Anti-War Activists Lose in House of Lords & Other Anti-War Updates

by Jackie, Ardeth, Carol - Jonah House Thu Mar 30, 2006 05:32 USA

Peace and blessings to you and your families! No doubt, you have been
wondering about us since our release dates from various prisons in
2005: Jackie Hudson on March 4th, Carol Gilbert on May 23rd, and Ardeth
Platteon Dec. 22nd. Though we are on supervised release for 3 years, the
Judge has requested our written documentation regarding restitution and our
alternative to it. That was a great sign that he was open to our
submitted documentation of mid-December regarding the service we have
rendered. However, he has communicated no decision.

To update the Judge, to complete the issue of restitution, and to meet
our Colorado Probation Officer, we have decided to travel to Colorado the
first week of April.

When persons in Colorado heard that we were returning, they set a
premiere showing of the documentary “Conviction” and set up panel presentations
each day. We have agreed to be in the Denver area on April 2nd,
Colorado Springs on April 3rd, Greeley on April 4th and with the Dominican
Sisters, Brothers and Priests on Wednesday evening.

With
love
and
gratitude,
Jackie Hudson, O.P.
Ardeth Platte, O.P.
Carol Gilbert, O.P.

by S Thu Mar 30, 2006 05:37

An SAS soldier has refused to fight in Iraq and has left the Army over the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces.

After three months in Baghdad, Ben Griffin told his commander that he was no longer prepared to fight alongside American forces. He said he had witnessed "dozens of illegal acts" by US troops, claiming they viewed all Iraqis as "untermenschen" - the Nazi term for races regarded as sub-human.
The decision marks the first time an SAS soldier has refused to go into combat and quit the Army on moral grounds.

It immediately brought to an end Mr Griffin's exemplary, eight-year career in which he also served with the Parachute Regiment, taking part in operations in Northern Ireland, Macedonia and Afghanistan.

But it will also embarrass the Government and have a potentially profound impact on cases of other soldiers who have refused to fight.

Mr Griffin's allegations came as the Foreign Office minister Kim Howells, visiting Basra yesterday, admitted that Iraq was now "a mess".

Mr Griffin, 28, who spent two years with the SAS, said the American military's "gung-ho and trigger happy mentality" and tactics had completely undermined any chance of winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi population. He added that many innocent civilians were arrested in night-time raids and interrogated by American soldiers, imprisoned in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, or handed over to the Iraqi authorities and "most probably" tortured.

Mr Griffin eventually told SAS commanders at Hereford that he could not take part in a war which he regarded as "illegal".

He added that he now believed that the Prime Minister and the Government had repeatedly "lied" over the war's conduct. "I did not join the British Army to conduct American foreign policy," he said. He expected to be labelled a coward and to face a court martial and imprisonment after making what "the most difficult decision of my life" last March.
Instead, he was discharged with a testimonial describing him as a "balanced, honest, loyal and determined individual who possesses the strength of character to have the courage of his convictions".
The MoD declined to comment.

by SOAW Thu Mar 30, 2006 05:44 USA

A number of folks arrested for last Novembers nonviolent trespass at the U.S. School of the Americas, Ft. Benning, Georgia are now being imprisoned. SOA trains Latin American troops in techniques of torture and killing to be employed on behalf of U.S. strategy in Central & South America.
Check the link below for names & profiles of anti-war prisoners consider sending a solidarity letter or postcard to one
c/- School of Americas Watch
P.O.Box 4566
Washington DC
20017
USA
*Support mail will be redirected from the office to whatever jail/prison the resister is in.......

by St. Pat Thu Mar 30, 2006 06:01 USA

Peter De Mott, Teresa & Clare Grady who attended the Pit Stop Ploughshares trial in Dublin last March 05 are presently in jail in the U.S. along with co-defendant Danny Burns. The FBI raided the houses of the four on the eve of the 11 Gradys travelling to Ireland to support the PIt Stop Ploughshares. The FBI charged the 4 with felonies arising out of their St. Patricks Day 03 nonviolent occupation of their local military recruitment centre in Ithaca, New York. During the trial they were cross examined about their attendance at the Pit Stop trial in Dublin.

Peter & Danny are being held in a Federal Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, Clare in a similar Centre in Philadelphia. Teresa is still in the county jail in Binghamton where the four went to trial last October.

