Iraq War

Iraq Veterans Against The War Is Small Organization

Last May, President Bush vetoed a military funding bill that included provisions on a phased reduction of the U.S. forces in Iraq. This would have brought more troops home. This provoked frustration among many people, more especially among the members of the Iraq Veterans Against The War organization.

The Iraq Veterans Against The War is a small organization so far, but it is growing in the size of its membership and in the extent of its advocacy to end the occupation of Iraq by U.S. forces. It has lofty objectives. Aside from its desire for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops, the Iraq Veterans Against The War are seeking an expanded package of health benefits (including mental health benefits) and support for veterans and reparations to Iraq.

There are over 400 members of the Iraq Veterans Against The War so far, a drop in the bucket compared to the 630,000 soldiers who have seen service in the Iraq Afghanistan wars. But they started with only 8 in July 2004, and more sign up at its 16 chapters daily as dissatisfaction over the war grows. If that sounds rather insignificant, organizers like to point out that the Vietnam Veterans Against The War started with only 6 members in 1967 which burgeoned to 30,000.

The Iraq Veterans Against The War has grown big enough to hold its own rallies and events. Its primary form of protest so far has been to stage street theater presentations. They have conducted these events in New York and Washington. The script usually calls for members of Iraq Veterans Against The War acting the roles of combat patrols in Iraq. The idea is to convey to the public the traumatic nature of the conflict on both combatants and civilians.

Military officials are reacting to these presentations. Some members of the Iraq Veterans Against The War have been sanctioned by the military for participating in the demonstrations. Their honorable discharge status and associated veterans benefits have been downgraded.

The soldiers invoke free speech in their defense, and say the military is restricting their rights and is trying to intimidate antiwar veterans. Veteran organizations agree. The Iraq Veterans Against The War has received support from the antiwar Veterans for Peace. Similarly the protest against restrictions of free speech is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, an organization with 2.4 million members and which generally gives unwavering backing for military decisions.

There are many reasons why Iraq Veterans Against The War members oppose the war. Some questioned the claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and the use of 9/11 imagery to incite the public. Others question the motives of leaders of the war. They say they are willing to defend, even die for, the American people. But defense of Americans is not the motive of this war.