VETERANS FOR PEACE Veterans For Peace Convention, August 6, 2009 By Mike Ferner the dominant cause of all the others, In Paul Newman’s 1967 classic, “Cool and VFP is well positioned to make Hand Luke,” the prison boss in the white this argument. suit repeatedly tells Luke to “get your mind The same year “Cool Hand right.” What turned out to be literally a Luke,” played in theaters, Dr. grave warning for Luke happens to be Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at exactly what we need to hear today. Riverside Church in New York, We open our 24th annual convention giving what many believe was his against a backdrop of a crippled economy, greatest speech, “Beyond Vietnam.” sweeping foreclosures, widespread unem- In it, he called the United States “the ployment, millions without medical ben- greatest purveyor of violence in the efits, wars that now exceed a trillion dollars world today.” and have killed over a million people. “Time” magazine called King’s It’s a fair question to ask that, with a speech “demagogic slander that Mike Ferner at the 2009 convention. Photo by John Grant name like Veterans For Peace, should we sounded like a script for Radio “…what we are submitting our troops be concerned with issues that go so far Hanoi.” to is not simply the brutalizing process beyond opposing war? I believe the answer But every word in King’s speech was that goes on in any war…We are adding is “yes,” because war and our economic true – and timeless. Here are a couple calamities are not only connected, one is gems. Convention continued on page 16 Questioning the Army Experience Center By John Grant ing at the busy intersection of Knights and The marchers and their shouts of “War People came from all over on Saturday, Woodhaven Roads where speakers like is not a game!” and “Close it down!” filled September 12th to express their disgust writer Chris Hedges spoke about the insidi- the Mall, as the cops stood stern-faced, with the United States Army’s $13 million ous momentum of war. some looking pained as if they wished they experimental video-game recruitment cen- At 2 PM, led by the VFP Chapter 31 were somewhere else, as if their personal ter at the Franklin Mills Mall in Northeast banner, the spirited group marched down politics and their jobs might be in conflict. Philadelphia. At 11:30 AM, over 150 people Knights Road and into the Red Entrance of Inside the Army Experience Center, about from all over the east coast began collect- the Mall. The rowdy marchers entered the 30 members of the right-wing veterans mall and marched past the Dave Army Experience continued on page 12 & Busters game emporium – past Contents the neon signs Fall 2009 that say EAT- Departments Features DRINK - PLAY 1 President’s Message 1 Army Games -- right up to the 3 Editorial 2 Agent Orange entrance of the Army Experience 3 ED’s Report 4 Honduras Center, which 5 Chapter Reports 11 Women’s Caucus was protected 14 Poetry 13 American Holocaust by a phalanx 15 Book Reviews 13 Good Soldier Members of VFP Chapter 31 lead the march to the AEC past Dave & Busters game emporium up to the phalanx of of Philadelphia 18 Merchandise Philly cops. police. Board Of Directors Mike Ferner President Leah Bolger Vice-President Kenneth Mayers, PhD Treasurer Gary May Secretary

Elliott Adams Anita Foster Photo by John Grant William Collins Nate Goldshlag Agent Orange: The New Institute Sharon Kufeldt of Medicine Report on US Veterans Patrick McCann By Paul Cox The Update carefully explains that cur- Michael Uhl, PhD The Agent Orange Act of 1991 requires rent science cannot determine causality— Hart Viges the Veterans Administration to address that is, it cannot prove that exposure to, say, dioxin or Agent White or picloram, has Rev. Pierre Williams the uncertainty about the long-term health effects on Vietnam veterans exposed to caused a particular disease in a particular veteran. Therefore, the committee looks for EXECUTIVE herbicides, commonly referred to as Agent Orange (AO). Every two years since 1994, elevated rates of certain diseases among ex- DIRECTOR posed populations. They rate the strength Michael T. McPhearson the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has issued a Veterans and Agent Orange Update report of the evidence and drop studied diseases Our Staff analyzing the scientific studies from “the into one of four “association” categories: widest possible range of knowledgeable Sufficient Evidence of an Association; Lim- ited or Suggestive Evidence of an Associa- Christine Brooks sources,” and make recommendations to the VA. The studies are conducted inde- tion; Inadequate or Insufficient Evidence of Virginia Druhe pendent of the VA by a panel of academic an Association; and Limited or Suggestive Evidence of No Association. Over the Woody Powell experts on the several aspects of herbicide exposure. years, several diseases have been placed Betsy Reznicek into IOM’s first two categories and—with The most recent report, titled Update the exception of hypertension—all are now Douglas Zachary 2008, released in July, is detailed and thor- considered by the VA to be presumptively ough at 569 pages. The current committee linked to a veteran’s exposure to AO. screened 7,000 studies, re- IOM Recommendations viewed 850, and This Update made numerous significant cited around 300 recommendations. It moved both Parkin- in the Update. son’s disease and ischemic heart disease Only four of the into the Limited-or-Suggestive-Evidence- studies focused of-an-Association category which quali- on Vietnam vet- fies them for consideration by the VA for erans, including compensation for presumed AO exposures. the well-known It also made a strong argument in Ranch Hand support of extending AO benefits to Blue Study. Stud- Water Navy vets that the VA has summar- ies of occupa- ily excluded from its definition as Vietnam tional exposures veterans. Recent studies reviewed by the of workers, committee show that the sea-water distilla- environmental tion process used to get drinking water for studies, and use on Navy ships actually transmits and VFP past-president Sandy Kelson raised in excess of twenty thouand dol- toxicological lars during the ’09 convention at College Park, MD, when attendees stepped concentrates dioxin in the drinking water. forward to pledge $1,000 each for Lifetime membership. studies were Photo by John Grant also used. Agent Orange continued on page 11 - 2 - Executive Director’s Report Waging Peace Until There Is War No More

In this new political period of the Obama Administration and continue to do the long term work of abolishing war. expansion of war in Afghanistan with less emphasis on Iraq, Veter- We also need your help in retaining our members. Our work is ans For Peace continues to be a leading voice in resisting war and long term and hard. People burnout and become disillusioned with working for peace. the perceived lack of progress. War has plagued humanity perhaps We had a wonderful and exciting time during our annual conven- since the beginning. We have taken on an audacious and near tion in College Park Maryland. Moving From Hope to Action was impossible task. It is important to call on your fellow veterans and the perfect theme as we wrestled with what to do next. Members associate members to have potluck gatherings and other forms of participated from across the country. Many arrived a little worn out entertainment and relaxation. We must continue to do our work, and tired from years of struggle. Who would have guessed eight changing minds one at a time until there is a critical mass of people years ago that we would still be at who believe a different world is pos- it, resisting two wars and looking sible. But to keep up the struggle we at an expansion of a third? After have to take care of each other. a weekend of sharing, planning Lastly I would like to thank you for and simply enjoying each other’s joining Veterans For Peace. To our As- company, everyone left with a clear sociate members I give special thanks sense of purpose, rejuvenated for for your invaluable support. Veterans the next round of work to end these cannot end war alone. We need you occupations and wars. there with us to help strengthen our With our nation in the midst of a cause. Without your work across the historic economic crisis and tumul- country many chapters would collapse. tuous political division, our govern- I cannot say enough to fully express ment continues to execute a global my gratitude. war with two major fronts and a To the veteran members I thank you possible expansion of a third. The for heeding the call to serve your depravity of U.S. foreign policy, its country once again, but this time in negative impact on domestic poli- Michael T. McPhearson Photo by John Grant the secure knowledge that this duty cies and its devaluation of each of is also in service of all humanity. I us as individual people continues to grow. Veterans For Peace will know at times it is tough. I know that we have PTSD and other ills remain in the forefront of resistance to these wars and occupations. that we must overcome. I know that many of us carry anger and We will not rest nor stand aside until they have come to an end. cynicism that at times can be debilitating. But I also know that we To address the current crisis we are concentrating our efforts in have a fire burning inside of us that will not go away. Something four areas; will not allow us to sit and let this madness go on. Thank you for your perseverance and dedication. You have not let the whispers • Vigils, Memorials, forums, actions and other activities: Keep- that tell us we are ineffective and wasting our time stop you. That ing the wars visible at home. is what the powers that be want us to believe. They do not want the • Bring the Troops Home Now: Helping to shape the national message of Smedley Butler, S Brian Willson, Charles Liteky and debate and calling for an end to U.S. wars in Iraq, Afghanistan David Cline to be told. They fear the message will be spread and and Pakistan. heard. They exalt the day it is silenced. I do • Truth in Recruiting: Offering truth in recruiting/counter- Newsletter not plan to give them recruitment information to young people and their parents, Michael Uhl: Editor especially in school settings. reason to celebrate, unless they are cele- Dan Ellis: Layout • Ban Torture: Ensuring the end of torture now and preventing brating my death. And its future use by demanding accountability for those respon- when that day comes Contributing Editors sible. I will rest knowing John Grant To move this work forward your financial support and volunteer- that either war has been Will Shapira ism is the determinant factor. Organizations across the country ended or my sisters and have experienced a downturn in fundraising revenue. For some the brothers in VFP con- Editor-At-Large dip has caused staff cuts and reductions in program work. For- tinue the struggle. W. D. Ehrhart tunately for Veterans For Peace, the bulk of our funding is from Veterans For Peace, members like you. We do not have to rely on foundations and waging peace since (c) Copyright 2009, Veterans For Peace investments. But a portion of our funding is from outside of our 1985 until there is VFP National Office, 216 S. Meramec Ave. membership and there has been a dip in our revenue stream. VFP war no more. St. Louis, MO 63105, Tel. (314) 725-6005 remains on solid financial ground; however we do need your gen- e-mail [email protected] erous support to keep up the pressure to end the occupations and to Power to the peaceful. - 3 - The Honduran Coup Bad Omen Or Opportunity?

