Veterans launch 'Operation Dire Distress' to protest war

Salt shakers
April 2003

Veterans launch 'Operation Dire Distress' to protest war
As battles erupted across Iraq, more than 400 military veterans and family members demonstrated in the nation’s capital demanding the safe return of U.S. troops. Veterans from throughout the nation converged on Washington to demonstrate near the White House, attend a teach-in, and lobby Congress on March 23. An ad-hoc group, Veterans Against the Iraq War helped organize a march and petition drive dubbed "Operation Dire Distress."

Veterans attempted to deliver a petition signed by more than 2,000 American veterans opposed to a preemptive war in Iraq, but security guards at the White House told them to mail the petition, that no one at the White House would accept it. After a silent procession through the war memorials on the mall, veterans broke out into cadence calls as they marched up 17th Street towards the White House.

The theme of the Operation Dire Distress march was that the highest patriotism means speaking out against misuse of the men and women in our military to conduct an illegal, unnecessary war. Addressing the assembly on the Ellipse, Vasquez, director of veterans’ affairs for Jersey City, N.J., pointed out that America’s Founding Fathers challenged the government of their day. "Patriotism means challenging our government today," he said.

At a teach-in at American University on Saturday, retired admiral Gene LaRocque said now is the time to stand up for the right to dissent, to save democracy. Bobby Muller, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, brought the audience to its feet with a call to go out and educate the American public about the deadly reality of the Bush administration’s dumping of diplomacy to launch a war of aggression. Gulf War vet Charles Sheehan-Miles spoke about the death and destruction in Iraq that was never shown on television at home.

Thirty-five veterans fanned out to speak with Members of Congress and their aides from a number of states. The petition addressed to President Bush was mailed to the White House.

For more information:
Veterans against the Iraq War

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