Matthis chases off another IVAW member
So I got the whiff of another IVAW member leaving (actually, I’ve heard from a couple of folks who are leaving or getting run off) because of the antics of Matthis Chiroux. Someone mailed me this letter of resignation;
I sit down at this desk and begin to write the hardest letter I have every written. A month ago, I came across a video of the “We Are Not Your Soldiers” stop at a California High School. What I saw was so shocking and devastating that it called into question my very membership in IVAW.
After the Board of Directors voted not to take any action against Matthis Chiroux for burning the American Flag on March 20, 2010, I became sick of IVAW national politics that did nothing but undermine the work of local chapters. I stepped away from any involvement in the national politics, and stepped into local work, hoping that I might accomplish some real good. Alas, while the local results were encouraging, the idiotic ramblings of Mr. Chiroux found me.
On the evening of May 24th, I was sent the link to a video of the “We Are Not Your Soldiers” Tour stop on May7th, 2010. In the video, there was one speaker, a woman, whom I did not recognize, and Mr. Chiroux. From the context, it appeared that they were speaking to high school classes about the video Collateral Murder. While some of what Matthis said regarding the fear that war instills was right, there was a slew of half-truths and exaggerations that offset any grain of truth he was trying to communicate. First there was the terrible editing job: interspersed video of US, German and UK soldiers with extremely graphic photos of dead and wounded people from Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan and violent street riots in the US and England. Then there was a stream of generalizations, over simplifications and half-truths about war that were laughable coming from a veteran who spent a week in Afghanistan. Even as a non-deployed veteran, I can tell when someone has never actually seen war.
The final portion of Mr. Chiroux’s talk was the most shocking. After a short tirade about slavery to the American flag, Mr. Chiroux states that must not support the troops. I have to admit that this was quite a shock to hear, even from Matthis. Not support the troops? How does that work with being the leader of an organization that is of the troops and for the troops? He made it very clear that any soldier who deploys is committing genocide and should NOT be supported. He told the civilians in this class that they need to let soldiers know that they do not support them and that they should not honor the warrior or the war.
At this point in the video, I was sick. I had been told of people like this: activists who attack all soldiers without regard for their humanity. Nevertheless, to actually see someone talk about soldiers like Mr. Chiroux did, was socking. I could not believe I was hearing. As a Conscientious Objector, I am keenly aware that not every soldier is opposed to the war. I understand that the decision to get out of the military is a very personal and very serious decision that no one can force a soldier to make. It is an absolute necessity that we support the troops while opposing the wars. While Mr. Chiroux makes no distinction between these two ideas, one can support a soldier without approving of the war he is taking part in. I have sent care packages, helped family members of deployed soldiers – I have even helped soldiers who have chosen to stay in the military! We can support and help soldiers even if we disagree with their decision to remain in the military and deploy.
I am quickly running out of options with regards to IVAW. Over the last few years, members have left the national scene to focus on local work. Others have gotten more and more involved in the internal politics of IVAW. Neither option has proven very successful at either ending the wars or changing the problems within IVAW. For me, more involvement with the national scene has led to heartburn and stress, while just focusing on local work has been hindered by the national ravings of Matthis and his ilk. Thankfully, I have been given some very unique opportunities to focus more on reaching out and building relationships with soldiers, regardless of their position about war. I feel that IVAW will only hinder these efforts.
I do not leave in protest. I do not expect IVAW to change to keep me as a member, nor am I demanding that. I am not leaving activism – I leave to free myself for more direct and personal involvement in reaching out to soldiers without the hindrance of IVAW.
Signed,Daniel
At some point, IVAW has to start taking into account that this is not the 1960s, that the membership of this organization is more mature, more rational and more intelligent than the smelly, illiterate twits of VVAW and VFP. Time and again, members of IVAW have made it clear that they have nothing against this country or their comrades who remain in the service, but the International Socialist Organization-affiliated members of IVAW are the ones who drive the organization away from it’s members.
I have nothing against opposing the war, but I do oppose the far Left moonbats who want to manipulate that opposition into a Marxist revolution, and apparently some of the members feel the same way. Some of them are honest enough to admit that they don’t want to belong to an organization that is being used by radical extremists in the RCP and World Can’t Wait.
