1,000 National Guardsmen Refuse to Serve

From: "Rela Mazali" <rel [at] inter.net.il>
To: "new profile (E-mail)" <NewProfile-post-akuo [at] topica.com>
Subject: [New Profile] Report on Refusal by 1000 National Guardsmen
Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 1:55 PM

The following was forwarded to New Profile by Janet Powers, an activist and
a professor of sociology and gender studies in the US. Circulated on a list
of Mental Health Professionals, it reports that one thousand National
Guardsmen, some veterans of the 1991 US attack against Iraq, are currently
refusing to be sent to the Persian Gulf.

Rela

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Subject: [PMHPSR] 1000 National Guardsmen refuse to be sent to the Gulf

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from my list of Psychotherapists and Mental health professionals for Social
Responsibilitya new New York group, many of whom have done trauma work after
9/11.

We don't hear anything about refusers & conscientious objectors, but I hear
CO [conscientious objector] advisors are extremely busy. Diane

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This was forwrded to the list

by Eli Messinger

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Dear Elsa First and others,

I met a man who is enrolled in the Bronx National Guard who, along with one
thousand others, refuses to be sent to this Gulf War. He is a veteran of
the first Gulf War and has been diagnosed with PTSD, as have many of his
buddies. There are several reasons for their "open rebellion" including
their belief that this war is illegal.

A very important additional reason is that their wives and families will be
left nearly destitute if they have to leave their current jobs; the families
are not entitled to the usual welfare grants, perhaps because the Department
of Defense wants to hide the fact that they pay so little. These are
ordinary Bronx working class men and their families.

I'm in the process of trying to learn more about their situation and their
mental health needs. David told me that the National Guardsmen are in
emotional turmoil because they heretofore had identified as patriotic
members of the armed forces. They are not pacifists, many have seen
service, and they are not deserters. Many have been diagnosed as having
PTSD. The families have urgent food, health and mental health needs, too.

I see this as a courageous act, and feel we should welcome this group into
the broad anti-war movement. Obviously they are taking an enormous personal
risk in taking their stand against mobilization to the Middle East.

I will try to forward further information before this Sunday's meeting. In
the meantime, if anyone is interested in the possibilities of some project
to offer mental health aid, please contact me at

elimess [at] aol.com

or 212-222-2892. I am a child psychiatrist with a long history of political
involvement.

Best wishes,

Eli Messinger