are speaking out against the war in Iraq - and some are refusing to fight.
Even before the invasion, senior officers were questioning the optimistic projections of the Pentagon's civilian leaders, and several retired generals have strongly criticized the war.
But now, nearly two years after the first troops rolled across the desert, rank-andfile soldiers and their families are increasingly speaking up.
One group was founded in July with 8 members and had grown to 40 by September. Another organization, Military Families Speak Out, began with 2 families two years ago and now represents more than 1,700 families.
And soldier-advocacy groups are reporting a rising number of calls from military personnel who are upset about the war and are thinking about refusing to fight; a few soldiers have even fled to Canada rather than go to Iraq.
US left wing magazine Mother Jones, carried the above story on October 11. So far there has been less noise in the British army and their families, but with the Black Watch deployment, this seems to be shifting.
The anti-war movement here has much to learn from the US experience and our links need to be strengthened over the months ahead.
US plans to achieve "full