The ISO members and their useful idiots as well as the dinosaurs of the VVAW/VFP are scrambling to mitigate the latest damage to their propaganda machine and I’ll have more on that tomorrow.t
Category: Antiwar crowd, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Phony soldiers
Here is me being a POG driving on a patrol looking for Cache sites off hardball, and on:
At a cache site:
Our first tent in Iraq. Yeah, the one with all the tarps. Not exactly barracks in Germany:
Army Sergent sees me rollin’, she hatin’…
Outside the wire recovering another company’s 88…
Another recovery mission where recovered Tanks, Brads and HMMMV’s. It was a dry lake bed, so people sunk. We threw track but did not wuss out. WE fixed it ourselves…
Wait! What is this? Yes, I took this while on a foot patrol with Tankers and Infantry…
Me and a friend working in Iraq while AS was drinking beer in Germany…
After an I.E.D. hit the fueler behind my ride. The person you see is an E.O.D. guy who let me go up with him while looked to make sure that everything had gone off and if there where any other secondary devices. I know it seems nuts to do go up right with him to take pictures, but I’ll do anything for a shot…
Burning shit at the outpost. Ah, smells like a spring morning.
Waiting after an I.E.D. went off in front of us one vehicle up. Then, Tankers and Infantry searching for the trigger and/or camera man.
Rollin’
Ok AS, since your an Iraq Veteran against the war post some pictures of your own. Oh wait, you only wear the t-shirt. Call me liar on whatever you want, but I bring something you never can: Proof.
Casey, my point was again that compared to Manzel, you know, the combat vet you were unjustifiably trashing, you were a POG. The combat vet you stuck with the bill when you walked out in a pissy fit, because it’s so cool to make other people pay for your beer. Vets always do that to each other.
Hahaha. I respect that he went, even if I’m not for the war. I also have never passed myself off as any sort of super Soldier. But after hearing him running his mouth like he was he can kiss my ass and I have no problem stiffing a dirtbag with the check. Don’t talk to me about what Vets do and do not do, you are not one. “Stay in your lane.” You don’t have to believe me, I really don’t care.
I saw the same screen caps that Jonn did. You are more and more like the rest of those nuts. It’s really sad, but it’s not secret that when you hang around a certain type of people, you take on their characteristics. It’s not unlike living in another country, your accent changes, you begin to speak differently, so on and so on.
But I am not a POG. Judging by the other comments posted here, many who have been deployed agree with that. It makes me sick that you stand in “solidarity” with IVAW when guys like Matthis paint us all as murders and bigots. He is not the first one, and he is not the last. Your inability to admit the truth and leave IVAW is nothing more than cowardice.
I’m not a liar and I stand behind what I say. If you can’t deal with it’s not my problem.
Casey, you just want to show off your face, which isn’t nearly as pretty as mine.
Just for the record though, I was too busy actually fighting a war, not taking pictures on my desert vacation. 😉
I was a POG – a combat POG! 😛 That of course was much better than a grunt who never left the wire.
It’s pretty sad when Menzell has to send his girlfriend in to defend him. Watch out for those eye-scratchings, Casey. She might write something bad about you in the girls’ lav, too.
Paul, are you saying Menzel never left the wire? Or are you just speaking in general? Hey, I can move and shoot fast. Don’t hate because you don’t have my superior good looks, talent, looks, Camaro, looks, well you get the idea.
Jonn, yeah it’s pretty funny. I have even more pictures of me and my guys doing our thing. I hate it when people who have never deployed act like they have a damn clue.
Casey. you ol’ POG you; Having a double insulated tent, while all I had was a shelter half. That is a tough way to live out there in the hostile Ft. Campbell Boonies, let me tell you. And then having to button your shelter half up with who knows, living in it in the driving rain for 1 maybe 2 whole days at a time. Having to clean the ultra modern M-14 rifle, after becoming so familiar with my M-1 Garand…… Sheesh, double insulated tents, what is the Military coming to?
Way to be sexist and dismissive, Jonn. Because a female vet has to be attached to a man to have an opinion, and has to be girly with eye-scratching and all. I handle my conflicts with words or fists. This is a words conflict. I wouldn’t think you’d support running out on the check either, but hey, I guess ignoring the faults of your current flavor of the month is the thing to do around here.
Casey, you tell yourself that sticking a vet with a hefty beer tab is the thing to do in this economy. Whatever you tell yourself to sleep at night. I would NEVER, hands down, NEVER do that to another vet even if I did disagree with them. I didn’t hear about that part until this week, but I find it pretty fucking disgusting, and yeah, I will call you out on it.
