called ours. Then the lies to themselves and all others began. Then the denial also began, and in its place was born all the false and grandiose ideas of who they were and remain until this very time. Does any FEEL or KNOW how profound a devastation is when nations - yes nations - of HUMAN BEINGS have their humanity and their literal HUMAN LIVES so thoroughly murdered, trashed, denigrated and held up in the end as a museum piece and then as just another "welfare" problem to be sneered upon and then left to its complete and basic obliteration of ALL THE ILLS THAT COME FROM DESTROYING A COLLECTIVE HUMANITY? I say at this time, in the 21st century, an incredulous NO, no the proud, "united we stand" American peoples do not know, do not care worse yet, what they are. They would rather believe the lies of their own mental illness: the grandest and most superior of all the races of humankind.
Oh yes, it is so clear to me. Why else would one kevin Benderman have to answer for such a thing as his own ability to grow into the maturity, responsibility and clearness of conscience - finally - to UNDERSTAND that war is wrong?
To me, only in a truly mentally ill society, would such a profound recognition of the facts and the REALITY of war, his indictment and denouncement against his society's dangerous and blind, unthinking beliefs about war (as well as ALL wars), would he suffer as a pariah for stating such beliefs - notwithstanding whether or not these beliefs came to him later than sooner.
I am only minutely relieved to know of Kevin Benderman; I know this American society will never wake up to who they REALLY ARE underneath all their historical lies, denials and seeming inability to THINK and therefore, to be as we Native Americans always called ourselves: "the real human beings - "the people".
One thing I do know: Kevin Benderman is now one of "the real human beings" and he is so because he has come into the truth of his humanity and what it means to be a part of humanity that impacts always, the "others" of the human race. For this he is the REAL one - the sane one, and for all, the only one who can be said to be keeping the "security" for the rest of us.
In our way, these are the ones among us who we look at for leaderships - for these are the ones who care about the rest of the group and who THINK.
America, you never knew yourselves. Still you do not. We can only think of decline and the "fall of the civilization". That is how dangerous you look to us America. Kevin Benderman deserves your respect and, looking at your decline - he deserves to be looked upon with honor.
Respecfully,
Darlene Cheatham, Alaska USA - member of the Copper River Aht'na Ta'ene - Dene: "the real people"
Posted by: Darlene Cheatham at January 24, 2005 04:40 PM
Mr. Kevin Benderman,
You are a true American hero and a fine gentleman. May life brings you the best.
Good luck,
Posted by: lkhj at January 24, 2005 06:59 PM
I WAS BANNED FROM POSTING ON MILITARY.COM,FOR GOD SAKES!ON THIS SITE THEY PROMOTE A MILITARY VIDEO GAME---PAID BY UNCLE SAM---KILLING ARABS.ENLIST THEY CALL--WHERE IN THE HELL IS GOD?
KEVINN TELLS US THAT HE QUITS IN KILLING.I WOULD LIKE HIM TO TELL US IF HE REALLY KNEW -WHY OUR BOYS ARE THERE.HAS IT OCCURED TO HIM AND OTHERS THAT IT IS FOR ISRAEL AND OIL?
I SUGGEST THAT KEVIN AND OTHERS SEE THE DOCUMENTRY CALLED-HIDDEN WAR OF DESERT STORM,YES, THE HIGHWAY OF DEATH--182'000 IRAQIES PERISHED IN 2 DAYS.POWELL YOU BASTARD!
UN STOLE A COUNTRY TO THEM ,NOW THEY WANT THE WORLD.IsraOil
Posted by: GEORGE ARCHERS at January 24, 2005 08:10 PM
With regard to the comments made by Darlene, I respect your opinion, as I respect all people’s opinions. I may not agree with what all people say, however, everyone has the right to express their opinion and be heard.
