Dear IVAW Members and Supporters,

On November 4th Americans came together across lines of race, gender, class, and religion to elect Barack Obama as President of the United States, marking an historic moment for our nation.

Over the course of President-elect Obama’s campaign, many were ignited with the hope that change is possible, and we share that hope. As we take a moment to reflect on the significance of this vote, it is important for us to remember that our struggles did not end on election night. Real change has never come because of the actions of any one person, but only through the combined efforts of grassroots organizing by people with the courage and conviction to see their struggle through to the end.

Over the last four and a half years, Iraq Veterans Against the War has brought our message of change to our fellow veterans and members of the military, the American public, and indeed the world. Our message remains the same: it is time to immediately withdraw all occupying forces from Iraq; it is time to end the death and destruction facing the people of Iraq and address the needs of the Iraqi people; and it is time to provide our veterans with the care and benefits that they need and have earned through their service to our country.

In recent months, we have expanded our focus to address the political parties, and we look forward to continuing an open dialogue with our new President and his staff in the months to come. We will remind President-elect Obama of his statement in August 2007, that “ending this war will be my first priority when I take office.” While we understand and share concern that addressing our economic crises must be a top priority, we know that we cannot repair our economy if we continue the costly occupation of Iraq – an immense financial burden which is simply unsustainable.

We acknowledge the shift in focus from the war in Iraq to the war in Afghanistan, and we encourage President-elect Obama to listen to the Afghan people and U.S. veterans of that conflict before making any decision to escalate the occupation of Afghanistan.

As veterans of these wars, we have seen through our experiences that the first casualty in war is the truth. We have also seen the power that exists when soldiers and veterans find their voices and tell their stories, resurrecting the truth that has been lost in the false glory and heroism of war.

These are messages that Iraq Veterans Against the War will continue to spread, because we know that one leader, one Administration, or one political party is not going to make the change we need. Rather, it is up to us collectively to continue organizing for that change. The election of Barack Obama affords us a fresh opportunity in our struggle, but as our history tells us when it comes to ending wars and occupations, the power is truly in the hands of the people and our military. We will continue to keep fighting for our goals and ask that you join us.

To read IVAW’s open letter to President-elect Obama, click here.

In order to continue organizing troops and veterans to end the occupation of Iraq, we need your help. Please donate today to help us amplify the voices of our over 1,400 members.

Thank you for your continued support,

Kelly Dougherty
Former Sergeant, Army National Guard
Executive Director
Iraq Veterans Against the War