Anti-War Poster -- Photo by Alan Pogue (Chaplans Assistant and Combat Medic in Vietnam War). |
Superior orders are no excuse for violating the laws of war, though they may be considered in mitigation of punishment. Each soldier must know what is or is not a war crime, a crime against peace, or a crime against humanity. Killing of civilians is explicitly prohibited, and you will likely face civilians, some of whom may be armed, as they struggle to defend themselves and homes as innocent parties in international disputes. You will be obligated to disobey orders if directed to fire any weapon toward civilians or civilian targets, including communities and their normal infrastructure facilities. You are also prohibited from any kind of mistreatment of civilians or their property. You must disobey any order if you believe that order violates the laws of war. This is an extremely important responsibility, the successful performance of which will build tremendous personal character and assure honorable soldiering. -S. Brian Willson, former Captain, USAF, Vietnam 1969, J.D., LL.D.(Hon.) |
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Veterans Voices Against Gulf War 2www.calltoconscience.netwww.veteransforpeace.org www.vaiw.org www.angelfire.com/jazz/stwb www.vvawai.org www.brianwillson.com www.vvaw.org (VVAW Inc.) traprockpeace.org/depleteduranium.html www.veteransforcommonsense.org
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Without loyal troops there can be no war. We have learned that as soldiers in the oppressor's armies we are just cogs in the wheel of their death machine. But we have also learned that organized resistance within the military can put a massive wrench in this machine. -Stop the War Brigade VVAWAI Germany |
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| Not only will attacking Iraq again not rid the world of weapons of mass destruction or help bring freedom and democracy to Iraq, it will undoubtedly increase the likelihood of more attacks on the U.S. or U.S. citizens, and maybe cause a Middle East regional or worldwide conflagration... I am so glad to have been able to stand in solidarity with the Iraqis in this time of threat. And the rising chorus in the U.S. and around the world gives me hope. We have to say yet more loudly, "George, YOU MUST NOT BOMB THESE PEOPLE!!!" -Ellen Barfield-Vet for Peace who has been in Iraq working on the Water Project and witnessing in Iraq. |
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| ...Bush II wants to send our sons and daughters to fight in Iraq. He will ignore Congress and the UN if he doesn't get his way. He wants war and an Empire. It doesn't stop overseas. Civil liberties are being denied at home with citizens in camps without due process. Instead of protecting its citizens the government is trying to intimidate us. All the while veterans are facing deteriorating care... -Vietnam Veterans Again the War, Inc. from an ad run on Veterans Day |
Keep this in the back of your head: About 3,000 Iraqi children are starving to death each month-outside the view of American heartstrings," Ritter said. "Suppose every month 3,000 Iraqi children were lined up and we threatened to shoot them if Saddam Hussein didn't do what we wanted. Suppose we gave orders for the Marines to shoot them. Well, nothing would happen because Marines don't shoot kids. But that doesn't mean America doesn't kill children. We just starve them to death. -Scott Ritter-ex-Marine and former U.N. arms inspector |
 Bay Area Vet Flys Earth Flag -- No War on the World -- Not In Our Name. |
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| I have concluded that we must unite in a concerted effort to prevent additional suffering. Throughout the history of the world those who make a commitment to peace have endured isolation and retaliation when they challenged the individuals and governments seeking economic and political advantages.
...Today we are reaching another crossroads in history where we must decide which road we follow. We can select peace or go to war. One means life the other means death! The prevalent modus operandi at this time of those seeking power and control is to threaten economic sanctions or military attacks in order to achieve their goals and objectives. This is unacceptable. -Doug Rokke a U.S. Army Major and was head of the Pentagon's Depleted Uranium Project after the 1991 Gulf War |
Although we detest the dictatorial policies of Saddam Hussein and sympathize with the tragic plight of the Iraqi people, we oppose unilateral and pre-emptive U.S. military intervention on the grounds that it would establish a dangerous precedent in the conduct of international affairs, that it could easily lead to an increase of violent regional instability and the spread of a much wider conflict... -Veterans Against the War on Iraq |
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| We've noticed that many of those calling most loudly for war are "chickenhawks" who avoided service n the military. We are veterans who served in the military! With the threat of war looming our nation is facing a crisis. The time for silence is past. It is our duty to dissent. -Veterans For Peace 10/02 |
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