Two more IVAW resignations
I just got notification of three more IVAW members leaving. Here are two letters explaining their resignations to their fellows. First is Brandon Neely;
I am former member of Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW). I resigned from IVAW a couple months ago when I noticed the organization as a whole going downwards. I feel now I should tell everyone why I left IVAW since there is an important vote on Tuesday by the board members of IVAW on weather to keep or kick Carl Webb out of the organization. I know some members may be aware of this situation and I also know a great percent have no clue what is or has gone on in IVAW. Many of you joined IVAW got a t-shirt and that was the last you heard from IVAW. IVAW has a set of rules know as the Code of Conduct which all members must abide by and the board members must enforce, but during my time in the organization I noticed neither of these things where going on. The Code of Conduct goes like this in IVAW: If we like you and we agree with your politics and you get media attention for yourself or IVAW its ok if you break the Code of Conduct. But if we don’t like you or agree with your politics or you don’t get media attention we are going to punish you for violating the Code of Conduct. I know of a couple incidents where this happened.
Board member Matthis Chiroux “The IVAW War Hero” is a fraud and a liar He has also admitted to having knowledge of the raping of women, and he himself has confessed to this crime as well. Matthis claims he is against the war because he has seen the horror of war, but in reality he never served in a combat zone for the most we know he spent 5 days in Afghanistan with a General eating at Burger King. He also claims he has PTSD. PTSD is nothing to joke around with its not the cool thing to have like some people like Matthis and Carl Webb would like to believe. I, like many other Veterans suffer from this and I find it a slap in the face for a piece of shit like him to claim he has PTSD. How he got this I only can guess. I guess you, Matthis, got PTSD from raping women.
Matthis also broke the IVAW Code of Conduct section D.
D. Mismanagement of misappropriation of IVAW funds.
On Saturday July 19,2008 Matthis held what he called a State of the Union fundraiser for IVAW, but he clearly states in the description “All proceeds from the BBQ will go to Matthis emergency rent fund with the extra going to IVAW” Here is the link to the facebook event.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=19072868538&ref=share
I emailed the board and some other members numerous times about this and guess what happened? Not a damn thing. The response I got was nothing, but the response another member got from Camilo about this issue was “I know for sure that at the time Matthis raised the funds he was working full time on his IRR campaign, and he clearly said he would use some of the money to pay for his rent. It was front center on the event’s flyer. So, at the very least we know he was honest.”
So I took this response as if you where honest about using the IVAW name to raise funds it was ok. So before I left IVAW I held a fundraiser at Treasures, a local strip club in Houston in which I raised money and gave it to the members of IVAW Houston to pay bills, but at least I was honest about it, right?
There was an incident a while back with a former board member in which she was removed from the board in a quick manner. Selena Coppa was removed from the board and was threatened with possible removal from the organization as a whole due to the fact she made a post about some members of IVAW (Camilo Mejia) on her personal blog. Then she was instructed to apologize for this post which she did, but not to the liking of some of the board members. It is claimed that she broke the Code of Conduct and according to the board it was due to the slanderous nature of the blog, directed at several individuals (Camilo Mejia). She was removed within days not weeks or months, but days.
It’s funny though that she was held in violation of the Code of Conduct when that incident started with Camilo Mejia’s own violation of the Code of Conduct.
Section H in the IVAW code of conduct which states “any act that constitutes discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or political orientation.”
It is my belief that Camilo violated this code when he wrote such a disrespectful letter to a member mocking that member’s political beliefs. What he stated in his letter to Selena was to check out other organizations who “loooove the constitution”, he also accused her of being “out of touch” because she loves the constitution and that she needs to leave IVAW. I take it that IVAW is being run by a bunch of radicals? What happened about this? Nothing will ever happen Why won’t it? Because he got media attention and he is friends with all the board members… oh and yeah hes a socialist. So are several board members.
On to the main reason I typed this letter up: Carl Webb. First, and foremost no one knows for sure that he is even eligible to be a member of IVAW. People have seen his military records and there is nothing there since 1992. Many members and former members like myself emailed and contacted national about this and we where also told we will get that to you. Well it’s been a year and nothing from the IVAW national office has never confirmed they even have a correct DD214 for him. Sounds like to me that are hiding something. Carl also supports the killing of American troops. Hear it in Carl’s own words in Casey J Porter’s latest film “Yes”
He also told a disabled female veterans “I’d rather see your kids be orphaned and not Iraqi kids” see for yourself; http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp359/CaseyJPorter/Carl%20Webb/Webb.jpg
Tuesday the board will vote to keep Carl Webb or kick him out of the organization. I firmly believe this vote would not even be taking place if it was not from the pressure that some members, former members, and supporters of IVAW are putting on Board of Directors. Is Carl Webb the type of person you want representing you? If the answer is no call and email the board let them know Carl needs to be removed from the organization immediately. Many of use have friends or know of people who have been killed in these wars and Carl Webb supports there deaths. How does that make you feel?
