Appeal for Redress (Washington, DC) Photo Gallery by Garrie Rouse at pbase.com

Appeal for Redress (Washington, DC)

On January 16, 2007, active military and Guard personnel carried an appeal to Capitol Hill to deliver to Congressmen Kucinich (Ohio)and McGovern (Mass.) on the steps of the Cannon Office Building. Signed by over 1000 active duty military and Guard personnel (including over 400 officers), the "Appeal for Redress" stated the following ...

"As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, 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. It is time for the U.S. troops to come home."

Sgt. Liam Madden (USMC-Quantico) presented the actual formal appeal to Congressman Kucinich. Petty Officer Joanthan Hutto (USN-Norfolk), co-founder of Appeal for Redress and moderator of the Press Conference held the day before, could not be in attendance in DC as he was on duty. The group was joined by members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), Veterans for Peace (VFP), Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), the Virginia Antiwar Network (VAWN) and others who gave their support. Over 100 additional signatures from active duty personnel have been added to the Appeal following its delivery to Congressman Kucinich and this is likely to grow in the days and months ahead.

An article from Military Times has a good description of events that day. For more information on the Appeal for Redress, go to Appeal for Redress or Veterans for Peace.

Capitol Hill	Spirit of Justice*		Elliott Adams (VFP) and Charlie Richardson (MFSO)
Tom Palumbo (Veterans for Peace)	Veterans for Peace	media (I)	media (II)
Sam Adams (Veterans for Peace)	3rd Marine Division (Vietnam)	Sgt. Liam Madden (USMC-Quantico)	Sgt. Liam Madden (USMC-Quantico)
working tirelessly for peace	GI Rights Hotline	2nd Lt. Kent Gneiting (Army National Guard-CO)	staffer for Kucinich
Congressman McGovern (Mass.)	Congressman McGovern (Mass.)	staffer for Congressman Lewis (D-Georgia)	"Kucinich's plane has just touched down"
Gilda Carbonaro & Charlie Richardson (MFSO)	Charlie Richardson (MFSO)	Gilda Carbonaro (MFSO)*	Kelly Dougherty (IVAW)
Kelly Dougherty (IVAW)*	David Cline (Veterans for Peace)*	2nd Lt. Kent Gneiting (Army National Guard-CO)	Sgt. Jabbar MacGruder (Army National Guard-CA)
media (III)	Congressman Kucinich	delivery of Appeal for Redress	taking questions
MacGruder and Kucinich	Kucinich with MacGruder and Madden	media (IV)	"come to my office after you are through"
Cannon Office Building	Nancy Pelosi's Office	waiting for Nancy

comment |

Guest		19-Mar-2007 20:48
What I find interesting is not what may appear to some, a contradiction of Military Mentality, where current and past service members voice their concerns... it is after all part of the democratic republic we live in and duty of every citizen to speak... Yet what I do find interesting is the assumption that at times is reckless and short sided that all who serve actively, in reserve or as part of the moral backbone of those who actually bleed, feel the same. Simply put, a few moments of demonstration of a few does not imply the points of view of the whole. As well the basis of argument... The time or place of our nation's (and way of life) troops or champions if you prefer a more romantic take, can not be solely determined on traumas and the pounds of flesh traded. It is to be expected that in any conflict "losses" will occur, this included is the faith in our elected representatives of having the personal best interest of the whole in mind. If we lived in an age again where drafts and forced enlistment was the norm, then yes, argue, complain, gripe and add to the doubts... but we don't live in that age. It's all volunteers regardless of how informed or naive. I have a personal problem with the contradictions these demonstrations offer the young. The bigger picture that I see disturbs me because what Iraq in particular embodies, has been part of a ticking time bomb that a dormant volcano can be. And if one thing I can add to contribute to this debate is... Removing yourself is fine, but can you consciously still object knowing that for a different set of the few who have gone voiceless, un-advocated, undermined, ignored and oppressed, did not appreciate those "sacrifices and costs" your protest banners cliche? The women, children, those of opposite views that do welcome the intervention and foresight of American involvement? They do not have the indulgence to risk for the sake of an opinion. They have for far longer, known the sacrifices some Americans feel have been carelessly imposed... but for them these are better known as their lot in life with no concept of hope for change. One can always ask and request politely, then be rejected politely... but can consequence from reactions afterwards not be seen as something brought on to one self? I am one of the reluctant former young that had to grow up and realize it takes costs to achieve goals... as well as a current direct family member of an active service member that felt it was morally wrong not to return to those places these veterans dread. We live one of those many sides and it is not pride or blind faith in our elected representatives that keeps our family involved. It is the mere understanding that not now and there, can turn to when, here... Everything else is just fodder for World History Books and malcontent opportunism can afflict everyone.

Guest		24-Feb-2007 20:51
Thank you for speaking out this way, as members of the military. I have an unspeakable amount of respect for our service members. There is no act more patriotic than to exercise your right, as an American, to speak your voice.

David Dickey		03-Feb-2007 18:50
It is not up to us as military members to speak out in this way. "The man who will go where his colors go, without asking, who will fight a phantom foe in the jungle and mountain range, without counting, and who will suffer and die in the midst of incredible hardship, without complaint, is still what he has always been, from Imperial Rome to sceptered Britain to democratic America. He is the stuff of which legions are made...His pride is in his colors and his regiment, his training hard and thorough and coldly realistic, to fit him for what he must face...and his obedience is to his orders. He has been called United States Marine." T.R. Fehrenbach, This Kind of War Major David Dickey, USMC

Tom Brown		21-Jan-2007 20:58
You are making a difference - slowly the public is beginning to see the mistakes of this administration. Those who have actually been at the forefront are speaking the truth and their word carries 50 times more weight than all the pundits and political leaders put together.

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