From the National Office of Vietnam Veterans Against the War,
Inc.:
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
The terrorist attacks on September 11 horrified and outraged people
throughout this country and the world. Within hours, the World Trade
Center's twin towers and part of the Pentagon lay in flaming ruins
with many
thousands injured, missing or killed. Firefighters, EMS workers, police
and
ordinary citizens mounted a heroic rescue effort but sadly, the death
toll
is now approaching 7000.
After the initial shock and disbelief wore off, angry voices began calling
for retaliation and revenge. The President declared war against
international terrorism and Congress quickly voted to give the White
House
unrestricted authority to respond. But who was responsible? Who are
we going
to war with?
Government spokesman quickly pointed the finger at the Al Qaeda network
and
its leader, Osama bin Laden, living in Afghanistan. The President demanded
that the Afghani government surrender bin Laden and his lieutenants
or face
attack while the Pentagon began deploying troops, aircraft and ships
to the
region.
Events are moving quickly and directly toward major US military action
against Afghanistan. It is time we take a look at the road our government
is
taking us down. Will war bring those responsible for these criminal
acts to
justice? Can massive military action protect us from further attacks?
We agree with Congresswoman Barbara Lee that "military action will not
prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United
States".
The use of massive military power will only escalate the cycle of violence,
spreading death and destruction to more innocent people with no end
in
sight.
Afghanistan has already been destroyed by 20 years of foreign occupation,
civil war and religious repression. Both the British and Soviet armies
failed to conquer that country. We see many parallels between Vietnam
and
Afghanistan but the lessons we should have learned from the war in
Vietnam
are being ignored today.
We are an organization of veterans of the armed forces of this country.
We
have been to war and have seen what military power can and cannot
accomplish. We know what war does to those who fight it and those who
live
where it is fought. We hear our government loudly pledge support for
our
servicemen and women as they are sent into battle but have seen it
turn its
back on many when they returned, suffering physical and mental wounds,
from
the Vietnam and Gulf wars.
We speak out of duty to our country and the world, solidarity with those
serving in the military and love of our families and friends when wetake
this stand:
*We condemn the criminal attacks of September 11 and demand that those
responsible be held accountable and brought to justice.
*We mourn for the victims and offer our heartfelt sorrow and sympathy
to the
families and friends of those we lost.
*We condemn bigotry and violence against Arabs, Muslims and immigrants
which
threaten these communities because of their race, nationality and religion.
*We oppose efforts to curtail our basic civil liberties and democratic
rights and must defend the Constitution from those who are undermining
it.
*We do not believe that militarism and war will provide justice or security
and oppose major US military intervention in Afghanistan or other countries.
On a more fundamental level, our country has to address the reasons
behind
the violence that has now come to our shores. The seeds of this anger
and
hatred were sown over many years.
For over a century, Western corporations have dominated the Middle East
to
profit from its oil. For the last 50 years, the United States has supported
Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands and helped prop up corrupt
regimes
in some Arab countries The continued American troop presence in Saudi
Arabia
and the suffering of the Iraqi people under economic sanctions has
added to
this resentment.
As long as US foreign policy continues to be based on corporate exploitation
and military domination, we will continue to make more enemies in the
poor,
underdeveloped countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. We can
achieve
enduring security and lasting people only through domestic and foreign
policies based on social and economic justice. That will come about
only
when the American people demand it.