From Ed Flaherty:

What Country Is This?

• The poorest Arab country in the world.
  
• The most populous country on the Arabian Peninsula.
  
• More than 70 health-care facilities have been destroyed by Saudi bombs.
  
• Twenty million of its people face starvation.
  
• Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have launched air and ground assaults on the population in the northern part of the country, using planes, missiles, bombs and guns made in the U.S.
  
• The U.S. is actively involved in the attacks by providing intelligence and mid-air refueling to the Saudi coalition.
  
• The U.S. is engaged in direct military action there, using drones and Special Forces, often killing civilians.
  
• The UN has declared that this country is in the midst of the worst humanitarian disaster in the world, with armed conflict being the cause.

The question of "what country is this" is easy to answer — YEMEN.
More ... www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1471338/yemen-nation-danger

A more difficult question is "why is the U.S. engaged in war there." And why have so few of our elected members of Congress taken steps to stop it?

Now comes Senate Joint Resolution #54: A joint resolution to direct the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress.
The above resolution was introduced on February 28th in the US Senate by Sanders(I), Lee(R), & Murphy(D). A Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Houthi rebels and civilians for the past 3 years, with bombs, planes, missiles and guns supplied by U.S. The U.S. provides mid-air refueling and intelligence. There is no authorization for U.S. involvement in that war. Medical facilities have been destroyed, 8 million close to starvation. The UN says, "the conflict in Yemen has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world."

Please call senators Ernst (202 224-3254) and Grassley (202 224-3744) and tell them to support S J Res #54.
... Or compose a message for this issue with FCNL assist

• Co-sponsored Iowa Peace Initiatives Conference in Dubuque, Sept, 2010
  
• Group coffee with Matthew Hoh, veteran of Marines and State Dept, Nov, 2010
  
• Organized Armistice Day Observance at Old Capitol 2010,2011,2012, 2013, 2014, with meal and open mike afterwards for all VFP in Iowa and the public
  
• Organized Iraq War Vigil. Des Moines 2011, Iowa City 2012
  
• Organized Afghan War Vigil: Iowa City & Clinton,2011; Iowa City , 2012, 2013, 2014
  
• Numerous letters to the editor from the group on Iraq, Afghanistan, Cost of war,drones,etc.
  
• Numerous visits to elementary & secondary school classrooms
  
• Numerous visits with church groups
  
• Numerous lobbying efforts at US Senate offices and offices of US House of Rep.
  
• Co-sponsorship of month-long exhibit, Windows & Mirrors, at Coralville Public Library, Sept,2012
  
• Coordination of visit of Kathy Kelly, 3-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, to Windows & Mirrors
  
• Organized & co-sponsored James Zogby (pres of Arab American Institute),in IC,CR,CF,&DM, 2011
  
• Sponsored USS Liberty events in June, 2012, featuring former Congressman Paul Findley and three survivors of the 1967 Israeli attack on USS Liberty
  
• Participated in veterans’ parade at State Fair, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  
• Participated in Coralville 4th of July parade, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
  
• Greeted Ragbrai riders , 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  
• Assisted in organizing two other VFP Chapters (#163 & 169) in Iowa
  
• Organized “No US Missiles in Syria” rally, Sept, 2013
  
• Organized and participated in 6 rallies regarding Reaper Drone control unit in Iowa. Latest,March 2015.
  
• Co-sponsored and participated in the “Ground the Drones” Walk, June,2013
  
• Hosted visits by two national VFP presidents, Elliott Adams & Leah Bolger
  
• Co-hosted two of the founders of UK VFP, Ben Griffin & Mike Lyons,
  
• Assisted VFP #169 in James Yee (Muslim Chaplain at Guantanamo), events, 11-2013
  
• Had several public showings of “Unmanned:America’s Drone Wars,” Feb 2014
  
• Sponsored “Dirty Wars” movie at Iowa City’s Film Scene theater,Mar, 2014
  
• Participated in No Drones actions Mar 2014, Iowa City & Des Moines, including Elliott Adams, Kathy Kelly, Daniel Hale, & VFP members from several states. And Sept, 2014 with Medea Benjamin.
  
• With VFP Chapters #163 & #169, shared Dingman Peace Award given by Des Moines Catholic Peace Ministry, April, 2014
  
• July, 2014 letter, no 2nd Iraq war, sent to DC reps and 8 newspapers,signed by 20 members
  
• Participated in memorial service for VFP #163 member, Bill Basinger, summer, 2014.
  
