The Court Martial Of Sgt. Kevin Benderman

[Itsthetruth]

CounterPunch
May 9, 2005

Conscientious Objection on Trial
The Court Martial of Keith Benderman
By KEVIN ZEESE

This Wednesday, May 11, the court martial of Sgt. Keith Benderman begins. Sgt. Benderman, who has served in the military for eight years including one tour of duty in Iraq, filed for conscientious objector status after seeing the reality of war in Iraq. He has been denied and now faces court martial on two counts, for desertion with the intent to avoid hazardous duty and missing movement by design. He could spend five years incarcerated if found guilty of the first charge and up to two years for the second.


The military is having a hard time meeting its recruitment goals. Soldiers are fleeing to Canada and refusing to return to Iraq. The National Guard and active duty troops are stretched thin, some serving in Iraq longer than they should. The insurgency in Iraq seems to be gaining strength and a U.S. exit from Iraq is not in sight ­ not even publicly discussed by the Administration. North Korea is reportedly ready to test a nuclear weapon and Iran seems unwilling to slow its nuclear development. Tensions between China and Taiwan continue at slow boil. The slaughter in the Sudan continues unabated. The United States military is stretched thin and ­ it is scared.

That's right, President Bush's overreaching has put the most powerful country in human history in fear ­ fear that the U.S. will not be able to handle likely conflicts. As a result of that fear the conscientious objection of soldiers is not something they want to hear. But, they will hear it. And, more importantly, more and more Americans will hear it. They will learn that our soldiers are being ordered to commit acts they find unconscionable. Our youth will hear that if they enlist, they can't get out and recruitment will be made more difficult.

Sgt. Benderman has already won. The question is how will the U.S. military handle the reality of a man of conscience?

Kevin Zeese is a director of Democracy Rising. You can comment on this article by visiting his blogspot at www.DemocracyRising.US.

More information: http://www.bendermandefense.org/


http://www.counterpunch.org/zeese05092005.html

[IrateCitizen]

1. Geez, couldn't they have at least gotten his name right???

His name is KEVIN Benderman, not KEITH Benderman.

That being said, I have nothing but the utmost respect for Kevin Benderman. I am a conscientious objector myself -- discharged with a still-pending claim on 01 Sep 2004. The whole purpose of this kangaroo court proceeding is to de-legitimize the right of soldiers to seek status as conscientious objectors.

Having been through the process, I will tell you that CO status is NOT something that is achieved easily. The military tries to undermine your claim at every turn, and you really have to be wary of the tricks they will pull in order to successfully receive a CO discharge.

If there is ANYONE who should qualify as a CO, it is SGT Benderman. He was so haunted by what he saw during his first tour to Iraq, he realized that war was something he had developed a deep-seated opposition toward. His opposition is not political, it is purely moral. That is the definition of a CO. Yet, the military is putting him on trial as a signal to others feeling similar inner conflicts -- in effect, stating, "Don't even think about it. We own you, and you'll do as you're told."

[Itsthetruth]

3. Thanks

Good editing! I've corrected the title in the post. They did get the link right.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Thank You!

My son signed his papers to join the Guard last year, and he is supposed to Graduate and go to Boot Camp this summer.

Just yesterday we had a conversation where he admitted he was having second thoughts!! On Mother's Day no less!!

He needs to see this. This is not the same service he has wanted to join since he was 12. The world is not the same. Until the neo-cons are out of power in Washington he will just be fodder for their imperialistic plans.

"Sgt. Benderman's opposition is not the theoretical if sincere opposition of a student peace activist. Kevin Benderman has seen things that none of God's children should have to endure. He was present when his superior ordered his unit to open fire on small children who were throwing rocks at the soldiers of his unit. He chased the hungry dogs from an open mass grave filled with the bodies of young children, old men and women. Kevin saw the burned child, crying in pain, while all around her ignored her injuries."

[rwork]

4. bush* as told to

Tim Russert: I fixed it up with the National Guard to leave early and go to college.This needs to be hammered home to the MSM until they get it.* expects everyone else to do 1,2,and 3 tours until they are killed, while he copped out of the Vietnam war.

[spindoctor]

5. Can you conscientiously object to volunteering?

I thought that was a draft thing only.

But having said that, best of luck to Sgt Benderman and others who go this route. Hang in there!

[IrateCitizen]

6. Yes, you can. I did.

The whole impetus behind the concept is that people's minds can change over time. I went from being a big believer in militarism as being part of the "American way of life" as an ROTC cadet to someone who saw the links between militarism and economic exploitation of just about every flavor while a commissioned officer in the US Army Reserve.

I filed for CO officially in December 2002. I was honorably discharged, my claim unresolved, in September 2004.