Join those, listed below, to make your feelings known, specially on Memorial Day weekend and at the Commencement Speach givin by one who wouldn't serve his country, along side of us who did, at the Military Academy while a War Of Choice rages. His War Of Choice!
Protest Cheney at West Point Saturday 5/26 - Remember: He Had "Other Priorities" Then & Now - Halliburton, Oil
Hudson Valley, NY - May 24, 2007 - Elected officials, veterans, military families, and grassroots citizen activists for peace, freedom, and justice will hold a march and rally at Veterans Park, Highland Falls, New York commencing at 8:30 am on May 26, 2007 as Vice President Dick Cheney delivers the commencement address to the graduating class of 2007 at the United States Military Academy.
"When people speak to you about a preventive war, you tell them to go and fight it. After my experience, I have come to hate war... I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its stupidity. War settles nothing." -- Dwight D. Eisenhower, 5-Star General, 34th President of the United States, West Point Class of 1915
"I had other priorities in the 60's than military service." -- Dick Cheney
And now, Cheney is the keynote speaker at the US Military Academy, sending young courageous officers off to war in his "preemptive war."
Colonel Ann Wright, who reopened the American Embassy in Kabul but later resigned from the U.S. diplomatic corps over disagreement with plans by the Departments of State and Defense to invade Iraq , will be the featured speaker. Representatives of various chapters of Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against The War, Gold Star Families for Peace, and Military Families Speak Out will all be on hand to help bolster our demands to end this immoral, illegal, and failed policy and to truly support our troops by bringing them home safely and providing them with proper health care and benefits upon their return.
"As a 29 year US Army/Army Reserve veteran who retired as a Colonel and a 16 year US diplomat who reopened the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan in December, 2001 and who resigned in March, 2003 in opposition to the war on Iraq, I will protest Vice President Dick Cheney's presence on May 28 at the West Point graduation," said Ann Wright, in announcing her decision to attend the West Point rally. "I strongly believe President Bush and Vice-President Cheney's war of choice on Iraq is a war of aggression, which is a war crime. Their policies of undercutting the Geneva Conventions have put our own soldiers at risk. Encouraging torture in violation of domestic and international law has undercut the professionalism and ethics of our military. Our cadets at West Point are at risk because of these policies. I believe every citizen should be protesting the policies of President Bush and Vice-President Cheney. I will proudly do so on Saturday, May 28 at West Point . -- Ann Wright, Colonel (Ret) US Army Reserves
Jim Murphy, who served in Vietnam in 1968, Quang Tri (Northern I Corps), concurred. "When these West Point graduates were first thinking about coming here to serve their country, the Bush Administration was secretly planning this war, a war of choice based on lies," said Murphy, who is speaking on behalf of Veteran's for Peace. "If the war continues, they will be leading young men and women into combat to kill a enemy created by our immoral foreign policy. They will see their own soldiers killed and wounded but equally sad they will bear witness to dead children, dead old people, people that had just hoped to survive. AND like all veterans, whatever they see and whatever they do will always be with them... always," Murphy added.
With over 45 organizations now sponsoring, including several with national reach, and a favorable weather forecast, record attendance is expected. People will begin assembling in Veteran's Park, Highland Falls, at 8:30 AM, and after a period of music and speakers during the gathering period, begin the march to the Thayer Gate by 10:00, followed by the concluding rally back at the assembly point. The main message of the rally is best summed up by Military Families Speak Out, a group consisting of family members of active-duty U.S. servicemembers serving overseas.
"Military Families Speak Out continues to call on Congress to end funding for the war in Iraq, save what is needed to bring our troops home quickly and safely. Funding the war is not supporting our troops. The way to support our troops is to bring them home now and take care of them when they get here."
As residents of Orange County and the Hudson Valley, we feel morally obligated to continue to protest the war in Iraq and to show this administration that people in this region will NOT accept the perpetuation of this war.
