[A-List] Active-duty Service Members: An Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq

["Yoshie Furuhashi" <critical.montages@xxxxxxxxx>]

An Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq
<http://www.appealforredress.org/>

<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6874417>
Military Personnel Present Iraq Petition at Capitol
Listen to this story... by David Welna

All Things Considered, January 16, 2007

Active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces visit Capitol Hill to
present more than 1,000 signatures demanding that lawmakers cut off
funding for the Iraq war. They say that most of the people who signed
the Appeal for Redress have served in Iraq, while others expect to be
sent there. Two House Democrats received the petition and promised to
urge the entire House to consider it.

One of those presenting the petition was Marine Sgt. Liam Madden, 22,
who, two years, ago did combat duty in Iraq's turbulent Anbar
province. Madden dressed in a civilian coat and tie in a chilling wind
outside the Capitol to formally present the 1,028 appeals for redress
from other active-duty forces — 60 percent of them fellow Iraq
veterans.

"We will not tolerate the rhetoric that we must support the troops by
funding a war that puts them in harm's way," Madden said. "If you are
funding a war that puts them in harm's way, you are not supporting
them. You are endangering their lives for a war that cannot be
justified, has not been justified and will not work."

The actual text of the Appeal for Redress reads, "I respectfully urge
my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of
all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will
not work and is not worth the price."

California Army National Guard Sgt. Jabbar Magruder, 24, who also
fought two years ago in Iraq, visited the Capitol along with Madden.
He too, dressed in civilian clothes. He said he had not told his
commander about the appeal he signed.

Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich, a longtime opponent of the war and also
a presidential contender, received the documents.

"The action taken here by individual service members is an appeal for
redress to end the war in Iraq," Kucinich said. "As you know, these
troops have risked their careers to deliver this message to Congress."

None of the three active-duty servicemembers who were at the Capitol
Hill event reported any reprisals from military superiors.
Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern promised them Congress will act on
their demands.
--
Yoshie
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