Costs of War: Soldiers and Veterans
Lies in the Recruitment Process
According to the New York Times, nearly one of five United States Army recruiters was under investigation in 2004 for offenses varying from "threats and coercion to false promises that applicants would not be sent to Iraq." One veteran recruiter told a reporter for the Albany Times Union, "I've been recruiting for years, and I don't know one recruiter who wasn't dishonest about it. I did it myself."
PTSD
Over two million service members have been to the wars and returned since 2001. Recovery from the trauma of military training and service is not automatic. There are estimates that 20% of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Child abuse has been three times higher in homes from which a parent is deployed, for example, and police and courts are dealing with skyrocketing partner abuse rates, which are up 177 percent in Army families since 2003.The Veterans Administration estimates that 300,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Unemployment rates have been two percentage points higher among war veterans than civilians.
To join Veterans for Peace, or to sign up for VFP e-News, go to: https://www.veteransforpeace.org
Western North Carolina Website: www.vfp099.org / Facebook: Veterans for Peace
Western North Carolina Chapter 099 Email: president@vfp099.org
Mailing address: VFP Chapter 099, PO Box 1024, Asheville NC 28802
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Handout for WNC Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 on January 31, 2023
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Handout for WNC Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 vigil on January 24, 2023
From VFP eNews: Call for End to U.S. Blockade of Cuba
The Golden Rule anti-nuclear sailboat, crewed by U.S. veterans and friends, has successfully completed a historic voyage to Cuba. The 34-foot wooden ketch, which in 1958 was sailed toward the Marshall Islands to interfere with U.S. nuclear testing, is owned by Veterans For Peace, and carries out an important part of VFP’s mission, “to end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons.”
Five crew, including several members of Veterans For Peace, sailed the Golden Rule from Key West, Florida, and, after 22 hours at sea, arrived at Havana’s Marina Hemingway on December 31, just in time to celebrate New Year’s and the 62nd anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. The Golden Rule was sailed to Havana under a General License issued by the U.S. Treasury Department that allows U.S. residents to travel to Cuba for educational and people-to-people purposes.
The Golden Rule crew was joined by seven others who flew into Havana to participate in a weeklong educational program. The Proximity Cuba tour agency organized an arts and culture program that highlighted many facets of the rich and diverse Cuban culture, including Afro-Cuban music and dance. The Golden Rule delegation also held a well-attended press conference that was featured on the top of the Cuban TV news and in other Latin American media.
To join Veterans for Peace, or to sign up for VFP e-News, go to: https://www.veteransforpeace.org
Western North Carolina Website: www.vfp099.org / Facebook: Veterans for Peace
Western North Carolina Chapter 099 Email: president@vfp099.org
Mailing address: VFP Chapter 099, PO Box 1024, Asheville NC 28802
Monday, January 23, 2023
Letter to the Editor by WNC Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 member
Published in the Mountain Xpress.
Our understanding is that he has been working with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce to follow up the recent establishment of the Pratt & Whitney plant with a full-fledged aerospace industrial park.
In this day and age, the aerospace industry is an integral part of the military-industrial complex, heavily fueling the climate emergency and making enormous profits from the business of war.
Reject Raytheon AVL finds these plans completely antithetical to the idea of working toward a peaceful, just and sustainable future for our children and grandchildren. It is this that we want to discuss with Mr. Cecil. This was our third attempt to have a meeting with him about it.
In our letter, we listed the following nine principles we have formulated for local land use devoted to economic development in Western North Carolina:
1. Commit to just, equitable and sustainable development that prioritizes the needs of communities of color and other historically marginalized and disenfranchised people.
2. Mitigate the climate emergency.
3. Protect the Earth by exceeding the state environmental protections regarding water, air and soil quality, and maintaining green spaces.
4. Oppose recruitment of and investment in war or fossil fuel corporations.
5. Invest public money equitably in local and regional businesses, not multinational corporations.
6. Generate jobs with a living wage that guarantee workers’ right to organize.
7. Focus on essential community needs, such as deeply affordable housing, health care, education, social services, infrastructure and renewable energy.
8. Hold new industries accountable to the community by requiring contributions to essential community needs in exchange for tax incentives.
9. Make no secret deals — engage the public in meaningful and transparent decision making from the very beginning of the economic development process.
Once again, we have received no response from Mr. Cecil. It is time
for a wider community discussion about this. If interested in having
this discussion, please contact rejectraytheonavl@protonmail.
— Ken Jones
Swannanoa
Editor’s note: Xpress reached out to Jack Cecil with a summary of the letter writer’s points but did not receive a response.
