IVAW in Military.com story on Wisconsin protests

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March 04, 2011 Military.com|by Bryant Jordan

Some veterans' organizations are adding their collective voices to the ongoing protests in Wisconsin, including one group that has called on Wisconsin National Guardsmen to ignore their orders if deployed in response to the demonstrations.

"Historically, we've seen how it was when the National Guard is called out" against protesters, said Aaron Hughes of Iraq Veterans Against the War, citing anti-Vietnam War demonstrations like the one at Kent State University that resulted in the deaths of four students. "I don't think that's anything that anybody wants," he said.

Hughes, who served in Iraq while a member of the Illinois National Guard, was in Madison with other IVAW members to support the demonstrators.

Protesters have been picketing the Wisconsin Capitol since Feb. 13 in response to Gov. Scott Walker's effort to end the teachers' union right to collective bargaining around anything except pay. As the union built support from other public employee unions, including police and firefighters, Walker threatened to call up the National Guard if any of them went on strike.

That idea was criticized by Votevets.org, an organization that works to get Iraq and Afghanistan veterans elected to public office.

"The National Guard is not [the governor's] personal intimidation force to be mobilized to quash political dissent," Iraq War vet and Votevets.org member Robin Eckstein of Appleton, said in a statement released by the group.

"The Guard is to be used in case of true emergencies and disasters, to help the people of Wisconsin, not to bully political opponents," he said. "Considering many veterans and Guard members are union members, it's even more inappropriate to use the Guard in this way. This is a very dangerous line the Governor is about to cross."

Additionally, Votevets.org is promoting a letter-writing campaign, asking vets to support not only the Wisconsin workers, but those in Indiana and Ohio, where Republican governors are also pressing unions to give up collective bargaining and other benefits. In a statement, the group's interim chairman warned that veterans across the country will be affected by outcomes in these states, noting that more than 2 million vets belong to unions.

"For those veterans who are union members, this is a matter of having a fair wage, benefits, and decent health insurance," said Ashwin Madia, a former Marine JAG who served in Iraq. "On top of that, the same public employees under attack from right-wing governors help run veterans' homes, drive disabled veterans to their VA center for treatment, and help homeless veterans at transitional housing programs."

A call to the governor's office was not returned.

Lt. Col. Jackie Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin National Guard, said she was aware of the IVAW's call to state guardsmen but would not comment on it.

"I'm not a politician. I'm a Soldier," she said. "I'm not getting into a debate of politics. We follow orders, and no such order has been given."