Paul-S?
“Way to be sexist and dismissive, Jonn. Because a female vet has to be attached to a man to have an opinion, and has to be girly with eye-scratching and all.”
Yeah, That’s what I said.
If I’m not mistaken, Manzell asked Porter to join him for drinks, so he should have picked up the check. Isn’t that the way it works? If not, I’ve paid for a lot of drinks and meals I shouldn’t have.
Nah Casey, I was just pointing out how unlike you, if I would “move and shoot” quickly, it wasn’t with a camera. 😉
So, I think we should let Army Sergeant decide. Who is better looking?
Oh no! Army Sergeant called me out! I’m running scared now! Just because you’re a Vet does not exempt you from all wrong doing. Your fuckin’-a right I stuck that son of a bitch with the check.
Please, it was not “hefty”. Well, depends on what you consider expensive. I’m sure anything that isn’t given for free is considered expensive to slacktivists. Besides, all he has to do is get reimbursed through IVAW. Or steal money from them like so many others have in the past.
Please, just shut the hell up when you claim to care about Vets. You do nothing for them. You stand with people in an organization that actively disrespect Vets and advocate for not supporting them. You are so selfish you don’t even stop to think how wearing that stupid shirt makes other REAL Vets feel.
Instead of paying a regional coordinator 31,200 plus employer paid health insurance, paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave you could be giving more to Vets. If a regional coordinator gets that much, how much does the ED or one of your shitbag board members get?
It’s all about making the money to IVAW.
Wait a second! Who is this Manzel guy? I thought Army Sergeant was dating Jabbar Magruder. Guess she’s working her way through the guys in “IV”AW.
Paul: I’d give you a vote over Casey, definitely.
Casey:
I don’t know where you get those figures from. Not only is there not a paid regional coordinator position, when there was, it was something like $100 a month for phone bills and gas. The board, by definition, gets nothing. It is an unpaid position. You should work harder on your research.
Things I’ve done for vets? Well I just helped get a bill passed in New York that will allow homeless vets priority access to housing. I also helped advocate for the Post 9/11 GI Bill while it was just a twinkle in Jim Webb’s eye. In fact, you yourself used to talk about how I did more for vets and active duty than the rest of IVAW combined, a fact you seem to be conveniently fighting now that you’re feuding with me.
Jonn: My sources say slightly differently. If Seth Manzel had offered to take Casey out, then yes, the bill would be his. If he just offered to meet up so they both could talk over drinks, I would say that separate tabs would be the order of the day. I understand your understanding of this, and sometimes I wind up buying drinks for lots of people just because. (And I know you practice what you preach, evidence: milblog conference). However, Casey seems to be suggesting that he knew he was sticking Seth with the check and was fine with it just because he thought he was a jerk.
Peskoff: Sadly for your apparent obsession with my love life, I’m not involved with anyone right now! I did date Jabbar /two years ago/ for about /two months/, not that I feel that matters to the conversation.
Casey: I win.
Coming from the peanut gallery, I’m a bit torn on this discussion. If AS is doing all the things for vets as she says, then it just makes it harder to comprehend how she can continue to officially associate with an ISO-affiliated group that at a minimum disparages and defames all service members and vets. I’m not wanting to pile on, I just really don’t get it.
Second question… Is AS an Iraq veteran, meaning did she spend at least 30 days on some FOB? Don’t get me wrong, I’d buy her a beer just for being a vet regardless of MOS or deployment, but the t-shirt would be wrong to wear.
NOOOO!!!! Paul won!!! My life is OVER!!! hahaha
Also, I stand corrected. It’s a field organizer:
http://ivaw.org/jobs
While the board my not get a pay check they have access to funds. I seriously doubt they are paying for their own tickets, housing, other trips, etc etc. You can not explain away all the money just up and vanishing.
I gave you credit because I thought credit was due. Exactly how instrumental where you in getting those things passed? I bet they would have brought you up somewhere.
For the record Casey, this is what she said:
“Paul: I’d give you a vote over Casey, definitely.”
“I’m not involved with anyone right now!”
Yeah, I’m that awesome Casey. You’ve got nothing on me.
