Synopsis....
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For Al-Jazeera English's flagship documentary programme Witness. With major operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the US military is not keen to let go of any soldiers. But there are those who willingly signed up, later turned to religion or pacifism, and decided they could not longer fight in any war. THE PATH OF MOST RESISTANCE tells the story of two US servicemen who- while awaiting redeployment in American’s war zones – applied for Conscientious Objector (CO) status, and joined the growing movement of anti-war veterans. Is the U.S. military in a crisis, or are conscientious objectors merely a blip on the radar, illustrating a normal shift in attitudes during wartime? What is it like for a serviceman who decides he no longer wants to serve in the military, and is willing to go through the difficult CO process to make a moral stand against the very military he once served? THE PATH OF MOST RESISTANCE follows the story of two ex-servicemen from the US military, both of whom applied for conscientious objector status and requested a discharge from the service. Only one was successful. Each soldier recounts his own unique experiences and tells the story of his transformation from soldier to pacifist. The film follows the efforts of pacifist networks, like the Catholic Workers and the Military Counselling Network (MCN). MCN is an independent organisation based in Bammental, Germany, and the only organisation of its kind outside the US. It is dedicated to supporting soldiers who choose to apply for CO status. How do organisations like these operate against the US Military’s multi-billion dollar budget? THE PATH OF MOST RESISTANCE also speaks to the U.S. military itself to get the official word on conscientious objectors and ask if they are concerned with the numbers of soldiers applying. PART TWO: The film was broadcast on Al-Jazeera English on October 22, 2008 and again December 4, 2008. The Path of Most Resistance was an official selection in: Read the film's production journals here. Director: Gareth Keogh
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