I have friends. The IVAW!!!

IVAW.

Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Here I was thinking that I was a bad American for believing that the war was wrong. Little did I know that a group of real vets of the Iraq war feel the same as I do, and they have regrouped.

These individuals have organized protests and speak publicly, against the war.
And they do this in the most unorthodox but highly effective way.

They bring the war home...

The IVAW have conducted "mock" patrolling missions in Denver, Santa Monica, New York City and in Washington D.C. They call it Operation First Casualty. The eerie real patrols strike a nerve deep inside me. They perform CASEVAC's while posting perfect security and "bag, tag and drag" suspected insurgents. Oh yeah, these guy's have done this before...

The Veterans website have posted 10 reasons on why these individuals oppose the war.

1. The Iraq war is based on lies and deception.

2. The Iraq war violates international law.

3. Corporate profiteering is driving the war in Iraq.

4. Overwhelming civilian casualties are a daily occurrence in Iraq.

5. Soldiers have the right to refuse illegal war.

6. Service members are facing serious health consequences due to our Government's negligence

7. The war in Iraq is tearing our families apart.

8. The Iraq war is robbing us of funding sorely needed here at home.

9. The war dehumanizes Iraqis and denies them their right to self-determination.

10. Our military is being exhausted by repeated deployments, involuntary extensions, and activations of the Reserve and National Guard.

Facts are given along with these reasons on the website.



From its inception, IVAW has called for:
Immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq;
Reparations for the human and structural damages Iraq has suffered, and stopping the corporate pillaging of Iraq so that their people can control their own lives and future; and
Full benefits, adequate health care (including mental health), and other supports for returning servicemen and women.


Many musical artists who also oppose the war have joined forces with the IVAW in a combined effort to show the need to bring our troops home.( Hell, I know I want to come home.)

Just know that these aren't your run-of-the-mill antiwar protesters. They have been there and done that as I have. We joined wanting to make a difference in the world. And not by making it worse.


My voice will be heard...

ej



http://www.ivaw.org/