You’ve expressed some very powerful thoughts that I take offense to, however. As a white “American”, someone who was born of western European lineage, I cannot shoulder the brunt of all the “sins of my fathers”. I was born into a “THINKING” family that promoted the cultures, beliefs, thoughts, ideas of many different peoples. I was raised not to look at people for how they were different in a negative way, but what can be learned because we are different. I was fortunate to grow up in a part of the US that had a wide diversity of people.
I feel that to recognize Kevin Benderman in a revered status because he did open his eyes and denounce war, minimizes the contributions of thousands of people like me that have not acted in a spectacular way to oppose war. I have never believed in war and of late have been deemed “unpatriotic”, “un-American”, and had it suggested to me that I might want to go live in another country!!!
I have been an activist for years, as I’m sure many of the people that find their way to Dahr’s website are. I believe that collectively, we create a very meaningful and “THINKING” segment of “American” humanity.
I think that Dahl Jamail deserves to be looked upon with respect and honor for his contribution of a fair and balanced platform during the illegal Iraqi war and occupation. Without his courage, we wouldn’t be able to have this dialog.
Posted by: Milo at January 24, 2005 09:09 PM
we seem able to fight over anything,don,t we?EVEN HERE on this post. I,m a White man,but let me tell you white men are sick.
Posted by: geo. at January 24, 2005 11:25 PM
Funny how sometimes somebody working for peace can get protective about their club. The fact that one's ancestors were involved in the genocide of the Native Americans should not exclude one from taking a stand today for peace. The fact that one spent 10 years in the military before deciding to stop and publicly protest against war should not cause us to criticize.
These are stories of success and transformation! We should enthusiastically accept *anyone* into the fold of those working toward peace with open arms! We should celebrate and feel pride with each success story as we strengthen the movement one individual at a time.
Posted by: Spoken Freely at January 25, 2005 12:05 AM
Milo,
I think Darlene was trying to point out how Native Peoples of this land are still oppressed, and still having their lands and heritage stolen from them today. And, as American citizens, we are responsible for that... as well as this war on Iraq. I, too, am an activist.... so our responsibility is less than the brain-dead. But not all the guilt is washed away.
Posted by: Susan - USA at January 25, 2005 03:29 AM
First off I would just like to say war is a result of mans sin. People want so they kill. And any so called christian who supports war is decieved of the devil, and should get on their hands and knees and repent of their sins.
Darlene I apologize for mankinds ignorance, if you will allow God to heal your wounds he will.
And for the rest of the world you better wake up the time is short. Prophecies are being filled, and Jesus will be returning shortly, so repent and turn from your wicked ways, hell is not a pretty place, do not be disallusioned, read the Bible do not be foolish, the truth shall set u free. Serve the devil or serve God you make the choice, but I will let u in on a little secret God wins in the end, so your better off bowing the knee now. Peace God Bless Gods humble servant PS their will never be peace on earth until the return of Jesus Christ the messiah
Posted by: Larry at January 25, 2005 04:59 AM
Dear Mr and Mrs Benderman,
I thought I would send you support from Scotland. I have four American friends who where Viet vets and they are all distraught over the current state of affairs.
Only the truly brave can do what your doing. If one really looks at all the world's religions one easily finds the common ground of love. When I look at myself with true honesty I realise that when I am angry the world around me is also angry and that anger breeds anger.
How in heavens name can we be so blind to use religion to support war, isn't God love? If not, As Groucho used to say, "excuse me but I really must be going". Do they really think that Jesus would support this? I guess Bush has been handing out blindfolds. O ya I thought in your American Constitution that church and state were to remain separate?
I guess that religion has probably keep more people from God than anything else. Lenny Bruce said "Every day people are straying away from church and finding God."
Love from Scotland
Davy Jones
Posted by: davy jones at January 25, 2005 06:17 PM
War is Satan. Our leaders, who have initiated this war, are minions of Satan. It is that simple.
