The War Moratorium (Formerly Iraq Moratorium)

Individuals Take Action!

Iraq Moratorium Committee

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The Iraq Moratorium Committee tried using Facebook to build Moratorium Day #27. One benefit from this baby step was getting several reports from individuals who took action by themselves on the Third Friday in November. Here are a couple.

From Northern Alabama:

I put a new bumper sticker on my car in the missile-building Bible belt town where I live, "Who Would Jesus Bomb?" (For non-Bible Belters, this is a variation of a popular Christian bumper sticker, "What Would Jesus Do?")

From Calabria, Italy, Mike Leonardi reports:

We had a dinner discussion with some locals and sent some letters back home. Thanks for ratcheting up!

A college professor in Southern Arkansas checked in too:

I taught my history classes about the trickery President Polk used to launch the invasion of Mexico.

From Tucson, AZ:

I got a "Vietnamistan" bumper sticker and am considering a showing of "Rethink Afghanistan."

So what did you do?

The Word from Fort Hood

IVAW

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[The whole country has been stunned by the shootings at Fort Hood. Here is an insightful comment by active duty troops and veterans living there.]

Joint Statement from Under the Hood Café and the Fort Hood Chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War

Our community is distraught by the tragic shooting at Fort Hood yesterday. We extend our condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

As upset as we are about this incident, this shooting does not come as a shock. Eight years of senseless wars have taken a huge toll on our troops and their families. It’s time to admit that the wars in southwest Asia are in no one’s best interests. Bring the troops home now!

The Army has also repeatedly demonstrated that it is more interested in making soldiers “deployable” than it is in helping them fully recover from PTSD and other mental health issues. This often leaves soldiers with few options other than to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. The Army routinely deploys soldiers who are clearly suicidal and homicidal. Yesterday was a gruesome reminder of the possible violent consequences of this policy. We hope the Army now takes its duty to take care of soldiers more seriously.

We demand transparency from the Army and other federal agencies involved with this investigation.

Under the Hood Café provides military service members support with referrals to legal, financial, and medical services. It is a space for troops to freely express their views on the wars and the military. It also offers GI rights counseling. Iraq Veterans Against the War calls for the immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq, reparations for the human and structural damages Iraq has suffered, and full benefits for returning military.

Under the Hood Café
Iraq Veterans Against the War – Fort Hood Chapter

Afghan News Keeps Getting Worse

Dennis O'Neil

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A short comment like this shouldn't be so hard to write.

Yesterday's NY Times reported that Barack Obama is leaning toward sending 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. This is evidently the "just right" solution, midway between sending the 40-80,000 requested by General McChrystal and the Mama Bear "too soft" proposal of only 20-25,000 more. It appears that no one of importance in the administration of last year's "peace candidate" is arguing against escalation, let alone for the rapid withdrawal the situation demands.

It's not a surprise, of course. The handwriting has been on the wall for months. It should be just one more piece of bad news from Afghanistan. The last couple of weeks has been full of them.

59 US troops died there in October, the deadliest month of the war

Lessons From the Vietnam Moratorium - Update

Paul Krehbiel

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40^th Anniversary of the Vietnam Moratorium

OCTOBER 17, 2009 - A National Day of Action

By Paul Krehbiel

Growing numbers of anti-war organizations and activists are joining a call to organize anti-war events in local communities on Saturday, October 17, 2009 to demand an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Vietnam Moratorium. Initiated by the Iraq Moratorium
( www.iraqmoratorium.com. ), as of August 11, 2009, endorsements have come from the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations, United for Peace and Justice, and US Labor Against the War. More endorsements are expected.

Despite the black-out by the media, people are still dying and suffering in a devastated Iraq, more US troops are being sent to war in Afghanistan, and billions of dollars are spent on both wars while social services are slashed at home during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

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