MFSO-Michigan, News/Links

Task Force for a Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq
March 2008, the Task Force for a Responsible Withdrawal from Iraq convened 14 experts on Iraq and the region at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University to answer this charge:

The President has announced that a complete military withdrawal from Iraq will take place over the next 12-18 months. What concrete policy steps can the US government take, immediately and during the withdrawal, to encourage peace and stability in Iraq?

In the course of the March 7 workshop, and in prior and subsequent consultations and literature reviews, we compiled a set of initiatives for meeting US and international responsibilities to Iraq, beginning with an early and expeditious removal of US military forces and bases and their associated private contractors from the country.

BlackCommentator.com - Welcome Home, Soldier: Now Shut Up
There are two kinds of courage in war - physical courage and moral courage. Physical courage is very common on the battlefield. Men and women on both sides risk their lives, place their own bodies in harm’s way. Moral courage, however, is quite rare. According to Chris Hedges, the brilliant New York Times war correspondent who survived wars in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans, “I rarely saw moral courage. Moral courage is harder. It requires the bearer to walk away from the warm embrace of comradeship and denounce the myth of war as a fraud, to name it as an enterprise of death and immorality, to condemn himself, and those around him, as killers. It requires the bearer to become an outcast. There are times when taking a moral stance, perhaps the highest form of patriotism, means facing down the community, even the nation.”

t r u t h o u t | Senate Ratifies Massive War Bill 92-6
The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved $161.8 billion in new funds to continue fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the next year, without timetables for withdrawing combat troops.

Officials - 30, 000 troops heading to Iraq in 2009 - NYTimes.com
The Pentagon is preparing to order roughly 30,000 troops to Iraq early next year in a move that would allow the U.S. to maintain 15 combat brigades in the country through 2009, The Associated Press has learned.

The deployments would replace troops currently there. But the decisions could change depending on whether Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, decides in the fall to further reduce troop levels in Iraq.

Several officials familiar with the deployments spoke on condition of anonymity because the orders have not yet been made public.

t r u t h o u t | It Was Oil, All Along
Oh, no, they told us, Iraq isn’t a war about oil. That’s cynical and simplistic, they said. It’s about terror and al-Qaeda and toppling a dictator and spreading democracy and protecting ourselves from weapons of mass destruction. But one by one, these concocted rationales went up in smoke, fire and ashes. And now the bottom line turns out to be … the bottom line. It is about oil.

Alan Greenspan said so last fall. The former chairman of the Federal Reserve, safely out of office, confessed in his memoir, “Everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil.” He elaborated in an interview with The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward, “If Saddam Hussein had been head of Iraq and there was no oil under those sands, our response to him would not have been as strong as it was in the first Gulf War.”

‘He Should Never Have Gone to Iraq’ | Newsweek Iraq War | Newsweek.com
Pvt. David Dietrich had a history of cognitive problems. He struggled in boot camp at Fort Knox, Ky., striking at least one of his superiors as unfit for the military. Dietrich was so slow at processing new things, some fellow soldiers called him Forrest Gump. His squad leader, Pfc. Matthew Berg, says Dietrich couldn’t hit targets on the rifle range and had trouble retaining information. “He was very strong physically, but mentally he wasn’t really all there,” Berg says. Recruited as a cavalry scout, one of the toughest specialties in the Army, Dietrich seemed to lack the essential skills for the job: concentration, decisiveness and the ability to move around without being noticed. He was sent for psychological evaluations at least twice, yet somehow Dietrich advanced—from Fort Knox to Germany and on to Iraq in November 2006. Eight weeks later, at 21, Dietrich was killed by a sniper while conducting reconnaissance from an abandoned building in Ramadi.

What was a guy like Dietrich doing in the military? At a time when an overstretched Army is sending into combat thousands of soldiers who once would have been considered mentally or physically unfit for duty, his story illuminates the complexities and human cost of the war—and shows how hard it is to find the line between tragic circumstances and military misconduct.

Reporters Say Networks Put Wars on Back Burner - NYTimes.com
Getting a story on the evening news isn’t easy for any correspondent. And for reporters in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is especially hard, according to Lara Logan, the chief foreign correspondent for CBS News. So she has devised a solution when she is talking to the network.

