VFW backs vet in trouble over protest (Adam Kokesh, etc)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - The nation's largest combat veterans group on Friday urged the military to "exercise a little common sense" and call off its investigation of a group of Iraq war veterans who wore their uniforms during anti-war protests.

"Trying to hush up and punish fellow Americans for exercising the same democratic right we're trying to instill in Iraq is not what we're all about," said Gary Kurpius, national commander of the 2.4 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"Someone in the Marine Corps needs to exercise a little common sense and put an end to this matter before it turns into a circus," Kurpius said.

Marine Cpl. Adam Kokesh had already received an honorable discharge from active duty before he was photographed in March wearing fatigues — with military insignia removed — during a mock patrol with other veterans protesting the Iraq war.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070602/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/military_protest_hearing_15

[rosesaylavee]

1. Was he part of Operation First Casualty?

video link here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x32432

Would like to help him, but don't know how. Glad the VFW has stepped up to defend him.

[maddezmom]

2. here's a link to his blog

http://kokesh.blogspot.com/

[unhappycamper]

3. Thanks for the link to his blog. n/t

[FtWayneBlue]

4. Donations to couragetoresist would be helpful

http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/

and planning and/or attending a rally in support of these anti-war soldiers.

[rosesaylavee]

5. Thank you

Do you know if they ever stage events in Chicago?

[ptolle]

7. more than glad, more than surprised

This is, if the VFW is sincere and firm in their support, a damn good deal. However you view the organization they do carry considerable weight in any discussion involving the military and the military role in foreign policy. Unfortunately, my experience with them upon returning from a walking tour of the sun and fun capitol of southeast Asia some years ago was not the most cordial.This whole situation is most excellent.One could hope it opens the gates to a full on investigation of all the aspects of privatizing that god awful mess, the VA and everything else.

[rosesaylavee]

10. Agreed.

Their interest shines a bright light on the whole thing as they are considered pretty mainstream, middle of the road. Maybe some of the Nam vets are leading the way on this?

[hvn_nbr_2]

6. Holy crap! I'm amazed.

The VFW's other name is "Warmongers R us." When they're defending any anti-war person in any way for any thing against the military industrial complex, something is shifting.

[Peace Patriot]

9. You're right. I was thinking the same thing. This is rather amazing coming from

the VFW. They, too, can read the opinion polls. (--wish Bush and Congress could*).

-----------------------

*In defense of sniping at our Democratic Party leadership, their biggest crime against us--against we the 70% of the American people who oppose the Iraq War and want it ended--was rather under the radar (by design) back in October 2002. Along with the Iraq War Resolution, and with big Democratic leader support, they passed the "Help America Vote for Bush Act" of 2002, by which our election system was converted from ballots that you can actually count, to electronic voting, run on "TRADE SECRET," PROPRIETARY programming code, owned and controlled by rightwing Bushite corporations, with virtually no audit/recount controls. Thus, the Democrats in Congress now lack a sufficient majority to end the war, because they didn't really want a sufficient majority. If they did, they would have spoken out strongly against, and done everything they could to change, non-transparent, Bushite control of our election results. Simple as that. I can forgive--or at least understand--how some Democrats got trapped into voting for the war. I cannot forgive--or understand--their support for this EGREGIOUSLY anti-democratic vote counting system.

Back in Feb. 2003, just before the invasion of Iraq, 56% of Americans opposed the Iraq War. That number has now grown to over 70%. I believe that it was to defeat this great, peace-minded, progressive American majority, that non-transparent electronic voting was introduced and spread like a cancer throughout the land during the 2002 to 2004 period. They knew a majority was against it. They knew that that majority would only get bigger, as this illegal, unjust, heinous war unfolded.

And now, even the VFW--even the VFW!--is opposing harassment of anti-war protesters who have served in the military. That sense of fairness--or at least common sense--is characteristic of the majority of Americans. And fairness and common sense have been defeated by "black box" voting.

[Itchinjim]

8. After what they did to Tammy Duckworth...

these guys are going to have to do more than this to redeem themselves in my eyes. But hey, it's a start.