You can send solidarity letters and cards
c/- Ithaca Catholic Worker
P.O. Box 293
Ithaca
New York 14851
USA................this crew would be thrilled to hear form Ireland (or anywhere else for that matter!)
Use Fed prison numbers where given
Peter De Mott 10891-083
Danny Burns 13182-052
Clare Grady 01264-052
Teresa Grady
-letters will be redirected to the jails etc.

by Fran Thu Mar 30, 2006 06:07

Frank Cordaro, who addressed an anti-war meeting at the Teachers Club in Dublin last Summer is presently serving a 6 month sentence in a county jail in Iowa. Frank was arrested on the "Feast of Holy Innocents" trespassing onto the Offcut Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Support letters can be sent to

*Frank Cordaro
Pottawattamie County Jail
1400 Big Lake Road
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
USA
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If you would like to receive Frank's monthly reflections from jail
send email to
Franks-Prison-Support-List@googlegroups.com
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by Jim & Bernie - Daybora Catholic Worker Thu Mar 30, 2006 06:11 OZ

http://sydney.indymedia.org/node/36251

by Reg Keyes Mon Apr 03, 2006 01:29 England

Might I commend the inspiring peaceful actions of the
people and communities of Liverpool, Blackburn and
those who have travelled there in protest at this
April foolishness of Secretary of State Condoleeza
Rice's visit.

After visiting BAE's factory which manufactures
depleted uranium weapons used in Iraq which poison the
earth and those who live on it, for four and a half
BILLION years, she referred to the 'thousands of
mistakes' the illegal invasion of Iraq has generated.

As she was admitting to this, I was in Oxford Coroners
Court, hearing the verdict on six of those 'mistakes'.
All, British, American and countless thousands of
Iraqis are mistakes with names, ages, dreams,
families.

My 'mistake' was my beloved son Tom Keyes, who
believed in western values and died for a war based on
lies, at Al Majar,

with Seargeant Simon Hamilton Jewell,
Corporal Russ Aston
Corporal Paul Long
Corporal Simon Miller
and Lance Corporal Ben Hyde

The Coroner returned a verdict of 'unlawful killing' .

'We will track down those responsible',is a frequent
patter of the American and British administrations.
For our children, American children, Iraqi and other
children in this war based on lies, J'accuse, Mr Straw
and Ms. Rice.

Reg Keys, father of Tom, died Al Majar 24th June 2003,
aged 21.

by Ploughshares Wed Apr 05, 2006 03:00

Today Frank was moved to:

Frank Cordaro
Jackson County Jail
210 US Hwy 75
Holton, KS 66436
USA

*cahnge of address for solidarity mail!
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by Ploughshares Fri Apr 07, 2006 01:16

This week Frank was moved to a different jail. He was able to call
tonight and this new place sounds like the total opposite of the
Pottawattamie jail.

He said the average stay in his current location is 3 months. It is
very crowded and he's sleeping on the floor. He shares a small cell
with 3 other men and in the previous jail he had a large cell to
himself.

He no longer has opportunities to exercise or read. And no more good,
healthy food. Frank suffered a major heart attack about 3 years ago and
subsequent heart surgery

It sounds just plain awful and I'm sure he can use our prayers and
letters to keep his spirits up.

He can have one 30-minute visit per week. The hours are noon - 5 pm
on Saturday and Sunday. You need to arrive at 11 to get in line to
visit. To arrange a visit, call Officer Buck at 785-364-4121.

Here's his new address again:

Frank Cordaro
Jackson County Jail
210 US Hwy 75
Holton, KS 66436
USA

by Ploughshares Fri Apr 07, 2006 01:24

MILITARY RESISTER
(Refused deployment to Iraq after tour in Afghanistan)
Kevin Benderman
P.O. Box 339536,
Ft. Lewis, WA 98433-9536
USA

Nuclear Resisters
Helen Woodson 03231-045
FMC Carswell - Admin. Max. Unit
POB 27137
Ft. Worth, TX 76127 (Protest at federal courthouse, Kansas City, Missouri, 3/11/04 violates parole following 3/9/04, sentenced to 106 months)

SOA Watch Prisoners

Christine Gaunt, #91356-020 (6 months, May 19 release)
FCI Pekin
Satellte Camp
P.O. Box 5000
Pekin, IL 61555

Donald W. Nelson #92559-020 (April 14 release)
FCI Memphis
Satellite Camp
P.O. Box 2000
Millington, TN 38083

Louis Vitale (6 months: release in May)
Crisp County Jail
196 South Highway 300
Cordele, GA 31015

Overseas, These Nuclear Resisters Are Known To Be In Prison:
Igor Sutyagin #427965, (15 years)
Respublika Udmurtiya
g. Sarapul ul Raskolnikova
53-A, YaCh-91/5, 14 otryad
Russia
(imprisoned since 10/27/99, now convicted of espionage for researching public nuclear weapons information for disarmament research)

Dr. Rafil Dhafir #11921-052
FCI Fairton
Box 420
Fairton, N.J. 08320
USA
( Because he provided humanitarian and financial aid to Iraqis in violation of US sanctions, his medical billing practice was scrutinized and he was charged on various counts)