Santa Clara Law alum Marjorie Cohn J.D. ’75, National Lawyers Guild president along with co-author Kathleen Gilberd, who is co-chair of the National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force, have published a useful resource for anyone interested in U.S. military policy and resistance within the military. Rules of Disengagement: The Politics and Honor of Military Dissent examines the reasons servicemen and women have disobeyed orders and resisted the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Cohn is a frequent lecturer throughout the world on international human rights and U.S. foreign policy.
The book, called "a must read for everyone in today’s military and for all those who support disengagement from illegitimate wars and occupation" by Camilo E. Mejia (former Staff Sergeant in the Florida National Guard), includes the stories of a number of resisters, combining them with a clear critique of U.S. violations of international law in both wars. It also contains practical information for service members who wish to protest the war, fight racism or sexism within the military, or simply disengage themselves from the military. "The continuing occupation of Iraq and the growing war in Afghanistan are leaving permanent physical and emotional scars on a whole generation of soldiers," says Cohn. "Not since Vietnam have so many GI’s objected to a war, and never have military families spoken out so strongly for withdrawal."
Cohn will give a talk, "Resistance in the Military: Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan," at Santa Clara Law on October 26 from 12-1p.m in Bannan 139. Food will be provided. For more information, visit law.scu.edu/socialjustice/events.cfm and scroll down to Oct. 26.
REVIEWS
See the review, "Preparing to Disengage," by Elaine Elinson: www.commondreams.org/view/2009/07/26-2.
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