Posted by: Ann Benson at January 25, 2005 07:30 PM
Dear Ann. World is not simple. World is complex. And we have to make an effort to understand it. But not with words as "Satan" or "God" but "people", "peace" and "dialogue". As Darlene says, we have to think about what we are and what we do. Because we live all together in this unique world we are responsible of our acts. Let's be concius about it. Regards from Madrid, Spain.
Posted by: Guillermo at January 26, 2005 04:36 PM
Mr. Benderman, you are an adult who made a choice. Your choice was to join the US Military. Now, like a spoiled kid, you say you don't want to play anymore. The story about you being ordered to shoot children throwing rocks is horrible and if that happened exactly as you are portraying then I agree with you in that that is not a lawful order. So grow a pair of balls and you and your soldier friends charge the Captain with an offense under the UCMJ. Be a man about it and stand up to it to make it better. Instead you choose to run away and hide behind a conscientious objector status. I am sure being in Georgia with your family is much easier for you. You have chosen the easy way out. Get back in the Army and make a positive change. Go after those who do wrong. Not giving medical supplies to an injured child and her mother sounds horrible. All you did was walk away. The XO said some words about not helping and you walked away from her. You’re just as bad as the XO.
Please email me and tell me why you can't go back in and make a change for the better rather then hiding in Georgia.
Thanks for your time in advance. Please help me better understand what looks like cowardice on your part.
Dave
Posted by: Dave Tikk at January 29, 2005 02:14 PM
"WAR IS WRONG"
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
--John Stuart Mill
I cannot imagine living in a country that was bought and paid for by the blood of patriots, and then whining generalities about the "evils of war." War isn't evil; HUMANS are evil, and it is EVIL humans that wage war.
When they do, then people who value freedom have to rise up and defeat them. Anyone who says that freedom isn't worth fighting AND dying for really needs to rethink their address.
I don't know anything about obtaining French citizenship but if I were the Benders, I'd sure look into it.
Posted by: B. P. at February 1, 2005 06:32 PM
B.P.,
So let me see if I got the “logic" from your posting right: Evil humans wage war and Good humans rise up and fight and defeat them.
Please take your logic and try to apply it to the current war in Iraq. Ask yourself who were the people to "wage war" and who were the people to rise up and defeat them. Try the experiment from the viewpoint of an American family. Try it from the perspective of an Iraqi family. Try it from Saddam Hussein's perspective. Attempt the experiment from George Bush's.
This simple thought experiment will hopefully demonstrate that splitting the world into war wagers and those that defeat war wagers is futile. The distinction is entirely arbitrary and looks different depending on where you stand.
The only way to defeat evil humans and war is to not play the game. We all know this....yet we stand aside and watch or even worse - participate - as the violence brings more violence and every side increasingly considers the others the wagers of war and their own position righteous and good defenders.
Now that is a symptom of the ignorance and delusion that is the real human “evil”.
Posted by: Spoken Freely at February 2, 2005 01:10 AM
Dear Mr and Mrs Benderman,
I'm impressed with your courage to oppose the war being a member of military. It is not truth that you have to obey the order. The most important thing is to obey The Constitution. The American Armed Forces have a responsibility to defend this country. The Iraq's war is fully illegal, has nothing with defense of US and you have right to object deployment in Iraq.
Slogans as "God support our troops" sounds for me as one used by Germans during WWII - "God is with us". Why we decide whom God has to support? Who said that God should be with occupiers?
In a similar way as US do in Iraq, in 1945 the Red Army "liberate" my country. They brought the new government on their tanks and without asking us what we want they forced us to "accept " the best system on the world - Communism. Prisons were full of "underground bandits" (word "terrorist" was not in use at this time).
God bless you and your family and be sure that millions of people around the world support you.
I am very grateful to Dahr Jamail for providing us with not "filtered" news from Iraq.
Posted by: frank at February 3, 2005 05:16 AM
"War will cease when men refuse to fight."