Military Update: Disabled soldier returning to war, facing ‘stop loss’ / HanfordSentinel.com Opinion
One day last August, while manning the .50-caliber gun atop his a Humvee on a dirt road in northern Iraq, Army Spc. Daniel “Joey” Haun suddenly lost consciousness. His vehicle had struck a buried bomb, an “improvised explosive device.” Haun was ejected, his vehicle flipped over.

On impact with the ground, Haun’s left hand was driven up toward his forearm, crushing his wrist. The surgeon who rebuilt the wrist, using a metal plate and screws, told Haun last year that his infantry days were over.

The blast also blew out Haun’s right ear drum, which required surgery to partially restore his hearing. That surgeon warned him to avoid sustained exposure to any loud noises or risk having to wear a hearing aid.

As to head injuries, a neurologist diagnosed the 24-year-old with post concussive syndrome and mild traumatic brain injury, the likely cause of his daily headaches since the attack. Finally, a psychologist urged Haun to get counseling for his post-traumatic stress symptoms or they could devolve into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a more debilitating condition. So while recuperating in a wounded warrior unit at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Haun regularly saw a psychologist. He takes the drug Tramadol for his migraine headaches and Elavil, an anti-depressant, to ease his stress.

Adding to Haun’s stress is this surprising news: he’s returning to Iraq.

Check with peace groups in your area to see about events where you may have the opportunity to help staff tables or booths in order to spread the word about MFSO and reach potential new members. Email us with information, and we can help publicize and recruit MFSO members and friends to be there with you.

Does your local farmers’ market offer table space for nonprofit groups? Find out and we will help you publicize your presence.

July 4th parades are around the corner and also provide opportunities to reach out and participate. Who better fit to march than military family members! When are parades in your area? Let us know!

For those in the Washtenaw/Livingston County areas, email mfso.michigan@gmail.com if you are interested in more information about:
MFSO members Marching with Veterans for Peace and Michigan Peaceworks in the July 4th parade in Ann Arbor
Staffing a booth with VFP members at the Ann Arbor Art Fairs on July 18-19
Staffing a table at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival with VFP August 15-17. While the VFP booth at the Art Fair is a “for sure”, we will have a display at the Heritage Festival only if we can obtain a few volunteers to sign up before the booth deadline of late-June.
Other announcements of potential interest to help you network with others
(with thanks to Bob K, VFP93, Utah Phillips Chapter for many links):

Daily - Ann Arbor Liberty Street Vigil
Until the war ends, residents will demonstrate and give out information from 5-6pm, weekdays, at the post office/Federal Bldg., corner of 5th & Liberty, downtown Ann Arbor.

Every Sunday – Chelsea Peace Vigil
Peace vigil at the Chelsea post office. 12noon until 1pm. For more information visit www.canopas.org.

Every Wednesday–Lenawee Peace Vigil
12:15 pm in front of the Lenawee County Courthouse in Adrian Sponsored by Lenawee Peacemakers www.lenaweepeacemakers.org/

Women In Black Marches (Detroit area)
Second Saturday of every month, everyone welcome (men, women, children). Please wear black. (MFSO sells some terrific black T-shirts!) Look for VFP flags and banners for the VFP contingent. You can view upcoming “Women in Black - Detroit” events at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WIB-Detroit.

Grand Rapids–Women in Black Vigils
Federal Building on Michigan Ave. in Grand Rapids on the 1st Friday of each month from noon-1:00 p.m. and on the 3rd Friday of each month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. In keeping with the WIB practice these are silent vigils. Men, women and children welcome. Wear black. To join and receive regular alerts email bhansen@grdominicans.org or leave a message with telephone and email info at 774-0843.

West Michigan Peace and Justice Coalition
For information http://www.wmjpc.org/

Monthly meetings, Traverse City–VFP Chapter 50 (northern lower Michigan)
Benzie, Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Antrim, Crawford, Otsego, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Cheboygan counties. www.vfp50.org
Meetings: Monthly meetings are held at Horizon Books, 243 E. Front Street, Traverse City on the third Saturday at 10:00 a.m. downstairs.
(MFSO members are welcome at VFP meetings!)
re you a military veteran who cares about peace? If you are not a veteran but would like to get involved in the peace process, we welcome you as an associate member. Our goal is to make the world a better place for everyone by promoting peace worldwide.

