iraq veterans against the war

"You don't go to war without being changed by it," says Geoff Millard, former Chair of the Board of Iraq Veterans Against the War. From sky-high suicide rates for veterans at home to horrific stories of "kill teams" in Afghanistan, we're hearing stories every day of the traumas that going to war inflicts on our young men and women. Millard and IVAW, though, have been working both at home and back in Iraq to bring about some sort of reconciliation, both for soldiers and for Iraqi civilians. Millard joins Laura in studio to discuss IVAW's Operation Recovery campaign to stop redeploying traumatized soldiers, the ongoing news from the wars, and his upcoming trip back to Iraq on a humanitarian mission. "Standing up and speaking out against a supervisor is harder than what I do every day," says Mary Kay Henry, new president of the Service Employees International Union. Yet becoming the first woman--and the first out lesbian--to lead the country's largest labor union means she's faced some pretty tough battles, and she's gearing up for another one: an election in which corporations are outspending progressives 26 to 1 for anti-worker candidates. Henry joins Laura in studio for a talk about the future of SEIU, her past as an organizer, and why it's important to keep the fight going long after November's elections. Finally, the Obama administration seems to be taking out its frustrations on the so-called "professional left," setting up blame for anticipated losses in November. But maybe they could take a lesson from Bill Clinton, of all people...

Last week, the war in Afghanistan hit a sad milestone: the 1000th American casualty. This Monday will be Memorial Day, when we stop to remember the soldiers who have given their lives in battle in the U.S.'s many wars. But there are many veterans from the wars still alive and struggling with the consequences of active duty every day, both physically and mentally. Jose Vasquez, executive director of Iraq Veterans Against the War, joins us in studio to talk about the ongoing struggles on behalf of veterans, whether they be discharged and fighting for benefits or still on active duty and fighting repeated deployments. GRITtv with Laura Flanders brings participatory democracy onto your computer screen and into your living room, bridging the gap between audience and advocates.

Amy Goodman speaks about the legacy of Winter Soldier and power of the media. The four-day Winter Soldier event in March 2008 brought together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan and present video and photographic evidence. Panels of scholars, veterans, journalists and other specialists offered context to the testimony. These panels covered everything from the history of the GI resistance movement to the fight for veterans' health benefits and support.

March 16, 2008 - Phil Aliff is on the IVAW board of directors. He was a 10th Mountain Division soldier from 2004 until 2008. Phil sends a message to his fellow active duty members: WE are the ones who can end war. There is a new anti-war movement in the United States and we have to make sure that all GIs feel welcome and a part of it. - Jeff Engelhart was in the 1st Infantry Division and served in Baquba, Iraq. He has been a member of the GI resistance for several years and created the blog "Fight to Survive" in Iraq, writing about his experiences and what he thought was wrong. - Garett Reppenhagen says soldiers can use their First Amendment rights to speak out without getting in trouble, and IVAW stands ready to help them learn how. IVAW is asking soldiers and veterans to join a fight to make America better, says Garett. - Ronn Cantu wants his active duty brothers and sisters to know that they do have a First Amendment right to dissent and still serve honorably. - Iraq veteran Camilo Mejia (chair of the IVAW board of directors) describes the long history of resistance in the military and salutes those who continue to speak out about their experience.Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan featured testimony from U.S. veterans who served in those occupations, giving an accurate account of what has been really happening day in and day out, on the ground.The four-day event brought together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan - and presented video and photographic evidence. In addition, there were panels of scholars, veterans, journalists, and other specialists to give context to the testimony. These panels covered everything from the history of the GI resistance movement to the fight for veterans' health benefits and support.