Friday, January 20, 2023
Letter to the Editor from WNC Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 member
Published in the Smoky Mountain News.
VA — the best care anywhere!
To the Editor: To crib part of a title from Phillip Longman’s book — “Best Care Anywhere: Why VA Health Care Would Work Better for Everyone” — this describes my recent experience at the VA Medical Center in Asheville.
I woke up Wednesday morning, Nov. 16, with intense stomach pain. At 2:30 a.m., I went to the local emergency room. A CT scan revealed that I had gall stones and needed surgery.
After a rough weekend, I called the Asheville VA on Monday morning. That afternoon a VA surgeon called me and scheduled an appointment for Tuesday morning. I completed pre-op that day, and Thursday morning, the 24th, I was on the operating table. The procedure was completed via laparoscopic surgery and I was discharged that day. My recovery has been quick and smooth. I needed pain medication for less than a week. I returned for a follow-up appointment on Dec. 6 and I was cleared to return to normal activity in a week.
I couldn’t be any happier with the care I received from the VA. The personnel there responded immediately to my call, and everything was handled efficiently, promptly, and with real concern. This is the kind of care all Americans should receive. I went to the local emergency room because it was the middle of the night, and the VA is about a half-hour drive for us. Had I gone to the VA emergency room, I am certain the surgery would have been scheduled even sooner.
Rather than attempting to privatize the VA healthcare system, which will be a great disservice to those who have answered the call to duty, Congress should be seeing it as a model for healthcare for all Americans. Numerous studies clearly show that VA care is equal to and often better than private care, is more cost effective, and offers an integrated, holistic approach as opposed to the costly, fragmented, and inefficient private sector, which leaves so many Americans poorly served, if not served at all. If you support veterans and want to do something concrete to show that support, instead of thanking us for our service, go to the website Save Our VA / Veterans For Peace and join our campaign to stop the privatization of the VA healthcare system.
Bruce Carruthers
Waynesville
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Handout for WNC Veterans for Peace vigil on January 17, 2023
Direct Action to Stop the War Machine:
Want to take bold nonviolent action to stop the war machine? Join Veterans for Peace for a two-hour workshop on organizing creative and dynamic direct actions to meaningfully challenge the war machine and create space for a more just and peaceful future.
This workshop is the first in a series of workshops on creative direct action. During this workshop we’ll cover the fundamentals of direct action including strategic uses of direct action, assessing and preparing for risks, working together as part of an action team, and using actions to amplify our message.
This workshop is free and open to VFP members, allies, and anyone interested in taking direct action to stop the war machine. To register, go to: www.veteransforpeace.org
Date is January 22nd, 3pm (ET), 2pm (CT), 1pm (MT), 12pm (PT).
To join Veterans for Peace, or to sign up for VFP e-News, go to: https://www.veteransforpeace.org
Western North Carolina Website: www.vfp099.org / Facebook: Veterans for Peace
Western North Carolina Chapter 099
Email: president@vfp099.org
Mailing address: VFP Chapter 099, PO Box 1024, Asheville NC 28802
Monday, January 16, 2023
Upcoming event on January 17, 2023
SAY NO TO U.S. WARS!
TUES. JAN 17, 4:30 – 5:30
PACK SQUARE, ASHEVILLE
STOP ENDLESS WARS AGAINST
IRAQ, SYRIA, SOMALIA, PALESTINE
NO WAR AGAINST RUSSIA!
NO WAR AGAINST CHINA!
MONEY FOR HUMAN NEEDS – NOT FOR WAR
CALLED BY THE UNITED NATIONAL ANTIWAR COALITION AND THE WNC CHAPTER OF VETERANS FOR PEACE, CHAPTER 099
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
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Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Handout for WNC Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 on January 3, 2023
The Christmas Truce
The Christmas Truce occurred on and around Christmas Day 1914.
At the first light of dawn on Christmas Day, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied lines across no-man's-land, calling out "Merry Christmas" in their enemies' native tongues. At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang carols and songs.
Every year, Veterans For Peace celebrates the anniversary of the Christmas Truce. Once again, we urge our leaders to follow the example set by the Christmas Truce soldiers who rejected militarism and the glorification of war. We call on all leaders to honor all those who have died in war by working for peace and the prevention of war.
To join Veterans for Peace, or to sign up for VFP e-News, go to: https://www.veteransforpeace.org
Western North Carolina Website: www.vfp099.org / Facebook: Veterans for Peace
Western North Carolina Chapter 099
Email: president@vfp099.org
Mailing address: VFP Chapter 099, PO Box 1024, Asheville NC 28802