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Week of Actions National Truth in Recruiting Day Brought to you by Iraq Veterans Against the War Click here to download the IVAW flyer Dear Concerned Citizen and Everyone, As most of America has become aware, it was lies that got us into the war in Iraq, and lies that are keeping us there. Proponents of the policy in Iraq are quick to point out that everyone in the military volunteered. Personally, I enlisted in 1999 and feel betrayed to have had to go to Iraq to clean up a mess that should not have been made in the first place. For many of those who enter the military today, their enlistments are based on lies. There are those who join hoping to go to Iraq for a variety of personal reasons not knowing the truth about the occupation. But there are many more who are promised by recruiters that they will never go to Iraq, that they will get plenty of money for college, that they will receive adequate health care, and that the military will honor the time limit of their contracts without using the stop-loss or involuntarily extending them. President Nixon was forced to withdraw ground troops from Vietnam when soldiers refused to fight because draftees’ and enlisted soldiers’ opinions of the war reflected those of the general public. In order to force an end to the war in Iraq when we have no draft, we must ensure that the people who are considering volunteering for military service are making their decisions based on the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Before anyone becomes a weapon of our democracy, ready and willing to kill in the name of the United States of America, they need to have a certain faith in our democracy. I have lost my faith, and find it a higher patriotic calling to restore it. It starts with truth. Without the lies of recruiters, our corrupt government would no longer be able to use the military to occupy a country on the other side of the world. Therefore, we declare September 17th, 2007, to be National Truth in Recruiting Day. Iraq Veterans Against the War is calling on all concerned citizens and everyone to engage in a “Truth in Recruiting” activity. If you are in DC, come to Union Station anytime between 7:00 am and 1:00 pm and a member of IVAW will be there to assign you to a recruiters’ office that is within Metro distance and provide you with appropriate materials. If you are not in DC, please print out the official IVAW National Truth in Recruiting Day flyer (coming soon), and go to your local recruiters’ office or a high school. The goal is to engage in a dialogue with someone who is considering enlisting. If you can force that dialogue with a blockade, you are welcome to try, but lies will never be stopped with aggression or protest. It is time to confront the lies that this war is based on with those whom they affect the most. Adam Kokesh, For more information: |