Rejecting Revisionist History: Losurdo's War and Revolution

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/03/27/rejecting-revisionist-history/

Embodiment of Absolute Evil

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/03/20/embodiment-of-absolute-evil/

Upstairs, Downstairs/India, Pakistan

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/03/13/upstairs-downstairsindia-pakistan/

A US War Resister in Germany: A Matter of Conscience

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/03/06/a-us-war-resister-in-germany/


a slight correction...Since the piece began with Andre thanking you for "a forum in which I can provide factual information on the case,"  I thought it might be helpful to correct some of the mis portrayal of who qualifies as a CO. 

Andre is right that the person needs to be opposed to any war they can imagine themselves fighting in.  (It is not a requirement that the person state whether they accept or reject the war that gave birth to the US.)  Someone who says they would fight in certain wars probably would be turned down.

Religious basis is not a separate way to get out.  No matter what religion the person still must be opposed to participation in all war.  Also, a person need not be religious at all as long as the moral principles that direct their life are comparable in strength to those held by religious people.  We deal with many atheist and agnostic applicants who still get out for CO.

The third issue is sincerity.  A person's lifestyle can help indicate their sincerity. Giving up paintball and combat video games can indicate sincerity of a conscientious objector but a person does not have to give up these things. I have worked with legitimate, sincere conscientious objectors who still bow hunt and nevertheless were discharged.  (There is more than one way to show sincerity).

I realize that for Andre conscientious objection didn't feel right and that is fine.  I just want to be careful that others who might well qualify don't mistakenly believe themselves ineligible because of Andre's mis characterization of the actual definition.  Anyone who even wonders whether they qualify can call the GI Rights Hotline 877-447-4487 to explore whether or not conscientious objection might be the right fit for them.  People who are having issues with the military often go online to learn about others with similar beliefs.  For others reading this interview with Andre it may be helpful to include a note of clarification so as not to unnecessarily limit the pool of future Conscientious Objection applicants.   

Peace,

Steve W.

Car Bomb in Washington, DC, 1976

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/27/car-bomb-in-washington-dc/

Different Story-Same Futile War

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/20/different-story-same-futile-war/

Creating a Crisis--It's NATO's Way

https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/13/creating-a-crisis-its-natos-way/

Recalling Occupy Wall Street

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/06/recalling-occupy-wall-street/

The US Presidency—Who Does It Serve? An Exchange With the Authors of The Unsustainable Presidency

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/30/the-us-presidency-who-does-it-serve/

Revolutionary Communists in the US of A...And the Feds That Hated Them

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/23/revolutionary-communists-in-the-us-of-a/

Assassination Nation

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/16/the-islamophobes-have-arrived-2/

Idiocy in the Name of God: The Heresy of Religion

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/12/idiocy-in-the-name-of-god/

The French Revolution Untarnished

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/09/the-french-revolution-untarnished/

Free Speech in Manhattan? Illusion of Victory?

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/02/free-speech-in-manhattan/

The Sense of Disconnection is Unreal

Originally appeared in Torture:Asian and Global Perspectives

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/26/the-sense-of-disconnection-is-unreal/

It's Not a War on Cops in NYC

The first sentence should read...who allegedly SHOT...."

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/22/its-not-a-war-on-cops-in-nyc/

Ron Jacobs presents: Revolution in the Air? The 1960s Become the 1970s a...

Drug Wars and Neoliberalism

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/19/drug-wars-and-neoliberalism/

Love Letter From Paris: Alain Mabanckou’s 'letter to jimmy'

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/12/love-letter-from-paris/

Elvis Presley:Southern Man

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/05/elvis-southern-man/