14 July 2009<\/p>\n
To: Iraq Veterans Against the War Members\/Board of Directors\/Executive Director<\/p>\n
In light of recent events (e.g., IVAW\u2019s tacit support of the ideology of Carl Webb and the actions of Matthis Chiroux), it is with a heavy heart that I have to admit to losing faith in IVAW\u2019s leadership therefore effective immediately I am resigning my membership from IVAW. I find it more than a little ironic that I am seeing the same failure in leadership here that I have seen in the very military that IVAW is attacking wholesale now.
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\nIVAW has, for all intents and purposes, abandoned its mission. I joined and supported IVAW to end an unjust and unnecessary war in Iraq. I did not join IVAW to support the social and political agendas of persons whose priorities are neither ending the war in Iraq nor protecting our soldiers from being used by our government unnecessarily.<\/p>\n
I cannot help but believe that my continued membership in IVAW would make me complicit in an organization that is supporting the rants of a radical who calls for the killing of U.S. soldiers. IVAW\u2019s failure to condemn this position is not only at odds with the values of a veterans\u2019 organization, but is also completely at odds with the values of a PEACE organization. Moreover, I cannot reconcile the glaring hypocrisy of IVAW\u2019s tolerance of one members call for violence while simultaneously condemning the government for resorting to it.<\/p>\n
In short, I have to be true to myself as an ACTUAL Iraq veteran (unlike Webb and Chiroux) who opposes the war in Iraq. I also have to be true to my fellow brothers and sisters who are still deployed in that warzone. In so doing, I cannot, in good conscience, maintain my association with IVAW. I am deeply saddened by the fact that I believe IVAW has not only failed me as a member, but it has also failed the hundreds of thousands of servicemembers who served (and continue to serve) in this unjust war by allowing itself to lose sight of its original purpose. I hope IVAW asks itself for whom and for what it is truly advocating and why because I can assure you that many of your original and core members cannot answer that question with any certainty today.<\/p>\n
SSG Jeffrey C. Peskoff (Ret.)<\/p>\n
Iraq War Veteran<\/p>\n
US Army<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
So, I gave the IVAW a chance to boot Carl Webb from the organization several weeks back and they didn’t take advantage of the opportunity, now they lose another member – one of the people who had actually gone to the war and lent them a bit of his credibility. They are quickly becoming nothing more than the Veterans For Peace – a bunch of people who were in the military during the time of war, but never went to the war. They’re going to have to change their name to Iraq Evaders Against the War since, aside from a few, that’s all they’re going to have left.<\/p>\n
It’s going to be a cold, dark affair in College Park, Maryland next month at the IVAW convention. Those of you real veterans who had planned on taking the organization back from the International Socialist Movement are going to have a tougher job ahead of you with the dwindling real veteran membership.<\/p>\n
But, buck up! Carl Webb tells me he’ll be there – he knows where all of the free meals are;<\/p>\n
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