By John Grant want the government of the United States “The Commission confirmed the exis- The US State Department was miffed by to stop giving aid and comfort to the same tence of a pattern of disproportionate use President Manuel Zelaya’s secret return to oligarchy that has historically oppressed of public force on the part of police and Tegucigalpa because the behemoth to the poor people in Honduras. In this sense, the military forces, arbitrary detentions, and north likes to be in control of developing President’s remark was either historically the control of information aimed at limiting facts on the ground in a “backwater” like ignorant or politically mendacious. political participation by a sector of the Honduras. The ultimate insult is that this sudden citizenry.” Nothing underlines this backwater delicate sensitivity toward intervention is Leticia Salomon is a sociologist and status better than the treatment Honduras coming from a guy who wants to escalate economist and Director of Scientific has received this summer from the Obama an existing intervention in Afghanistan Research for the National Autonomous administration. The only counter to this into an unprecedented, full-blown counter- University of Honduras. She agrees that kind of selective inaction is for American insurgency war to install democracy and grass roots opposition to the coups arose citizens, especially VFP members, to stand totally make the place over. quickly and, despite the repression, has up for participatory democracy in Honduras We’re asking for the US to freeze grown ever since. She says the power of and to speak out. personal assets and restrict more visas; to the two established parties – the National and Liberal Parties -- has been diminished “Sending mixed messages appears to be use the US’s veto to quash the IMF’s recent grant of $168 million in aid; to investigate by the coup, and a new social force has the official US policy on Honduras these been created focused around the need for days,” writes Laura Carlsen, director of our own State and Defense Departments and intelligence agencies for possible a new constitution to replace the 1982 ver- the Americas Program in the Center For sion written under the Negroponte/Alvarez International Policy. involvement and good-old-boy linkages with coup plotters. The list of tough options Martinez regime. The Obama administration has rhetori- is long. The key plotters of the coup were the cally condemned the coup, cut some aid A grassroots National Front is grow- business community and the military, and cancelled some visas, all of which is Salomon says. Both feared the participatory good. But beyond that they have stringently ing in Honduras. And, as in the past, it is being organized in opposition to the United democracy and expansion of rights Zelaya avoided anything that would seriously hurt was pushing; business elements particularly those behind the coup. The low point was States. The President’s stated reluctance to intervene in Honduras means nothing to feared Zelaya’s effort to raise the minimum the statement President Obama made in wage. Mexico in August. ordinary Hondurans. Why should it? It was addressed to the political right, not to them. “In the days and weeks before the coup, “The same critics who say that the Once again, we’re the bad guy in the there were meetings between politicians, United States has not intervened enough in eyes of the poor in Latin America. And the military, the church and business Honduras are the same people who say that whether or not it is true, a huge swath of leaders to decide what to do,” Salomon we’re always intervening and the Yankees Hondurans believe the CIA was involved says. She is certain US Ambassador Hugo need to get out of Latin America. You can’t in the coup and is overseeing the repressive Llorens participated in some of these meet- have it both ways.” aftermath. ings. “The US knew, just like the business leaders and the politicians did.” I’ve been a critic against US interven- “The workers are participating, and tion in Honduras ever since I was deported the middle class is also coming out,” said Born in Cuba, Llorens was appointed from there in June 1984 with five others Gilbert Rios, an organizer with the National ambassador by George Bush in September for speaking with Honduran labor leaders Popular Resistance Front that formed after 2008. Just before the June 28 Honduran about murders and disappearances. John the coup out of existing groups. “People coup, in reference to Zelaya’s plan to poll Negroponte was US ambassador at the time communicate with each other, and there is the Honduran people whether they wanted and was running the Contra War against much more flow of information. The oligar- the 1982 constitution re-written, Llorens Nicaragua in cahoots with General Gustavo chy made the coup with an old manual.” said: “One can’t violate the Constitution Alvarez Martinez, a ruthless thug who built in order to create another Constitution, The resistance is devoted to non-vio- Honduran death squads on an Argentine because if one doesn’t respect the Constitu- lence, Rios says. But he is quick to add, dirty war model. During Negroponte’s tion, then we all live under the law of the “The armed forces are small (and) there is a four-year stint, US military aid to Honduras jungle.” high concentration of weapons in the hands went from $4 million to $77.4 million a of the people.” Llorens may not be aware of Article 3 of year. the 1982 constitution. It says: In August, the Inter-American Commis- Current military leaders in Honduras are sion on Human Rights of the OAS sent a “No one owes obedience to a govern- said to pine for those golden days. commission into Honduras that reported ment that has usurped power or to those This is the kind of intervention critics murders, disappearances, sexual violence who assume functions or public posts by complain about. No critic wants to send in and arbitrary detentions. Their report con- the force of arms. ... The people have the the 82nd Airborne or CIA covert teams; we cluded: Honduran Coup continued on page 19 - 4 - Chapter Reports

