Rules of Disengagement [Paperback]

Marjorie Cohn (Author), Kathleen Gilberd (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 1, 2009

Rules of Disengagement examines the reasons men and women in the military have disobeyed orders and resisted the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It takes readers into the courtroom where sailors, soldiers, and Marines have argued that these wars are illegal under international law and unconstitutional under U.S. law. Through the voices of active duty service members and veterans, it explores the growing conviction among our troops that the wars are wrong. While the Obama Administration’s pledge to remove all American troops from Iraq by the end of 2011 is encouraging – and in no small way likely attributable to resistance by our armed forces – it continues to fight in Afghanistan, and the military may soon have a heightened presence elsewhere in the Middle East and in Africa. As such, Rules of Disengagement provides inspiration and lessons for anyone who opposes an interventionist U.S. military policy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Rules of Disengagement is an important contribution to understanding what men and women in the military are enduring - and a useful volume to help them assert their rights." --Book Review by By Elaine Elinson, The Daily Journal Jul. 23, 2009,

"Whether you're considering joining the military, know someone who is or has, or are deeply concerned with the moral and ethical issues of making and conducting war, this book is for you." --Book Review, Veterans for Peace, Will Shapira, Oct. 8, 2009

From the Back Cover

"In Rules of Disengagement, Marjorie Cohn and Kathleen Gilberd chronicle the inspiring resistance of GIs to the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. Such resistance proved vital in helping bring an end to the war in Vietnam and is still urgently needed today. Rules of Disengagement is a clear, bold, and timely call to action."<BR> --Anthony Arnove, Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal<P>

"Rules of Disengagement describes acts of dissent from men and women who've served in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, providing an urgently needed guide to GI resistance. A must read for everyone in today's military and for all those who support disengagement from illegitimate wars and occupations."<BR> --Camilo E. Mejia, Road from ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejia<P>

"The horrors of Abu Ghraib would have been concealed were it not for the courage of a single principled American military guard who released photos on the Internet. That one incident reveals the vital importance of protecting and expanding the right to dissent among those who serve in our military. Marjorie Cohn and Kathleen Gilberd have provided heroic service in this book."<BR> --Tom Hayden, The Tom Hayden Reader and The Long Sixties<P>

"Future generations will point to the words and actions of the courageous military resisters who held the line in protecting our nation's dignity and democracy. This remarkable record of soldiers' stories is evidence of strident opposition to the crimes of the U.S. government and to the effort by those in uniform to reclaim their own humanity and tell their truth."<BR> --Aimee Allison, conscientious objector, and producer/host, The Morning Show, KPFA

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 227 pages
• Publisher: NYU Press (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981576923
• ISBN-13: 978-0981576923
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,589,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Retired Officer June 2, 2009

By D. Cramer

Format:Paperback

As a retired officer (26yrs USMC) and an attorney, I found this book an invaluable reference source. I would recommend that professional military schools (especially for junior officers & SNCOs) include it in their curriculum for study and to lead discussions. I applaud the authors' effort. Our military can only get stronger by full open disclosure of its difficult personnel issues.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Of Politics, Patriotism and Dissent May 12, 2009

By Hugh Hamilton

Format:Paperback

Rules of Disengagement should be required reading for anyone with a modicum of empathy for the wellbeing of our troops and for the thousands of American families who struggle daily with the burden of debilitating injury and irreparable loss inflicted by the carnage of war. From boot camp to battlefield and (sometimes) back, authors Marjorie Cohn and Kathleen Gilberd document the physical, emotional and dehumanizing brutality of the industrial war machine, and empower our servicemen and women with the knowledge they need to exercise their constitutional right to dissent.

The long shadow of questionable legality that hangs over the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan renders this work particularly urgent and timely. Drawing on the lessons of Vietnam, the precepts of international law and the extensive record of American jurisprudence on the issue, this book illuminates the distinction between politics and patriotism. It disentangles the often confusing web of false choices between courage and conscience, law and morality, deference and disengagement. Utilizing the actual testimony and experiences of servicemen and women themselves, this invaluable book is much more than just a guide to the conscientious objector. On topics ranging from racism and sexual harassment in the military to the proliferation of suicides and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among our returning veterans, Cohn and Gilberd have crafted a seminal work that is both scholarly and accessible, a thoroughly researched must-read that elevates the quality of public discourse on what it truly means to support our troops.

