Meet the new IVAW Executive Director
One of our resident IVAW refugees just wrote that the new Executive Director of the Iraq Veterans Against the War is Jose Vasquez – another IVAW member who has never deployed to Iraq nor Afghanistan according to his own profile at IVAW;
So despite all of the guarantees that we’ve heard in recent months about the change at IVAW, there will be none, apparently. He’s a marginal improvement over the last ED who went AWOL from the Transportation Department to keep from managing fisheries in Hawaii.
Yet another Veteran Against the War with no duty in IRAQ. In fact, before he was a conscientious objector, he was an Army medic – precisely the kind of job a CO should want if he cared about the troops the way he claims. This is from a Salon article;
After 9/11, he would have served in Afghanistan with few reservations; but by the time his unit got the call for Iraq in 2005, he’d been having doubts not only about the efficacy of the war but about the morality of serving. As a medic, he patched soldiers’ wounds so that they could head out on another mission and kill again. After “a lot of soul-searching,” Vasquez applied for conscientious-objector status, and more than a year later he separated from the Army with an honorable discharge. When he described the day he told the men he led that he was not going to Iraq with them, Vasquez sounded remorseful and sad. He misses the Army and his Joes.
Yeah, he would have gone to Afghanistan but the Army wouldn’t accommodate him. We’ve heard that one before, haven’t we?
According to some preliminary research on him, he was the guy in charge of the IVAW Verification team at Winter Soldier II. How could he verify testimony without having spent a day in country himself. He organized First Casualty in New York City two years ago – bringing the Iraq war experience to civilians. How could he do that with any measure of accuracy without his own experience.
And now he’s going to lead an organization of Iraq veterans, never having been one. Funny, but when I talk to member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I can reasonably assume that the guy I’m talking to was a veteran of a foreign war.
Peter Griffin says this about IVAW’s choice;
Category: Antiwar crowd, Iraq Veterans Against the War
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
I am loving watching this organization die and take with it the money of people who think this group will do any good.
Well, the people who flood them with cash are just happy having some folks in front of them with IVAW T-shirts at ANSWER marches. Obviously the members who stay on don’t mind being little more than Old Navy talking mannequins.
Betwixt “leadership” such as Mathis “ate burger king at Bagram for a week” Chiroux and Jose “no time in country” Vasquez ya gotta ask what’s the point in having the words “Iraq” and “Veterans” in IVAW in the first place?
Is “no time in country” Jose gonna do a Chiroux and claim post-post Gulf War Stress Syndrome for his 92-96 service?? “It was HELL Soldiering at Kelly Hill man, I got to hear second hand 197th Mech Brigade days tales of duking it out with the Republican Guard in ’91. Shit happened while I was on the delayed entry program.. The horror, the horror!”
Will he claim PTSD for the tales told on a partisan political forum as well?
So glad I left.
I’ll remind you that the Army isn’t really giving the “CO but can still deploy” status out very much now. Logan actually tried hard for it, I don’t know what Jose’s deal was. The Army’s stance seems to be that if someone tries for CO status and really opposes the war, they don’t want them in country at all, whether or not they’re willing. It’s the same thing that happened when they pulled me off the deployment list last year and they said, essentially “Thanks, but no thanks, IVAW-chick”. (Though I am anything but a CO, so that makes even less sense)
It doesn’t take experience in country to verify testimony-it takes a lot of looking at records, documents, videos, photos, etc. Also, he could put together an OFC the same way not everybody that trains people for deployment actually goes.
I have a lot of respect for Jose Vasquez and am glad that he’s going to be the new Executive Director.
Army Sergeant,
It don’t matter at all. He could have done some real good for both his brothers and sisters on active duty, and his nation in general. Instead, he took the cowards way out, and seeks to justify his decision by any means possible.
F@ck him, and everyone who supports him.
Had he any sort of a spine, any concept of honour, he would have continued to serve in a medical capacity. Instead he jumped ship, and isn’t worth a bucket of warm spit to me.
Fucking turd.
Casey Porter wrote:
So glad I left.
We’re glad we left, too.
I invented IVAW.
All the smart ones managed to stay out of Iraq and Afghanistan, I’ve been saying that for years.
AS: I know I’m old and “out of the loop”, so to speak, but in my day, if you were already in a medical unit, you really didn’t have to announce whether you were a CO, or not, because the only thing you were using your weapon for was defending your life.
If you are a CO that has moral issues about saving another soldiers life just so they can get back in the fight and possibly kill someone else, then you really have no business in the military and should maybe look at a Red Cross assignment.
He did the right thing by getting out, or the army letting him out. However he did it.
