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Help IVAW reach 2,000 signatures for Operation Recovery
Veterans Today recently published two notices related to Iraq Veterans Against the War’s (IVAW’s) plan to kick off Operation Recovery their campaign to defend GIs’ and veterans’ right to heal.
Military Families join Operation Recovery: Stop the Deployment of Traumatized Troops.
Sign the Petition for Operation Recovery – STOP deploying injured troops!
Thus far, in only about a week IVAW has managed to get 1,650 supporters to sign the Iraq Veterans Against the War’s Pledge to support Operation Recovery.
IVAW needs just 350 more signatures to meet their goal of 2,000 by October 7.
Posted by Robert L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired, GS-14, U.S. Civil Service-Retired, Veterans Issues Editor, Veterans Today News Network
Just six days from now, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) will travel to Washington, DC to publicly announce Operation Recovery: Stop the Deployment of Traumatized Troops campaign. On that day, October 7, this nation will enter its tenth year of war in Afghanistan — marking ten years of untold suffering for the Afghan people and silent pain for our troops.
With their Operation Recovery Campaign, IVAW will bring to light the private stories of trauma that an overwhelming number of veterans and GIs are coping with as they are sent again and again to continue these wars. And we will hold those responsible for deploying traumatized troops accountable.
Will you help?
If you have not already signed the pledge, you can do so now, by clicking here.
Mental Health problems among our military are overwhelming
Published medical studies in 2008 and 2010 estimate that 20-50% of all service members deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan have likely suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In real numbers this means 350,000 to 900,000 are dealing with PTSD.
And a recent Army Times article states, “At least one in six service members is on some form of psychiatric drug. And many troops are taking more than one kind, mixing several pills in daily “cocktails” – for example, an antidepressant with an antipsychotic to prevent nightmares, plus an anti-epileptic to reduce headaches…” It further cites that the Department of Defense spending on psychiatric drugs used by the active duty military has risen by 75% since 2001.
These numbers provide an outline of the picture of today’s American military and what it must do to continue the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan indefinitely. But next week in Washington, real veterans will be present to tell their personal stories and put a human face on the trauma they and thousands of others endure.
Knowing that 2,000 people like you are standing with them will mean a lot.
Sign the Campaign Pledge today.
If you have already signed the Pledge, please spread the word to your friends, family, and colleagues.
We can’t do this without you. Make a gift today to support the important work of this campaign.
In Solidarity,
The Campaign Team
Iraq Veterans Against the War is a 501(c)(3) charity,
and welcomes your tax deductible contributions
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=52491
Posted by Robert L. Hanafin on Oct 1 2010, With 0 Reads, Filed under Peace, Support the Troops. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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I wish them all the luck in the world fighting Washington! I, and most Vets I know, have been doing that for decades – some with minor success – Let’s hope this new breed of Veteran’s remember us old folks from older Wars. Most of us are still fighting too.
Certainly, a march on Washington DC is never a bad idea! Let’s hope more will take up the banners again and do the same! I’ll bring my walker – let’s go!
An old Vet still fighting for the benefits I earned and deserve!
“Let’s hope this new breed of Veteran’s remember us old folks from older Wars. Most of us are still fighting too.”
Well said Rilla,
In fact, if it were not for Veteran’s from earlier wars (Vietnam and the Gulf War) this new breed of young Vets would not be able to do what they do.
That said Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is but one organization of younger Vets there are others such as Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW) who also have been encouraged by older Veterans to organize in their own interests.
Simple put IVAW is a clone of Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), while Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW) are a clone of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). Not sure but one could say Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) tends to lean (or swing) between Democrat and Republican party views.
What makes IVAW different is that their views are twofold (1) Question and oppose the continued occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, then (2) Fight for the rights of active duty troops no longer needed by the war machine against the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The other youngster may question the wars to some degree but mainly in implementation or operations NOT the moral or ethical aspects of war. They do not oppose the wars for fear of losing membership. To focus exclusively on Veterans rights and benefits BTW is a good thing, and they are getting better at it.
However, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) in coordination with Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) yep they are still around, and Veterans of Peace (VFP) feel that (1) ending the wars cuts down on the number of Veterans, especially wounded Veterans wars produce, that (2) It is impractical to focus exclusively on Veterans Rights and Benefits with the idea being that ensuring those that already exists are taken care of when WE continue creating more Veterans and more Wounded Warriors.
Ending the wars is the first step to diverting funds (even if they are on loan from China) to caring for those who did the fighting and dying so the rest of us could well GO SHOPPING or CONTINUE SHOPPING.
Bobby Hanafin
The Mustang Major
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