[The following is an abridged version of a statement issued September 27 by the national office of the US Vietnam Veterans Against the War. For the full version visit the VVAW web site at <http://www.vvaw.org>.]
The terrorist attacks on September 11 horrified and outraged people throughout this country and the world.
After the initial shock and disbelief wore off, angry voices began calling for retaliation and revenge. The president declared war against international terrorism and Congress quickly voted to give the White House unrestricted authority to respond. But who was responsible? Who are we going to war with?
Government spokesman quickly pointed the finger at the Al Qaeda network and its leader, Osama bin Laden, living in Afghanistan. The president demanded that the Afghani government surrender bin Laden and his lieutenants or face attack while the Pentagon began deploying troops, aircraft and ships to the region. Events are moving quickly and directly toward major US military action against Afghanistan.
It is time we take a look at the road our government is taking us down. Will war bring those responsible for these criminal acts to justice? Can massive military action protect us from further attacks?
We agree with Congresswoman Barbara Lee that "military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States". The use of massive military power will only escalate the cycle of violence, spreading death and destruction to more innocent people with no end in sight.
We are an organisation of veterans of the armed forces of this country. We have been to war and have seen what military power can and cannot accomplish. We know what war does to those who fight it and those who live where it is fought. We hear our government loudly pledge support for our servicemen and women as they are sent into battle but have seen it turn its back on many when they returned, suffering physical and mental wounds, from the Vietnam and Gulf wars.
We do not believe that militarism and war will provide justice or security and oppose major US military intervention in Afghanistan or other countries.
On a more fundamental level, our country has to address the reasons behind the violence that has now come to our shores. The seeds of this anger and hatred were sown over many years.
For over a century, Western corporations have dominated the Middle East to profit from its oil. For the last 50 years, the United States has supported Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands and helped prop up corrupt regimes in some Arab countries. The continued American troop presence in Saudi Arabia and the suffering of the Iraqi people under economic sanctions has added to this resentment.
As long as US foreign policy continues to be based on corporate exploitation and military domination, we will continue to make more enemies in the poor, underdeveloped countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. We can achieve enduring security and lasting peace only through domestic and foreign policies based on social and economic justice. That will come about only when the American people demand it.