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> Tues., Apr. 1, 2003
Flashpoints
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Today's headlines:
A 20 year-old Marine reservist declares himself a conscientious
objector. We’ll hear the statement of Stephen Funk,
the Marine who said no today and we’ll speak to his
lawyer and spiritual advisor, a conscientious objector from
the First Gulf War;
We’ll also speak to the parents of a soldier who was
just sent in to battle. While the son faces death in Iraq,
the parents say no to war;
Also, an update from Voices in the Wilderness on the situation
in Baghdad after 24 hours of ferocious bombing;
The Knight Report
8:00:00 PM PST
Dennis Bernstein: introduction:
8:00:00 PM PST
Robert Knight and the Knight Report.. Robert: US
3rd infantry division shoots dead 7 women and children at
a checkpoint in Iraq.. (UK Guardian story).. Robert Fisk identifies
Baghdad marketplace bomb as Texas made.. Raytheon the culprit..
Rumsfeld in shizophrenic denial, blames Franks for faulty
plan, then calls plan brilliant.. Powell in Turkey, on way
to Brussels
8:04:58 PM PST
Dennis: Marine Corp reservist Stephen Funk declared himself
a consciencious objector (CO).. let's listen to what he had
to say today.. audio: (applause).. Stephen: they steal money
from.. the poor and give to the rich.. they steal from the
soldier.. they level homes.. shatter families.. wars destroy
lives, creating wounds that may never heal.. I am a CO.. no
way to remain a Marine without sacrificing my self-respect..
everyone knows in their heart that killing is wrong.. the
military teaches killing is justifies.. coerces people into
killing.. I refuse to surrender my dignity, I refuse to kill..
the military demands obeidence, but I will not obey (applause)..
I know it demands courage to say no in the face of coertion..
I hope this war comes to a quick end..
8:07:35 PM PST
Dennis: now w National Lawyers Guild attorney, Stephen Collier..
Collier: Stephen Funk spoke in front of the base.. made his
statement in civilian clothes, and then dressed in uniform
and turned himself in.. he was AWOL while preparing his CO
application.. could face a harsh response.. but looks like
he will be released.. about the legal definition of CO.. his
beliefs crystallized in boot camp, when he was told to 'kill,
kill', and in rifle training, when his drill sergeant told
him he wouldn't shoot so well on a real battlefield, he grokked
on the fact that yes he was opposed to killing.. he wants
other young people to understand.. boot camp is about pounding
out your sensitivities.. now w reporter Duncan Campbell of
the London Guardian.. Duncan: I spoke to him on Sunday.. in
Britain we have had a similar situation, three soldiers sent
home from Iraq, complaining about the treatment of civilians
there.. I was in San Diego, met a number of teenagers that
had just joined up.. realized it would take a lot of courage
to turn around after boot camp and say they didn't want to
take part in it.. about the three British soldiers, I understand
they have been sent back to Iraq.. had expressed their unhappiness
about civilian deaths.. Collier: there was another CO in Salt
Lake City before the war started.. he was discharged quickly..
if the military turns around and takes a hard line with us,
we have a legal fund, and will defend him.. Dennis: any response
from his fellow Marines?.. Collier: no, not yet.. Dennis:
his reaction to the killing yesterday of seven women and children
by young soldiers yesterday? soldiers who will never be the
same.. Collier: his sympathies are with both groups.. Notice:
GI (CO) Hotline 800-394-9544
8:24:11 PM PST
music break Phil Oakes
8:16:21 PM PST
Dennis: now w Amy Alison, spiritual advisor to Stephen Funk..
Amy: I joined the Army reserves to help pay my way through
Stanford.. a recruiter lured me in.. I didn't think about
the realities of war.. about the moral or ethical implications..
a common attitude.. not until I got into boot camp.. stabbing
human shaped dummies.. offended me morally, as a 17 teen year
old, I realized I hadn't considered the implications.. my
believes crystalized in boot camp, but was in the reserves
for four years before I learned there was a legal way to resist..
two years later, my application was denied.. declaring myself
a CO is the most important thing I have ever done.. telling
the world that killing is wrong, inside the military and outside..
being a person of color, millions of dollars are targeted
in military advertising toward us.. now w Judy Erlich.. mad
a film about CO's.. Judy: seeing Amy beside Stephen today,
I could see the footsteps that Stephen was following (Amy
was president of Stanford when she claimed CO status).. Amy:
about Stephen Funk.. about his path to CO.. told his drill
sergeant that 'yes I think you're right I wouldn't to well
in war, I believe killing is wrong'.. I connected him with
CO's from the last Gulf War.. his unit had already been ordered
to the Gulf.. with great pride I saw this young man, tell
a sea of cameras and soldiers that killing is wrong and he
will not participate.. Judith: there is a real sense of relief..
when Stephen stood up and.. showed his strenght of character,
speaking up for what he believes in.. Amy: I was shocked and
relieved when Stephen's commander came out and said he would
not arrest Stephen but would have him report everyday to his
unit, will not have to stay in the barracks, and will process
him out as soon as possible.. a great day for peace loving
people.. Notice: GI (CO) Hotline 800-394-9544
8:40:16 PM PST
music break Not In Our Name
8:41:53 PM PST
Dennis: now w Slane Moonie of Voices in the Wilderness and
the Iraq Peace Team.. Slane: reading email coming out of Iraq
from Voices in the Wilderness members.. from Kathy Brain (sp?):
yesterday we visited a woman whose home had been damaged by
the bombing.. listened to Bush's speech.. he said 'humanitarian
help is on the way'.. outraged us.. the woman asked, why was
the Oil for Food program stopped?.. we went to the poor neighborhood
where the market was bombed the day before.. us two Americans
stood out, but no one insulted us.. but a boy shouted,"
Bush and his soldiers are cowards, they attack us from afar,
they do not fight face to face.. let them come here.."
about a carfull of reporters in Kuwait.. rented a car and
drove straight through to Baghdad today.. a group of Christian
Peacemakers and Iraq Peace Team members, ordered out of Iraq..
narrowly missed being attacked by a US airstrike..
8:48:04 PM PST
Dennis: now w Nancy Lesson and Charlie Richardson, founders
of Military Families Speak Out .. about their son Joe.. now
on his way to Iraq.. Dennis: I imagine you are concerned about
your son.. like the horrible shooting of seven to ten women
and children.. the young soldiers involved in that incident
will have to live with that the rest of their lives.. Nancy:
we absolutely believe our troops need to be supported, and
they need to be brought home now.. Dennis: Oliver North a
Fox *reporter* now embedded with a Marine unit.. saying people
that speak out against the war are traitors.. Charlie: OLIVER
NORTH IS A TRAITOR.. we are trying to.. keep the US from becoming
a country that goes around the world invading other countries..
Nancy: when Joe went into the service, a different world,
before 911, we were concerned something like this might happen..
about the checkpoint shooting yesterday.. we knew innocent
people were going to get killed, and our kids turned into
cannon fodder.. about our organization.. none of us want our
loved ones to be involved in this kind of.. war crimes.. Notice:
GI (CO) Hotline 800-394-9544
8:57:29 PM PST
End today's show. today's review by John Lionheart
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