Straits Area Concerned Citizens for Peace and Justice Northern (Lower) Michigan
Information http://straitspeace.org/upcoming.html

Upper Peninsula Folks (Hi, Eunice and others!):
Please let us know what peace groups and actions are happening. It is hard to find that info on the internet at times, but we know the Yoopers are active and creative people. (Deb goes to Isle Royale every year and takes classes at MTU. The UP is a great place with terrific people!)

American Veterans and Service Members Survival Guide
Bobby Mueller of Veterans for America has announced an online book, The American Veterans And Service Members Survival Guide. It is available at http://www.veterans foramerica. org/survival- guide as a free download. It will eventually have 28 chapters and will be consistently updated. This is big news for anyone having to deal with the hellish red tape currently involved in obtaining post-war medical care. It is designed to help ensure that postwar veterans get the help they need and prevent suicides.

Vets4Vets Outreach
A southeast Michigan “Vets4Vets” group has been formed, with the main purpose being outreach to Iraq-era vets by Iraq-era vets though a “vets talk – vets listen” process. Also, there are “Vets4Vets4Women” groups to deal with the problems of women in the military. For more information on the Michigan Vets4Vets group, e-mail DetroitMI@vets4vets.us. For information about the national Vets4Vets program, e-mail info@vets4vets.us or call 520/318-1909.

GI Rights Hotline
If you know someone in the military who is seeking a discharge due to a hardship, conscientious objection, homosexual conduct, medical, or psychological problems, or is in the delayed entry program, has not reported for boot camp, and wants out of the military, contact the GI Rights Hotline at http://girights.objector.org or calling them at 800/394-9544.

Opt Out Forms–Truth in Recruiting
For parents and students who would choose this option, the best site to obtain a form prohibiting a high school to give student contact information to recruiters is www.leavemychildalone.org. Simply enter a zip code and the work is almost done

From Michigan Peace Network in case any of you have interest….Please note this is not an MFSO-sponsored event.

Greater Lansing Network Against War and Injustice
ACTION NAME: Billboard Campaign on the Cost of War

DATES: 6-18-2008 through 10-31-2008

DESCRIPTION: ONE DAY OF THE IRAQ WAR = $720,000,000
How would you spend it?

Lansing area Billboard Campaign on the Cost of War in Iraq, asking people to think about how they would rather spend $720 million a day:

For more detailed information on the Cost of War campaign, visit the American Friends Service Committee web site: http://www.afsc.org.

For a photo of a billboard and a link to a PDF file with answers to frequently asked questions about the billboard campaign in the Lansing area, go to the Greater Lansing Network Against War & Injustice (GLNAWI) web site: http://www.glnawi.org.

You can pledge a donation for billboards for July, August & September. That donation would only be collected if we reach the “tipping point” of $1,138 for each billboard series of five. An additional $1,138 would continue the current campaign, five billboards around Lansing, for another month. There’s more information on The Point web site: http://www.thepoint.com. Or you can donate by check. See the address below.

To contribute directly to the billboard and media campaign in the Lansing area, check the GLNAWI web site for a form and instructions: http://www.glnawi.org.

Or you can send a check to:
GLNAWI, 855 Grove Street, East Lansing, MI 48823.

In the memo line, write “BILLBOARDS”.

“There have already been two rounds of Lansing-area billboards with information on the cost of war. Please help us continue this effort to spread the word on the cost of war.”

URGENT: Call the DC offices of Sens. Levin and Stabenow on Monday morning (June 23), identify yourself as member of Military Families Speak Out, and ask them to vote NO on the emergency supplemental appropriations bill facing a quick vote in the Senate after its approval in the House on Thursday. Funding the war is killing our troops! Although the funding for the new GI Bill and flood relief are included, there are other ways these worthwhile programs can be funded short of committing our loved ones in uniform at a minimum of one year of continued deployments and violence without any pressure on the candidates or on Congress to end the war. The amount already appropriated to the Dept of Defense is adequate to meet the needs of our troops for immediate care and safe redeployment. To fund a more generous supplemental “emergency” appropriation at even greater levels than even President Bush requested is a reckless political maneuver designed to keep the war “off the radar” of the electorate during the coming months. Every day means more potential troop deaths, separated families, and grave wounds of body and spirit.