Fridtjof Hansen
Being one of many [150.000*] who refused to fight in bloody [civil] wars that raged in Balkan during 90ties, I feel I can add something to subject.
None of us was welcomed in the countries we emigrated to, nor praised for our ‘courage’, which was nothing more or less, but choice to be/stay humans. Most of us served one-year obligatory army service in peaceful times, and had the idea what military is.
Signing “dotted line” voluntarily is to give up brains, body and life, and to deliver them to someone else’s control. It is a signature for acceptance to be train as a killer, mercenary to be precise. For whatever reasons young Americans choose to do it [education, money, travel etc.] they should keep American record of wars in mind [70+ interventions since WWII], and be aware how high is likelihood for him/her to end up in some war thousands of miles from home. Of course, they were probably taught that all of them were ‘just’ and ‘noble’.
However, to believe that you are defending your country in pre-emptive war on the other side of the Atlantic requires a thorough brainwashing.
It is sad that it took witnessing hell of Iraq, for Mr. Benderman, to realize the beauty of life, but better ever than never. Good for him. I hope many will follow his footsteps [even before seeing “altruism’ in action], but I will not praise their ‘heroism’, just as I don’t consider myself a hero – just a human being.
I am still waiting for decisive majority of Americans to realize what has been done in their name. War of aggression, by the rules set up by victors of WWII, is the ultimate crime. Being the most powerful country in the world America doesn’t feel any inclination to subject itself to [any] international laws, which is very close to concept of “übermensch”.
Dave,
either you are not who you pretend to be [marine in Iraq], or you are blind and naïve. To urge Kevin Benderman to go back and fight the SYSTEM is equal to urge him to get shot in the back. Just don’t tell me it’s impossible – it happens in every war.
Monica Benderman is asking lot of “what is wrong” questions. Lot of questions is missing. Here are just few regarding the nonsense called “war on terror”
What is wrong with country that spent on “defense” more than all other countries combined? What is the threat that justifies that expense?
If the answer on previous is “terror”, why such enormous spending on military, while “Homeland security” is not able to inspect more than 4-6% of shipping containers entering country’s ports?
What is wrong with the country waging wars on nouns? “Drugs”, “poverty”, “terror”…
* That is the conservative estimate of number [nobody ever counted seriously] of people [mostly young and educated] who left Serbia between 1991 and 95, refusing to take part in wars. Fact not much publicized in western media, in order to maintain black and white picture ‘bad guys vs. good guys’.
Posted by: bojan at February 5, 2005 02:20 PM
Mr. Benderman,
I had not heard of your situation until I found this website. I found your story to be very interesting as my son fought in Afganistan and 7 months after returning from there was sent to Iraq. He is home now after serving 4 years and we are praying that he won't be recalled. He had no idea what it meant when he signed up that he would be IRR after his enlistment was up and actually owed the government 8 years instead of 4.
I respect you and your decisions. I am so sorry that you and your family have gone through so much. I truly feel for you.
My son made it home but his Uncle was killed in Afganistan.
I am very interested in hearing more of your thoughts on what you went through in Iraq as I am trying to understand my son and he keeps much of it to himself.
I promise to remember you and your family in my prayers. Always be proud for standing firm for what you truly believe.
And by the way, I know from being involved in the military through my son, that being in the military in no way shows you what it truly means to be fighting in a war. You can't understand what that means until you actually experience it and see the ugliness with your own eyes.
I would like to hear from you if possible.
God Bless you,
Charlene
Posted by: Charlene at February 9, 2005 10:17 PM
Dear Mr and Mrs Benderman, As a former VietNam vet I wholeheartedly support your position.
As a young man I was pumped up with patriotism and was proud to serve my country! I became disillusioned when I actually experienced war and began to question the merits and the moral foundation of going to another country to kill people who had done nothing to me, my family or my country!