Now; your story has me curious. I have never heard how you got involved in IVAW, or what your thought pattern is. TSO says you’re a good person and I will take him at his statement, but I am interested to know where you’re coming from.
But here it the thing, if this group wants to taken as legit on the assumption that those that opposed the war have been to Iraq or Afghanistan. So why elect someone who has never seen ether place as Executive Director, for the second time?
I thought the “Iraq Veterans” was in there for a reason.
Sporkmaster: Well, I guess that anyone, who was in since 2003 could be a member, by the criteria laid out? The guy was in charge of checking credentials, as WSII, and wasn’t an Iraq Vet, so I guess that might count?
Maybe I could be a member, since I have people very close to me serving there right now and I have a very good friend that is a combat wounded Iraq Vet? I have talked with many Iraq and Afghanistan Vets and heard their stories, so that would probably make me pretty close to an expert in the eyes of IVAW, according to their board elections and other statements in defense of this guy in particular.
OldTrooper: Things have changed a little bit since then, from what my medic friends tell me. I admit that it’s a bit strange for me to think about sometimes-I grew up on older war stories, where chaplains and medics were unarmed and were not supposed to be fired upon. But again, from what I understand, the “Every soldier a warrior” principle means that every soldier is expected to be an infantryman if needed. There have been instances of medics wanting to go as COs to combat zones without rifles, but right now the current Army “mood” seems to be that anyone who has issues with aspects of the war can’t be trusted. My story? Man. Short version: I got involved in IVAW when my soldier was killed through my own inaction. He got back and really should have gone to mental health-he was exhibiting all the signs. Except that our first sergeant insisted they weren’t signs, the guy was just a dirtbag-even though he’d done outstanding work downrange. I didn’t fight hard enough. I listened to my first sergeant and not my instincts. Now he’s dead, the twins his fiance miscarried are also dead, and his son is fatherless. I failed him as an NCO because I listened to what leadership was telling me at the time. I can’t say it was an instant promise that I would never let anything happen again through my own inaction, but it definitely helped get me the hell off the fence. I’d thought Iraq was a bad idea for a while-military breakdown/national security reasons primarily. I didn’t believe in us fighting an unnecessary two-front war that was stretching us thin. But I didn’t think it was my business to do anything about it. I felt like it was other people’s responsibility to stop it. I guess I stopped feeling like that, and realized it was my responsibility to do everything within my power-because the people that were getting broken by the unnecesary optempo were real, and my brothers. Sappy, I know, but that’s how I felt about it. On another note, while I… Read more »
Man, I said short. apparently you should never ask me for the long story.
Am I wrong or wasn’t Army Sarge tough talking for weeks about how things were going to change, man, they were going to change or she was like so out of IVAW, totally. Really. Completely.
Well at least she gets to come here and rag on her group to us.
But as a medic you need a weapon for protection of yourself and the people that you treat. I am not allowed to have anything fully automatic, over 9mm and no grenades.
The first thing that they tell you in the Whisky part of the training it that you will need to gain fire superiority. Because your weapon could help make the difference in repelling a enemy attack. Also while you do not go first in house clearing, you can help by guarding the rooms that have already been cleared.
Well with me, I had a different experience with my command, They had no problem sending people to mental health if their supervisor said they needed it or requested it. But I understand the stigma, but I think that regardless of if we where in Iraq or not I still think that would be a issue.
But I understand that you cannot have everyone not have been there, but the senior leadership should be. Just the same way that not everyone in the Army has deployed, but as higher
Lol!!! That was short and I thank you for filling me in. I appreciate that you included the criteria for the organization, also. I don’t agree with most of what IVAW is about, but I do thank you for providing it.
As for your trooper……PTSD and TBI are as real as the nose on your face. That Top didn’t pick up on it and was dismissive of your concerns shows that he wasn’t doing his job. You took your concerns to your chain of command and the chain failed you and the trooper, plain and simple.
As for you; shoulda, woulda, coulda, is what everyone deals with when something happens that could have been prevented. That a troubled young man doesn’t get the care needed is something that we never want to see. Reality is, some slip through the cracks. That we work to make sure we can minimize these instances is something we all strive for.
Ok, I’m gonna keep mine short, too. Ha!
Thanks, again, AS
“It doesn’t take experience in country to verify testimony-it takes a lot of looking at records, documents, videos, photos, etc.”
Yeah, I’d like to take a look at all of that documentation you claim Jose pored through to “verify” those stories at WSII. Odds are that I won’t get a chance, though.
