In the Shadow of the RNC, War Resisters Convene to Stop the War

This past weekend, as Republicans prepared for their national convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, a more somber gathering was taking place, a few miles away. At a Ramada hotel in Minneapolis, Veterans for Peace along with Iraq Veterans Against the War held a convention calling for an end to the U.S.-led war and occupation of Iraq. These are the soldiers who are called on to fight the war that their government chose to start. While the Republicans continue to celebrate the so-called "War on Terror" and the success of the "surge" in Iraq, the veterans have a different story to tell about carnage, destruction, and physical and mental wounds that have yet to heal.

The five-day conference included workshops on various topics: healing the victims of torture, G.I. Resistance against war, sexual assault in the military, and the illegality of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Veterans of past wars teamed up with younger veterans to share their experiences organizing in the G.I. peace movement, and strategize how to leverage their voices to help end the war.

I had the privilege of interviewing Harvey Tharp, an early member of IVAW and the first officer to publicly resign in opposition to the Iraq war. Harvey shared his thoughts about the conference, the war, and the blossoming G.I. resistance movement against war and occupation in Iraq.

Sarah Lazare: What significance do you think the 2008 Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace conferences have?

Harvey Tharp: Hopefully with the protest actions that have been scheduled we can get national media to pay attention to the fact that Iraq Veterans Against the War exists. The more publicity we get, the name says it all. Getting people to know that there is a group called Iraq Veterans Against the War changes the dynamic.

SL: What do you hope will come out of this conference?

HT: The "support the troops" mantra gets intentionally misconstrued (to mean) supporting the war. People should know that they can support the troops and want to end the war.

SL: How long have you been involved with Iraq Veterans Against the War?

HT: I have been involved for four years. I was on active duty when I first got involved. Six Iraq veterans went to the Veterans for Peace conference in 2004. I read about them on the Internet. As soon as I heard, I knew I had to sign up. I was an officer at the time, and I was the first officer to join. I am the only Iraq veteran who resigned in protest over the war rather than return. That was mid-November, 2004.

I had been a judge advocate lawyer, and they were going to transfer me to intelligence. At first I was happy about it, because I wanted to go to Afghanistan and be part of the fight against Al Qaeda. In Iraq, it was early on, and a majority of the people wanted us there. I was in a city that had majority support. But then I came back and Abu Ghraib scandal broke. At that point, 70 to 80 percent of people wanted us out. Going into Iraq when they didn't want us there felt like breaking into someone's home.

When I was in Iraq, I was project officer. I had two-dozen Iraqis working for me. They were my support structure while I was there. They we were a great help to me. I have so much appreciation for Iraqis and the effect of their religion on their lives. That was one of the things that made it impossible for me to go back to Iraq. One of the things the U.S. military wants you to do is dehumanize Iraqis. I couldn't do that.

SL: Did you get in trouble for refusing to go back?

HT: I had a two-month waiting period where I didn't know whether they would accept my resignation, or whether they would refuse and send me back to Iraq. I was in a mindset that my choice was to go to Iraq or go to jail. But I never had to make that decision, because they let me resign. That is why I have so much respect for people who resign and do the time rather than go over and fight.