As IVAW continues to support the likes of Matthis Chiroux, Camilo Mejia, and Carl Webb they are supporting many other things. They are saying its ok to rape, it’s ok to support the killing of American troops, and we support you if you are socialist. By supporting these values IVAW might as well spit in the face of the families of the loved ones that have lost a family member in war zone because there members support the killing of American troops.
If you are truly against the war and really want to help service members and veterans receive the care they need leave IVAW. It has become pseudo-radical and will continue to further go that way. It won’t be long before IVAW will be listed as an extremist group with the views and speech many of the members put out. You don’t need IVAW, IVAW needs you. Trust me, your voice will be louder and more respected without the backing of an organization as IVAW.
Please do the right thing.
Sincerely,
Brandon Neely
And Chuck Luther;
To IVAW Board Members and Director,
My name is Chuck Luther from FT HOOD, Texas. I am a real combat veteran and have documentation of every claim that I make. I joined IVAW officially in the fall of 2007 after being thrown away after being used up by the U S Army. I was contacted a couple of times by Brian Hannah about attending a meeting. I was unable to do so because of my work schedule. I stayed as a member but not actively participating for lack of knowledge of what to do to help or further the group. I founded and currently direct Disposable Warriors, Soldiers Advocacy Group here in FT Hood for soldiers rights and the policing of the Army commanders. I handle currently around 60 active cases, and have over 70 resolved. I met Mike Kern and Cindy Thomas in the spring of this year(2009) and joined forces with Mike to stand up the FT Hood chapter again for IVAW. I believe that FT Hood is crucial in the success of continuing the mission of IVAW, the only problem what I have seen of IVAW as a whole is a small group of individuals that have a mission and goal, but the whole does not communicate or support. I see that the chapters seem to be doing there own thing and the organization seems fractured and broke. The name recognition is there for IVAW, but yet the respect or credibility is not. Here at FT Hood for example, the commanders think of IVAW as a trouble making, terrorist loving, chaotic group. This is not what I believed IVAW to be when I joined. I am very saddened by comments that have been made by member Carl Webb. I agree that the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are illegal and worthless, but I would never take joy of a fallen brother or sister. I work with a lot of senators and congressman along with the Chief and Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and the Secretary of Defense on issues regarding our troops and family members. I cannot allow my own reputation or credibility to be affected by people like Carl Webb. I do not expect IVAW to lose sleep over just my resignation, but if you look closely there are a lot of members like me that have left or will be leaving due to this type of behaviour. I think that the mission is to take care of our soldiers and bring change to this military usage. The only thing that we as a whole at IVAW are doing as of now is hurting our soldiers and losing any attention that we may have to help stop these occupations. Thank you for your time and I encourage the board to force the resignation of Carl Webb and others like him before IVAW is damaged beyond repair
V/R
Chuck Luther
Founder/Executive Director
DisposableWarriors
S.A.G. ( Soldiers Advocacy Group)
FT HOOD, TX
202-465-2059
www.disposablewarriors.com
The word on the street is that Matthew Thompson, the guy whose profile I posted yesterday also resigned this weekend. I wonder why.
Category: Antiwar crowd, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Usual Suspects
Jonn,
Call me shallow, but every single time someone calls the GWOT illegal occupation, my hackles are up. Good for these two for seeing the light on IVAW. You are standing for what you know to be right. However…
Hey, Chuck. You volunteered, felt abused, discarded and apparently you hated serving. I am sorry. And good for you that you are helping your comrades. But to say that the war is illegal is bullshit. A process took place, a vote, allowing for the war to proceed.
If you dislike those who lie, then don’t become a liar. It’s better to say you don’t agree with the war than to try and justify how you feel with lying and calling it an illegal occupation. I can support those who are against war, but I don’t support liars. It makes me look stupid.
Still waiting for someone else, who I expected to resign, as well.
Big fan of both letters.
It does show how weak that third plank of the IVAW platform is. Everyone focused on helping troops realizes that in actuality it is totally a sham.
I agree with TSO, good letters.
I am amazed that more people don’t come to the realization that Mr. Luther came to in that people are judged by the company that they keep and can have their reputation ruined by said affiliation.
While it will never be known, I believe the majority of the issues that some troops (like the one Old Trooper is referring to) had with their CoC had to do with affiliations and NOT with their political viewpoints.
If only the majority of the members still in the service would take a hard look at that theory.
The view from the peanut gallery seems to indicate that the IVAW through its leech patriarchs is pushing its old members with valid Iraq service out in place of non-Iraq veteran socialist members. It seems like these older members, as misguided as they were, did hold some principles that are now completely tainted by this new crop of socialist radicals. IVAW could have been so much more successful if it refrained from associating with radicals and instead was just an organization of Iraq veterans… now get this… against the war. I think their members got completely taken advantage of by these larger groups.
