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Iraq Veterans Return to Iraq for Humanitarian Aid

By Geoff Millard

In 2011, two members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) will return to Iraq on a humanitarian aid mission. IVAW will sponsor a shipment of much needed medical supplies that Geoff Millard and Hart Viges and Iraqi Heath Now (IHN) will accompany to Basra, Iraq. The trip will be lead by Haider Alsaedy, an Iraqi from Basra, co-founder of IHN and a camera person from Big Noise Films which will be with us to ensure full documentation.

IVAW recognizes that the war in Iraq is not over despite another presidential declaration of victory and that our obligation to the people of Iraq does not end when the last US service member leaves Iraq. We are bound by international law and common decency to ensure that the damage done during our occupation is repaired so the people of Iraq can have a chance at true self-determination. For IVAW this means payment of reparations by our government to the people of Iraq and rebuilding the Iraqi infrastructure on the American dime. What this does not mean is sympathy payments or contracts to US corporations that will only further the US economic occupation presently developing in Iraq, which is exemplified by US pressure for an oil law.

For many of us who served in Iraq, the process of reparations is not merely a dry political battle in the halls of congress; it is a deeply personal journey that begins with the realization that what we did was wrong, moves to acts that are ending the war and finally looks down a very long road of redeeming ourselves trying to rebuild Iraq. For us, saying "I'm sorry" does not cut it. It is truly possible that nothing we ever do will make up for the wrongs that we have done. This overwhelming weight should not lead us to inaction. We must try to find meaningful action that will help make Iraq whole again one small act at a time.

Iraqi Heath Now has been working for years to take those small meaningful steps. They provided aid when the bombs were still dropping overhead. They have proven that they are not in this for personal fame or fortune. That is why IVAW's reparations committee has chosen to work with IHN on funding and accompanying a shipment back to Iraq. The shipment will be of goods directly requested from the Iraqi people and donated by people in the US, 100% of donations (material and monetary) will go to the Iraqi people.

It is our sincere hope that this trip will lead to many trips for American veterans to return to Iraq and do work rebuilding as part of a reparations and reconciliation plan. To be involved in planning of future trips email TJ Buonomo via reparations@ivaw.org; to donate to IVAW's reparation fund place reparations fund in the special projects line on the donate page of ivaw.org or in the memo line on checks sent to IVAW.

Geoff Millard, Iraq veteran, has served as the Chair of the Board and DC Chapter President for IVAW. He has visited with Iraqi refugees and worked in Iraqi refugee camps in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iran since his return from Iraq in 2005. He is now working as the Director of a Homeless Veterans policy Initiative in Washington, DC.