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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(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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