URGENT!Support U.S. Military Officer to Refuse Illegal Iraq War!

FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW......

A Call to Support U.S. Military Officer to Refuse Illegal Iraq War

June 2, 2006

First U.S. military officer poised to publicly refuse orders in support of
the illegal Iraq War requests your immediate support and assistance. Having
already attempted to resign his commission in protest, he now poised to
refuse deployment via simultaneous, cross-country press conferences, within
days.

"I refuse to be silent any longer. I refuse to watch families torn apart,
while the President tells us to "stay the course." . . . I refuse to be
party to an illegal and immoral war against people who did nothing to
deserve our aggression. I wanted to be there for my fellow troops. But the
best way was not to help drop artillery and cause more death and
destruction. It is to help oppose this war and end it so that all soldiers
can come home."
- LT, US Army officer*

A working group has formed to facilitate an unprecedented political and
legal support campaign on his behalf. Well respected civilian legal
representation has been secured. A legal and political defense fund has been
created. Many of us have already met LT* and have been moved by his
determination to help stop an unjust war.

We envision a broad political support campaign with this petition as our
basis of unity:

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THANK YOU LT for standing up for international, US and military law by
REFUSING TO DEPLOY TO IRAQ in support of the ongoing ILLEGAL war and
occupation.

From the preemptive invasion based on deception, to the deaths of tens of
thousands of Iraqi civilians and nearly 2,500 U.S. troops, to the infamous
Abu Ghraib torture cells and the recent Haditha massacre, no more evidence
is required of how very WRONG this war is. In light of these facts, we
appreciate your decision to NOW follow your conscience.

We agree with you LT, it is past time for US forces to leave Iraq. We salute
your true LEADERSHIP these dark times, and believe that we can all learn
something from your COURAGE.
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(*At the press conferences "LT's" name will be made public, but we want
hundreds of messages of support, and thousands of petition signatures before
then.)

Time is short. We are now asking people to:

** Sign the petition online:
http://www.thankyoult.org

Or send an email with your name, title, organizational affiliation (if any),
city and state to petition [at] thankyoult.org

** Help collect personalized brief messages of support (to be used publicly)
from notable people. These can also be sent via the website, or by email to
statements [at] thankyoult.org

** Encourage your local or national organization to become an official
endorser and supporter of this effort.

** Distribute this call to action and petition to friends, family, and
organizational lists.

** Check http://www.thankyoult.org for breaking news and forthcoming
organizing materials. Add yourself to the Updates and Alerts email bulletin
(provided by Courage to Resist).

** Help organize nationally coordinated support actions prior to any
possible military court martial.

** Contribute to the legal and political defense fund. Contributions are
tax-deductible. Online credit card and PayPal donations at
http://www.thankyoult.org > donate

Please make check out to "Not in Our Name" and note "Thank You LT Fund" on
your check's memo line. For tax-deductible donations of $250 or more, make
check out to "Not in Our Name / Agape Foundation". Send check or money order
to:
Thank You LT Fund, c/o Not in Our Name, 3945 Opal Street, Oakland CA 94609

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Additional quotes from first U.S. military officer to publicly resist Iraq
War:

"Never in my life did I ever imagine I would have to disobey my president.
But then again, never did I imagine my president would lie to go to war,
condone torture, spy on Americans, or destroy the career of a CIA agent for
political gain. I would rather resign in protest, but the army doesn't
agree."

"Mr. President, you have violated: Article I of the Constitution by
deceiving Congress, Article 2 of the U.N. Charter, U.N. Gen. Assembly Res.
3314 and the Nuremburg Tribunal Charter barring wars of aggression, and many
other international and domestic laws. As a commissioned officer of the
U.S. Armed Forces my legal and moral obligation is to the Constitution--not
to those who would issue unlawful orders. It is my duty to refuse to fight
this illegal war."

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The friends and family of LT working group,

Clare Bayard, Catalyst Project / War Resister's League
Max Diorio, Not in Our Name / Courage to Resist
George Johnson, Veterans for Peace
Jim Harris, Courage to Resist / Tom Joad
Michael Hoffman, Campus Anti-War Network / ISO
Lori Hurlebaus, Courage to Resist / GI Rights Hotline
Nancy Mancias, Global Exchange / CodePink
Camilo Mejia, Iraq Veterans Against the War
Steve Morse, Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors
Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name / Courage to Resist
Sandra Schwartz, American Friends Service Committee
David Solnit, Courage to Resist
Bill Schwalb, Veterans for Peace
Matti Tamura, Not in Our Name
Mike Wong, Veterans for Peace
Parents of LT

Friends and family of LT working group
http://www.thankyoult.org
(866) 797-0967