Chapter 1, Portland, ME Chapter 9, Eastern, MA closing the SOA, the play 7 Jewish Chil- dren, Single Payer Health Care and St. Chapter 1 continues as one of the major Since we missed the last two reports I Francis of Assisi. Members also partici- organizations in anti-war activities through- would like to catch folks up on what we pated in the Hiroshima Day Event at the out Maine. have been up to. Grafton Peace Pagoda. John Amidon pro- The Smedley Butler Brigade hosted a Over the course of the summer months duced the DVD, No Running Water - Close fundraiser for Cindy Sheehan on June 29, members protested the launching of another the SOA/WHINSEC which has been fea- in the Boston area. The fundraiser drew Aegis warship at Bath Ironworks. The tured on the VFP National web site (thank about 250 people and we considered it to chapter leads activists in the state in the you) and now has over 1100 views. Our be a success. Cindy was very pleased with campaign calling for conversion from the chapter is presently preparing 500 crosses the turnout and as always, gave a great talk. manufacture of the instruments of war to to ship to the SOAW at Columbus, GA for She stayed to sign her book and at at times industrial products related to “soft energy” this Novembers vigil. Ask your Rep. to there were 30 or more people in line to paths—mass transit, solar panels, and wind cosponsor H.R. 2567 to close the SOA! We talk to her. Cindy spent the night at one of generators. had several members attend the VFP Na- our member’s houses and we drove her to tional Convention in Maryland which was In August, Bruce Gagnon, Coordinator Maine the next day, where she planned to a rewarding experience. We continue to of the Global Network Against Weapons meet with the Maine VFP folks. vigil locally. This October we will hold our and Nuclear Power in Space, was honored We recently launched an initiative that first VFP Awards dinner. The Thomas Paine as the featured speaker at the International will allow veterans who are in recovery Winter Soldier Peace and Justice Award from alcoholism or will be given to Ed Bloch, Trudy Quaif and drug addiction to live in Steve Wickham to recognize safe, affordable, sober and honor their tireless and nonviolent housing. With $45,000 work on behalf of peace and justice in our in grant money raised community. to date, a revolving loan John Amidon fund has been created which will make interest Chapter 14, Gainesville, FL free loans of up to $5,000 Chapter 14 continues to monitor to groups of six or more progress on having our Enlistment Guide veterans in recovery available in the public schools, follow- to allow them to rent a ing up to ensure that every ROTC student house that will become a gets a copy, that the guide is available on sober home. The pro- the library website and that every site with gram, called Vets-Wel- literature from military recruiters also come Home, will utilize has VFP literature available in order for Veterans For Peace- Republic of Korea accept the banner Bruce the Oxford House Sober students to have the full range of informa- Gagnon (far left) delivered on behalf of Maine VFP member Tom housing model exclusive- Sturtevant. tion required to make a good decision on ly. For more information whether they should join the military. Symposium for Peace in Hiroshima and go to: www.vetswelcomehome.org Weekly anti-war pickets have been at the Mayors for Peace Conference in We will be hosting a fundraiser Sept. 27 in Nagasaki as well as at other events com- focused on the theme of Healthcare not support of Under the Hood Cafe and GI re- Warfare for the end of August and the memorating the bombing of Hiroshima and sistance. Members have worked with Doug beginning of July. VFP was joined by the Nagasaki. During the nearly month-long Zachary and have made arrangements to local labor party, Sierra Club and members tour he spoke 15 times in Japan and Korea fly Victor Agosto to the event. Victor is an of the Gainesville Unitarian Fellowship for and has been invited for return engage- Afghanistan war resister who just spent these demonstrations. ments in Korea in October. 30 days in jail for refusing to deploy to In August VFP sponsored several short Afghanistan. We are excited to meet Victor Two Chapter members were honored plays including Theater of War, a series of and help support GI resistance. for their long-time service—Jack Bussell, readings from ancient Greek plays explor- at the 2009 National Convention and Art Mike Tork ing the mental wounds of war, and Seven Whitman, at a gathering of chapter and Chapter 10, Albany, NY Jewish children chronicling events in Gaza. other “peace” community members at his Both productions were followed by panel home in Auburn, Maine. Both members Over the past few months Chapter 10 spon- sored the 11th annual Kateri Tekakwitha discussions that included Chapter coordina- have distinguished themselves through tor Scott Camil. tireless labors in the pursuit of social justice Peace Conference, www.kateripeacecon- for decades. ference.org, which featured speakers on Florida Veterans for Common Sense, racism, the Middle East, and non-violent based in Sarasota, and Chapter 14 have Dud Hendrick social change along with workshops on held exchanges with two of their members - 5 - visiting our monthly meeting in August and War, who now divides his time between Chapter 27, Minneapolis, MN Scott and IVAW member Anthony attend- Alaska and Vietnam, went from oilfield Steve McKeown has collected most of ing their meeting in September. machinist to gifted memorist and friend to the nearly 8,000 signatures from 314 cities the Vietnamese people . . . and the service Chapter 14 is monitoring develop- and towns in Minnesota which Chapter 27 brats: Deborah Forter, Navy, M.F.S.O.’s ments in South Florida Everglades of a will present to our U.S. senators, asking new leader and Donna Edwards, Air Force, War Games Training Center proposed for them to invite President Obama and leaders Maryland’s new Congresswoman. Dragged Highlands County. This facility, which of all nations which have nuclear weapons around the world as service kids are, these would have a live bullets training area and to join Obama at the Pipestone National eloquent women learned at an early age to a 6000 foot runway presents environmental Monument to implement nuclear disarma- love the warrior and hate the war . . . and and social justice challenges. See details on ment. Pipestone is still quarried there for everywhere I turned, there was Carlos - our blog at School of Americas Comes to making Peace Pipes and it is one of the just like at Winter Soldier - a curly-haired Florida. most important Native American sites in Saint Everyman, tirelessly holding heaven the world. The goal is to meet there be- On a lighter note two chapter members and earth together, his presence our whole tween October 18-29, 2009, the anniversary had an opportunity to table at a Crosby meaning, his tragedy our fight . . . The of the Cuban missile crisis. Stills and Nash concert in August. Stephen names and faces go on and on, anchored by Hunter and Bill Warrick represented the a corps of Vietnam veterans and their good Our Chapter is also going to ring bells Gainesville, FL chapter of Veterans For spouses, enriched by those of other eras and on the state capitol grounds on Armistice Peace. We were joined by two members re-affirmed by the strong, young faces of Day, November 11, to replicate what was from the Central Florida chapter. the men and women of the Afghan and Iraq done on November 11, 1918, ringing 11 Wars. times, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of Graham Nash’s son, Will, came to see the 11th month at the end of World War us and received the gifts for his dad and the We had many members at the conven- I, the “war to end all wars”. We do this at rest of the band. Entire account and photo tion. Bravo! Next year in Maine! funeral services for our members, rather is on our blog. Walt Nygard than the rifle salute. We encourage other Mary L Bahr Chapters to follow suit. Chapter 26, Chicago Area, IL Chapter President Larry Johnson and Chapter 21, Northern New Jersey On Memorial Day weekend, Chicago- John Sherman with other chapter members Never been to a convention before. Area Chapter 26 members marched in the attended a meeting of over 150 Minne- Heard about ‘em often enough; formed a Chicago Parade with the Combined Veter- apolis secondary School Social Studies few opinions: a large gathering of people ans’ Organization (May 23rd) and partici- teachers to offer our Speakers Bureau from around the country (or state or world), pated in the combined VFP/VVAW/IVAW services for their classes. Over 20 teach- a lotta speeches and meetings, funny hats Memorial Day Ceremony (May 25th). ers signed up. Thanks to Larry and John’s and boisterous behavior, good opportunity In June, VFP and IVAW members efforts, we are now “Community Partners” to meet, drink, push agendas, settle scores, tabled at the CSN Concert (4th), staffed the with Minneapolis Public Schools and have pick up bumperstickers, act like a fool . . . I Chicago Homeless Veterans’ Stand-down equal rights to our schools as do military was filled with prejudices and misconcep- (11th-13th), attended the Chicago Peace recruiters. tions. Fest (19th-20th) and Chapter President Ray Jim Steinhagen and Bob Heberle But I’d been scorched by the emotional Parrish took part in “Light the Darkness,” a intensity of the Winter Soldier Hearings, suicide prevention walk (27th-28th). Chapter 31, Philadelphia, PA March 13-16, 2008. As Security volun- The Philly chapter has been working We marched in the Oak Park July 4th teer, I found myself part of the biggest and with other local peace organizations on the Parade and on July 17th-19th Ray Par- truest thing happening in America those issues of Afghanistan, the Honduran coup rish, a military counselor, spoke at the four days. My particular job was small and military recruitment. Chapter 31’s goal National Counter-Recruiting Conference at and anonymous, but I walked with heroes is to become visible as a regional veterans Roosevelt University. those days. My life was changed in ways voice countering a profligate, runaway marches and vigils, signs and slogans could We sent five Chapter members to the militarist machine. Members have kept not match. VFP and IVAW Conventions in College themselves informed, written letters to the editor and to congress and published So I went to the Convention looking for Park, MD. on August 5th-9th. newspaper op-eds. Due to good labor con- those heroes. For future actions, Chapter 26 Treasurer nections, CH31 again marched as the only And in the hallways and meeting rooms, Bob Gronko donated home-brewed beer non-labor entity in the Philadelphia Labor the food court and lit room, I found them for the “Beer, not Bombs” fundraiser on Day Parade. The chapter worked with . . . guys like Paul Brailsford, English- September 19th. We will attend a Chicago activists from up and down the east coast man, Massachusetts VFP, activist and demonstration against the Afghanistan war on a September 12 march to close the Army poet, who went to sea in 1932 at age 16, on October 3rd, hold a combined Veterans’ Experience Center at a working class city stood the lonely watches as a deck officer Day Dinner/Chapter meeting on November mall; CH31 led the march and did some in the Pacific during World War II and at 7th and take part in the annual combined post-march publicity. Members joined labor age 93 remains a stalwart voice for peace VFP/VVAW/IVAW Veterans’ Day Cer- activists in a September demonstration for and justice . . . and Suel Jones, the Ma- emony. health care reform. Our annual dinner in rine rifleman from Texas and the Vietnam Mike Woloshin October was a good vehicle to bring mem- - 6 - • Annual Memorial Day obser- supplement, overtime and pensions due vance, to the activation and federalization of city • VFP contingent in the NYC employees who are members of the Califor- Heritage of Pride parade on June nia National Guard or the reserves. We are 28, contemplating an effort named “Cost of War Comes to Town....our town” that will • Tabling and literature distribu- press the city to seek compensation from tion at the Veterans Conference the DOD for this cost. on 125 St in NYC Lane Anderson Chapter 34 members participate in five ongoing weekly peace Chapter 55, Santa Fe, NM vigils at various locations, and a Our VFP Chapter hosted a two-night monthly event in front of Grand Torture Awareness program. We showed the Members of VFP Chapter 31 march in the anual Philadel- Central Station. We distribute film Taxi To The Dark Side the first evening phia Labor Day Parade with Chapter President Chuck flyers outlining peaceful alter- and then hosted an inter-denominational Rossi in the forefront. Photo by John Grant natives to war in Afghanistan, service to commemorate victims of torture; bers and friends of CH31 together. A CH31 encouraging folks to contact their acknowledging both victims and perpetra- member has joined with a Philadelphia elected representatives. tors—victims themselves. VFP member labor leader he recently accompanied to El We are currently planning a screening of Charlie Clemens was our keynote speaker. Salvador in a series of speaking gigs on the Rethink Afghanistan on September 25th at We conducted a Doing Democracy training post-Honduran coup Left in Latin America. a local church, participation in Rape Aware- that was well-attended. During the Labor CH31 is co-sponsoring a discussion and ness Week, and an antiwar veterans showing of Robert Greenwald’s “Rethink- contingent in the annual NYC ing Afghanistan” documentary. Members Veterans Day Parade up 5th Avenue were in Washington October 5th for the on Nov. 11. march and CD at the White House. Bob Keilbach John Grant Chapter 54, Santa Barbara, CA Chapter 34, New York City Chapter 34 has over 100 members Chapter 54’s original Arlington and conducts monthly meetings in NYC. West continues albeit now once a Members participate in numerous events month on the first Sunday and has throughout the NYC area, including the been expanded to include the cost Vietnamese Victims of Agent Orange tour, of the war in Afghanistan. Addi- Arlington East, and JROTC defunding tionally, the chapter sets up its Iraq actions. 26 chapter members attended the Moratorium on the third Friday Day holiday we set up an information table annual VFP Convention in College Park, of the month at Santa Barbara City Col- at the Railyard Park and had a good number MD. For many it was their first convention, lege. This project, initiated by Dr. Gilbert of people stop and talk as well as a hand- and a great experience; looking forward to Robledo, features hundreds of tombstones ful who got on our local email information the 2010 Convention in Portland, ME. on the college’s lawn and the students are asked to place a nametag with photo of one list and a couple of veterans who took VFP Recent chapter actions include: of the hundreds of teenagers killed in action applications and committed to joining. Two • A public education event called “War in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on the members of our chapter marched with Lisa & the Economy”, where speakers ad- tombstones. Students are assisted in pre- Law’s Peace Bus in the Santa Fe Fiesta’s dressed the effect of spending for the venting the military recruiters from getting Historical/Hysterical Parade and were ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan their contact information and petitions to given the honor of leading the float and a on our recession economy. ban depleted uranium, and get the USA out contingency of African Dancers. Our entry of Iraq are signed at this monthly was well-received by spectators. Peace. event. The weekly Inconvenient Daniel Craig Booth features the connections between war and our consumerism. Chapter 63, Albuquerque, NM Dr. Robledo is formerly head of counseling at SBCC, now retired With the help of the local ACLU we and a member of Chapter 54. now have access to the Veterans Memo- rial Park, where we tabled at the event on We are currently updating our Memorial Day, to favorable response. We website www.vfpsb.org and invite are also tabling at numerous other public you to follow the progress and events. have an active membership recruit- ment and renewal effort. Recently We had our float and marchers in the we have learned that the wars are State Fair Parade September 12. We were Chapter 34 Pres. Frank Stearns at our annual Memo- joined by Santa Fe and local IVAW members. rial Day observance at the NYC Vietnam Veterans costing the city of Santa Bar- Memorial. bara millions of dollars in salary We were well received by the onlookers. - 7 - Our chapter was renamed the Don and We encourage other chapters to Sally-Alice Thompson Chapter. reach out to veteran brothers and We are eagerly looking forward to the sisters who are homeless in your second weekend in October, when the communities. Everyone should be Pentagon of Peace will be occurring. The able to have a good meal and be Pentagon, five dynamos for peace and jus- treated with respect. And we will tice, will be sharing their wisdom and cour- have fliers with us about available age with Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque. veterans’ services in our commu- The five are Anne Wright, Cindy Sheehan, nity. Elliot Adams, David Swanson, and Ray On another note, three mem- McGovern. What a weekend that will be! bers of VFP Chapter 87 have been Sally-Alice Thompson elected to the ACLU Sacramento Chapter Board of Directors for Chapter 87, Sacramento CA Left to right: Jan Ruhman, Angelica Madrigal, Marine the upcoming year. They are Cres veteran Luis Alvarez (who faces deportation) and im- Sacramento VFP members spent part Vellucci, Daniel Costa, and Debra migration lawyer, Heather Boxeth during the “Vet- of September 11 serving lunch at a local Reiger. eran’s Deportation Workshop” at the first Southern California Regional VFP Conference, May 29 - 31st, homeless community center. It felt good to Debra Reiger help in this way and we plan to arrange to 2009 do this at least monthly. Our chapter vice- Chapter 91, San Diego Chapter 99, Western, NC president, Daniel Costa, recently provided Although spring and summer of ‘09 The HUD-VASH (Housing and Urban information about increases in homeless seemed to have flashed past, San Diego’s Development and Veterans Affairs Support- veterans to a local attorney who is working Chapter 91 managed to accomplish a bit. ive Housing) program helps homeless vets to protect the community’s homeless popu- find and maintain housing. lation. While Sacramento struggles with Our Memorial Day Arlington West dis- That’s great—but a roof, floor, and issues involving ordinances against tent play on the beach in Oceanside, CA was well walls aren’t quite enough. With Mary and cities and how to afford needed services, attended by both locals and active duty ma- Ken Ashe coordinating our efforts, WNC local homeless people are looking for safe rines stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton. Chapter 99 members collected truckloads ground on which to sleep at night. Many The following weekend SDVFP hosted of dishes, towels, and other goods and fur- of these are veterans, including at least Southern California’s first Regional VFP- nishings to help the vets get started. Three two homeless men who were among those Conference. The success of this Oceanside of the program’s beneficiaries spoke at a arrested recently for sleeping overnight, gathering can be attributed to the diverse program during which we presented our with permission of the owner, on private and informative workshops and the dedi- gifts. Our feelings on that day were well property. cated SoCal VFP members who attended. expressed by chapter member Ed Sacco: Additionally, teams of SDVFP “Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened constituents led by Jack Doxie, to the former homeless veterans tell their made seven visits to four of San stories. It was the joy they expressed—not Diego County’s Congressional of- the troubled years of struggling outside of fices. The district offices of Repre- mainstream society, but the powerful emo- sentatives Bilbray, Filner, Hunter, tions of gratitude. They were touched and and Davis were called upon. A visit energized by people who cared. with Congressman Darrell Issa is pending. “My part was simple: I merely loaded up a few laundry baskets of various goods and August found Dave Wiley and drove them to a storage place. I, myself, Jan Ruhman, Chapter 91’s president was touched and energized by the other and vice president, in Maryland to volunteers. Even though I felt as a ‘strang- present workshops at VFP’s 24th er,’ I also felt that I was part of a communi- National Convention. Immigration ty doing our small thing to heal in a world lawyer Heather Boxeth, Marine too often broken by violence and fear.” veteran Luis Alvarez (a possible Kim Carlyle deportee), and his sister Angelica Madrigal, who formed the panel for Chapter 102, Milwaukee, WI Ruhman’s workshop on “Banished A Homeless Veterans Initiative, to find Veterans”, accompanied them. Dave and assist veterans living on the streets in Wiley led a workshop on non- the Milwaukee area, has been a major chap- violence and teamed with Sharon ter priority for the past year. Kufeldt for another titled, “Hearts VFP volunteers go to shelters, meal and Minds”. programs, homeless encampments and onto Top photo: John Reiger and Daniel Costa of Chapter the streets to locate homeless veterans. We 87 serving at the homeless lunch line. And so it goes... Bottom photo: Debra Reiger helping out at the home- offer them help in obtaining food, shelter, less kitchen Deb Schneider clothing, transportation and medical care; - 8 - on the cost of war and to encourage we get a little publicity). We do produce vets to join VFP. Many thanks to flyers and business card notes that we put Chapter 69’s Hal Muskat for ar- on the windshields of cars of military and ranging the CSN tabling connection retirees (just look for the base access stick- with the Guacamole Fund. ers on the windshield). We have had good We also spent time renewing cooperation from the park board to use the our “Truth-in-Recruiting” relation- park. The fee has been $300, with a damage ship with three local high schools. deposit. However when they also asked for This year we focused our efforts on $1 million in liability insurance last year ensuring the “opt-out” provision we found out that National’s insurance no was faithfully implemented by the longer covers chapter activities, so we have schools. to pay another $300 for event insurance. The highlight of this period was This year my VP, Ray Nacanaynay and Chapter 99 members fill baskets of household goods the first annual Corvallis Peace I appeared before the regular park board for formerly homeless vets. Fair on September 19th. Chapter meeting to plead our case. They waived not registering and pursuing their claims for 132 was one of the chief sponsors only the fee, but the insurance requirement disabilities, pensions, or other Veterans and organizers for this Administration benefits; and eventually celebration commemorat- finding jobs and places to live. ing the International Day It is a slow process that begins with find- of Peace, a UN-sanctioned ing the veterans and earning their trust. holiday. We obtained Already, there are success stories. The the endorsement of the first veteran we interviewed over a year Corvallis City Council and ago, who had no income and was living in sponsorship of numerous an abandoned car, is now in his own apart- church, civic and business ment and gets an Army pension. Another, partners. The Fair was sleeping in parks when we encountered created to raise awareness him, is in transitional housing on the VA about the International grounds and enrolled in technical college. Day of Peace, build com- A third, a double amputee, who was evicted munity, create a positive from his apartment and ended up at the and welcoming event for Rescue Mission, found it hard to accept a foreign-born residents, helping hand without giving back. He now and build on relationships Benton County Fair Peace Booth, VFP132 member, Jim Spain. has a place to live again, and works as a with Corvallis’ sister cities Photo by Esmeralda Allen volunteer with us on a daily basis. in Ukraine and Ethiopia. It featured music, dance, arts & crafts and as well. We made the case that we are put- Bill Christofferson games and offered many children’s activi- ting on the display as a public service. So I Chapter 132, ties. would encourage other chapters to do this (after you have a good history). Benton County, OR Bob Stebbins VFP 132 had two good tabling opportu- Dave Dittemore nities recently, at the Benton County Fair Chapter 134, Tacoma, WA Chapter 136, Central Florida and at the Crosby, Stills & Nash concert in Our biggest event every year is Ar- Considering the same rules of law ap- Eugene, Oregon. Both events offered out- lington NW - borrowed from the Seattle plied by VFP National in its 2004 call for standing opportunities to engage the public chapter (many thanks!!). It was displayed the impeachment of President Bush, mem- along our waterfront on bers of the Central Florida chapter voted Puget Sound on Labor on and approved a resolution to call for the Day weekend 2005 - the impeachment of President Obama for the fall before our chapter commission of war crimes under his com- was formed. We have mand, authority and knowledge relating to continued the tradition the U.S. wars on and occupations of Iraq, each year - this will be Afghanistan and Pakistan. our fifth year. This year We were both surprised and disap- and last year we will have pointed that VFP’s national leadership and the display up for two members in attendance at the National days. (The newspaper Convention voted against our resolution will never print a picture to impeach President Obama for what are in advance - thus the indisputably war crimes being committed VFP chapter 118 member Cecily Light (L) looks up a VA regula- photographer will come tion with Salt Lake City Vet Center counselor Janice Kensington under his command and authority. As VFP at a recent workshop on compensation facilitated by www. out Saturday and it will be remains silent on the issue of impeachment, homefrontvet.org founder Aaron Davis. Photo by Aaron Davis in the paper Sunday - so President Obama continues to expand and - 9 - escalate the wars and their atrocities while effort. August is county Arlington Southwest, Alpine, TX Photo by Paul Schaefer on our watch. fair month and Chapter Our chapter created and dedicated Ar- Chapter 136 will continue to put our 139 had booths at both Clallam County and lington Southwest as a permanent reminder commitment to defending the Constitu- Jefferson County Fairs featuring our focus of the costs of war. The tombstones stand tion and to VFP’s Statement of Purpose on Iraq Water Projects, Military Sexual on the edge of 4500 acres of unfenced before politics and political correctness. We Trauma and Truth in Recruiting. grasslands, adjacent and visible to traffic encourage our fellow Veterans For Peace We voted to officially change our chap- on U.S. 90. Facing southeast, on a grid of to do the same, especially in regards to this ter name to the VFP Tony Van Renterghem 8’ intervals, the tombstones appear bright- issue. Chapter in honor of Tony who passed away est at dawn and rest in shadow at dusk. We recently from age related causes. Tony was update the number of tombstones each Vet- Our chapter has generic 4.25” x 11”, erans’ Day to equal the number of Texans “War Crimes are War Crimes, PROS- a Dutch resistance fighter with a Gestapo death sentence on his head. His memoirs who have died, but the installation memori- ECUTE BUSH, IMPEACH OBAMA” alizes all deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. bumper stickers available. Stickers can will be published shortly and are certain to include local contact or other info. Email contain recollections of his Veterans For Paul Schaefer [email protected] for details. Peace activism in Arizona and Washington Chapter 141, Brandon, OR State. Phil Restino Bandon is a town of fewer than 3,000 David Jenkins people on the southern Oregon coast. For Chapter 139, more than three years, our chapter has North Olympic Peninsula, WA Chapter 151, Far West, TX maintained a weekly peace vigil at the We’ve had a busy summer hosting Kit We struggle to find common ground in side of Highway 101, the Coast Highway, Siemion (a VFP Associate) of Code Pink. our remote rural community. The economic where it passes through Bandon. During Kit brought us up to date on the situation crisis triggered our organizing a Transition the winter months, we present a film series in Gaza and efforts to bring in medical and Town Initiative. Townspeople participated and speakers at the Bandon Public Library. other aid. We joined a Single Payer Health- and Transition Alpine is expanding via a We have given the library over thirteen care Coalition in the Port Angeles, Wash- campaign for 1000 Edible Gardens and an hundred dollars in new books and videos ington 4th of July parade. Cindy Sheehan informal Sunday brunch discussion group. made two appearances sponsored by our dealing with war and veterans issues. We chapter in Sequim and Port Townsend, At our weekly Alpine demonstration, support the Friendship Village Project Washington on her Pacific NW tour with our banners read BRING OUR TROOPS near Ha Noi for victims of Agent Orange, excellent turnout and contributions to her HOME NOW and PROSECUTE WAR and the Duc Son Pagoda Orphanage near CRIMINALS, RE- Hue. Don Blackburn, a Vietnam veteran, PUBLICANS AND is a member of the American Committee DEMOCRATS. Our local for the Friendship Village Project. Don newspaper published an lives in Bandon half of each year, and in Op-Ed piece by a chapter Vietnam the other half. We also buy food member, Joe Goldman, cards for the local Veterans Administration describing the meaning of Clinic to pass on to vets and their families. this 2-year action. On Saturday afternoons, you can find us In September of this at our favorite hangout, the courtyard of year, we arranged for Dahr the 2 Loons Cafe in Old Town Bandon, Jamail to speak locally where we stuff ourselves with good food, about his new book, The drink pots of coffee, talk politics, tell funny Will To Resist. He was stories, and thoroughly enjoy being in each VFP Chapter 136 - June 25, 2009 National Torture Accountability warmly received by a other’s company. Action Day, Daytona Beach, FL, Left to Right: Heidi Brehmer small but totally engaged Bob Fischer (VFP), Phil Restino (VFP/MFSO), Jim Virene (VFP Assoc). audience. vvv - 10 - VFP Women Talk

