[Shadow_Group] Reaching Out To Soldiers At The Airport

[shadowgroup-l at lists.resist.ca]

TALKING TO A SOLDIER BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN

Today, I saw a soldier at the ATL airport on my way 
to an antiwar rally. I stop by the airport every week to 
transfer from the bus line to the metro train system.

I often see soldiers waiting at the airport. I usually 
just think to myself about how messed up everything 
is and go on my way. But I decided to stop and talk 
this time, especially since I had some flyers for 
Traveling Soldier in preparation for the rally.

The soldier was looking at a WWII display of fighter
planes that the ATL airport had set up. I said, what's up
and asked him if he was about to ship off. He said he
was actually getting back to the States.

He had been in Afghanistan for 8 months. I asked him
what he did in Afghanistan. He told me he was in 
the infantry. He said they basically go to a "bad hood"
(as he called it, seemingly making a connection to the
desperate situation in black working class communities 
in the US), and set up shop, and then, he said, people 
"start shooting at us."

I said, basically your  just going out to get shot at. He knew
how pointless the mission was. 

I gave him a small flyer with Traveling Soldier, GI Special,
IVAW, and MFSO websites and e-mail contacts, and I told
him it was legal for a soldier to possess a single flyer etc.
as it is considered personal property, but if you have multiple
copies of something, it could be interpreted as intent to 
distribute, which is illegal ( DoD<http://www.nlg.org/mltf/> ).

He said he only had 4 months left and then he's getting out. 

I hope so.

MEETING TWO MORE SOLDIERS ON THEIR WAY TO IRAQ, 
WHILE ON MY WAY HOME

On my way back home from the antiwar rally, I talked
to two more soldiers. 

I asked one soldier whether was getting ready to ship
out. He said he was going to Baghdad. His unit had
been to Iraq before. We talked a bit about the Baghdad 
airport, how the road to the airport is one of the most 
dangerous places in Iraq. He said, the airport is attacked 
all the time. He said was looking forward to getting out 
of the Army soon. Unfortunately, our conversation got 
cut short, but I managed to tell him about GI Special.

I also got to talk to his friend who also on his way to Baghdad.
He had been to Iraq before, stationed at Camp Anaconda.

Like the two other soldiers, he couldn't wait to get out of the Army. 

I gave him the same flyer with Traveling Soldier and the
other contacts. He hopes this will be his last tour, but 
he worries that he could be called up again in 2006 or 2007.

Let's work our hardest to see that all the troops come home
for good. 

Desmond
Georgia State U
Students for Peace & Justice 

Traveling Soldier www.traveling-soldier.org<http://www.traveling-soldier.org/>
GI Special www.militaryproject.org<http://www.militaryproject.org/>
Iraq Veterans Against the War www.ivaw.net<http://www.ivaw.net/>
Military Families Speak Out www.mfso.org<http://www.mfso.org/> 
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