Dick Cheney announced at the onset of the war that it will not end in our lifetime. We are assembling before the future leaders of the American military to say that in their best interests, and in ours as a nation, and as a people, we will not allow Cheney's dire prophecy to be fulfilled.
Getting there & parking
Flyer
Website for more information
Memorial Day
Cartoon by Jim Borgman
And Two Marines Need Your Help:
Marine Corps Trying To Punish Iraq Veterans For Opposing War
From: Kelly Dougherty, Iraq Veterans Against The War
To: GI Special
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 3:23 PM
Subject: Marine Corps Attempts to Stifle IVAW Free Speech
Dear IVAW Supporter,
I am writing to let you know about an urgent issue that is affecting several of our IVAW members.
Adam Kokesh and Liam Madden are both very active members and former Marines.
Because of their outspoken opposition to the war, the Marine Corps is threatening to revoke their honorable discharges and change them to other than honorable.
We cannot allow this suppression of free speech to occur!
Adam and Liam need our help to pay for legal defense and travel to their hearings.
Adam just found out his hearing is in Kansas City on June 4th, less than two weeks away!
Attached below is a letter from Adam, describing his situation and asking for your help.
Besides financial contributions, we also need people who are in the Kansas City area to gather support for Adam before his June 4th hearing.
Please contact me at Kelly@ivaw.org if you are in the area and would like to find out how you can help.
I will keep you updated on both Adam and Liam’s cases as they unfold.
Thank you so much for your time and support, it really means everything to our veterans who dare to speak the truth.
In Peace,
Kelly Dougherty
Former Sergeant Army National Guard
Executive Director
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Letter from Adam Kokesh
May 22, 2007
Dear Friend of Iraq Veterans Against the War,
My name is Adam Kokesh and I need your help.
Because of my involvement in IVAW, I have been singled out and called for a military hearing to be made an example of for those of us who have spoken out against the war.
I have been an active member of IVAW for a mere four months, but have already garnered enough attention to be perceived as a threat by those using our military to maintain political support for the occupation of Iraq.
I was honorably discharged after serving over six years, and two tours in Iraq, last November.
I am part of the Inactive Ready Reserve until June 18, 2007, less than a month away.
After my discharge, I moved to Washington, DC to get a Masters in Political Management at GWU, and joined IVAW. I have since appeared on behalf of IVAW speaking at concerts, universities, and high schools. I have written about my views on the occupation and my military experience for the IVAW website and on my blog.
Most notably, I participated in Operation First Casualty on March 19th.
This was a mock combat patrol through Washington, DC in order to bring home the truth of the occupation of Iraq, because the first casualty of war is the truth.
I appeared in my uniform, without my name, without rank, and without the patch that says US MARINES.
I received an email of warning about possible violations of the UCMJ for appearing in uniform at a political event.
Instead of ignoring it like everyone I know who has received similar emails, I wrote a strongly worded reply admonishing the Major who was “investigating” me for wasting time on such trivial matters.
I soon received a package from the Marine Corps informing me of a separation hearing to re-separate me with an Other Than Honorable Discharge.
I have sought private counsel for this hearing, as is my right.
I intend to bring as many witnesses as possible to testify to both the character of my service and the nature of my involvement with IVAW.
The Marine Corps only made it known to us today that the hearing will be held on June 4, in a mere 13 days.
They have also decided to activate me for the hearing and hold it in Kansas City, home of the Marine Corps Mobilization Command.
This case is important because the intimidation of servicemen and women who speak out will suppress the truth about the Iraq occupation.
With the help of IVAW, I intend to fight this to the end and stand up for the rights of all members of our armed forces.
Please support this effort by mailing a check made out to IVAW with “Adam Kokesh Legal Defense Fund” in the memo to PO Box 8296, Philadelphia, PA 19101 or by going here [www.ivaw.org/], clicking on “Donate Now” and including “Adam Kokesh Legal Defense Fund” in the Special Project Support window.
Please feel free to email me with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Adam Kokesh
adam@ivaw.org
Sergeant Kokesh Goes to Washington
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