• Cooperated with three other groups in a booth at Johnson Co. Fair, July,2014
  
• John Ivens, in cooperation with Ray McGovern & Michael Prysner, presented workshop on Ukraine at VFP National Convention in Asheville, NC. Summer, 2014.
  
• Organized observance of “50 Years since Gulf of Tonkin Resolution”, Johnson Co. Courthouse lawn, Aug. 7, 2014. Testimony of five VFP #161 Vietnam vets.
  
• Participated (Diana Henry lead-off speaker) at 8-21-2014 rally on IC Ped Mall in solidarity with Michael Brown and reform of domestic police activities
  
• Cooperated and provided 3 speakers at Campaign Nonviolence rally on IC Ped Mall,9-21-2014
  
• Assisted in Dennis & Elizabeth Kucinich’ visit to Iowa in October, 2014
  
• Sponsored “Joyeux Noel” movie at IC Film Scene, 12-25-2014, to overflow crowd.
  
• Participated in MLK Day observances in Iowa City, 1-19-2015 Organized MLK memorial event at U of IA, read his Riverside Speech. Participated in Kite Flying Day (in conjunction with Afghan Peace Volunteers, with 100Grannies) Apr, 4 2016
  
• Organized and sponsored week-long speaking tour by Ann Wright and Kathy Kelly, May, 2016, in cooperation with VFP Chapters #163 and #169.
  
• They spoke in eight different cities, spoke at universities, high schools, church groups, mosques, Iowa City Rotary Club.
  
• Organized protest against armed Reaper Drones at Iowa Air National Guard Base, Des Moines. Led by ret. Col Ann Wright (this was the 8th war-drone protest organized by #161, in cooperation with VFP #163 and DM peace groups)
  
• Helped organize and participate in International Conscientious Objector Day observance outside of Iowa City Public Library, May 15th.
  
• Marched as a unit in Iowa City Gay Pride Parade, June, 2016
  
• With 100Grannies, PEACE Iowa, and Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility, we participated for the 8th year in a row in the Coralville 4th of July parade.
  
• July – Johnson County Fair. Third year of cooperating with 100G, PEACE Iowa, and Iowa PSR in a booth for the 4-day fair.
  
• July 30th. For the 10th year in a row, we greeted 10,000+ RAGBRAI riders on the last day of their ride, east of Washington.
  
• October 7th, 15-year observance of U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Together with PACG (Progressive Action for the Common Good), we led this event outside of the Federal Courthouse in Davenport, Following the observance, we were guests at the Quad Cities Islamic Center community dinner.
  
• November 10th, VFP representatives spoke to five Jr. Hi. Global Studies classes at NW Jr. High. Third year of doing this. Invited by teacher, Alissa Meggitt.
  
• November 11th, Armistice Day Observance at entrance to Old Capitol, attended by 100 citizens and VFP members from across the state. The observance was followed by a meal hosted by #161 at the ICPL, with enthusiastic open mic discussion.
  
• Several members of VFP #161 participated in various efforts to halt the Dakota Access Pipeline.
  
• Participated in presentation to Maureen McCue's Univ. of Iowa class, "War or Health."
  
• During the year, members participated in weekly Friday peace vigils at the Pentacrest in Iowa City.
  

Left to right: Dave Hempel, John Christenson, Diana Henry, John Jadryev, Ross Porch

Veterans For Peace Chapter #161 Elects New Officers

Veterans For Peace Chapter #161 recently elected officers to serve in 2018. John Christenson and David Hempel will share the role of president, and John Jadryev and Diana Henry are co-secretaries. Ross Porch will continue as treasurer. This chapter of Veterans For Peace was formed in 2010, and is part of the national Veterans For Peace organization. The purposes of Veterans For Peace include the need to increase awareness of the true costs of war and to abolish war as an instrument of foreign policy.

• Budget and fundraising efforts
  

• New members
  
• Local action in response to current events
  

• Upcoming events
  
• Agenda for the March meeting, to be held in the Iowa City Public Library.
  

• Will chapter 161 be a named chapter?
  
• Website progress report
  
• Book reports
  
• Group singing
  

• Will chapter 161 be a named chapter?
  
• Website development team
  
• Upcoming events coordination