Sen. Levin
Phone: (202) 224-6221
Fax: (202) 224-1388

Sen. Stabenow
Phone: (202) 224-4822
Fax: (202) 228-0325

DATES: 6-18-2008 through 10-31-2008

ORGANIZATION: Greater Lansing Network Against War and Injustice

DESCRIPTION: ONE DAY OF THE IRAQ WAR = $720,000,000
How would you spend it?

Lansing area Billboard Campaign on the Cost of War in Iraq, asking people to think about how they would rather spend $720 million a day:

For more detailed information on the Cost of War campaign, visit the American Friends Service Committee web site.

For a photo of a billboard and a link to a PDF file with answers to frequently asked questions about the billboard campaign in the Lansing area, go to the Greater Lansing Network Against War & Injustice (GLNAWI) web site.

You can pledge a donation for billboards for July, August & September. That donation would only be collected if we reach the “tipping point” of $1,138 for each billboard series of five. An additional $1,138 would continue the current campaign, five billboards around Lansing, for another month. There’s more information on The Point web site. Or you can donate by check. See the address below.

To contribute directly to the billboard and media campaign in the Lansing area, check the GLNAWI web site for a form and instructions.

Or you can send a check to:
GLNAWI, 855 Grove Street, East Lansing, MI 48823.

In the memo line, write “BILLBOARDS”.

There have already been two rounds of Lansing-area billboards with information on the cost of war. Please help us continue this effort to spread the word on the cost of war.

Resources for Soldiers and Vets . NOW on PBS
information for active-duty soldiers, war veterans, and their families on traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and substance abuse. Also included is a list of legal groups and organizations offering services to military families.

Dingell Statement on Emergency Supplemental

Washington, DC - Tonight, the House of Representatives passed an emergency supplemental bill that will fund our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan through spring 2009, provide a new GI bill for our veterans and give aid to unemployed workers. The bill includes $183.9 billion in outstanding requests from President Bush and $2.65 billion added for disaster relief in the aftermath of the devastating tornadoes and floods that hit the Midwest. Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following statement on the bill:

Click here for the text of his statement

Paul Rieckhoff: Major Victory for Vets: Bush Withdraws Veto Threat Over New GI Bill - Politics on The Huffington Post
For anyone following the fight for a new GI Bill, progress seemed to slow to a crawl recently. After the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed the veterans’ education benefit as a part of the war funding supplemental, reconciling their two versions of the legislation faced serious and unexpected roadblocks. And even if Congress got the GI Bill to the President, the threat of a Bush veto was always looming.

Last night, all that changed. A critical agreement has been reached between leadership in the House of Representatives and the White House on the fate of the war funding bill.

GI Bill 2008 - Home
More than 1.5 million men and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, many are coming home and finding it difficult, if not impossible, to pay for college. Help open the doors to higher education for America’s newest generation of veterans. Join us in our fight for a new GI Bill in 2008.

Give an Hour is a nonprofit group providing free mental health services to servicemen and servicewomen. Please visit the home page at:
Give an Hour - Home

Reuters : Bearing Witness

Bearing Witness
5 Years of Reporting War in Iraq
A unique multimedia essay from Reuters
Visit www.reuters.com/iraq

Through five years of war, a team of 100 Reuters correspondents, photographers, cameramen and support staff have strived to deliver news to the world from Iraq - the most dangerous country for the press. These are their personal stories, bearing witness through half a decade of conflict which has taken the lives of 127 journalists, including seven Reuters staff.

- Testimony from journalists who have witnessed each phase of the conflict
- Rich visual timeline charting the major events and turning points
- Interactive maps and graphs following the key trends
- Live news from Iraq and links to related resources online

Visit www.reuters.com/iraq

”

VETS IN FREE AND PANEL DISCUSSION ON OPENING NIGHT

The highly anticipated new film BODY OF WAR opened at the Michigan Theater Friday, June 20 at 7:00 pm for a weeklong run. This intimate documentary is the transformational story of Tomas Young, a 25-year-old Iraq War veteran who was paralyzed from a bullet to the spine after serving less than a week.

