"As veterans, we understand the true damage that is caused by war, and as Veterans For Peace, we feel it is our obligation to use our unique voice to point out ways in which war may be averted. We know that it is much more difficult to end wars once begun, than to prevent them from the beginning; therefore we are doing our utmost to stop this one before it starts. With regard to the current situation between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, we believe that the following actions would be productive measures in averting a war with Iran:

1. The U.S. should announce that it will revoke the $3B it gives Israel every year in military aid, should Israel attack Iran.
2. Insist that Israel be held to the same standards of openness and transparency that it demands of Iran with regard to its nuclear program, to include allowing IAEA inspectors into Israel, and signing on to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
3. Remove its Carrier Battle Groups, loaded with dozens of nuclear weapons, from the region. Discontinue “military exercises” in the area.
4. Express full support for the Helsinki meetings in December, and the “Nuclear Free Middle East.” Pressure Israel to attend this meeting, which is scheduled for this December.
5. Stop using U.S. veto power to protect Israel from being held accountable for its actions by the UN.

"The main point I am trying to make in these remarks is that no matter what political differences of opinion we may have, the government of Iran, and more specifically, the people of Iran, have done nothing to warrant military action by either Israel or the U.S. The Iranian government maintains some policies with which we may disagree, but that disagreement does not justify the collective punishment of the people of Iran with economic sanctions (which VFP considers immoral and a violation of international law) and it most certainly does not justify military actions. One of the tenets of the Veterans For Peace statement of purpose is to prevent OUR government from interfering overtly or covertly in the affairs of other nations. VFP supports the self-determination of all peoples.
"Veterans For Peace wishes to acknowledge Iran on its recent assumption as the leader of the Non Aligned Movement, and the successful summit held in Tehran just weeks ago. Our organization seeks opportunities to work with organizations within NAM countries to resist and oppose war and militarism.

"Veterans For Peace will continue to resist our country’s propensity for war—we will be demonstrating in the streets, we will be lobbying our Congressmen, we will be speaking out, we will be arrested and we will be jailed. We will study the cultures of others, and learn from them and we will seek every opportunity for dialog and relationship-building with those our government labels as our quote, “enemy.” VFP seeks the opportunity to send a delegation to Iran at the earliest opportunity. There is a strong interest in our organization to meet with veterans of other nations because military veterans understand the reality of war--the deaths, the physical and mental injuries of our own military as well as those against whom we have fought. We know the Iranian people suffered greatly when Iraq chose to attack Iran in the long, eight year war and that you too have programs to help your veterans deal with the horrors of war. It is my hope that such a visit may be organized in the very near future.

"Thank you."

Veterans For Peace was founded in 1985 and has approximately 5,000 members in 150 chapters located in every U.S. state and several countries. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by the United Nations, and is the only national veterans' organization calling for the abolishment of war.

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