US soldier faces court martial for refusing to return to Iraq

Sgt. Kevin Benderman faces court martial for refusing re-deployment to Iraq. The Conscientious Objection Defense Fund and the Defense Committee have raised about $3000 of the initial $5000 that is needed to secure expert private counsel.

Sunny Miller interviewed Kevin and Monica Benderman this week by phone. They spoke from their home in Georgia. You can hear the interview, keep up to date with developments and make a tax deductible donation to his defense in this landmark case at http://www.traprockpeace.org/kevin_benderman.html

Donations made be made on-line via PayPal or by the mail. Donations that are not tax deductible may be made to the Kevin Benderman Defense Committee. http://www.bendermandefense.org/

Kevin Benderman has taken a courageous stand against war. Helping him is helping others who want to do what he has done but hesitate.

Background

Benderman asked to be discharged as a conscientious objector and refused to return to Iraq from Fort Stewart, Georgia. He has the appointed military counsel, but has also been advised to retain an expert civilian attorney.

"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..." Sgt. Kevin Benderman

Benderman told L.A. Times reporter David Zucchino that he was badly shaken by what he witnessed during a six months tour of duty in Iraq in 2003. "He saw a young Iraqi girl with her arm horribly burned and blackened, standing helplessly on a roadside as Benderman's convoy rushed past ..."

"Benderman said he begged an officer to stop and help the girl, but was told that the unit couldn't spare its limited medical supplies. 'I had to look at that little girl, look into her eyes, and in her eyes I saw the
TRUTH. I cannot kill,' Benderman wrote in his application."

For the Feb. 7, 2005 article by Zucchino see: http://www.traprockpeace.org/kevin_benderman.html#latimes

The Kevin Benderman C.O. Defense Fund  was established in February 2005 as an affiliated project of Traprock Peace Center in Deerfield, Massachusetts. For further information call Sunny Miller at Traprock Peace Center, 413-773-7427.

Kevin Benderman C.O. Defense Fund
Traprock Peace Center
http://www.traprockpeace.org/kevin_benderman.html

Charles Jenks, attorney at law
President of the Core Group
Traprock Peace Center
103A Keets Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
413-773-5188; Fax 413-773-7507
charles@mtdata.com
http://traprockpeace.org

 

March 2005