Geoff Millard / Iraq Vets and Voters – 2007-08-25 22:53:21
Iraq Vet And Voters For Peace Board Member Returns For Iran
Geoff Millard / Iraq Vets and Voters
As an Iraq veteran, President of the DC chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War and member of the board of Voters For Peace I was pleased to join the Peoples Peace Delegation to Iran. It is important for Iranians to meet Americans who are working to prevent war with Iran and it is important for Americans to be able to return and tell our fellow countrymen what Iranians think about the US
We have our work cut out to prevent a military attack on Iran and end the occupation of Iraq. I hope you will be generous by sending support today to Voters For Peace as we build up to a climactic September and October. This may be the best opportunity we have before the 2008 election to end the occupation and prevent an attack on Iran, more on that below.
Our five person delegation conducted a 11-day 1,750-mile journey through the Islamic Republic of Iran. We interacted with many Iranian people and asked them their thoughts on relations with the United States. We were greeted warmly by the Iranian people as the Iranian people are able to distinguish between the actions of the United States government and the American people. In the southern city of Shiraz, the children on a school trip engulfed us attempting to use the handful of English words they know.
“Hello” they yell with a child’s innocence.
“Hello” we all would say back.
Quickly they respond with a “where are you from?
“America” we say with a smile.
“Oh, oh I love Am-ree-ka!
Some of us in the delegation were surprised to hear how little the Iranians we met seemed concerned about a possible war between our two countries. For example, we had dinner that evening with two Shiraz University students, in-laws of an Iranian-American friend. When the conversation turned to the subject of war, one of the young women, Marziyee, said the students she knows “don’t even think of it at all.” She went on to say that the difference between Iran and the United States is that “here we do not believe it if it is on the news, while in America you do.”
When it comes to nuclear weapons, most Iranians do not see a need. As one man told us “Why would we ever need a nuclear weapon? The US has eliminated all our threats and now there is no need for it. “Mr. Bush has killed Saddam and taken out the Taliban, so Iran is the only power in the Middle East.”
This month President Bush has been escalating the rhetoric against Iran – labeling their military a terrorist organization, blaming Iranians for explosive devices in Iraq. Peace advocates need to escalate our efforts to prevent war. At the same time, September is going to be the key month for advocacy against the Iraq occupation. Voters For Peace is working with a coalition of groups including vets, military families, and peace advocates, on a series of events that will increase the pressure on both political parties to withdraw US troops and private contractors from Iraq. Please send your support today so we can make as much progress as possible.
Thanks again for support the Peoples Peace Delegation to Iran. Trips such as this can only advance our chances of peace stripping by away the rhetoric and putting a human face on war.
For more information:
• “Iranians and Nuclear Power,” http://www.truthout.org/docs
• Campaign Against Sanctions & Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/2717
• The Peoples Peace Delegation to Iran, Virginia Anti-War Network, http://defendersfje.tripod.com/id13.html
Upcoming Events In A Historic Autumn For the Peace Movement
Linda Schade / VotersForPeace.US
Here in Washington and all over the country, September and October will be two of the most active since the beginning of the occupation. Whether it’s a local or national mobilization, please consider participating in what looks to be a historic Autumn. If you cannot participate, please consider sending much needed financial support.
Here is just a partial list of September’s upcoming actions:
America Stands Watch
Tuesday, September 4th 2007 8am
America Stands Watch is bringing people from around the country to confront Congress over their failure to take action to bring the war in Iraq to and end. We’ll be using the Capitol’s system of allowing tourists to enter the galleries overlooking the two houses of Congress to gain access to the chambers. At a so-far undisclosed signal, our group will take to its feet and stand watch over Congress. Letters to every Senator and Congressperson will be delivered in advance letting them know why citizens have come to the Capitol to stand watch over their work.
National Call-In Day to End the Iraq War
Wednesday, September 12th 2007
A national call-in day to implore Congress to end the war.
Mass March and Die-In
Saturday, September 15th 2007
Come to Washington DC on September 15 for a large antiwar protest timed to coincide with the report by General Petraeus on the “Surge” in Iraq.
Speak Truth to Power on Capitol Hill
Thursday, September 20th 2007
Hundreds of activists from around the country will engage in nonviolent direct action to END THE US WAR ON IRAQ. Come to Capitol Hill to demand that our legislators accept the mandate of the people.
National Mass March from the Capitol to the White House
Saturday, September 29th 2007u003cbr />Stop the War at Home and Abroad! Troops Out Now! Impeach Bush & Cheney for War Crimes!
The Voters For Peace Team are already receiving responses to our “Are You A Peace Candidate?” appeal. Regular folks are stepping up and deciding to run for office as a Peace Candidate. A School Teacher, some veterans and other committed members of the peace community have decided to run and are letting us know about it. We’ve also received notes from others who have run in the past. It’s very encouraging. Please keep letting us know if you have decided to be a Peace Candidate or if you will be helping someone else with their efforts
Coming Soon! We will be featuring observations from former Peace Candidates. Peace candidates can be found in every party, every region of our country and have run or are running in elections for local, state and federal offices.
Film Review — ‘WAR MADE EASY
Our latest offering of analysis on Iraq is the new film, ‘WAR MADE EASY: How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death. Based on the work of media critic Norman Soloman, ‘WAR MADE EASY’ exposes the methods used every administration since WWII to sell war to the American people using the corporate media.
Narrated by Sean Penn, this critically acclaimed film shares rare footage of politicians, examples of propaganda, and expert analysis to illustrate how the pro-war message is disseminated. This is a must see film for anyone concerned with the state of American news media.
If you purchase the DVD of ‘War Made Easy’ from the VotersForPeace.org website, the Media Education Foundation will generously donate $2 to VotersForPeace
National Mass March from the Capitol to the White House
Saturday, September 29th 2007
Stop the War at Home and Abroad! Troops Out Now! Impeach Bush & Cheney for War Crimes!
Our latest offering of analysis on Iraq is the new film, ‘WAR MADE EASY: How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death. Based on the work of media critic Norman Soloman, ‘WAR MADE EASY’ exposes the methods used every administration since WWII to sell war to the American people using the corporate media. Narrated by Sean Penn, this critically acclaimed film shares rare footage of politicians, examples of propaganda, and expert analysis to illustrate how the pro-war message is disseminated. This is a must see film for anyone concerned with the state of American news media. If you purchase the DVD of ‘War Made Easy’ from the VotersForPeace.org website, the Media Education Foundation will generously donate $2 to VotersForPeace!
“Are You A Peace Candidate?”
The Voters For Peace Team are already receiving responses to our “Are You A Peace Candidate?” appeal. Regular folks are stepping up and deciding to run for office as a Peace Candidate. A School Teacher, some veterans and other committed members of the peace community have decided to run and are letting us know about it. We’ve also received notes from others who have run in the past. It’s very encouraging. Please keep letting us know if you have decided to be a Peace Candidate or if you will be helping someone else with their efforts.
Coming Soon! We will be featuring observations from former Peace Candidates. Peace candidates can be found in every party, every region of our country and have run or are running in elections for local, state and federal offices.
Take the VotersForPeace Pledge! “I will only vote for or support federal candidates who make a speedy end to the war in Iraq, and preventing any future war of aggression, a public position in his or her campaign.”
