War resistors hit back with Army satire

"Army Strong?" No!

Peace groups go boot-to-boot with military

AUSTIN, TX - November 17, 2006, 11:00 AM CST - "An Army of asses led by a lion is better than an Army of lions led by an ass," General George Washington is quoted as saying.

Most Americans would agree, and one group is launching a pre-emptive attack - ArmyWrong - on today's military leadership and the Army's new public relations effort - "Army Strong" - that launched on Veteran's Day.

ArmyWrong is a new front in an escalating insurgency to counter the $1.35 Billion that the Army plans to spend during the next five years on campaigns squarely aimed at the youth of America--packed with images of power and hyped across the full media spectrum.

This nationwide effort, led by Texans for Peace, battles growing militarism while also pointing out how today's military-industrial complex "perverts the ideals of Democracy, Freedom, Justice and Liberty," says Charlie Jackson, ArmyWrong creator.

In the tradition of Vietnam-era satire, ArmyWrong turns military slogans on their face. "There's Wrong and There's Army Wrong" is the motto of the new campaign. The project's website and materials heap payloads of satire and humor on military issues ranging from daily army life to the lack of volunteers from neoconservative groups.

But make no mistake, counter-recruiting efforts like ArmyWrong are hoping to do something more serious … obstruct the creeping militarism of America and war policies by encouraging youth to find other forms of service.

This comes at a time when American forces are stretched thinly across the world's troublespots, and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan grind on far longer than officials anticipated. Thousands of American deaths, and even greater numbers of wounded have extracted a terrible toll on U.S. forces, but all Defense Department officials seem to be able to do is ratchet up the rhetoric:

"There's strong and then there's Army Strong. The strength to do good today.
The strength to do well tomorrow. There is nothing on this green earth that
is stronger than the U.S. Army," the Army's new slogan announces.

"Wrong", say faith communities, schools and educators, active and retired military, and peace organizations. There are many things stronger they remind Americans; trust, integrity, kindness, friendship, and love, to name but a few. These groups, working together, will be using ArmyWrong to take command of high ground dialogues with the nation's youth and their families.

ArmyWrong doesn't hesitate to go boot-to-boot to challenge the Army's view of the world, military propaganda and slick recruiting tactics.

"There's wrong and then there's Army Wrong. The courage to resist today. The
courage to resist tomorrow. There is nothing on this green earth that is
stronger than integrity," fires back ArmyWrong.

Army Wrong will launch in November with a full array of materials available to groups throughout the country--brochures, organizing information, and promotional merchandise. Further information can be obtained at www.armywrong.net.