Casey,
That was DEFINITELY a mechanics tent 🙂
I remember a mech from Boston we called Moose…yah, ‘cuz he was a BIG sombitch. He’d throw a torsion bar over his shoulder, walk across the MP to your tank and stick it in himself! Sorry, he was from Baastan!
AS,
No matter how many things you have done for vets, it is all negated by your continued association with “Some People Who May Have Served” Against the War.
It is like a mob member justifying his association with the mob by citing all the charitable work he does for murder victims.
Old Tanker, we had a guy like that too! He was huge! He could put an arm in by himself. Damn, I could never, ever do that.
Paul, I guess you win! But remember, with great luck with AS also come great patience in having to listen to her tell you over and over again how IVAW will get better. LOL
“While the board my not get a pay check they have access to funds. I seriously doubt they are paying for their own tickets, housing, other trips, etc etc. You can not explain away all the money just up and vanishing.”
IVAW board members do pay out of THEIR OWN POCKETS re: travel expenses; housing…
So I get this e-mail about a FB status update about Selena and claiming she rejected me because I made some jokes. She wore a shirt of mine once and I use to sniff and it was running joke. AS, I was never sexually or intellectually attracted to you in that way. That is not a slam against you, I just wasn’t.
I will tell you that I can not view your page and was sent a copy and paste job, so it might not be true. But if it is, really? That’s just weak sauce.
Army Sergeant
Just a few things that I wanted to comment on while watching this conversation.
1. While the service of those who have gone to war and faced combat should not be ignored. But that does not mean that anything that person does after their military service positive or negative should also not be ignored. So why is that being done here?
2. About talking about someone else’s military service while deployed without presenting evidence or reasoning (more so if you have never deployed yourself) to say what a person did or did not do. This is one of the reasons that I do not like Andre Sheperd the person who stayed on the Fob during his 6 month deployment that we did not give medical aid to the population. Something that I can personally can refute because I did provided aide personally and have evidence to support that. So unless your are going to be more forth coming about these sources then how are you not doing the same?
Here is the story with Sheperd’s comments.
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/06/04-18
My reply:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=106744985&albumID=2009403&imageID=36190999
Lastly why to you bother with the IVAW? Considering how many other veteran groups that run a legit operation that this is not one out there that you could work with? The IVAW’s main appeal was it was to bring a collective pool of experiences that can be gain only from first hand accounts. So with people that have been to Iraq becoming more the minority and with combat vets becoming a minority in the minority that is a problem. Also the advancement of those who have never been it a problem.
Consider this. If there was a group that claimed to be Afghan Vets that supported military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and it operated the same way IVAW does with the number of Afghanistan vets being the minority would you feel the same way about such a group?
“She wore a shirt of mine once and I use to sniff and it was running joke.”
Casey, maybe you shouldn’t have sniffed it then…
From Capt. Me;
“Second question… Is AS an Iraq veteran, meaning did she spend at least 30 days on some FOB? Don’t get me wrong, I’d buy her a beer just for being a vet regardless of MOS or deployment, but the t-shirt would be wrong to wear.”
Capt. Me;
From what little I’ve gleaned, in these and other discussions, A.S. is an intelligence/signals analyst or something similar. Based on my own assumptions I believe she sees herself as a Veteran of the war because she has, or may have, while still here in the States, developed actionable intelligence that resulted in direct overseas operations against the enemy, via ground, air, or other. She may also have been privy to the results of those operations in the form of after action reports, additional analysis, and evolved operations. Again I’m assuming that her exposure and personal reaction to said information is what has lead to her joining an outfit that is against the war.
What I’ve figured out is true, I’m sure it’s but the tip of the iceberg, and is why I warned her that if such is the case, she’s already saying to much on these forums. It’d be rather easy for a trained foreign intel source to track her down as a person of interest at this point. Domestically I can only guess how she and her actions might be viewed by our own intel agencies.
As for ‘is she a Vet?’ Well, it kinda depends on how you define Veteran, and there are many, many official definitions. Did she fulfill your definition? As I understand it, no. Is she a Battlefield Vet and did she draw hazard duty pay? No, it doesn’t appear so. Is she an Iraqi Freedom Vet? I’m not entirely sure, but she may be based on her active status time in direct support of the combat effort, (90 to 180 days required by many agencies) even if she wasn’t boots on the ground there. Her official orders would hold the key to her official status I believe.
Ooops, 3rd paragraph should have started out, “‘IF’ what I’ve figured out is true”
My apologies.