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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Adam Kokesh: (505) 470-1917
James Gilligan: (267) 506-1495

Iraq Veterans Against the War Commence 'Operation Not Change'

WASHINGTON

WHAT: Press Conference.

Iraq Veterans Against the War Commence "OPERATION NOT CHANGE"

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans begin a tower-guard vigil across from
the White House. The towers will be manned 24 hours a day March 19th
to March 21st, Saturday. (All are welcome to come speak to the vets on
post and ask questions about their deployments.)

WHEN: 10:00 A.M. Thursday, March 19th

WHERE: Constitution Avenue between 15th and 17th Streets, North of the
Washington Monument

WHY: To protest President Obama's deceptions about his foreign policy
and mark the sixth year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

WHO:

Adam Kokesh: (505) 470-1917 adam.kokesh@gmail.com. IVAW
board member
who served in Fallujah with a Marine Corps Civil Affairs team.
"Relabeling the remaining forces in Iraq 'non-combat troops' will not
change the fact that these occupations are being perpetuated to
maintain a criminal empire."

James Circello: (419) 905-8305. ANSWER organizer, former Airborne
soldier, Iraq veteran, and Afghanistan war resister. "President Bush
would often boast that, under his watch, the United States hadn't been
attacked since September 11, but the working class has been attacked
every day since."

James Gilligan: (267) 506-1495 gilligan007@gmail.com, Served
with the
USMC in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo. "The backlash of the
actions by both administrations, of pursuing the enemy outside of the
combat regions will only spread the violence further.

Bryan Casler: (315) 877-3420 bryancasler@rochesterivaw.org.
Deployed
three times in his four years with the United States Marine Corps as
an Infantry man, including a tour to Kabul, Afghanistan. "No matter
how Obama spins a surge into Afghanistan, it's still a criminal
occupation and we don't want it."

Tracey Harmon: (808) 292-0525 tracey.harmon@gmail.com
Conscientious
Objector, served six years in the US Army Reserves.

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) was founded by Iraq war veterans in July 2004 at the annual convention of Veterans for Peace (VFP) in Boston to give a voice to the large number of active duty service people and veterans who are against this war, but are under various pressures to remain silent. From its inception, IVAW has called for: Immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq; Reparations for the human and structural damages Iraq has suffered, and stopping the corporate pillaging of Iraq so that their people can control their own lives and future; and Full benefits, adequate healthcare (including mental health), and other supports for returning servicemen and women. As of 5/2021, the IVAW website is offline.