IVAW and other veterans groups mobilize for March 20 March on Washington

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IVAW and other veterans groups mobilize for
March 20 March on Washington

Iraq veterans carry black flags with corporate logos, 09-15-2007

Iraq war veterans carrying flags with corporate logos at the September 15, 2007, anti-war march in Washington, D.C.

As the war effort in Afghanistan intensifies, momentum for the March 20 National March on Washington is growing. Iraq Veterans Against the War is now the latest to join hundreds of organizations and individuals who have endorsed the March 20 mobilization.

“A permanent presence in Iraq, escalation in Afghanistan, and incursions into Pakistan while people are unemployed or uninsured is not exactly ‘change you can believe in.’ These wars and occupations will not end until the people make it clear that we will not stand for business as usual. IVAW encourages people from all walks of life to join with the soldiers, veterans, and families who are raising a banner against illegitimate war,” said Jose Vasquez, Executive Director of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

In addition to IVAW, numerous veterans organizations, including Veterans for Peace, March Forward! and others are mobilizing for the demonstration. So, too, are military families from around the country.

Veterans organizations are mobilizing; so must all of us. Talking against the war is fine. But what is needed now is for thousands of people to come into the streets.

On Monday, five Afghan civilians were killed in an airstrike in Kandahar. Twelve others, mostly women and children, were killed by a missile the day before. The early claim that the weapon had “malfunctioned” was soon replaced by an admission that the missile had hit its intended target.

General Stanley McChrystal summed up these cruel and criminal killings as “regrettable.”

What hypocrisy. Injured Afghans trying to leave Marjah seeking medical assistance cannot get past checkpoints set up by occupation forces that have taken control of the roads. Last year was the most deadly for Afghans, and casualties are expected go even higher this year. In January, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey called on the U.S. public to be prepared to “accept hundreds of U.S. casualties each month.”

If the Pentagon brass found any loss of life truly “regrettable,” the war would be over. In fact, it would have never started.

On March 20, people across the United States will converge on Washington, D.C. There will be joint demonstrations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. We will demand, “No Colonial-type Wars and Occupations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Haiti!” We will march together to say, “No War Against Iran!” We will demand money for jobs, free and universal health care, decent schools, and affordable housing.

Please make an urgently needed donation!

Please make your plans to come to Washington, D.C. now. If you cannot come, please make an urgently needed donation that can help others attend.

The March 20 National March on Washington depends on the support from thousands of others like you who are taking a stand against the the expanding wars and occupations. Please make your contribution today.