On September 14, 2001, the US Congress passed, with only one dissenting vote, the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) which has served for the last 17 years as a legal veneer for our military misadventures around the world. Count the countries where our military has killed people who are not at war with us —at least nine (Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Niger, Algeria). Count the dollars spent on just our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — at least Four Trillion Dollars. Count the number of countries where we have deployed US Special Forces — 149 in 2017. Count the number of military veteran suicides daily — at least 22.

Add to these figures the tragic irony that recent news is filled with reports of the US being allied with Al Qaeda forces in Yemen and Syria. Al Qaeda, the enemy that was the focus of the 2001 AUMF. An additional irony is that there are efforts underway to pass a new AUMF in Congress, which would call for even less Congressional oversight than the 2001 AUMF.

It is time to start paving the path to the peace we claim to love. A good first step is to rescind the 2001 AUMF and get the US military out of the bullying business. Tell Senator Ernst and Senator Grassley and Representative Loebsack or whoever represents you in Washington that they need to get on board the peace train and enable war no more. And spend 15 minutes at the weekly peace rally at the east side of the Pentacrest, this and any Friday, 4PM-5:30 PM.
 

 
Brief recap of Veterans For Peace Chapter #161 activities

 
Welcome to Veterans For Peace

Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars.

Statement of Purpose

We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others

• To increase public awareness of the costs of war
  
  
• To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations
  
  
• To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons
  
  
• To seek justice for veterans and victims of war
  
  
• To abolish war as an instrument of national policy.
  

To achieve these goals, members of Veterans For Peace pledge to use non-violent means and to maintain an organization that is both democratic and open with the understanding that all members are trusted to act in the best interests of the group for the larger purpose of world peace.
 

Rendered for inclusion on website

GOOD NEWS! On February 4, 2021, President Biden said, in regard to Yemen,"This war has to end." He said "unendurable" suffering must end. He said the 6-year US support for the Saudi coalition's offensive military operations in Yemen will end. Pending arms sales to Saudi Arabia have been frozen. He has appointed a special envoy, Tim Lenderking, to work with the UN in bringing about an immediate cease fire, increasing humanitarian aid, and restarting peace talks. There is so much more to do, and we must not relax, but this is an "hooray" moment. Many folks had urged the Administration to take these steps, by contacting WhiteHouse.gov and State.gov. Another message now of thanks to those same sites might be in order, as we gird for the continuing struggle.
 

Stand up for Peace! Fridays, New hours: 3:30 to 4:30 pm at the intersection of Iowa Avenue and Clinton Street on the University of Iowa Pentacrest Iowa City

Are you ready to show up for peace? Join us for an hour, or even just a few minutes, to voice your support for peace. We citizens must stand as a reminder that the military option is an unacceptable option. Come with your friends, your family, your neighbors, or just yourself — all are welcome.
 

Veterans For Peace, Chapter 161

P0 Box 947
Iowa City, IA 52244·O947

Please contact:

E-mail John Jadryev <jadryevj[at]gmail.com>
  or call ( 3l9 ) 43O·2Ol9

E-mail Ed Flaherty <flahertyem[at]q.com>
  or call ( 3l9 ) 354·O54O

Webmaster:

Franklin Seibering
P0 Box l3O2
Iowa City, Iowa 52244·l3O2

E-mail: <webmaster[at]justword.net>
page: ( 3l9 ) 34l·llO7