by Georgia Wever to MRAW will be on the VFP web site, to in prison and upon release? Does VFP have A lively Women’s Caucus at the 2009 promote ideas for the campaign. The sticker prison chapters or homeless chapters? How Convention came up with ideas and con- can be used creatively--not only on car do they work? bumpers but in toilet stalls in schools where cerns enough for a caucus of many times There was understanding of the situation recruitment is active and anywhere young its size. of military wives who also “serve” by liv- women congregate. Building VFP ing overseas with husbands. One partici- It was pointed out that military recruiters pant described her loneliness at leaving her Upon learning that nearing 1/3 of VFP recognize that victims of incest may seek family at 16 years of age to accompany her members are non-veterans, participants vol- out the military in an attempt to find safety husband overseas. Because she “had two unteered to write an outreach flyer directed from a violent home life. Anti-recruitment tours” she identifies with veteran’s issues. specifically to women veterans. There were efforts must emphasize that the military is Is there a place for the voices of military a few proposals for chapters: not a safe haven for women. Command- wives to be heard in VFP? Their desire to • Post and distribute the women’s flyer at ing officers do not know how to address have a vote in VFP must be balanced with battered women’s and homeless shelters, charges of assaults against women; several the need to remain a primarily veteran’s since many residents are veterans. participants related personal experiences of organization. • Visit the women’s coordinator at the VA poorly handled issues regarding women or vvv and try to get the flyer posted. minorities. Agent Orange The Miles Foundation was mentioned • Post the flyer in the women’s room Continued from page 2 as an information clearinghouse for victims at the VA, Social Security offices and Since it was standard procedure for ships of sexual violence in the military, as was welfare centers, and distribute it at to move near the mouths of rivers to take Servicewomen’s Action Network (SWAN). entrances. on less-salty seawater for the distillation (The speakers for the Military Sexual As- system, they conclude it is reasonable to as- • Ask local peace and justice groups to sault workshop at the convention provided sume that those ships could have taken on ask on their membership forms, “Have good sources too; Pack Parachute Charity herbicide-contaminated runoff water. you ever served in the military?” Collect and MilitarySexualAssault.com.) the names periodically and invite them The committee also complained about a Building Visibility to chapter meetings. lack of focused scientific information and Caucus participants will advertise the repeated past recommendations for further • Make friends with the aide in your Women’s Listserv in the VFP newsletter prompt and comprehensive studies. Seven elected officials’ offices. They receive and on flyers. They suggested improving recommendations involve reopening, com- calls and letters from veterans request- the visibility of women in the newsletter pleting, or mining data from existing stud- ing assistance and, with encouragement, by re-establishing a permanent women’s ies or databases such as the Ranch Hand may keep a list and forward names to column (or column about women with Study (which was shut down in 2006) and local chapters. both men and women contributors). Also, a National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Attention to anti-recruitment periodic conference call would enable those Study (stopped in 2003). The Update also The discussion reflected special concern without computers to participate in discus- called, not for the first time, for collabora- about the recruitment of young women sion. tive studies of the Vietnamese population. in the military. The group applauded the There is hope for a film version of the To date, the US government has failed to new VFP bumper sticker “Warning: 1 in 3 book, The Woman Soldier. Two books successfully cooperate with the Vietnamese Women RAPED in Military” and designa- were recommended: The Lonely Soldier by government on study protocols. The IOM tion of October 12 - 16, 2009, as Military Helen Benedict (Beacon Press) and Bring- also recommended studies to focus on the Rape Awareness Week (MRAW). A link ing Vincent Home by Madeline Mysko possibility of birth defects and develop- (Plainviewpress.net). mental problems in children and grandchil- Many would like a dren of exposed veterans. magnetic (removable) auto Limitations of the IOM AO Updates sticker or license plate For all that these Updates have added to holder that reads “Woman our understanding of AO, this and all previ- Veteran” with the VFP ous IOM Updates have serious flaws. The web address on it. committee does no independent study; their Statistics on women Updates are studies of studies, and only veterans in prisons may synthesize and summarize other research be useful. What organiza- that happens to intersect with the IOM’s tions keep such informa- mandate from Congress, and attempt to re- tion? How can veteran’s late it to Vietnam veterans’ health. Update Left to right, John Gretzinger, Ed Pool, Scotty Rollins, Tom after Update complains that “there has been Fugere, Don Blackburn, and Frank Quinn march in the 2009 Ban- organizations use it to don Fourth of July Parade. photo by tawnya reach out to women vets Agent Orange continued on page 19 - 11 - Army Experience Center “That’s simply absurd,” I told him. to know where to start. And I won’t even Continued from page 1 “I won’t talk about it,” he said and try here. Suffice it to say, it is fundamen- stepped away. tally screwed up thanks to the corrupt Bush group, A Gathering Of Eagles, stood behind years and, now, the insidious momentum the glass panels smirking and mugging for The extent of blindered and willful of war on both sides of the battle. It can go protesters’ cameras. ignorance of this otherwise polite guy was nowhere but from bad to worse. staggering. What was so sobering was that It was quite a ruckus for about 20 min- this sort of willful ignorance symbolized As one of the march signs pointed out, utes. for me the incredible cultural momentum from January to July of this year, there Earlier in the day, my wife Lou Ann from eight years of post-9/11 vengeance- were more suicides among soldiers than and I wandered up to the entrance of rooted military mobilization, a national there were combat deaths. Post Traumatic the AEC to see what was going on. The state of mind that has involved two major Stress is at crisis levels -- to the point the active-duty commander of the center told invasions and follow-up occupations and a military is now featuring “resilience train- us the center was closed for the day due to runaway regime of secrecy, illegal surveil- ing” to toughen up our troops in Afghani- a 9/11 commemoration event with mem- lance, detention and torture. It was all in stan and Iraq. This kind of psychological bers of A Gathering Of Eagles. The Eagles this guy’s block-headed assumptions about counseling is notoriously good for one all featured their usual denim jackets and “communists” in the woodpile. thing: getting young men and women to motorcycle regalia with POW-MIA patches buck up and get back on the line. No one We certainly had our work cut out for is asking the real questions such as: Why and other obligatory, right-wing identity us. How does one go about organizing a symbols. the hell are we recruiting young kids and reasonable and decent society when this is sending them into the war in Afghanistan at I asked the young captain if, all? As many vets will submit, one as a veteran, I could join the com- of the causes of PTSD is a sense of memoration event, since I also felt not understanding what the mission obliged to honor the sacrifices of that is or slowly coming to the realiza- day, especially the brave civilians tion the stated mission is dishonest who took matters into their hands and the real deal is something much over Pennsylvania. “No!” I was told more insidious. firmly. We can only speculate why the For the record, in May the US Army picked the Franklin Mills Philadelphia VFP chapter formally Mall for its experiment in high-tech requested permission through vet- youth entrapment. Might it have eran director Al Flood to set up a something to do with the working modest, respectful table for present- class demographics of the Northeast ing alternative views to the youth A Gathering Of Eagles members mug and giggle from behind Philadelphia and the dismal eco- entering the AEC. Flood assured us the AEC glass panels behind a phalanx of Philly cops. nomic climate for jobs and careers he would submit the request and get facing young kids graduating from back to me. We have heard nothing. the kind of response a tax-paying citizen encounters when he has the temerity to ask high school? The rumor spread during the A tall, bearded Eagle remained at the what is going on and why is it so neces- march that the Army had decided not to in- entrance, and we began to make cordial sary to hose more gasoline on the fire we vest in centers like the AEC in malls across conversation with him. He was from North kicked up in Afghanistan/Pakistan? I can America. One can only hope, its Gathering Carolina so we exchanged pleasantries on hear the usual Gathering Of Eagle chuckle Of Eagles support aside, that the Army sees that fine state, since Lou Ann and I had just and response to this question: What about what a morally dubious enterprise the AEC returned from a week on Okracoke Island. Osama bin Laden? OK, what about him? really is. At least the Marines’ new recruit- Lou Ann knew the area he was from, so it Aren’t we fulfilling his stated matador-like ment ads show kids enduring hardships and was a polite exchange. That is, until Lou goal of driving us into bankruptcy? All this even vomiting during basic training. Ann asked the man if he thought the polar- stuff needs to be discussed afresh. In the end, the Philadelphia Police Civil ization between left and right in America Every one who came out to march on Affairs Unit arrested seven demonstrators was something that could be surmounted who refused to leave the mall after the -- or was it just a case of war? Saturday against the Army Experience Cen- ter realized, as an institution, the AEC is a rowdy period of loud questioning. Once ev- “It’s not left or right,” the man said. “It’s fundamental adjunct of our unquestioned eryone had been swept out of the Mall, its Democrat-Republican, and the Democrats and unquestionable Afghanistan policy. If Red Entrance was protected by the phalanx have been taken over by Communists. you choose to make war and you choose to of Philly cops. The AEC and the Mall were They’re Marxist-Leninists.” expand the violence, you need young men again safe. All the gravely serious questions This was more than we expected and and women to hump the rugged terrain of this motley gathering of angry, tax-paying a bit confusing. We had both voted for Afghanistan and to drive the dangerous citizens still harbored had been deflected. Obama and were Democrats, but we both roadways of Afghanistan and to engage the But if the foolish escalation of Afghani- now felt for one reason or another Obama fierce Pashtun Taliban fighters so infuri- stan isn’t stopped, we can all be assured was in cahoots with militarists like this ated at the US military occupation of their more kids recruited out of cynical places Eagle standing in front of us when it came homeland. There is so much screwed up like the AEC will die there. to the issue of Afghanistan. about our presence in Afghanistan it’s hard vvv - 12 - Vietnam: American Holocaust – A Review