BODY OF WAR is his coming home story as he evolves into a new person, dealing with his disability and discovering his own unique and passionate perspective on the war. The film was produced and directed by Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro and features two new original songs by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.

The opening night event will include FREE admission for US veterans and a post-screening panel discussion featuring Retired Army Major Phillip Estes, Lila Lipscomb of the film FAHRENHEIT 9/11, Deb Regal Coller from Military Families Speak Out, and Bob Krzewinski of Veterans for Peace.

The opening night was presented by Michigan Peaceworks, Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace and the Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice.

This is a moving and important film, please take the opportunity to see it.

“They Used Pat for Public Consumption, Just Like Jessica Lynch”: An Interview with Mary Tillman | War on Iraq | AlterNet
After the Sept. 11 attacks, football star Pat Tillman left a multimillion-dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals to join the Army Rangers, wanting to go fight Al-Qaeda. When the former NFL safety was killed in Afghanistan in April 2004, Army officials told his family he died in an enemy ambush. Five weeks later, after Tillman was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, and after Army officials at a nationally televised memorial had told a story of him charging up a hill in pursuit of enemy insurgents, the Army reported that, in fact, Tillman had been shot three times in the head by “friendly fire.”

Since discovering that Tillman was killed by friendly fire, his family, led by his mother, Mary, and his brother, Kevin, who served with him in the Army, has been trying to find who was responsible for covering up what happened in Pat’s death. After seven investigations, two Congressional hearings, and support from politicians ranging from Democratic California Rep. Mike Honda to Republican presidential candidate John McCain to retired general Wesley Clark, Mary Tillman says no one has been held accountable.

Revealed: Secret plan to keep Iraq under US control - Middle East, World - The Independent
A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November.

IVAW member Matthis Chiroux announces his refusal to deploy to Iraq
By Brian Kelly on May 15th, 2008

From Iraq Veterans Against the War:

“Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, who served in the Army until being honorably
discharged last summer after over four years of service in
Afghanistan, Japan, Europe and the Phillipines, today publicly
announced his intention to refuse orders to deploy to Iraq.

Sgt. Chiroux made his announcement in the Cannon House Office
Building Rotunda after members of Iraq Veterans Against the War
testified before the Congressional Progressive Caucus during Winter
Soldier on the Hill.
Sgt. Chiroux made the following statement to the press:

Good afternoon. My name is Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, and I served in the
Army as a Photojournalist until being honorably discharged last
summer after over four years of service in Afghanistan, Japan, Europe
and the Phillipines. As an Army journalist whose job it was to
collect and filter servicemember’s stories, I heard many stomach-
churning testimonies of the horrors and crimes taking place in Iraq.
For fear of retaliation from the military, I failed to report these
crimes, but never again will I allow fear to silence me. Never again
will I fail to stand.

In February, I received a letter from the Army ordering my return to
active duty, for the purpose of mobilization for Operation Iraqi
Freedom.

Thanks in great part to the truths of war being fearlessly spoken by
my fellow IVAW members, I stand before you today with the strength,
clarity and resolve to declare to the military and the world that
this Soldier will not be deploying to Iraq.

This occupation is unconstitutional and illegal and I hereby lawfully
refuse to participate as I will surely be a party to war crimes.
Furthermore, deployment in support of illegal war violates all of my
core values as a human being, but in keeping with those values, I
choose to remain in the United States to defend myself from charges
brought by the Army if they so wish to pursue them. I refuse to
participate in the occupation of Iraq.

To donate to IVAW’s Legal Fund to support Matthis and other
servicemembers who are refusing to support the occupation of Iraq,
use our online donation form and select “Legal Fund” under special
projects.

If you would like to send a message of support to Sgt Matthis
Chiroux, email thankyoumatthis@ivaw.org.”

Heal the Warrior, Heal the Country: Breaking the cycle of war making by Edward Tick
Breaking the cycle of war making: our country will not find peace until we take responsibility for our wars.