We now know that Korea, VietNam and Iraq have all been faught under the United Nations. All of these wars have been brutal, immoral and have served no purpose to the people of the United States. Can anyone offer any explanation as to what any one of those countries did to this country that would make us go there with weapons of mass destruction to murder tens of thousands of their people? Yet we are asked to send our children to these insane wars to die for causes that simply do not exist.
Where does the madness of war end? Now they don’t have enough soldiers to fight all of the wars they want to fight so they want to start up the draft. This time they want to draft our daughters too!
Our country has changed...and not for the better! We once were the moral Superman of the planet. We were proud to be an American and the world loved us! We stood for truth, justice and the American way! I’m not sure what we stand for now, certainly not truth or justice! Is the American way nothing more than a multi-generational commitment to the miseries of unjustifiable wars?
I know how much courage it takes to do what you are doing! I have friends in prison because they had the courage to do what is right. I myself will probably go to prison too. I, however will not give up my stand and I hope you will not give up yours.
Believe in God, Believe in your country and Believe in yourself!
My prayers are with you. Mike
Posted by: Mike at February 12, 2005 04:13 PM
I herald Kevin for an excellent and beautifully articulated piece. Thank You for sharing it with us. Choosing peace over war is a noble & courageous act.
The transformation is amazing.
Sometimes we must go thru experiences once, twice, three or more times before we recognize the choices we made did not produce the outcome we expected, or we change our minds after seeing the results of such choices.
Evolvement is a process for each person. How or when is not important. What is important is how we act and react, how we interpret and perceive certain situations based on the outcome of our decisions. Realizing it is the choices that produce a desired or an undesired outcome allows us to make different ones the next time. That is how we grow and expand and evolve in life. Otherwise we stay mired in the same situation only different circumstances with new players.
The cycle continues as long as we keep making the same choices.
It is said it takes only One to change the world. It begins with You and me. By making different choices we change the world.
It takes courage to make different decisions. By doing so the never-ending cycle ceases to repeat itself ...The cycle has been broken.
The best to Kevin & Monica. Our thoughts & prayers are with You & your family.
A big Thank You, Dahr Jamail, for giving us the opportunity to learn more and for your time.
Love
serena
Posted by: serena at February 13, 2005 02:20 AM
We are compelled to begin by thanking the countless people, military and civilian, here and abroad, for the overwhelming support we have received during the first few weeks of the difficult times we are now facing. We appreciate the warm thoughts and prayers from all who have cared enough to take the time to share their feelings with us. Thank you.
Chronology of Events Beginning February 07, 2005:
As you know, combat veteran Army Sergeant Kevin Benderman was charged by his command at Fort Stewart on January 19th with: 1) Desertion with the intent to avoid hazardous duty and 2) Missing Movement by design. He faces 5 years in prison if found guilty on the first charge; and up to 2 years on the second charge.
Faced with the prospect of having to submit to the Army’s equivalent of a pre-trial hearing (called an Article 32 investigation) less than 48 hours after the charges were read, SGT Benderman, through the military defense counsel provided to him, submitted a request for a reasonable delay of the hearing. A delay in the case was granted until February 7th by Lt Col. Linda Taylor, the investigating officer.
Meanwhile, the military attorney representing Kevin challenged the appointment of the Article 32 investigating officer, Lt.Col. Linda Taylor. They based their objection on the fact that Ms. Taylor served as the chief military prosecutor at Ft. Stewart, where Kevin is being tried. Reportedly, Lt.Col. Taylor served in that capacity for over six months in 2003 and actually provided legal advice on criminal matters to the current Convening Authority, Lt.Col. Kidd. The request for recusal was denied by the appointing authority prior to the Article 32, and again by Lt.Col. Taylor at the beginning of the hearing.