Vietnam: American Holocaust generations, were to retain the memory of A documentary film by Clay Claiborne Vietnam as an ignoble defeat, the illegal in- Narration by Martin Sheen vasion, occupation and wanton devastation 90 minutes of a small, powerless and sovereign third world country, then the strategic pursuit When Saigon fell on the last day of of “endless war” to sustain U.S. global April 1975, the American defeat in Viet- dominance would be severely undermined. nam was punctuated by the immediate Public amnesia on the realities of Vietnam re-unification of that war-torn nation, North was essential in convincing that same mis- and South - the very objective the U.S. guided populace to invade first Afghanistan had fought ten years to prevent. For their and then Iraq as the appropriate response victory the Vietnamese would be severely to terrorism. The predictable consequence: punished under economic embargo for the déjà vu all over again. Or as one bumper next decade. But what would really matter sticker recently spotted puts it, “Quagmire now for the U.S. political mainstream was Accomplished.” how the Vietnam War was to be packaged historically for U.S. domestic consump- As keepers of the truth about Vietnam, tion - public and educational - in the years antiwar progressives have labored persis- ahead. tently to demonstrate parallels between that fiasco in S. E. Asia and the militaristic A consensus would be struck around the adventures of the present, always linking neutral formula that the Vietnam War was was not to defend the war, but to forget it, them to the imperial aims they are designed simply a well-intended mistake. Naturally, and to repress the more authentic views of to serve. This perspective has been steadily this interpretation was found wanting by the broadly constituted, but minority pro- assembled over the years in an abundance the war’s die-hard apologists who, in the gressive community that the U.S. invasion of popular and scholarly writings, and, on words of Ronald Reagan, claimed Vietnam of Vietnam was a war of aggression and, occasion, in film, dramatic and documenta- as a “noble cause.” But the real point for subsequently, a crime against humanity. managers of the National Security State If the public, especially emerging Vietnam continued on page 19 The Good Soldier – A Review