I agree, but if the IVAW should should kick out carl webb, I will post something in praise of that.
Again, waiting for AS to tender her resignation, as she previously promised.
“On Saturday July 19,2008 Matthis held what he called a State of the Union fundraiser for IVAW, but he clearly states in the description “All proceeds from the BBQ will go to Matthis emergency rent fund with the extra going to IVAW” Here is the link to the facebook event.”
Once again, I apologize on behalf of our entire family for the shameless behavior of my son.
No need sir. We are just assuming he was adopted from the dude from My Name is William, Bill for Short.
Mr. Chiroux, you have no need to apologize for the actions of your son. A parent loves, raises and tries their best with their children. When that child becomes an adult, he and he alone is responsible for his decisions and actions.
Robert, you have nothing to apologize for. No one with 3 active braincells would hold you responsible for the actions of an adult son. Just as no one held Bill Clinton responsible for the antics of his brother Roger.
You are a fine man, sir, and that’s what counts.
It says 3 resignations at http://p12.hostingprod.com/@valorguardians.com/blog/?p=15854
So how many resignations can I claim now? And why didn’t they wait until after the vote?
Wait, they were giving away t-shirts for joining? Maybe I’ll join just so I can write a cheesy resignation letter and then wear the t-shirt for all of those projects on my honey do list.
So you throw a fundraiser in support of stopping the wars. and you do it in an Iranian owned strip club that has been accused of Money Laundering by the Federal Government? What’s wrong with this picture?
Actually, Carl, the only claim you have to your name is shagging mules. Other than that, it’s not you, but the leadership that these people have trouble with, because you are still amongst those that actually give a shit about the troops and Vets.
Brandon Neely says “So before I left IVAW I held a fundraiser at Treasures, a local strip club in Houston”
Treasures is owned by Iranians who have had millions siezed by the Federal Government on money laundering allegations and have been accused of having Organized Crime ties with their Las vegas operation.
So this is who you choose to support?
They have great strippers what can I say.
Years ago, it was argued that the principles of unity needed to be stronger to prevent all the right wingers from pissing all over everything. That argument was shelved. And just as was warned, the right wingers are trying to destroy the organization. And it looks as if they will succeed.
IVAW has its faults for sure. Unfortunately, the main one was letting so many folks in who aren’t opposed to the wars, just how they were treated by the military. Too low a bar in a country that leans as far to the right as the US does.
BWAHAHAHAHA.
You so funny Marc G.
Marc G,
Are you kidding? Is that really what you think? I am perplexed by the stupidity of what you wrote if it wasn’t done as anything other than as a joke.
It’s just too bad that the internet doesn’t have a built-in sarcasm meter at the bottom of each post on all of the blogs. That way, one could figure out if someone, Marc G for instance, was being sarcastic, or just trying for laughs for entertainment’s sake.
Actually, OldTrooper, I didn’t join IVAW because my primary concern was about the troops and Vets. I joined because I’m concerned about US imperialism spreading more oppression around the world.
Thank you Carl.
I believe that was the quote we were looking for.
Carl…serious qestion…if you so hate this country and what it stands for,why don’t you go to another country that is more inline with your views and values…and join in an armed struggle against U.S Imperialism? A bullet is a hell of a lot more effective than just sitting around beating your gums to a bunch of people who just don’t care…I am not trying to be funny,this is a sincere question…
Carl, you really have to get some updated communist leaflets. The ones you’re quoting from are rather old chronologically and in message. I’m sure you can show us the examples of oppression that the US has brought to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, etc.
Yeah, that Saddam character was the opitome of generosity and love for the people of Iraq, especially the Kurds for which he showed a “special” love with the gift of sarin gas. Then us evil American oppressive bastards showed up and killed the love buzz.
No wonder the folks at IVAW want to keep you around; they need to laugh once in a while and you seem to provide that every time you open your pie hole.
Hey Carl;
At last;
FUCK YOU
Man that felt good
Yes, Carl Webb has been booted out of IVAW and I have been given a lifetime ban. lol
Good job.
I do applaud those who see the light and resign from Phonies-Who-Only-Saw-War-On-TV Against The War.
However, Chuck Luther is more flighty and less credible about his accomplishments, cases, contacts, and involvements than even James Branum is.
Think about that for a minute…
Sure he’s been deployed, but that’s the only difference between him and the rest of the IVAW and UTH cronies.
Hey Anonymous, care to share your name with us?
Chuck Luther is flighty? wow and less credible, hmmmm why not let the accused know the accusers name?
Think about that for a minute…
‘
ookjk85h74
IVAW are fucking NG and Reservist Turds.
If you ain’t walked in Chuck Luther’s shoes you need to remain “Anonymous” who is too cowardly to give name or give facts.
Carl Webb is a sack of shit. Just like the IVAW.