Journey into the Belly of the Beast

by Scott Galindez

On May 20th I joined five other activists on a journey into secured areas at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Vandenberg is part of the Air Force's space command. National Missile Defense Tests are conducted there along with the launching of satellites used to give intelligence to corporations and death squads throughout the world.

"The globalization of the world economy will also continue, with a widening between the 'haves' and the 'have nots'...military forces have evolved to protect national interests, both military and economic. During the rise of sea commerce nations built navies to protect and enhance their commercial interests. During the westward expansion of the United States, military outposts and cavalries emerged....The emergence of space power follows both of these models" -"vision for 2020" U.S. Space Command planning document assembled under General Howell M. Estes III

As the January 31st, 2001 New York Times confirmed, US Military Satellites are now guiding the defoliation, planes, helicopter gun ships, and elite military strike teams as the accelerate their offensive in  Southern Colombia leaving the Jungle in The Times' words:"a pale brown, wiped free of vegetation for miles around," while the rightist death squads move in behind the official army.

I entered the base to bear witness on the evil being conducted on that base. I want to make it clear that I oppose the activities that are being carried out by the United States Government and will resist these actions until they are stopped. I want it to be perfectly clear that I am doing everything I can to prevent this greater evil from happening even if I have to violate laws to do so because I believe my actions are necessary to prevent a greater evil.

I spent many hours on the base traveling through the beautiful wildlife refuge, at times coming upon various installations with warning signs about the use of deadly force, and toxic dangers. We were in an area that is often contaminated by a process that they use for the fuels. The arresting offers were relieved to hear that the Fuel complex was closed because it is an area that on many days they are not allowed in because of toxins in the air.

The 6 of us and another affinity group of 4 people are charged with Conspiracy to Commit a Misdemeanor (a "Class A" misdemeanor, with 1 year in jail and a $100,000 fine as maximum penalties) and two different charges of crossing onto a military base without the commander's permission, basically Trespassing charges (one of which is another Class A misdemeanor and the other is a "Class B" misdemeanor, with a 6 month jail term and a $5,000 maximum penalty).

Brian Buckley and Jeff Deitrich of the Los Angeles Catholic Worker are currently being held without bond and have a hearing scheduled for June 5th  for a preliminary hearing. They are scheduled to be arraigned on June 11th, while the rest of us are returning to court on June 18th.

In all there were 33 arrests, 10 were for back country actions and the Government is using the conspiracy statute to increase the pressure on the Back Country activists … My message to them is that I will continue to resist and do everything I can to put Vandenberg Air Force Base on Trial.

Important Dates

More Information

call Scott 213-389-2991
email sgalindez@mediaone.net