The Good Soldier easier to go back and kill.” By Lexy Lovell and Michael Uys Plumbing deeper, Williams said, “You Out of the Blue Productions get a rush. Your first kill seems hard… 79 mins. you think about it, especially if it’s at close By far what I found most remarkable in quarters…(but) I had hate building for the new documentary, The Good Soldier, is those people…it bothered me if I didn’t get the uncommon degree of honesty at work a chance to kill. I became an animal…no on multiple levels, in the statements Lovell remorse.” and Uys extract from the former soldiers Marine Staff Sergeant, Jimmy Massey, they interview. It starts with the very first described the time early in his tour in Iraq words spoken on camera and continues when he and his unit opened fire on a group throughout. The absence of any narration of demonstrators. Afterwards, he examined makes The Good Soldier feel even more the bodies, “all soaked in red,” and saw no direct. weapons. “Then, that little voice goes off Sometimes the honesty counters the lies in your head and says, ‘Well, that’s war. told by military recruiters, as when Army That’s what happens in war.’ I’ll be honest Warrant Officer (ret.) Perry Parks says in with you, I chalked it up. I really did.” his opening comment, “Every man is an Williams, who did two tours in Viet Nam. Apparently, these former soldiers have infantryman. Your real bare-bones job is to spent time in therapy or at least seriously go out and kill people.” He described a night spent pinned contemplating their military experiences, down in a bomb crater next to the body Other times, it’s a more difficult, person- because they each have taken the impor- of a friend who had been shot in the head. ally revealing, kind of honesty. tant next step, learning the genesis of their When morning came, he helped load the behaviors. “The more of your people you see hurt body onto a truck and his friend’s brains and killed, the more it intensifies your de- “fell out into my hands.” After a pain- Massey explained how Marine Corps sire to kill,” said Army Staff Sergeant Will ful pause, Williams said, “But then it was Good Soldier continued on page 19 - 13 - P O E T R Y

THE AMERICAN SOLDIER Far, far from domes where splendid tapers glare, ‘Tis his from dear bought peace no wealth to win, Deep in a vale, a stranger now to arms, Removed alike from courtly cringing ‘squires, Too poor to shine in courts, too proud to beg, The great-man’s Levee, and the proud man’s grin. He, who once warred on Saratoga’s plains, Sits musing o’er his scars, and wooden leg. Sold are those arms which once on Britons blazed, When, flushed with conquest, to the charge they came; Remembering still the toil of former days, That power repelled, and Freedom’s fabrick raised, To other hands he sees his earnings paid;— She leaves her soldier—famine and a name! They share the due reward—he feeds on praise, — Philip Freneau (1752-1832) Lost in the abyss of want, misfortune’s shade. Freneau, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, became a vocal critic of the post-war treatment of former enlisted men by the US and state governments. George TAKING STOCK AT 65 Washington called Freneau a “rascal,” These disastrous mornings Trout lilies spread the ground which Washington meant neither mortality swirls around me with mottled leaves to be cute nor complimentary. Sister Maggi Lady slippers glimpsed where least expected cut to pieces at the Mayo UNTITLED Sister Peggy on the coast Socration and Porcius a virtual streamer Unforgettable forget-me-nots two scrofulous broken like a doll drop violet stars in every bed Across the stone embankment right hands of Consul Piso Nothing like a wedding pink phlox creeps synonymous with greed and plague to spice the family madness The deep hued columbine devouring our country. The great The selfish son estranged rise like corn god Priapus, damaged by war on stalks of grape and magenta erect, had served your pleasure: no less than the father look, a banquet spread at noon, And in the dooryard you feed and spawn, ‘Tis cruel to give a flower lilacs bloom their therapies of perfume drunken in the sunlight. then pluck it back to rival sweet rugosa rose And, my friends, dear Fabullus in powers of intoxication Do not deceive yourselves: And my lttle Veranius, starve, for- ever walking The contemplative life On and on it goes does not a contemplative make everyday an old friend newly found down city streets to find a meal, You have to work at that and as we gain we lose gazing at banquets, wondering who will take them in for dinner On these embattled mornings Remember this: flowers help No fleeting flower — Catullus Tour the morning garden can slow the ticking clock in the lee of the solstice These flashes of forgetting A hundred perennials to greet are but a steady keel I saw the masked men A multitude of colors set their roots to steer the stormy days throwing truth into a well. by beauty’s calendar There is no cure for life When I began to weep for it I found it everywhere. Early bulbs and wild flowers Michael Uhl July 2009 take first bow Claudia Lars Walpole, Maine - 14 - BOOK REVIEWS by Will Shapira

