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Washington, D.C. -- Contrary to General Petraeus's testimony,
members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) attest that the major
destabilizing force in Iraq is the ongoing U.S. occupation. What's
more, U.S. troops are being commanded to perform acts that directly
violate their moral codes and the rules of war, making a positive
outcome exceedingly difficult to achieve.
Less than one month ago, over 100 veterans and active-duty soldiers
who served in Iraq and Afghanistan shared their eyewitness accounts of
the occupations at Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan. Their
testimony illustrated how the ongoing occupation of Iraq is resulting
in the dehumanization and abuse of the Iraqi people, the
destabilization and breakdown of the U.S. military, and the emotional
and physical injury and damage to thousands of U.S. troops. Testifiers
gave firsthand accounts of being ordered to raid the homes of innocent
Iraqis, physically and psychologically abuse Iraqi prisoners, and
indiscriminately shoot at civilians.
"Petraeus continues to repeat the administration's talking points
while ignoring what the soldiers on the ground know: the Iraq
occupation is not working," said Kelly Dougherty, a former Military
Police Sergeant in Iraq and Executive Director of IVAW.
Iraq Veterans Against the War was founded in 2004 to give those who
have served in the military since September 11, 2001 a way to come
together and speak out against an unjust, illegal and unwinnable
occupation. Today, IVAW has over 1,000 members in 48 states,
Washington, D.C. and Canada and on military bases overseas. To view
the public testimonies mentioned above, visit http://ivaw.org
CONTACT: Francesca Lo Basso, 215-498-3347, media@ivaw.org
Members of IVAW are in attendance at the Petraeus hearings and can
be reached for comments by e-mailing geoff@ivaw.org or calling the
number above.
members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) attest that the major
destabilizing force in Iraq is the ongoing U.S. occupation. What's
more, U.S. troops are being commanded to perform acts that directly
violate their moral codes and the rules of war, making a positive
outcome exceedingly difficult to achieve.
Less than one month ago, over 100 veterans and active-duty soldiers
who served in Iraq and Afghanistan shared their eyewitness accounts of
the occupations at Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan. Their
testimony illustrated how the ongoing occupation of Iraq is resulting
in the dehumanization and abuse of the Iraqi people, the
destabilization and breakdown of the U.S. military, and the emotional
and physical injury and damage to thousands of U.S. troops. Testifiers
gave firsthand accounts of being ordered to raid the homes of innocent
Iraqis, physically and psychologically abuse Iraqi prisoners, and
indiscriminately shoot at civilians.
"Petraeus continues to repeat the administration's talking points
while ignoring what the soldiers on the ground know: the Iraq
occupation is not working," said Kelly Dougherty, a former Military
Police Sergeant in Iraq and Executive Director of IVAW.
Iraq Veterans Against the War was founded in 2004 to give those who
have served in the military since September 11, 2001 a way to come
together and speak out against an unjust, illegal and unwinnable
occupation. Today, IVAW has over 1,000 members in 48 states,
Washington, D.C. and Canada and on military bases overseas. To view
the public testimonies mentioned above, visit http://ivaw.org
CONTACT: Francesca Lo Basso, 215-498-3347, media@ivaw.org
Members of IVAW are in attendance at the Petraeus hearings and can
be reached for comments by e-mailing geoff@ivaw.org or calling the
number above.
| PRESS RELEASE FROM IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR APRIL 8, 2008 |
TROOPS ON THE GROUND REPORT, SAY
IRAQ VETERANS ATTENDING HEARINGS
IRAQ VETERANS ATTENDING HEARINGS