Being a part of IVAW is completely legal for an Army member. While many units and commands will try to intimidate you, and force you to believe you don't have rights, Army Regulations provide for dissent and free expression, IAW DoD Directive 1325.6.

I've served in the Army since before September 11th. I joined like many of you did-to protect and serve my country. I didn't get a bonus, and I didn't get the Army College Fund, despite good ASVAB scores. The Army wasn't hurting for enlistment. I got a handshake and an oath to give, and I feel I have served that oath faithfully since I first put this uniform on.

When the war first started, I believed in it. I was very personally affected by September 11th, and I completely believed that it was our duty to chase down the people who were responsible for it. What I didn't realize until later is that my righteous grief and rage was being exploited, as was that of many of my fellow citizens. It was being exploited so I would smile and nod when my Constitution was under attack by the Patriot Act, and it was being exploited so in my grief and rage, I would not question the start of the Iraq War.

For a while, it worked. I wasn't too knowledgeable about the region, or the history. I bought into everything said, because I firmly believed in our government, and that we would be too honorable to lie or mislead about something that important.

I have since come to believe otherwise. I believe the war in Iraq is not purposeful. It harms our people, it harms our economy, it harms our national honor, and overall it harms America. There are a lot of soldiers out there, my brothers, without adequate training, equipment, or support. They are fighting a mission which cannot be won: Sunnis and Shiites have been fighting since the time of the Crusades. They are fighting a war where the endgoal cannot even be concisely stated.

Is the Iraq War to protect us? No. Is it for humanitarian reasons? No-if we were fighting wars sheerly for humanitarian reasons, we would be fighting in a few other countries. It's not for the rights of women-Karzai, our ally, just passed a new law allowing marital rape. In fact, before Saddam Hussein was removed from power, the country was more secular than it is now, and women had more freedoms, not less.

I believe in the words of Medal-of-Honor winner General Smedley Butler, who said:

"There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket."
General Smedley Butler, USMC
Also..
"Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels -- men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, we may never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."
-Dwight D. Eisenhower

Mandatory disclaimer:

The opinion expressed through this blog is that of the author and does not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.