Hugh Hamilton
Pacifica Radio - New York

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Navy Captain Review June 1, 2009

By Craig Madsen

Format:Paperback

I've served 26 years of active duty including Command at sea. I'm not what you would consider a liberal. I found Marjorie's book incredibly valuable. The resources contained in the appendix alone are worthwhile.

I disagree with what I consider as a flawed premise - that the current wars in Iraq and Afganistan violate the law; I fully believe that the current efforts meet "Just War" criteria. [See the PS below]. That said, the authors make a compelling case that our military members are not served well by the military if those members are trying to "disengage" from military service. This book meets that unmet need very well, providing anecdotes and reference material for assistance. I further believe that there is in fact honor in following ones conscience. As per the subtitle, anyone following down the path of disengagement has to deal with both the politics and personal honor when dissenting.

If you are in a position of authority in today's military, you should read this book as a professional obligation. It will make you a better leader and expand your awareness of alternate points of view. If you are interested in military matters, you should be aware of the issues raised in this book. If you are considering leaving the military as a matter of conscience, you should use the resources contained in the appendix.

While I personally believe that service is both honorable and worthy, and the wars in which we are engaged are just both in cause and in the manner in which they are being fought, this book is needed for those that do not share my convictions. Had I had this while in Command, I would have made it available to any that were pursuing this path, while vigorously defending the interests of the government and our nation on the whole.... It is also my duty to explain to my subordinates the rationale for our current efforts - where I would draw upon other books such as "The Just War (Paul Ramsey)" and "Just War Against Terror (Jean Bethke Elshtain)", both of which draw from St. Augustine's fourth century "The City of God".

As an aside, I have personally discussed my take on the book with one of the authors, Marjorie Cohn. In those discussions, she confirmed that there are indeed "just wars", and related a bit of personal history that led her to that conclusion. While we remain on opposite sides of the political spectrum, I firmly believe that this book is not some liberal screed designed to destroy the militery - it is a thoughtful treatment of the somewhat neglected areas of ethics and personal rights in a military context.

Craig Madsen
CAPT, USN (ret)

PS: Under "Just War" tenets, the protection of the Iraqi population from the predations of the Saddam Hussein regime and the protection of the Afghani population from the harsh and limiting rule of the Taliban are cause for war. The four moral criteria that must be satisfied are (1) Openly declared by a legitimate authority; (2) In response to a specific instance of unjust aggression against one's own people or an innocent third party (a just cause); (3) Begun with the right intentions; and (4) As a last resort after other possibilities for redress and defense of the values at stake have been explored. Read more ›

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Inspiring Resource for activists, soldiers, and lawyers August 18, 2009

By T. Cincotta

Format:Paperback

As an activist and attorney, I found this book to be very helpful and inspiring. Cohn and Gilbert strike the perfect balance between legal analysis, personal stories, historical lessons, and practical action ideas and resources. I have never practiced Military Law nor served in the military, but this book provided a clear introduction to military regulations and an overview of the military's justice system. Further, several forms of oppression in the military are addressed -- medical care, treatment of dissenters, sexism, racism, homophobia, and abuses in the recruiting process. Rules of Disengagement should be a useful resource for soldiers, sailors, and their families, as well as veterans and activists.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Intergenerational Support for Iraq/Afghan Military Dissenters May 17, 2009

By Christine Mrak

Format:Paperback

Although I came of age during the Vietnam War, and was politically active during that time, I learned many things from this book, including the extent of military dissent and the range of options. In that era we young folk had scant inter-generational guidance and support for our efforts to support our troops in not supporting an immoral and self-destructive war. So I was particularly pleased to see that the authors of this book related the current efforts of military dissenters to the extensive Vietnam-era GI Movement of the prior generation. The authors have a political viewpoint that the wars these military persons seek to disengage from are illegal and/or immoral, which is an essential underpinning of the right to refuse to obey an order. However, the authors also cover the other bases upon which to disengage from even a "good" war on grounds such as hardship and conscientious objection. In addition, the authors discuss means of objecting to service-destroying obstacles such as medical inadequacies and sexual harassment. The writing style is accessible. This is not strictly a "how-to" manual, but a discussion of various avenues of disengagement and redress available to a military person illustrated by stories of actual efforts by soldiers, sailors and their civilian supporters. The book allows the military person to understand his or her individual predicament in a larger social and historical context.