Guilt, shame, slaughter without purpose, alienation from homeland and life itself—this was the legacy that Günter passed on to his son Walt from his World War II combat service in Hitler’s Wehrmacht. Walt, “the only child born in freedom,” was born in the United States shortly after his parents emigrated here from Germany. Growing up in the Cold War 1950s, Walt longed to be an all-American boy, but was always the Indian to his friends’ cowboys and the “Kraut” to their G.I. Joes.

Truthdig - Reports - Stopping the War Machine: Military Recruiters Must Be Confronted
As a former United States Marine Corps sergeant who was shot and paralyzed from my mid-chest down during my second tour of duty in Vietnam on Jan. 20, 1968, I am sending my complete support and admiration to all those now involved in the courageous struggle to stop military recruitment in Berkeley and across the country.

Written by a fellow grieving mother.
Lila
(Gold Star Mom, MFSO-Michigan)

Please Don’t Be Afraid To Say His Name

Please don’t be afraid to say his name. He lived and was important to us. We need to hear his name.

If we cry and get emotional talking about him, please understand it isn’t because of something you said or did. The fact that our child has died caused our tears. They are part of our healing.

Please don’t devalue our child’s life by removing his pictures or other remembrances from your home.

We will have our emotional high and lows, ups and downs. Please don’t think that if we have a good day, our grief is over, or if we have a bad day we need to see a psychiatrist.

The death of a child is different from other losses. It is the ultimate tragedy, not to be compared with the loss of a parent, spouse, or pet. Being a bereaved parent is not contagious, so please don’t shy away from us. We need you.

Depression, anger, frustration, hopelessness, questioning of values and beliefs are to be expected following the death of a child.
Allow us to feel these emotions without feeling guilty.

Don’t expect our grief to be over in six months. We will never be cured or formerly bereaved parents, but will forevermore miss and grieve our child.

If we are not publicly hysterical, please do not even consider that we are strong or doing well. Our minds and hearts are very likely screaming, and it is only a matter of time before we have to escape the public eye and retreat to our privacy to cry and scream.

Please send us a note saying you’re thinking of us or praying for us. We draw on your support and strength. Although we aren’t feeling sociable, your cards are important to us.

Understand our physical reactions to grief. We may gain or lose weight, sleep all the time, or none at all.

Birthdays and holidays are difficult times. Please tell us you are thinking of our child on these days and share your memories with us.

Avoid comments like “Get on with your life, you’ll feel better” or “if you keep busy, you wont think about him.” We want to think about him.

Denial is much less painful than the reality that is our terror. Don’t suggest anti-depressants. We’re not depressed, we’re sad. There is a big difference. The only way to get through the grief is to experience it.

Understand that grief changes people. We are not the same people we were before our child died. We are forever changed. Try to get to know the new us; maybe you will still like us.

Be patient with us.

When in doubt of how to act around us, just ask.

The letter that MFSO Las Vegas chapter leader April Medlin delivered to Sen. Harry Reid in person today. After betraying our troops and our families he saw fit to attend an event to make up care packages for the troops. I guess this is what he feels helps him sleep at night. April gave him the letter in person and he opened it and read it and then folded it up and put it in his pocket!!!!

May 24, 2008

Dear Senator Reid:

Earlier this week you made a last minute deal with Senate Republicans to rush through legislation that will fund the war in Iraq well into 2009. You led the Senate by facilitating a vote to keep our loved ones in harm’s way for another year.

We are more than five years into a war that you yourself have said should never have begun. Over 4,000 U.S. troops and, by some estimates, over a million Iraqi children, women, and men have died in this unjustifiable war. Countless more have sustained devastating life long injuries to their bodies, minds, and spirits. More are killed and wounded every day. The suicide rate among active duty and returned Veterans is skyrocketing. We simply can’t wait until next
year for a new President to begin a process for ending this war.

Senator Reid you have chosen to wheel and deal with the lives of our
loved ones for political gain. Will you be able to look us in the face as our loved ones die between now and next spring? Will you be able to hold your head high and tell us it was for a just cause? Please do not step over the flag draped caskets of our loved ones to win a political game.

We urge you to do the right thing and change the course; Bring Our Troops Home NOW. Do not let this war continue to devastate the lives of our families and our loved ones.

