 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
DC After Action ReportBy Bill HomasOn Thursday, March 17, Army Iraq vet Zach Choate and Coast Guard vet Ethan Crowell (who served in SE Asia) drove up from Baton Rouge, after Zach had picked Ethan up in Mobile. We took off from Clarksdale. We hammered it in about 16 hours, 955 miles, getting into Washington early into the afternoon. After a few misdirections by our GPS, we pulled into the Harrington Hotel. As soon as we got into a room, it was time to go to the big music-and-briefing meeting at the coffee/internet bar, Busboys and Poets.
I was able to give people an inspiring moment when movement musician and band-leader-for-the-night, Margaret Flowers, brought me to the stage to sing my song, "Blues for Howard" about Howard Zinn, with the band, that had actually practiced it! I assured them that the spirit of my dear comrade Howard was with us all, just as it was in the last communication Howard ever sent me. In that letter, Howard Zinn sent me $1,000 and told me to do what was best with it. I gave it to IVAW toward the WSI in Austin. After some other magical, if rough, musical moments with the band over the duration of the meeting, I finished the show with Sweet Home Chicago (honest, it was on their set list!). Tip o the hat to y'all up in National. In the morning, after a good breakfast served by sympathetic people, it was off to the site, where everyone busied themselves about all the things that are required for a good demonstration. Stage erection, literature ready, PA system there and working on time (as a musician, I'll tell you that one's real important), tables set in place. It is the same in the movement as it is in the music-festival business: the movement culture sustains itself through volunteers and volunteerism. The speeches of Daniel Ellsberg, Chris Hedges, Ralph Nader and probably Ann Wright are all on You Tube now, so I won't summarize them. My remarks, representing VVAW, on the morning of Saturday, March 19, were short, and directed to President Obama.
I noted at the beginning that the President was not currently there and listening, but urged whoever was listening to take notice. I declared that several things having to do with the wars in Afghanistan (and Iraq, whether they will still call it a war or not) were unacceptable. "First, bankrupting our children and grandchildren with the need for ever more deficit spending to cover two wars—economically unacceptable! Militarily overextending US forces for years, to the point that there would not be sufficient forces to bring to bear in the event of attack by a potential real enemy like North Korea—militarily unacceptable! And the creation of more and more combat veterans, maimed in body and mind, in a war that has no real prospect to end—socially and morally unacceptable! Mr. Obama, these started as Bush's wars. They are your wars now, and I can't believe I'm having to say that. Why not bring our troops home and let the country reap the peace dividend of the net difference between logistically supporting two wars, and threatening in other theatres, and bringing the troops lunch on the southern border? I have a suggestion for you: why don't you bring our troops home and station them on the southern border if you want to satisfy both right and left at the same time? If you provide a military mission that honorably defends America, you will never lack for recruits. A US combat role in Afghanistan through at least 2014? Utterly unacceptable! Mr. Obama, the Vietnam Veterans Against the War are back in Washington, as we were in 1971 when the man in the White House was Richard Nixon. We're saying now exactly what we were saying then: Bring 'em home. Bring our brothers home. Bring our brothers and sisters home—NOW." That night, there were IVAW events which raised significant money for Operation Recovery. We got to Quantico Marine Base, south of Washington in Virginia, early Sunday afternoon. Zach Choate was first to speak. The 10th Mountain division turret gunner was given the Purple Heart when he suffered injuries from an IED attack. He resurrected all the ghosts of Operation Dewey Canyon III when he asked, "What does this Constitution mean, when Bradley Manning is being treated like this?" He tossed the pocket copy of the US Constitution to the ground. "What do all these ribbons mean? They're worthless, if he's being treated this way." And with that ripped medals, Combat Action Badge, Unit Commendation and name tag off his dress greens, leaving nothing on the shirt but a "Free Bradley Manning" button. Zach had to really work hard to get through his speech, but he had his brothers standing behind him. This is a young man with a great soul. Among the speakers was David Hames, who, somehow, has been able to see Bradley Manning. This is a spectacular looking and speaking young "computer scientist," as he identified himself. I suggested to him that he was a special person for Bradley Manning, and to keep on being there for him. Eventually, after I had played Taps, Choate, Ellsberg, Wright and several others tried to lay flowers at the Memorial but were denied access. The flowers had to be laid through the fence. Rather significant symbolism, I thought. Eventually, Ellsberg, Wright and 28 others were arrested by the Virginia State Police for sitting down in the road opposite the Memorial. I was honored to have joined Ellsberg in arrest twice now, though my musical role, and my security role, were more important at Quantico. We had to get home, and could not spend the night in a Virginia jail, so we busted ass back for Mississippi, or in Zach Choate's case, Baton Rouge. He oughta be as far south as Jackson now, on the Blues Highway (US 61 runs right from Clarksdale to Baton Rouge). I will be back in Washington DC again. The wars are not going away. Bill Homans is the VVAW contact for Mississippi.
|
