School of the Americas (SOA) action

[acmejack]

The SOA has taught dirty deeds for too many years. I will let the experts tell you the facts.

Dear Friends in the Struggle,

For almost 60 years, the School of the Americas (SOA/ WHINSEC) has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in tactics that are used to wage war against their own people. Courses taught at the school include counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. Among those targeted by SOA/ WHINSEC graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders and others who work for human rights.

Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, "disappeared," massacred and forced to become refugees by those trained at the SOA/ WHINSEC.

In the face of this training, large social movements throughout Latin America fight for justice and have successfully brought popular change to their countries. For 15 years, thousands of people in the United States have worked in solidarity to close the SOA/ WHINSEC through a variety of means. Those of us who sign this letter are those who have risked arrest and taken the SOA/ WHINSEC to trial. Many of us have served time in federal prison for nonviolently protesting the SOA/ WHINSEC.

One important tool we use to move our government to close this school of civilian targeted war is non-violent civil disobedience. During the November 1999 Vigil, over 4000 activists disobeyed military authorities, processed onto the grounds of Ft Benning GA -home of the SOA- and overwhelmed the authorities in a solemn funeral procession.

More than 15,000 thousand of us will again gather in front of the gates of Ft Benning over the weekend of November 18th-20th, 2005. This year will you be among those who cross the line onto Ft Benning?

We will move our government to change. We seek to make it difficult for this government to isolate and prosecute those who engage in nonviolent civil disobedience by crossing in large numbers onto the base. When large numbers cross onto the base it is more difficult for the government to prosecute everyone. Even in a large-scale action though, be advised that the maximum sentence for trespass at Ft Benning is 6 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. More legal information is available at .

We invite you to participate in action at the gates of Fort Benning this November 20th and pledge to cross the line. Your participation may be conditional on how many others will join you. We ask that everyone who signs the commitment form below will reflect on the risks involved in "crossing the line" and prepare for nonviolent action that will create a world where all live in dignity.

Yours in a World for Justice and Peace,

Roy Bourgeois MM
Kathleen Desautels SP
Judith Kelly
Joel Kilgour

Along with Fellow Former SOA Watch Prisoners of Conscience:

Sr. Dorothy Pagosa (arrested in 1999, 2002), Gary Ashbeck (2003), Rich Ring (2002), Kathleen Fisher (1999), Mary Kay Flanigan (1997), Mike O'Grady SJ (2003), Mike Wisniewski (2002), Philip D'Onofrio, (2002), Jack Gilroy (2000), Eloy Garcia Jr. (2002), Daniel Manriquez (2002), Ann Huntwork (2002), Palmer Legare, (2002), Hazel Tulecke (2000), Bill Houston (2000), Miriam Spencer (2000), Leisa Faulkner Barnes (2003), Judy Bierbaum (1999, 2002), Margaret Knapke (1999), Chris Gaunt (2002), Charles Booker-Hirsch (2001), Kathy Long O.P. (2002)

[justinsb]

1. Why not call it what it is: A Terrorist Training camp in the US

funded by taxpayers

[4morewars]

2. No mas, No more !

I was there the last two years, and will probably be there again this November.

[acmejack]

5. Now I find the link!

Please let them know if you think you can participate. There is a form at the bottom of the linked article.

[jonnyblitz]

3. Wes Clark is a big supporter of the SOA ,sadly. nt

[getmeouttahere]

4. Well, then he has no chance of getting my vote....

because this is one of the sickest things ever invented, in human history.

[Jai4WKC08]

8. What about all the Senators who've voted to authorize SOA

Some over many years. Do they also have "no chance" of getting your vote?

How about governors who haven't had to vote on SOA, but will almost assuredly support the SOA if ever given the opportunity?

Guess you won't be voting for a Democrat next time, eh?

Fwiw, Clark is a supporter of what SOA is supposed to be, and what it was when he was associated with it during the Clinton administration, but NOT what it was during the Reagan years, and NOT what it mostly likely will be discovered to be under Bush and the Repub-controlled Congress. So if you REALLY have an interest in changing SOA, you'll do what you can to get Repubs out of power, no matter who that means voting for.

[Sapphire Blue]

7. Statement of General Wesley Clark on the School of the Americas

Statement of General Wesley Clark on the School of the Americas
(now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation)

I strongly condemn human rights abuses of any kind. Throughout my career, I have fought to protect the fundamental rights of all people and to promote democratic values that empower people to prevent abuses of power and combat them when they occur.

It is unacceptable that some who passed through the School of the Americas (now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation) committed human rights abuses. Those that did should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law - as should all who commit war crimes or crimes against humanity. In order to prevent such abuses from happening in the future, we must promote a policy of engagement and education with friends and allies in the region.

I strongly support the reforms that have been implemented at WHISC and encourage careful vetting of students. I strongly support oversight measures that ensure that antidemocratic principles are not taught at the school. Thanks to the work of human rights campaigners and others, WHISC is constantly improving the way it teaches the Army's values of respect for human rights, for civil institutions, and for dissent.

http://www.clark04.com/issues/soa/

[dogman]

9. Damn! Facts always get in the way of a smear. n/t

[Totally Committed]

10. jonnyblitz, please see his statement below...

This is a meme that was used to smear Wes during the Primaries, and unfirtunately, it stuck. I hope you will read what he has to say, and maybe tell others the same when you see them post this falsehood.

We need to support our best Democrats, not repeat the smears of the RW against them.

Thanks...

TC

[Sapphire Blue]

6. HR 1217 - "The Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2005"

H.R.1217

Title: To suspend the authority for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (the successor institution to the United States Army School of the Americas) in the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

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As of July 6, 113 members of Congress are co-sponsors of this legislation.

If your Rep. is not a co-sponsor, please contact him/her & request that s/he sign on.

Please also contact your Senators, requesting that they introduce companion legislation in the Senate.

1-877-SOB-U-SOB (1-877-762-8762) - Capitol toll-free number

More info @ http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=96