03.13.08
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Kelly Dougherty, the former sergeant who is the executive director of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), announced the start today of the Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan investigation into the US conduct of its wars, featuring testimony of IVAW soldiers. Dougherty promised that “Winter Soldier is the first event in an ongoing public awareness and outreach effort by IVAW. No longer will public debate on the Global War on Terror be framed solely by politicians and pundits. IVAW will use the ongoing Winter Soldier project to spread awareness of G.I. resistance among veterans and active duty troops and build strategic alliances … to broaden and strengthen our strategy to end the Iraq occupation.” The Winter Soldiers at IVAW are not relying on the mainstream media; “every minute of testimony, will be broadcast live and will be available to watch in an online on-demand library,” said Dougherty. In addition, “There are hundreds of viewing events planned around the world where people will gather to watch testimony.” Pro-war groups, including the Gathering of Eagles and Move America Forward, are protesting IVAW’s Winter Soldier hearings.
