Memorial Day 2007

IVAW: Operation First Casualty 

Latin America may become the first cluster bomb-free region in the world

At an intergovernmental conference last week in Peru a number of new countries joined the ongoing discussion on how to stop the danger of cluster bombs.

According to Handicap International, 400 million people live in affected areas where they are at risk from unexploded cluster bomblets, and 98 percent of victims are civilians, many of whom are children, who sometimes mistake the bomblets for toys.

Needless to say, the U.S., which both produces and uses cluster bombs, is in opposition to this process to globally ban the weapons that are such an unnecessary and irresponsible danger to civilians.

U.S. made cluster ‘bomblets,’ the smaller bombs within the larger bomb that are set loose to cover an area approximately the size of a football field, are notorious for not detonating; leaving small golfball-sized bombs behind that will randomly detonate when picked up, played with by children or inadvertently disturbed while plowing fields.

The United States has also used a large number of these cluster bombs in Iraq in 2003, though exact figures are classified, leaving these bomblets in towns, communities and fields to threaten the lives of inhabitants for generations to come in much the same way that landmines do.

Greater force against terrorism doesn’t mean you win, it means the actors relocate.

On terrorism in 2006 “the number of attacks in Iraq nearly doubled to 6,630, accounting for 45% of the global total.”

Well now Iraq has such a wealth of trained militants that it’s exporting terrorism too:

Estimating the number of fighters leaving Iraq is at least as difficult as it has been to count foreign militants joining the insurgency. But early signs of an exodus are clear, and officials in the United States and the Middle East say the potential for veterans of the insurgency to spread far beyond Iraq is significant.

So not only has the invasion of Iraq greatly increased global terrorism, now it’s training and building skills for all these other folks who are really miffed at us also. Too bad they’re leaving Iraq and the ones bearing the brunt of this war and occupation – including increased aerial bombing, cluster bombs and U.S. troop levels, death squads, militias and haphazardly thorough levels of violence are the Iraqi civilians without the means or the heart to leave their country. What justice is that? The only liberation has been in levels of indiscriminate violence and chaos, which doesn’t win hearts and minds; it hardens them.

On this Memorial day we honor all the dead, we also stand in solidarity with our peers in Iraq and Afghanistan, both the troops and the civilians.

“Funding the troops means more troops are going to die.”

“A lot of people have bought into the notion that you have to fund the troops. Funding the troops means more troops are going to die. ” – Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)

Tonight or tomorrow the House of Representatives will vote on whether to give another $100 billion to continue the war and the Senate is expected to vote on Saturday or Sunday.

And while a majority of Americans are in opposition to the war, the idea that supporting the troops equals funding the war has stuck in Congress, even though this funding does quite the opposite. You can’t support the troops by leaving them entrenched in a horrible occupation; you can’t bring democracy at the point of a gun. The Surge, the post-surge strategy of a ‘second surge ‘ and even the ever-increasing aerial bombardment will not bring ’security’ nor peace to Iraq, it will merely cost tens of thousands more lives on all sides. President Bush even admits this fact .

Call your Representative and Senators NOW, ask where they stand on funding the war and tell them the only way to support the troops is by ending the war. The Congressional Switchboard number is 202-224-3121, from there they can connect you to your members’ offices, or you can look up their direct number at www.Congress.org

Tell us how your call went by posting a comment here.

After that, check out some of the amazing training and action camps going on this Summer, some of them provide travel stipends or free lodging so check them out.

There’s a lot of action going on this Summer, including the June 10-12 The World Says NO to the Israeli Occupation mobilization in DC, the June 22-24 United for Peace and Justice National Assembly in Chicago and the U.S. Social Forum June 27-July 1 in Atlanta. They need your help to make these events a success! Getting the word out, mobilizing your friends and community, or volunteering the day of to make things go smoothly are all necessary: what can you do to help? Find more info on how to get involved on their websites! Come hang out with us during the events too, we’ll be at all 3 and we’ll be sending out details on places and times to meet up!

Really, go call your members of Congress now, let’s end the war NOW.

Peace,
Randy

IVAW member being targeted by Marine Corps, needs your support

From Iraq Vets Against the War:

I am writing to let you know about an urgent issue that is affecting several of our IVAW members. Adam Kokesh and Liam Madden are both very active members and former Marines. Because of their outspoken opposition to the war, the Marine Corps is threatening to revoke their honorable discharges and change them to other than honorable. We cannot allow this suppression of free speech to occur! Adam and Liam need our help to pay for legal defense and travel to their hearings. Adam just found out his hearing is in Kansas City on June 4th, less than two weeks away!
Attached below is a letter from Adam, describing his situation and asking for your help. Besides financial contributions, we also need people who are in the Kansas City area to gather support for Adam before his June 4th hearing. Please contact me at Kelly@ivaw.org if you are in the area and would like to find out how you can help. I will keep you updated on both Adam and Liam’s cases as they unfold.

Thank you so much for your time and support, it really means everything to our veterans who dare to speak the truth.
In Peace,

Kelly Dougherty

Former Sergeant Army National Guard

Executive Director

Iraq Veterans Against the War

Outspoken Iraq vet Adam Kokesh being arrested at the Hart Senate Office building in Washington, DC while protesting the Senate vote that continued funding for the Iraq War.

