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.

He says

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.

Chiroux deserves our full support for his courageous and principled opposition to an illegal and unjust war.

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The Winter Soldier testimony by Iraq Veterans Against the War starts today at 7pm EDT in D.C.

How to watch.

KPFA and WarComesHome will have streaming audio. Streaming video will be provided by IVAW using QuickTime. On-demand video will be via Flash. It will also be on satellite Free Speech TV on Mar 14-15 9am-9pm

Thursday, March 13 Streaming video only
7:00PM-9:00PM Winter Soldier and the legacy of GI Resistance

Friday, March 14 Satellite TV, internet video, internet audio, radio
9:00AM – 10:45AM Rules of Engagement: Part One
11:00AM – 12:30PM The Crisis in Veterans’ Heathcare
2:00PM - 3:30PM Corporate Pillaging and Military Contractors
4:00PM - 6:00PM Rules of Engagement: Part Two
7:00PM - 8:30PM Aims of the Global War on Terror: the Political, Legal, and Economic Context of Iraq and Afghanistan

Saturday, March 15 Satellite TV, internet video, internet audio, radio
9:00AM – 10:30AM Divide To Conquer: Gender and Sexuality in the Military
11:00AM - 1:00PM Racism and War: the Dehumanization of the Enemy: Part One
2:00PM - 3:30PM Racism and War: the Dehumanization of the Enemy: Part Two
4:00PM - 6PM Civilian Testimony: The Cost of War in Iraq and Afghanistan
7:00PM - 8:30PM The Cost of the War at Home

Sunday, March 16 Internet video, internet audio, radio
10:00AM - 1:00PM The Breakdown of the Military
2:00PM - 3:15PM The Future of GI Resistance

This looks like it has been superbly organized and should get serious mainstream media exposure.

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Iraq Veterans Against the War has the schedule for their upcoming Winter Soldier online now. The entire three day event from Mar 13-16 will be available live on the net via video or audio, and archived as well.

IVAW appears to be extremely well-organized, the schedule for Winter Soldier is comprehensive and well thought out. It should get major attention from mainstream media.

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Iraq Veterans Against the War just released an eighteen minute video to build for their upcoming Winter Soldier testimony in D.C. March 13-16. This is powerful stuff, with testimonials from soldiers who were there. “I was lied to.”

In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

In 1971, a courageous group of veterans exposed the criminal nature of the Vietnam War in an event called Winter Soldier. Once again, we will demand that the voices of veterans are heard.

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Iraq Veterans Against the War will hold Winter Soldiers in D.C. on March 13-16, 2008 to give testimony about atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan and the military policies that led to them.

From their website.

Winter Soldiers, according to founding father Thomas Paine, are those who stand up for the soul of their country, even in its darkest hours. With this spirit in mind, IVAW members are standing up to make their experiences available to all who are concerned about the direction of our country.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time America has needed its Winter Soldiers, in 1971, over one hundred members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. The members of VVAW knew differently.

Over three days in January, these soldiers testified on the systematic brutality they had seen visited upon the people of Vietnam.

Over thirty years later, we find ourselves faced with a new war. But the lies are the same. Once again, American troops are sinking into an increasingly bloody occupation. Once again, war crimes in places like Haditha, Fallujah, and Abu Ghraib have turned the public against the war. Once again, politicians and generals are blaming “a few bad apples” instead of examining the military policies that have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan.

Once again, our country needs Winter Soldiers.

Like the Vietnam Veterans who came before them, whose opposition to the war signaled and triggered a major turning point in public sentiment against the war, Iraq Veterans Against the War will convince people the traditional left can’t hope to reach.

Stop the war. Support Winter Soldiers.

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All kinds, regardless of politics.

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Garett Reppenhagen, board member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, left this comment yesterday to our post on the antiwar movement.

Thank you to all the organizations that are assisting the Iraq Veterans and GI Resistance who are opposing this war. All of our mentors and friends from the peace movement will be needed to help educate and guide the next generation as we step into the role as leaders of the movement. We at IVAW feel we have a unique role and a link to the majority of Americans who are against this war, but thus far have been silent in their opposition. Hopefully by granting us this opportunity we can experiment with new strategies and focus on specific messages. IVAW does not wish to divide the movement, we still would love your support and cooperation. Help hold a spot light to the truth of the occupation of Iraq and help us hold our government accountable.

A more broadly-based antiwar movement is the next big step. If we want to attract and bring into the movement people of all politics, then the focus needs to change. An antiwar rally with 90 minutes of speeches denouncing imperialism plus ten speakers talking about unrelated causes ain’t gonna cut it if you want to attract Middle America. But someone talking about how they served in Iraq and why the war needs to end might well get their attention.

Some of them might define themselves as right wing patriots who are appalled by the war. Great, bring them into the movement. Remember Scott Ritter, the UN weapons inspector turned war critic? He defines himself as a conservative ex-Marine who was proud to serve and bases much of his criticism of the war on the egregious violations of the Constitution. Someone like him can reach and convince people that lefties couldn’t get in the door with. And vice versa, of course.

So, let’s take the antiwar movement to the next level.

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(IVAW protest. NYC)

Winter Soldiers, according to founding father Thomas Paine, are those who stand up for the soul of their country, even in its darkest hours. With this spirit in mind, IVAW members are standing up to make their experiences available to all who are concerned about the direction of our country.

Iraq Veterans Against the War is planning Winter Soldier as an “appropriately momentous show of resistance” in D.C. on March 13-16, the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War.

They have asked other groups to not have any antiwar activities in DC in that period. Cindy Sheehan, the ANSWER Coalition, and others had planned a mass march and rally on the 15th, but those plans have now been canceled. (Hark, is that the sound of a circular firing squad echoing in the distance?)

If the majority of the populace opposes the war yet mass protests get smaller, then other tactics are needed. It occurs to me that the Vietnam protests were effective because a) they were a new idea, b) tended to be huge and thus got major attention (which is the whole point, right?) but now that such actions have become ritualized and routine, they get much less attention.

An Open Letter to the Anti-War Movement From Iraq Veterans Against the War.

We have been inspired by the tremendous support that the movement has shown us and we believe the success of Winter Soldier will ultimately depend on the support of our allies and the hard work of our members. Because Winter Soldier will provide a unique venue for those who experienced war on the ground to expose the truth and consequences of the “War on Terror” to the nation and the world, we are requesting that, from March 13-16, the larger anti-war movement call no national mobilizations and that there be no local protests or civil disobedience actions in Washington, DC.

We are thankful for your enduring support of IVAW and Winter Soldier. Let us all continue to think strategically and act in a spirit of cooperation.

In solidarity,
Iraq Veterans Against the War
IVAW Board of Directors

It’s always been a bit of an uneasy alliance, the antiwar left and IVAW, many of whom are not “antiwar” but do oppose this particular war and the current direction of the country.

Hunter Thompson once wrote about a protest where Vietnam Veterans Against the War were doing civil disobedience. Things were getting extremely tense. He said, you could see it in the cop’s eyes, they did not want to have to wade in and start clubbing vets in wheelchairs. The actions of VVAW signaled a huge shift in public opinion against the war. IVAW is doing the same. Winter Soldier deserves complete support.

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