I'm trying to get the word out on the Breaking News about Eli Isreal: prayers needed as well as action.
PLEASE HELP GET THE STORY OUT-- to protect this brave kid, and also further press for peace & impeachment. This young soldier has put himself in a world of danger. ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- From: Iraq Veterans Against the War Reply-To: Iraq Veterans Against the War
Subject: Soldier in Iraq Resists the Occupation Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:18:58 -0700 (PDT)
Yesterday, June 19, 26-year-old SPC Eli Israel put himself at great personal risk by making the courageous decision to refuse further participation in the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Eli told his commanding officer and sergeants that he will no longer be a combatant in this illegal, unjustified war. Eli believes that the U.S. government used the attacks of September 11, 2001 as a pretense to invade Iraq, and that "we are now violating the people of this country (Iraq) in ways that we would never accept on our own soil." Eli is stationed at Camp Victory in Baghdad with JVB Bravo Company, 1-149 Infantry of the Kentucky Army National Guard. This soldier's decision to refuse orders puts him at great risk, especially because he is in Iraq, isolated from legal assistance and other support. The following is a message that Eli sent yesterday to a friend back home:
"I have told them that I will no longer play a 'combat role' in this conflict or 'protect corporate representatives,' and they have taken this as 'violating a direct order.' I may be in jail--or worse--in the next 24 hours. Please rally whoever you can, call whoever you can, bring as much attention to this as you can. I have no doubt that the military will bury me and hide the whole situation if they can. I'm in big trouble. I'm in the middle of Iraq, surrounded by people who are not on my side. Please help me. Please contact whoever you can, and tell them who I am, so I don't 'disappear.'"
Eli is taking an incredible risk by refusing orders in Iraq and will most likely be court martialed. Please help him by contacting his senator, requesting that he take any steps necessary to support and protect this soldier, and ensure that the Army respects his rights and does not illegally retaliate against him.
I just posted this on ShoutWire.com. Please go there and shout this. We must help this good man of conscience. We must answer his pleas to spread the word. And isn't this the least we can do? Who's with me? Who will go shout this?