Liam Madden is one of the initiators of the Appeal for Redress, a legal means for active duty service members to oppose the war in Iraq. Since leaving the Marines in January 2007, Liam has been active and outspoken as an IVAW member.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Legal Defense Fund for Adam Kokesh

May 22, 2007

Dear Friend of Iraq Veterans Against the War,

My name is Adam Kokesh and I need your help. Because of my involvement in IVAW, I have been singled out and called for a military hearing to be made an example of for those of us who have spoken out against the war. I have been an active member of IVAW for a mere four months, but have already garnered enough attention to be perceived as a threat by those using our military to maintain political support for the occupation of Iraq.

Because my second activation as a reservist extended past my six-year obligation, I am only in the Inactive Ready Reserve from my honorable discharge from active duty last November to June 18^th. After my discharge, I moved to Washington, DC to get a Master’s in Political Management at GWU, and joined IVAW. I have since appeared on behalf of IVAW speaking at concerts, universities, and high schools. I have written about my views on the occupation and my military experience for the IVAW website and on my blog.

Most notably, I participated in Operation First Casualty on March 19th. This was a mock combat patrol through Washington, DC in order to bring home the truth of the occupation of Iraq, because the first casualty of war is the truth. I appeared in my uniform, without my name, without rank, and without the patch that says US MARINES. I received an email of warning about possible violations of the UCMJ for appearing in uniform at a political event. Instead of ignoring it like everyone I know who has received similar emails, I wrote a strongly worded reply admonishing the Major who was “investigating” me for wasting time on such trivial matters. The text of that email is posted here.

I soon received a package from the Marine Corps informing me of a separation hearing to re-separate me with an Other Than Honorable Discharge. A scan of the complete package can be seen below. I have sought private counsel for this hearing, as is my right. I intend to bring as many witnesses as possible to testify to both the character of my service and the nature of my involvement with IVAW. The Marine Corps only made it known to us today that the hearing will be held on June 4, in a mere 13 days. They have also decided to activate me for the hearing and hold it in Kansas City, home of the Marine Corps Mobilization Command.

This case is important because the intimidation of servicemen who speak out will suppress the truth about Iraq. With the help of IVAW, I intend to fight this to the end and stand up for the rights of all members of our armed forces. Please support this effort by mailing a check made out to IVAW with “Adam Kokesh Legal Defense Fund” in the memo to PO Box 8296, Philadelphia, PA 19101 or by going here, clicking on “Donate Now” and including “Adam Kokesh Legal Defense Fund” in the Special Project Support window. Please feel free to email me with any questions or comments.

Sincerely,

Adam Kokesh

adam@ivaw.org

He’s been condemning schools for years now…

Bush Condemns Schools Without ROTC Programs

During Vietnam the efforts on campuses to shut down ROTC programs were tremendously successful, a number of prominent schools are still without ROTC because of those efforts.

JROTC programs in high schools cost over $70,000 a year, and they’re expanding into new schools every year. These are the same schools where art, music and even gym classes are cut because of there’s no federal funding because it’s all gone to war.

Just like the presence of military recruiters increase in the schools of poor and people of color communities, so do JROTC programs. JROTC students aren’t more likely to go to college than their peers, but they are more likely to enter into the military when they graduate and are less likely to be promoted throughout their careers.

Our schools are a place for learning, not for militarizing youth. We need to reclaim our hallways and resources to teach and learn peace and justice.

Take action and challenge ROTC and JROTC programs in your school.

We condemn war, not schools, King George.

Afghanistan didn’t have suicide bombers before

‘Scores of Taliban’ die in ambush

Taliban attacks Afghan market

You can have a stabilizing effect in Iraq, until we come up with enough fake evidence to bomb you!

Earlier this week Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed that the U.S. would talk with Iran about security in Iraq, the same day King Abdullah of Jordan warned the U.S. that they must back off threatening Iran for its efforts to develop nuclear energy and must work to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

”Time is not on anyone’s side,” Abdullah warned. He did not elaborate, but he has previously said that the absence of peacemaking is increasing the popularity of extremists across the Muslim world.

Today officials reconfirmed the talks with Iran, specifying that there would be no discussion about the existing and escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

You know, that’s the adult thing to do. We can totally resolve Iraq’s issues together but not discuss the ones between us, it is a super-effective plan!

Sign the No War on Iran petition to show your opposition to a U.S. attack on Iran.

Show your face in opposition to the war!

Post your picture at www.SeeMyFace.org

Iraqi Parliament backs U.S. timeline for withdrawal

It’s a hugely significant development. Lawmakers demanding an end to the occupation now have the upper hand in the Iraqi legislature for the first time; previous attempts at a similar resolution fell just short of the 138 votes needed to pass (there are 275 members of the Iraqi parliament, but many have fled the country’s civil conflict, and at times it’s been difficult to arrive at a quorum). Read more at Alternet

But the members of government in both Baghdad and D.C. still have a range of opinions about the occupation, even though the majority of Iraqis and Americans want the U.S. out of Iraq.

The internal displacement of civilians and refugee numbers are increasing every day. The number of refugees is threatening stability in surrounding countries and no one, including the U.S. or Britain, wants to let the Iraqis in.