The Article 32 spanned about six hours. Telling testimony from various witnesses revealed the negative reception SGT Benderman endured by his command from the time he submitted his Conscientious Objector claim in December 2004. Without even reviewing the governing regulation, his company commander at the time informed SGT Benderman that he intended to recommend disapproval of the application based on his belief that it could only be a reuse to avoid deployment. The first military chaplain SGT Benderman sought to meet with shunned him despite the fact that a chaplain’s interview is a required step in the application process. This chaplain later emailed SGT Benderman from Kuwait and told him he was ashamed of him. SGT Benderman’s unit first sergeant called him a coward. Fortunately, SGT Benderman was able to meet with another Fort Stewart chaplain who understood the process, conducted a thorough interview with SGT Benderman, and concluded that SGT Benderman’s beliefs are “sincere” and that “his lifestyle is congruent with his claim of conscientious objection.”
Article 32 testimony also confirmed that on January 6th, within days of SGT Benderman submitting his application, the company commander called SGT Benderman in for a separate counseling session based on allegations of Disrespect to a Commissioned Officer and Disloyal Statements to the United States. This counseling proved atypical. SGT Benderman was brought into a conference room where 15-20 others from the unit were present. The commander chastised SGT Benderman in front of the group citing various articles he had read from the internet and which he assumed were directly attributable to SGT Benderman. The commander informed SGT Benderman that he fully intended to prosecute him, that he considered him a security risk, that he intended to have SGT Benderman’s security credentials pulled for the remainder of his career, and that SGT Benderman was to be excluded from all access to company and battalion operations centers. The counseling was reduced to writing.
The Findings and Recommendations of the Article 32 Investigation are pending at this time. Less than 18 hours following completion of the Article 32, SGT Benderman had to report for his Conscientious Objector hearing. SGT Benderman had timely requested a brief delay the previous week, but the Investigating Officer denied the request. The hearing officer was clearly hostile and not the detached, neutral, and impartial officer required by the regulation. Over objections by representative counsel, the IO persisted in asking SGT Benderman potentially incriminating questions, including whether or not SGT Benderman had ever brought an unregistered weapon on Fort Stewart. Countless other questions pertained to articles alleged to have been written by SGT Benderman. These questions persisted despite the IO’s assurances at the beginning that he did not intend to consider any articles. The hearing was not recorded, although we were informed the previous week that it would be. SGT Benderman’s representative counsel, who is also his detailed defense attorney, immediately objected to the legitimacy of the entire proceeding and to the continued appointment of the IO. The numerous objections were reduced to writing and sent to the appointment authority on Wednesday, February 9th. To date, we have received no response.
As if the marathon events of the 7th and 8th were not enough for one week, other developments ensued. Following the CO Hearing on the 8th, SGT Benderman reported to his rear detachment commander for further guidance. The commander informed SGT Benderman that he intended to sit SGT Benderman down within a day or two to issue him a new order to deploy to Iraq. The commander stated that the decision was based on the guidance he received from the prosecution and that it would all be summarized in a counseling statement. SGT Benderman promptly informed his attorney, who promptly sought confirmation with the prosecutors. Our understanding is that while the prosecutors admitted to having a discussion with the command, they indicated that they would not likely follow through with such a course of action.
Astoundingly, on the morning of February 10th, SGT Benderman was called and told to report to his commander at 0900 hours for counseling. SGT Benderman immediately called his defense counsel and asked him to be present. By the time SGT Benderman’s attorney arrived, and despite the fact he is a represented accused, the commander and one of the military prosecutors called him in to communicate the order. SGT Benderman repeatedly requested that they await the arrival of his attorney. Finding errors in the written counseling form, the commander sent SGT Benderman out to correct the errors and await the arrival of SGT Benderman’s attorney. Finally, the defense counsel arrived and the session resumed with the commander, a prosecutor, SGT Benderman’s supervising sergeant, SGT Benderman, and his attorney present. Defense counsel placed everyone on notice that he intended to record the discussion. The commander informed SGT Benderman that he considered SGT Benderman deployable and that he must prepare to deploy to Operation Iraqi Freedom III pending the outcome of the Article 32 hearing. The commander went on to state that if the findings revealed that he had not committed any violations of the UCMJ, SGT Benderman may deploy as early as 17 February and as late as 17 March 2005. When defense counsel reminded the commander that the Article 32 did not determine guilt or innocence, the commander acknowledged that he understood that to be correct. He confirmed that if the Article 32 hearing officer recommended that the charges not go forward, he intended to deploy SGT Benderman. Meanwhile, the commander also confirmed that if the Article 32 recommendation was to go forward with the court-martial, he would consider SGT Benderman non-deployable. The conversation was terminated. This latest development is fundamentally suspect in a number of ways. The legal concepts of entrapment and malicious prosecution come to mind.
