Iraq Veterans Against the War was founded in 2004 to give those who have served in the US military since September 11, 2001 a way to unite against an unjust, illegal and unwinnable war. IVAW says it has over 800 members in the U.S., on military bases overseas and in Canada.
IVAW is planning an educational event this week that should be accessible everywhere the Internet is uncensored.
From March 13-16 at the National Labor College just outside of Washington, D.C., veterans from across the States will be sharing their experiences and explaining why they oppose these wars. Their stories will be broadcast live via satellite and on the Internet. Go here for more details.
The event has been named Winter Soldier to honor a similar gathering in 1971 by veterans of the Vietnam War. “Winter soldiers,” according to Thomas Paine, are the people who stand up for the soul of their country, even in its darkest hours.
The four-day event promises to deliver more than the testimonies of American soldiers, as important as these are. The list of scheduled topics includes:
- Winter Soldier and the legacy of GI Resistance
- Rules of Engagement
- The Crisis in Veterans’ Heath Care
- Corporate Pillaging and Military Contractors
- Aims of the Global War on Terror: the Political, Legal, and Economic Context of Iraq and Afghanistan
- Divide To Conquer: Gender and Sexuality in the Military
- Racism and War: the Dehumanization of the Enemy
- Civilian Testimony: The Cost of War in Iraq and Afghanistan
- The Cost of the War at Home
- The Breakdown of the Military
- The Future of GI Resistance
For too long we have had to depend on government propaganda or an embedded and compromised news media for information on these conflicts. Winter Soldier promises to fill an important gap. Don’t miss it. And tell your friends.
Paul S. Graham 