Veterans For Peace....???
by Thom Stoddart
There are times when evil must be called evil and attention focused on it. This is the case of a group called “Veterans for Peace.” Hopefully patriotic Americans will see and respond to the danger that this group presents to our country. But first let’s define the term, “veteran’s group.” I think every one would agree that a veteran’s organization is a union of veterans with the primary focus on veteran’s issues and legislation. Such an organization would never hurt active duty soldiers or betray their country. Second, when veterans and non-veterans march in an Armed Forces Day parade or a Veterans Day parade, they do so to honor this country, veterans, and active duty soldiers.
Veterans for Peace (VfP) publically states they are a veteran’s group, but they are often in the news reflecting poorly on the veteran community. They have tried to take part in veteran related functions where they can gain political points. Until recently, they marched in the Armed Forces Day parade in Bremerton, WA, but are now refused permission. They have marched in other events and raised the ire of real veterans. VfP has stated on the Thurston County, Washington cable station their intention of getting in to the public schools to “educate” children on VfP’s anti-war efforts. They are very pro-active; but are they really a veterans group as they claim and how do they obtainpeace?
I first observed them several years ago. I believed, like many others that this is a free country and that if you are a veteran and anti-war, you are free to believe as you want and to reasonably express it. As time went on I started to study them. I asked for interviews, information, and other pertinent facts as to who they are and what they do; all they would give me is a suggestion to visit their web sites. The website for the Olympia, WA chapter is named after Rachel Corrie, an American protestor who stood in front of an Israeli bulldozer while it was trying to knock down a Palestinian building used in terrorist activities. (it is useful to remember the Palestinians cheered on 9/11 and have no problem supporting blowing-up innocent teenagers and favor the complete annihilation of Israel.) Rachel Corrie died when she placed herself in front of the bulldozer’s blade, unable to be seen by the operator. One has to wonder why this young woman’s name was chosen to represent an American veteran’s group.
I contacted Mr. Ken Schwilk, co-president of the Rachel Corrie chapter of VfP and asked him “What percentage of VfP is made up of veterans?” “Does the character of discharge from military service matter for membership?” and other questions that would lend credibility to the name “Veterans for Peace.” He would not give me any answers, but he promised to take them to a board meeting for decision. I offered to let Mr. Schwilk read the draft of this article before final publication in an effort to be as fair and accurate as possible. I was never contacted by anyone. Schwilk’s interesting career can be easily Googled on the internet. While he was serving on the Olympia, WA City Council he was arrested for attempting to interfere with the movement of military equipment between Ft. Lewis and the sea ports. In one news article, he complained of the police disrupting their efforts to interference with the military. There is also evidence of ongoing co-operation between VfP and MoveOn.org on various projects.
The events surrounding the Armed Forces Day celebration this year in Bremerton WA, the home of a major Navy Base and Headquarters were related to me by the president of our local Area Chamber of Commerce. These events were further collaborated by a local newspaper article in the Port Orchard Independent, dated June 12, 2008. Both sources serve as examples of VfP’s deceitfulness and help to illustrate their real motives.
The previous year, VfP marched in the Bremerton Armed Forces Day parade and passed out their anti-war literature along the parade route. This was against the rules for parade participants; no distribution of religious or political material. The parade president received many complaints from veterans who believed VfP members were not real veterans. This same question has been brought up at the recent Auburn, WA Veterans Day parades.
In 2008, VfP again applied to march in the Bremerton parade. Permission was denied by Chris Larsen, president of the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce, who stated in the Seattle PI newspaper that he believed VfP was attempting to hijack the parade for political purposes.
The Chamber stood its ground and would not grant permission for VfP to march and they suffered for it. The president and staff of the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce received phone calls from across the USA threatening and verbally abusing them.