98% of the testimony I saw was absolutely undocumented. Even the people who testified said it wasn’t documented. Did Jose verify that guy’s testimony that we were disposing of our nuclear waste by firing it off around the Middle East as tank ammunition? You know, the guy who said “I’m not going to show you the proof – it’s up to you to do your own research.”
Look, Army Sergeant, I used to think you were salvageable, that moment has passed. The way you cling to every scrap of IVAW horseshit has just become disturbing and creepy.
It’s really alright for you to admit that you made a mistake by hitching your little red wagon to them. Haven’t you been shat upon enough yet?
Jonn, commenting that I like Jose is not clinging to every scrap of horseshit. If you want to know what I’m going to be doing, you have my email and know how to use it.
And seriously, can I not have two fucking days to deal with shit without people jumping down my fucking throat? I am not your dancing monkey, CaptNorris.
Umm, Army Sergeant, you’re on a video with another IVAWer who openly states he wants a weakened military. The top leadership has a significant number of peeps with no time in country, or an Air Force Hop into Bagram as its members. I’ve met a combat vet or two via Iraq and Afghanistan Vets of America who left IVAW in disgust with how combat vets were sidelined. In short, the IVAW boat has hit an iceberg courtesy of the ISO. I suggest you jump into a lifeboat & abandon ship.
TAH troopers, This is my inaugural post on the site. The first of what I hope will be many more. I have to say at the outset that I am a fan. That might be weird to say given my connection to IVAW and the new role I’ve taken on as ED. I’m not into self-inflicted wounds. I just think in a way you all keep us honest and for that I am appreciative. Not to mention some of you guys post the funniest shit I’ve ever read. There’s also some pretty disturbing stuff but I think John does a good job of moderating the bullshit. I’ll be the first to admit there is a lot that needs fixing in IVAW. At the top of the list is what you’ve already pointed out. We’ve lost too many good members through resignation because they were frustrated with how things have been run. Casey Porter is a prime example. Jason Lemieux and Kris Goldsmith also come to mind. If IVAW is not a place where “boots on the ground” veterans feel comfortable then we’re doing something wrong. As Army Sergeant alluded to, we started out primarily with OEF/OIF vets doing all the public speaking and leading the organization at the highest levels. I joined in the “early days” when people like Garett Reppenhagen were involved. For a number of different reasons–burn out, frustration, politics–those members have receded to the background or left all together. My lack of combat service notwithstanding, I have a real problem with this. I have always seen my role in IVAW as supporting vets who carry the burden of combat service and yet bravely speak out against what is happening over there. It might surprise you to know that I carry a lot of guilt for not going. I see my work in IVAW as making up for some of that. I know some of you will tear me a new one for saying that but it’s the truth. And before you start typing away, I’m not claiming I have PTSD or anything like that. I think the… Read more »
Thank you for coming on here and giving us your assesment. One of the things that I see as a road block to legitimacy, for your group, is the lack of condemnation for the views of Carl Webb. That the vote wasn’t overwhelmingly for drop kicking that type of rhetoric out of your group gives those will real concerns for their brothers and sisters pause as to what the goals of your group are.
Please keep that in mind as you move forward in your position and hopefully it will be resolved, so that the rest of us know what the real, not stated, goals of your group are. Because as of now, they should be considered less than honorable.
Short version: I got involved in IVAW when my soldier was killed through my own inaction.
AS, I say this with true compassion in my heart; if you haven’t already, I urge you to seek help. Be if professional, spiritual, support groups, whatever…you need it. You are clearly exhibiting a ton of emotional issues related to this event, and it’s unhealthy. As cold as this may sound, that soldier’s death was not your fault no matter what you might think. Beating yourself up and holding yourself up to some sort of unrealistic standard is ultimately self-destructive. As I often have to remind certain friends of mine, you cannot save the world, and you most assuredly cannot save someone bent on destroying themselves. The fact that you’ve internalized this shows that you have a great depth of compassion, and that’s to your credit, but it can also consume you if you allow it. I hope you’ll consider what I’ve written. Take care of yourself.
[…] awards on his uniform. Jose Vasquez, the Executive Director of IRAQ VETERANS Against the War has never set foot outside of the US in uniform. Now Vasquez thinks his Puerto Rican heritage excuses his lack of an”affinity” for the US flag […]
[…] Jose Vasquez has resigned as the Executive Director of IVAW at this crucial moment in the organization’s history. He insists that he’s stepping down because of family issues, but I think its odd that the guy who resisted the last take over attempt by the ISO chooses this moment to resign. There are other resignations, too. Aaron Hughes, for example. But, no word yet on the one we’ve been waiting for most. […]