Sincerely,

April Medlin
Chapter Leader
Military Families Speak Out Nevada

How do you deal with loss when you’re a 20 year old widow? A moving slideshow JS Online: Slideshow: Remembering Ricky

The text for this slideshow is located here.

Home
“When you arrive in the war zone, that uniform stands for destruction and chaos and death and so to come back and take that symbol,

that piece, to destroy it, to create something new out of it and make a positive thing from that uniform, it’s got that feeling that you’re moving on from that and stepping onto a new path.”

- Eli Wright, Medic, 10th Mtn. Div., Ft. Drum

US Army’s “Stop-Loss” Orders Up Dramatically Over Last Year
The number of soldiers forced to remain in the Army involuntarily under the military’s controversial “stop-loss” program has risen sharply since the Pentagon extended combat tours last year, officials said Thursday.

DoD: 43,000 unfit troops sent to war - Marine Corps News, news from Iraq - Marine Corps Times
More than 43,000 U.S. troops listed as medically unfit for combat in the weeks before their scheduled deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2003 were sent anyway, Pentagon records show.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2008
4:24 PM

CONTACT: Military Families Speak Out (MFSO)
Sean Donahue, 617-983-0710, press@mfso.org
Nancy Lessin, 617-320-5301, mfso@mfso.org

WASHINGTON, DC - May 7 - With the House of Representatives preparing to take up legislation that would fund the continuation of the war in Iraq well into 2009, Military Families Speak Out issued the following statement calling on Members of Congress to reject the House Leadership’s strategy supporting the continuation of the war in Iraq.

As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prepares to implement a strategy that will fund the Iraq war through 2008 and into the first term of the next president, Military Families Speak Out members across the country and on military bases around the world are outraged at this massive betrayal of our loved ones, all of our troops, our families, this nation and the people of . This strategy is designed to allow Congress to avoid a potentially embarrassing vote in the weeks and months leading up to the election in November, and to prevent a new president from having to ask for war funding in his/her first months in office. It is a cruel maneuver being done on the backs, bodies, and spirits of our troops.

The pain that continuing the war will cause military families, our loved ones, and the people of is incalculable. Military and Gold Star families know the real cost of this war. We know that more than 4,000 U.S. troops and over one million Iraqi children, women, and men have already died in a war that should never have happened — and every day this war continues, more will be killed and more will sustain devastating, life-long physical and psychological injuries. We know that many of our troops are on their third, fourth, fifth and now sixth deployments; and that being sent into combat again and again takes a severe toll on their bodies and their minds. As a result, suicide rates among troops returning from are sky-rocketing — with the Director of the National Institute for Mental Health recently suggesting that suicide may be claiming the lives of more troops serving in and returning from than enemy fire. The lives at stake and the lives that have already been sacrificed are the lives of our sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives. They are our hearts.

We are angered at this betrayal by Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues who took control of Congress on a promise to end the war in . We are sick and tired of Congress members who tell us how much they hate this war and then turn around and continue to fund it.

Speaker Pelosi and other Congressional leaders want to sweeten this deadly pill of the war funding by adding money to help more Veterans go to college and toothless provisions calling for a timetable for troop withdrawals that they know President Bush will veto or use signing statements to ignore. None of that changes the fact that a vote for this bill is a vote to continue funding an illegal, immoral, unjust and unjustifiable war.

Military Families Speak Out calls on Members of Congress to reject the House Leadership’s strategy, oppose any bill that provides funding to continue the war in Iraq, and to support full funding for the safe and swift return of U.S. troops to their home duty stations, and for the care they need when they get home. We remind all in Congress that funding this war is not “funding our troops” – it is killing our troops. Members of Military Families Speak Out are available for interview — including families with loved ones currently serving in Iraq, families whose loved ones have died as a result of this war, families of troops who have suffered physical and psychological injuries, and families of those awaiting deployment or re-deployment.

Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) is a national organization of almost 4,000 families who are opposed to the war in and have loved ones who serve or have served in the military since the fall of 2002. Gold Star Families Speak Out is a national chapter of MFSO with families whose loved ones died as a result of the war.

For more information about Military Families Speak Out, please visit www.mfso.org ; for more information about the chapter Gold Star Families Speak Out see www.gsfso.org