Chris Larson explained that VfP had the opportunity to file a formal disagreement to re-negotiate permission. Instead, according to copies of emails I was given, VfP contacted other “like minded groups” i.e., ultra left wing political organizations, anarchist, and biased left leaning news
papers in the Puget Sound region. Their obvious desire was not to correct the situation, but to humiliate and put pressure on the Chamber of Commerce for refusing their so-called “veterans” group the chance to march and demonstrate in a patriotic parade. VfP, still assembled and marched at the end of the parade, unofficially. The story only gets worse…
According to Mr. Larson, after the parade buses with elderly veterans from the Old Soldiers’ Home were brought to a BBQ given in their honor. Local high school students had volunteered to serve the vets. The students were spit on and verbally abused by VfP and/or their minions just for serving elderly veterans hamburgers and hotdogs.
The story of Jesse MacBeth is a difficult and convoluted narrative. Last winter, I heard of a veteran (the name was withheld from me at first), who was brought to the Tacoma VA Veterans Outreach Center by VfP. At that time, the VA employee told me that this group was rude and demanding of the staff; insisting that a veteran who they just brought in be given treatment and compensation . Their vet later proved to be a phony. In time I was able to put enough of the pieces together to know that it was Jesse MacBeth of Tacoma, WA. After MacBeth’s initial contact with the Vets Center, a Veterans Service Office (VSO) suspected that he was not a Purple Heart recipient, not an Iraqi war veteran, and did not take part in the killing of hundreds of civilians with his unit of Army Rangers, as he had claimed. The VSO made a complaint to the VA Regional Office in Seattle.
Mac Beth’s actual military papers record that he was eliminated from the Army after only 44 days for “performance and conduct.” Thus by VA regulation and Federal law MacBeth is ineligible for the status of “veteran” and is not eligible for any VA benefits.
Mike Barber’s story in the Seattle PI on September 21, 2007, states that MacBeth made many false claims about his real military history; for which he became the “poster boy” of the anti-war movement. This story records that internet videos made by MacBeth were translated into Arabic and obtained by Al Qaida. MacBeth, stated at his trial that he was sorry for lying about everything and discrediting the anti-war groups. Please note here that he did not have remorse for his traitorous acts to this country. Despite the lack of details such as who did the translations, facts do show that Jesse MacBeth did leave the shadows to openly go to the Tacoma Vets Center accompanied and supported by the organization called Veterans for Peace who apparently did not recognize a phony veteran. He said what they wanted to hear, so they believed him. In the end they inadvertently exposed him. VfP stabbed this country in the back with the use of a 23 year old man with an obvious personality disorder, but what about their national efforts?
They claim to be a veteran’s organization, yet even a cursory check of their web site shows that veteran’s issues are low on the list of their priorities and they are not chartered by congress to weigh in on legislation concerning veterans. The web links are just ordinary hyper-links to other commonly known veteran sites. The majority of the web site celebrates their anti-war efforts. VfP changes their primary web page often, but last spring, they bragged about their demonstrations at Fort Benning, GA and other major bases. It becomes obvious that the national efforts of VfP are attempts to demoralize and interfere with active duty soldiers. VfP can not be unaware that their efforts are being watched by the enemies of this country. It is a well established fact (see below) that the North Vietnamese Army was encouraged by the anti-war movement of the 60s.
Like others, I am convinced that VfP is not a veteran’s group in the traditional sense; they instead have hijacked the name to gain status and credibility for a political cause. Their literature states “associate membership is open to all like minded people.” Though to be a full member you must have a DD-214. Evidence that has been gathered strongly indicates relationships do exist between VfP and other anti-American groups. They are not for peace, not when they attempt to demoralize active duty soldier and betray this country while we are at war. They can not be unaware that their activities lend support to this country’s enemies; all the while the lives of thousands of this country’s men and women are endangered. Does it bring peace when their efforts encourage our enemies to fight on? I suppose they are for peace at any price, including freedom.
Do your own research on this organization and share what you find with others. I encourage you to contact VfP and request copies of their tax documents, noting where they get their funding. As a non-profit, 501 (3) c organization they are required by law to make available such information upon request. Sources of donations are very revealing evidence. Lastly, contact them with your information and demand explanations.
*VfP did confirm their membership number to be 7500-74% veterans =5,600 out of 25 million.
You do the math...
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