From the VFP standpoint, there are many support the troops by easing their return to stories dealing with war, those who promul- civilian life. gated it and those who opposed it with all of their might. At the same time, the national VFP leadership should champion this book by The Progressive: You owe it to yourself (and maybe fam- making its existence and contents known 100 Years: 1909-2009 ily, friends and associates) not only to order to Pres. Obama, his cabinet and advisors; 130 pages, $3.95 paperback this remarkable document but to sign up for Secretary of Defense Gates; the Secretary www.progressive.org The Progressive monthly under the editor- of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and ship of Matthew Rothschild who carries on Just 300 miles southeast of where I live all members of Congress plus the national in the great tradition of William T. Evjue, in Minnesota is Madison, WI, home of The media via op-eds and letters to the editor. Morris and Mary Rubin and Erwin Knoll. Progressive one of the best, most enduring You all can get professional PR materi- peace and justice publications ever. Mark- Like the compendium, the monthly also is available at a bargain rate. Congratulations als by contacting Nancy Hofmann or Lisa ing its 100th proud anniversary, its publish- McAllister at [email protected]. ers have issued a 130-page special issue of to all who have made The Progressive the the magazine which, at $3.95 paperback, is vital magazine it remains today and who Philpott and Hill and have compiled a steal. It is a compendium of stories show- will keep it at its high level for years to an invaluable list of things that vets, their ing first and foremost how little progress come. families, other loved ones, friends and even we’ve made in so many areas, especially Rothschild also has edited You Have No private citizens can do to help vets return to the prevention of war and combating the Rights: Stories of America In An Age of society. They are spelled out in some detail influence of the American War Machine. Repression www.thenewpress.com $16.95 in the book and in greater detail on the paperback. Though it came out during W’s A sampling of the headlines and the authors' website www.homelanddefense- administration, it seems to have lost none years the stories were published start- journal.com . of its relevance and timeliness in the first ing almost literally from Day One of the year of the Obama regime. It is, says Roth- There are words of encouragement from magazine reads as follows: “Our Duty to schild in the introduction, a compilation of Secretary Gates, Ret. Gen. Barry McCaf- the Earth,” 1909. “The Most Moral Tax of 82 case histories of “innocent individuals frey and the authors. But the real action All” (about the income tax) 1909. “Money simply minding their own business or exer- must come from us, to spur those in power Should Not Buy Office,” 1909. “Human cising their First Amendment freedom” and to exercise it on behalf of those brave men Rights Higher Than Property Rights,” those who would take those freedoms away and women who laid their lives on the line 1910. “Why War?,” 1911. “Industrial and in many cases, did. No doubt this has for us and to do it now, when they need us Despotism,” 1912. “”The Consolidation of happened to people you know or admire most. Vets helping vets. Banking and Big Business,” 1913. “Ensur- from afar or even to yourself. No doubt vvv ing the Right to Organize,” 1914. “The about it---activism comes with a price. Future of the Indian,” 1915. “The Right of the Citizen to Oppose War and the Right of Congress to Shape War Policy,” 1917. “The Need for Health Insurance,” 1917. “How The Wounded Warrior Handbook: A the Press Serves Big Business.” “War Resource Guide for Returning Veterans Profiteers,” 1918. And that takes us only to by Don Philpott and Janelle Hill p. 17! I certainly am not going to spoil your 14 pages paperback, $30 enjoyment by running the actual stories but Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group if those headlines don’t entice you, what www.rlpgbooks.com will? Beyond keeping our brave troops out of While many of the stories were written by founder Wisconsin Sen. “Fighting” Bob hegemonic, capitalist wars, beyond trying LaFollette, others were written by his wife, to get such existing wars ended and head- Belle Case LaFollete, Lincoln Steffens, ing off new ones, there are other things we Jane Addams, Carl Sandburg, Louis Bran- in VFP can do to "support the troops." One deis, Samuel Gompers, Scott Nearing and of the most important these days is helping Leo Tolstoy, among many other historic them transition back into society. figures over a century of American history. This book will help a lot and I urge all There are a number of histories of liberal VFP chapters to get a copy and pass along thought in the United States but I defy you copies of this review to your local media, to find one that packs so much into so few employers, business organizations and gov- pages and is available at such a low cost. ernment at all levels so they, too, can help - 15 - Convention Peace with justice needs a foundation. country [http://factfinder.census.gov/serv- Continued from page 1 That foundation is democracy. Not de- let/SAFFPopulation] comparable to those mocracy “as advertised on TV,” or bandied just in Iraq it would mean – listen for where cynicism to the process of death, for (our about during elections, but the real thing. you live – that every person in Baltimore, soldiers) must know after a short period We must govern ourselves, for we have Boston, Dallas, Philadelphia, San Di- there, that none of the things we claim to be seen what happens when we don’t. ego, San Francisco and Seattle would be fighting for are really involved. Imagine a peace movement that is part dead. Every. Single. Person. Everyone in “Americans, who calculate so careful- of a larger democracy movement. We talk Delaware, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, New ly…military victory, do not realize that in about “outreach” to other groups. We talk York and Oregon: wounded. Every. Single. the process they are incurring deep psycho- about defunding the war to fund human Person. The entire populations of Ohio logical and political defeat.” needs. But brothers and sisters, what is our and New Jersey: homeless. Everyone in Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky: refugees Then, 42 years ago, Dr. King spoke vision? Stopping the F-22 or trading an air- in Canada or Mexico. words that could be addressed to us here craft carrier for a housing program? It has today: to be more than that! What we need is to What’s astounding is that so many govern ourselves so we can create the kind insist this kind of madness is practical, is “This war is but a symptom of a far of life to which we have an indisputable, realistic…..and yet would look at VFP’s deeper malady within the American spirit, inalienable right. bottom line, “To abolish war as an instru- and if we ignore this…reality we will find ment of national policy” and say “now, ourselves organizing... [anitwar] commit- But we aren’t going to gain the power that’s crazy!” tees for the next generation. They will be needed to govern ourselves if we expend concerned about Guatemala…Cambodia… our precious time toiling in an isolated How can this be? Well, think how South Africa. We will be marching for peace movement that merely wants to get much we pay this system every year to pro- these and a dozen other names and attend- our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, just duce this culture of death, and then define ing rallies without end unless there is a as we won’t become self-governing with it as normal, in fact as the only way to live. significant and profound change in Ameri- an environmental movement that aims only There is one good thing about all this – can life…” for more solar panels and cars with better when we realize what a constant, herculean mileage. effort the system must make to construct My daughter brought this home to me such a massive delusion and maintain it right after the invasion of Iraq, when she We need to get our minds right so we in the face of everything rational, we can said, “This is my generation’s war, just like can see ourselves not as mere workers and sense how fragile the empire really is. If Vietnam was yours, isn’t it?” consumers but as human beings with an absolute right to define what kind of life we you doubt that, recall the toppling of the So here we are, organizing another need – and then take it! Berlin Wall in 1989, when just two years generation of antiwar committees, attend- before such a thing was unthinkable – and ing rallies without end. It’s still necessary. We need to create a culture of democ- it didn’t require passing any legislation. We’ll keep doing it, but I’m sick of it. I’m racy from the bottom-up, to replace our And so we’ve come full circle, back to tired of being that Vet For Peace guy who culture of death. We need to change our the demand of Cool Hand Luke’s prison makes history dance at another rally by government from what it is today – a huge boss to get your mind right! We can either revealing what Smedley Butler had to say. roadblock, guarded round the clock by do that, or stand dumbfounded on the side I long for the time when Veterans For Peace greed and private interests, into a vehicle of the road, waiting in awe for the Imperial can build its membership on a reputation that nourishes the public interest; that helps Oz to give us direction. for creating a peaceful world and its practi- us express our love for each other and our cal nonviolence skills, not just because we planet. Well, we’re here to tell the nation that lept to the front ranks against yet another I believe there is a hunger for self- Veterans For Peace knows what we see war. governance and democracy in America and today is not the only way forward. War is not an unavoidable absolute. Human be- Chris Hedges wrote “war is a force that that hunger is the fundamental link between ings decide to create injustice, to promote gives us meaning.” Could it also be true the peace movement and every other move- empire, to whip up public fears. But veter- that antiwar is a force that gives us mean- ment working to address human needs. ans know human beings can make different ing? If we are content to be an antiwar I don’t need to remind this audience of decisions. We can create better outcomes. movement or peace movement in name war’s real cost. We can’t even identify all We can build a just society. We can create only, we’ll have work that will give us the categories into which we pour war’s a culture of democracy. We can abolish plenty of meaning for this generation, our staggering sums. Less than 5% of what war. We can, and we will! children’s generation, and the one after that we’ve spent in Iraq and Afghanistan would if the planet is still breathing. pay the tuition in the U.S. of every stu- But remember this other passage from that great speech of King’s. “We may cry No, what we need is a peace move- dent attending public university this year. out desperately for time to pause…but time ment that is true to our chant in the streets: Beyond dollars, we know war’s human toll is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over “No justice, no peace!” Peace with justice on individuals, families and whole com- the bleached bones and jumbled residue means stopping the few from making munities is as impossible to quantify as the of numerous civilizations are written the policy for the many; from robbing us blind; heartache of a single loved one; as impos- pathetic words, ‘too late.’” denying our right to health care; destroy- sible to calculate as the multiples of misery ing Earth’s life support systems; as well as endured by those under our bombs. Sisters and brothers: Let us begin! sending us to war. If we experienced casualties in our vvv - 16 - VETERANS FOR PEACE merchandise order form Veterans For Peace  216 S. Meramec Ave.  St. Louis, MO 63105 Ph: 314-725-6005 / Fx: 314-725-7103 www.veteransforpeace.org *All shirts union made. SIZE T-Shirts COLOR S M L XL XXL XXXL QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL Short-sleeve t-shirts with VFP White $15.00 = logo large on front. VFP website on back of t-shirt. Black $15.00 = Navy $15.00 = Khaki $15.00 Women's Short Sleeve T-shirt - Black $12.50 Long Sleeve T-Shirts COLOR S M L XL XXL QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL Long-sleeve t-shirts with small Black $20.00 = VFP logo on front. VFP website on back of t-shirt. Navy $20.00 = Sweatshirts COLOR S M L XL XXL QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL Long sleeve sweatshirts with VFP Black $25.00 = logo small on the front of shirt. VFP website on back of t-shirt. Navy $25.00 = Specialty T-Shirts S M L XL XXL XXXL QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL Associate VFP T-Shirt - (white with words "Proud supporter of" above VFP logo) $15.00 = White polo shirt with small embroidered VFP logo on left side $28.00 = 2008 Convention t-shirt (white with small logo on front and b/w convention logo on back) $10.00 = Miscellaneous Items QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL Wristband - Read, "Bring them home now" "www.veteransforpeace.org" $1.00 = VFP Dog Tag - Has a beautiful raised VFP logo on the front along with the words "Veterans For = Peace". The back reads, "Dedicated to the abolishment of war" $8.00 Black Canvas VFP Tote Bag - with VFP logo $5.00 = VFP Armbands - Black fabric with white VFP logo. Says "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS - BRING THEM HOME NOW!" $2.00 = VFP Banner Flag - With VFP logo and website on it. Measure 3' X 5' and printed on nylon $30.00 = VFP Sew On Patch - Helmet shaped sew-on patch with logo and "Veterans For Peace" on it. Actual size is about two inches wide $3.50 = Pins and Buttons QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL Helmet and Dove Lapel Pin - Beautiful, small lapel pin. Black with white dove. $5.00 = Peace is Patriotic Button - Red, White, and Blue with dove and words, "Peace is Patriotic." $0.50 = "Wage Peace" Button - Green wording with a VFP Logo $0.50 VFP White Button - VFP logo and says, "Veterans For Peace" $0.50 = Wooden Dove Pin - Made in Palestine with Olive Wood. Small, wood carving of dove. $5.00 = Stickers & Magnets QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL "Another Veteran Against War With Iraq" Bumpersticker $1.00 = Black and White Bumpersticker. Contains VFP Logo and address. $1.00 = "Peace is Patriotic" bumpersticker - red, white, and blue with "Veterans For Peace" on it $1.50 = Holiday Cards (10 cards, 11 envelopes) QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL Holiday Card - In Memory Of Our Truce $7.50 =

