On September 7, Stephen Funk, a Marine reservist and activist in the anti-war movement, was convicted of leaving his unit without permission and sentenced to 6 months in prison.(1) After completing basic training, Funk refused to report to duty when his unit was activated for duty in February for the Iraq war. Instead he applied for conscientious objector status and attended anti-war rallies to speak out against the war.

Funk is 21 years old and was convinced to join the Marines during a period of depression and lack of direction in his life, after a recruiter told him the Marines would give him purpose and discipline. The military takes advantage of kids, particularly those from oppressed nations with few options out of high school, making the military attractive and offering money for college, without giving them the full picture of what they are expected to fight for and the possibility that they might die. Funk has since devoted time to speaking to high school students explaining why they should not join the military.

The charges filed against Funk were unusually harsh for an AWOL case. He was found innocent of the more serious charge: "desertion with intent to shirk important duty."(1) Funk's conviction for leaving his unit without permission stems from the only prosecution of a conscientious objector from the recent Iraq war.

On April 1 Funk turned himself in to the Marines after 47 days absence. He took his case public, holding a press conference which received world wide media attention. Funk was transferred to New Orleans along with more than 20 other Conscientious Objectors. None of the rest of them were prosecuted. In addition to the 6 month prison sentence, a jury of four marines recommended that he be given a bad conduct discharge, which means Funk will lose his military benefits. Lt. General Dennis McCarthy, commander of the Marine reserves, must still approve the sentence.

At a rally to free Stephen Funk in San Francisco a few days before his trial a conscientious objector from the first Gulf War, Amy Ellison, spoke out about the importance of COs stepping forward to take anti-war stands. She pointed out that he was the only soldier to be activated and refuse to go. She has devoted many days to work on Funk's case, raising public awareness and funds for his defense.

Stephen Funk is a pacifist who opposes violence. This is the basis for his conscientious objector status. But he did not take the easy way out. As he stated "In the face of this unjust war based on deception by our leaders, I could not remain silent. I spoke out so that others in the military would realize that they also have a choice and a duty to resist immoral and illegitimate orders."(2) It is because of his vocal opposition to the war and the Amerikan military that the Marines are trying to make an example out of Funk.

In a country like Amerika that is built off the plunder of resources and exploitation of labor outside its borders, a huge military is needed to maintain conditions friendly to this plunder and exploitation. As we now see in Iraq, the people of the world won't accept Amerikan imperialist domination without a fight. President Bush recognizes this and he is seeking an additional $66 billion for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world.(3)

This is what the Amerikan military is fighting for: continued imperialist domination for the United $tates and continued wealth for the citizens within U.$. borders. MIM applauds Stephen Funk and other military resisters and former military personnel who realize this is not something they want to fight for and who instead devote their time to fighting Amerikan militarism.