Again, the Article 32 findings have not yet issued. We remain hopeful that the hearing officer was able to readily see that SGT Benderman never deserted his unit and that he was otherwise excused from movement with his unit on January 7th in order to complete the processing of his Conscientious Objector application.
The Kevin Benderman Defense Committee
http://www.BendermanDefense.org
Posted by: Monica Benderman at February 13, 2005 10:10 PM
To Kevin, Monica, and Dahr; three humanists walking the difficult path of honor and truth - thank you for every painful step you've taken on our behalf. As a child of the video-game generation, who has grown up without the horrors of war brought upon our doorstep until now, I draw strength and clarity from each of your actions. I used to think I was intellectual and well-informed when I watched CNN news. I know have the benefit of perspective, given to me by such hard workers like yourselves. I'm not embarassed by my "white" heritage - my parents worked hard all their lives to live honestly and without prejudice, and they worked even harder to share their lessons and perspective with me. But I can also see how easy the powers that be make it for everyone to live a sheltered existence of ignorance. I could watch just tv all damn day and be "informed" about events; could carry on a conversation with the average Joe on the street and not look ignorant. But when all I am given for a diet of information about war comes from second-hand stories, from Rambo, and from Doom, please forgive the ignorance of those like me. The solution can come from more protests, but those will be painted by the Big Media as rabble-rousers/anarchists/terrorists - not as concerned citizens waking up to the horror of war. The biggest evils are the ones we cannot see, and we all rely upon our media to be our eyes. When they omit, we have nothing else to see with. Only the few who make it thier job to expose crime at it's largest, like Kevin, Monica, and Dahr, are prying open our complacent orbs. And of course history will repeat itself - Dalton Trumbo getting blacklisted/jailed for his pro-peace activities looks too much like Sgt Benderman's abuse at the hands of the militarists to be coincidence. There is no easy answer - the bastards who have exploited every inch of humanity are the ones who use easy answers. They shoot instead of talk. They train troops to fly jets instead of speak Arabic; to understand a Claymore mine instead of the Koran.
But we here have our eyes open. Our job is to help Kevin, Monica, and Dahr with their prying.
Thank you.
Posted by: Griffman at February 25, 2005 10:44 PM
Dear Kevin: Congratulations! It takes guts to do what you've done - in this country and in Iraq. I respect your decision and wish you and your family the best. Good luck and may God be with you.
Jon in Mass.
P.S. Say hello to your sister Kathy for me if you talk to her. We're friends.
Posted by: Jon at March 10, 2005 09:09 PM
hello, i am in europe, the feeling against the war here is very strong,
originally i am from australia, where the war support is 50-50
recently i met a girl whose brother was in the us army, and fought at fallujah,
i am strongly against the war, but found it difficult to say this to a person whose brother is risking his life, and had been in combat
as bad as the war is, let us not forget that many of the soldiers are innocent pawns in the game
Posted by: craig at August 4, 2005 03:21 PM
All of you should be ashamed.
Posted by: ex-soldier at October 21, 2005 05:33 AM
here it is coming from montana. love it or leave it. respect the veterans and love freedom. It does not get any more simple than this.
Scott Wilkins
Posted by: scott at January 21, 2006 06:03 AM