Or order on line at www.vfpstore.org - 17 - Books and Literature QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL "Outposts of Empire - The case against foreign military bases" $6.00 = "Will War Ever End - A Soldiers Vision of Peace for the 21st Century" by Captain Paul Appell $15.00 "The Sword that Heals" by George Lakey $2.00 "Road from ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejia" by Camilo = Mejia $19.95 "Veterans For Peace - The First Decade" by Jerry Genesio $5.00 = "From Warriors to Resisters" edited by Margaret Knapke $4.00 = "War is a Racket" by General Smedley Butler. $5.00 = "Addicted to War Comic Book" by Joel Andreas $6.00 = "Misuse of Power" by Ed Asner and Burt Hall. $15.00 = "No, George No!" by Kathy Eder - Illustrated by Clay Butler $7.00 = Hats STYLE QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL Baseball Cap - Adjustable cap with Grey $18.00 = VFP logo on the front and the VFP White $18.00 = website on the back. Black $18.00 = Garrison Cap - Blue cap with red trim, Sizes vary, please call 314-725-6005 for sizing and $30.00 = "Veterans For Peace" in white availability embroidery Movies & Music QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL "Arlington West" DVD - Compilation of conversations with U.S. soldiers traveling to and from war zones, military families, veterans, and children. (Fall 2006 version) $10.00 = "Soldiers Speak Out" DVD - A powerful, first-hand testament to the reality of the military experience, $15.00 = "What I've Learned About U.S. Foreign Policy" DVD - The War Against the Third World $10.00 = "From Mills River to Babylon and Back… The Jimmy Massey Story" DVD - by Joseph Stillman $21.00 "Vietnam: American Holocaust" DVD - by Clay Claiborne $19.95 VariousVarious ArtistsArtists CD - ""KKennebunkportennebunkport - SongsSongs ofof PeacePeace" RecordedRecorded livelive- PeacePeace RallyRally andand MarchMarch Concert - August 25, 2007 $10.00 = "Take Me Home" CD - A sampler of American artists for peace $15.00 = SUB TOTAL

Shipping depends on cost of order SHIPPING TOTAL Spend 0-$50 (shipping $5.95), $50-$100 (shipping $10.95), $100- $150 (shipping $14.95), $150-$250 (shipping $19.95) *Merchandise orders over $200 receive a 20% discount. If your order more than $200, take 20% discount here. Please assess shipping based on order total before discount. ORDER TOTAL

Please include a check, cash, or money order with order form. Mail to Veterans For Peace, 216 S. Meramec Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105

Or order on line at www.vfpstore.org - 18 - Vietnam Agent Orange hard scientific studies that would illuminate Continued from page 13 Continued from page 11 the hard political choices. little or no action toward implementing Agent Orange Campaign News ry. A recent offering in this latter genre by several investigations that the committee VFP member Clay Claiborne is Vietnam: Please visit the Agent Orange Relief and regards as imperative;” but the committee’s American Holocaust, a provocative recap Responsibility Campaign website www.vn- mandate gives it no power to implement of that war through archival footage that agentorange.org for more information. its recommendations, and the VA and DoD vvv will be new to most viewers. have consistently ignored and sabotaged Structurally, Claiborne’s 90 minute film comprehensive research efforts. Thus, Good Soldier is organized into info-packed “chapters,” nearly 40 years after the last AO spraying Continued from page 13 with headings like, TV War, History, Pup- in Vietnam, there are as many questions as training “does a great job of putting that pets, Tonkin and Air Power. By choosing a answers. This is not a scientific failure. It warrior ethos in effect. It gives the ability didactic approach in lieu of a conventional is a political failure. to kill at least once. After that, it’s on you.” narrative synthesis, Claiborne has adapted A final glaring deficiency is that the his documentary for the classroom. Given research mandate is limited to Vietnam Former Army Captain, Michael McP- his use of graphic news and military foot- vets. Even though there were only four hearson, a veteran of the First Gulf War, age which make no effort to distance the studies of Vietnam veterans included in this added, “I can tell you this, if you have viewer from the horrors of war, American Update, there were NONE that considered a pack of hungry dogs and you let them Holocaust is best suited for more mature Vietnamese or Vietnamese Americans. How loose, you can’t just whistle and call them students in senior high school and col- can this be? back. They’re gonna go after what you sent lege, most effectively absorbed, given the them after till they catch it. Unless you get volume of information, by presenting it in This sorry state of affairs is really not there and pull them off that thing you had halves for two separate screenings. surprising if one considers the history of them catch, they’re gonna kill it. I’m not non-treatment of atomic veterans, or ill- But the film is also of interest to scholars trying to justify anything. I’m just saying treatment of the First Gulf War veterans. this is the nature of war. You can’t turn on and old anti-Vietnam War activists who are As Fred Wilcox titled his book on chemi- unlikely to have seen what appears to be and off the faucet. It doesn’t happen like cal warfare, they are simply “Waiting for that.” freshly mined footage from a number of ar- an Army to Die.” In the case of Agent chival sources. Even in retrospect after so Orange, there has been sufficient political Today, McPhearson is Executive Direc- many years it’s shocking to see the degree pressure that the US government has given tor of Veterans For Peace. of venality expressed in their own words by a little ground in support and treatment of Massey is a founding member of Iraq our leaders in the planning and execution of Vietnam veterans, but it avoids funding Veterans Against the War. In one scene the war. where he’s shown holding a picket sign The villain par excellence remains the Honduran Coup with the words, “I killed innocent civilians late Robert McNamara, and former Secre- Continued from page 4 for our government,” he adds, “I sold my tary of Defense who, visiting Hanoi long right to recur to insurrection in defense of soul a long time ago. I’m just here trying after the war for an exchange of historical the constitutional order.” to recover it.” views with the former enemy, is filmed While Salomon feels, in its miscalcula- Perry retired after 29 years in the Army asking his hosts, “Do you mean to say that tion, the military leadership is holding out and attended his first protest during the Iraq [having lost]... on our population base the now “to protect their dignity more than war. equivalent of 27 million people, the war anything,” she fears a “veto power” prec- Williams is a leader of the anti-war was not a tragedy for you? What did you edent set by the coup in both the business group in his Wisconsin hometown. He accomplish?” They gained their indepen- community and the military. This fear spills closes The Good Soldier with these exqui- dence Bob. Makes you wonder where over into neighboring countries like El Sal- site words: “The greatest generation is yet McNamara would have stood in 1776. vador, where the FMLN just inaugurated a to come. It won’t be the WWII vets; it’ll Adroitly narrated by actor and peace weak president. be the people that take away all the reasons activist Martin Sheen, American Holocaust She is uncertain exactly how the coup behind us going to war. That will be the must now confront the perpetual challenge will collapse, but she says, “One thing is greatest generation.” of our progressive minority to find the audi- for sure, and that is they cannot sustain this Mike Ferner ences that are most in need of learning - or government until November and the day of being reminded of - the lessons of Vietnam. the elections.” Veterans For Of course, no single medium assumes the Some VFP members may monitor that Peace Flag full burden of retrieving the inconvenient election election if and when it occurs. In (size 3’ x 5’) facts of history, but every honest initiative the same vein, we need to monitor our own $30.00 increases the odds that one day the public government and press it to better stand will demand that conflicts be resolved by up for democracy and expanded rights in peaceful means rather than by force. places like Honduras. Michael Uhl John Grant is a writer/photographer www.veteranscholar.com and a member of VFP Chapter 31 in Phila- vvv delphia. - 19 - Non-Profit Org. VFP NEWSLETTER FALL 2009 US Postage Paid St. Louis, Missouri Permit # 5414

Veterans For Peace 216 S. Meramec Ave. St. Louis, MO 63105 Tel: 314-725-6005 Fax: 314-725-7103 [email protected]

By leaving a bequest to Veterans For Peace, you will create a legacy that will benefit others for generations to come. If you have already included Veterans For Peace into your bequest, we hope that you will share this information with us. While we recommend that you meet with your own estate attorney or financial advisor to determine the method of giving that best suits your individual needs, Please call the National Office and let us express our gratitude. Your wishes for anonymity will be respected. Here’s how you can be PART OF THE LEGACY: • Prepare a will. Only 50% of those who pass have one. • Name VFP as the beneficiary of a life insurance • Leave a gift for Veterans For Peace. policy. • Less than 3% of all wills contain a charitable provision. Support the mission of Veterans For Peace to • Consider using assets for your charitable gift. create a sustainable future for generations to come. • Name VFP as the beneficiary of your IRA or pension For more information call our office in St. Louis at account. 314-725-6005.