A Military Parent Against the War
March 19th, 2008 Posted in Campaign BlogA Military Parent Against the War, for Michael Brennan
A Message on the 5th Anniversary of the War in Iraq
“The suffering of the Iraqi people is tearing their country apart, and the first step in ending that suffering is complete withdrawal of American troops.” From the “Winter Soldier” hearings, March 2008
Dear Fellow Maine citizen,
On this fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the War is uppermost in my mind. This past weekend I attended “Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan – Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupation,” a series of hearings organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War. Our son Perry, who was raised on Peaks Island here in Maine and served eight months as a medic in Afghanistan before becoming a conscientious objector, was Testimonial Team Leader.
As the veterans testified one after another, the damning details mounted, of the impossible situations they faced in an immoral and illegal occupation in Iraq. Soldiers described beginning their deployment with the training and intention to follow the Rules of Engagement printed on the card they carried in a pocket, stating that a target must be determined to be enemy military before being attacked.
But over time, when you’ve seen your buddies killed in front of you; when you’ve been under a constant barrage of mortar fire; when your own leaders motivate with putdowns, punishment and humiliation; when you can’t determine the mission or the source of threats; when all Iraqis are presumed to be hostile; and when you’re bored and you have weapons, you have, as one soldier put it, “a perfect recipe for producing violence against civilians and noncombatants, and for inflaming tension on both sides.”
Veterans also testified about the health costs and the neglect they experienced as wounded trauma survivors lost in a bureaucratic maze. Military families spoke of the devastating loss of their sons and daughters to combat or its after effects. Female soldiers, and a few male, shared stories of sexual harassment and rape, and the failure of units to take these charges seriously. The hearings also presented testimony by soldiers, scholars and investigative reporters examining the broader context, from racism to war profiteering. More information is available at ivaw.org.
One of my actions in response to Winter Soldier is to send this letter in support of Michael Brennan for Congress. I believe he offers the best approach to resolving the quagmire in Iraq. Here’s why I’m convinced:
- Michael has been opposing the War since before it began, with words and actions. In 2006, he organized Legislators Against the War, seeking to influence Maine’s delegation to vote to end U.S. military involvement in Iraq. His 7-point plan was developed in April 2007.
- Michael understands that the U.S. presence in Iraq is not just a war, but an ongoing occupation. We must commit to withdrawal not just of combat troops, but also of military contractors. We must commit to no permanent military bases, and to truly return Iraq to the Iraqis.
- As a social worker, Michael understands the psychological and emotional as well as physical cost of trauma, and the scope and urgency of the need for treatment and support of wounded veterans.
- Michael understands that this is not just about Iraq. He has clearly called for a new direction for American foreign policy based on the values of peace, diplomacy, and human rights.
With our support, Michael can be part of the Congress that begins the cleanup of this disastrous mistake and the pursuit of international and domestic policies that are rational, ethical, and just.
Thank you,
Annie O’Brien
Peaks Island, Maine
Member, Military Families Speak Out
