View source for Veterans for Peace

{{multiple issues|{{more citations needed|date=February 2023}}
{{Puffery|date=October 2019}}
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{{Short description|American anti-war organization}}

[[Image:Veterans for Peace (logo).jpg|thumb|right|230px|Veterans for Peace logo]]
'''Veterans for Peace''' is an nonprofit membership organization<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.veteransforpeace.org/files/7416/7787/7769/VFP_BYLAWS_2023.pdf |title=VFP bylaws}}</ref> founded in 1985. The group works to promote alternatives to [[war]]. Initially made up of [[US military]] veterans of [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]] and the [[Vietnam War]] - later including veterans of the [[Gulf War]], the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] and the [[Iraq War]] - as well as peacetime veterans and non-veterans, it has since spread overseas and had an active offshoot in the [[United Kingdom]] called Veterans for Peace UK<ref>{{cite web |url=http://veteransforpeace.org.uk/ |title = VETERANS FOR PEACE UK}}</ref> from 2011 to 2022. The British offshoot of VFP, Veterans for Peace UK, was permanently shut down in August, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vfpuk.org/2022/08/03/vfp-uk-closing-down/ |title = VFP UK CLOSING DOWN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://vfpuk.org/2022/08/08/vfp-uk-closing-statement/ |title = VFP UK: CLOSING STATEMENT}}</ref>

The organization has opposed the military policies of the United States, [[NATO]], and [[Israel]], and has opposed military actions and threats to [[Russia]], [[Iraq]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Iran]], [[Libya]] and [[Syria]].

==Foundation==
{{Further|Vietnam Veterans Against the War#History}}

The stated objective of the group is as follows:

:''We draw on our personal experiences and perspectives gained as veterans to raise public awareness of the true costs and consequences of [[militarism]] and war - and to seek peaceful, effective alternatives."<ref>[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about.htm]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407052438/http://www.veteransforpeace.org/about.htm|date=April 7, 2005}}</ref>''

Veterans For Peace was founded and incorporated as a [[non-profit organization]] in the state of Maine on July 8, 1985.<ref>Veterans for Peace: The First Decade pp. 26-36</ref> It was approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a [[501(c)#501(c)(3)|501(c)(3)]] tax-exempt educational organization that year. It was also recognized as a [[United Nations]] [[non-governmental organization]] (NGO) in 1990.<ref>Letters from IRS, and U.N. Membership Committee dated 20 Nov 1990, originals on file at VFP National Office</ref> VFP's first permanent representative to the United Nations was Benjamin Weintraub of [[Staten Island]], New York, who was seated in 1990.<ref>Veterans for Peace: The First Decade, p. 138</ref> Chapters and members are active in communities throughout the [[United States]], [[Puerto Rico]], and Viet Nam. National conventions are held annually and members communicate through quarterly newsletters as well as daily listserve news, online discussion groups as well as the national and chapter websites. Veterans for Peace has a national office in [[St. Louis, Missouri|Saint Louis]], [[Missouri]] and members across the country, both organized in chapters and at-large.

At least one unrelated [[anti-war]] group from the [[Vietnam War]] era had a similar name: "Veterans for Peace in Viet-Nam" participated in a number of demonstrations in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jofreeman.com/photos/KingAtChicago03.html |title=Dr. King Marches Against the War in VietNam, March 1967 |publisher=Jofreeman.com |access-date=2012-08-18}}</ref> And another demonstration in Washington, DC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/wdt3/13922779908/in/photostream/ |title=Veterans For Peace In Vietnam demonstration in Washington, DC.|date=15 August 2013|publisher=wteague.com}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|date=September 2021}} Yet another group with a similar name may also have existed at the time of the [[Korean War]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

==Anti-war activities==

VFP first began organizing major anti-war protests in 1987 when, on Easter Sunday, hundreds of its members marched on President Reagan's "Western White House" in California, and Vice President Bush's vacation home in [[Kennebunkport, Maine]], protesting U.S. support for the Nicaraguan Contra counter-revolution.<ref name="Peace p. 78">Veterans for Peace: The First Decade p. 78</ref>

Starting in 2003, Veterans for Peace became a major participant of [[protests against the Iraq War]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

In 2004, its Southern California chapters began installing [[Arlington West]], a weekly "temporary cemetery" in tribute to those killed in the war in Iraq, each Sunday in [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] and [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], [[California]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

In August 2005, Veterans For Peace Member, [[Desert storm]] veteran Dennis Kyne<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dennis Kyne Stock Pictures, Royalty-free Photos & Images - Getty Images|url=https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/dennis-kyne?mediatype=photography&phrase=dennis%20kyne&sort=mostpopular|access-date=2020-07-02|website=www.gettyimages.com}}</ref>{{better source needed|Getty images|date=September 2021}} lead a group of veterans in support of [[Cindy Sheehan]], the mother of a [[US Army]] soldier killed in [[Iraq]] who embarked on an extended anti-war [[vigil]] near the ranch of [[US President]] [[George W. Bush]] in [[Crawford, Texas|Crawford]], [[Texas]].<ref>[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/convention05/michael_sheehan.htm]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051020215549/http://www.veteransforpeace.org/convention05/michael_sheehan.htm|date=October 20, 2005}}</ref> On August 5, 2005, Sheehan spoke at the organization's 20th annual convention in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], just a day before traveling to Crawford to begin her vigil. Members traveled from California to install an Arlington West display at "Camp Casey", the site of Sheehan's protest.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

In March 2006, Veterans For Peace and coalition partners [[Iraq Veterans Against the War]], [[Gold Star Families for Peace]], and [[Military Families Speak Out]] joined with [[Hurricane Katrina]] survivors and the relief and rebuilding organizations [https://web.archive.org/web/20060223073926/http://sosafterkatrina.org/mission_statement.html Savin' Ourselves After Katrina], [[Common Ground Collective]], and [http://bayoulibertyrelief.org/ Bayou Liberty Relief], as well as a number of [[African-American]] churches along the [[Gulf Coast]] on a march from [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], [[Alabama]] to [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. Originally titled [http://vetgulfmarch.org/ the Veterans and Survivors March], it quickly took on the moniker of Walkin' to New Orleans, in tribute to the famous song by [[Fats Domino]]. The marchers traveled the Gulf Coast advocating an immediate end to the war in Iraq and redirection of funds to help rebuild areas Katrina damaged not only in [[New Orleans]], but also in [[Mississippi]], and [[Alabama]]. {{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

According to Vets for Peace - Peace Action Network, "The military has a clear and dangerous presence at Milwaukee's [[Summerfest]]" (June 26 - July 6, 2008).  "One exhibit is especially offensive: kids as young as 13 years old can aim [[automatic weapon]]s from atop a [[humvee]] at a large screen to virtually kill people."{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

Veterans for Peace participated in an anti-war demonstration held on the [[White House]] sidewalk in December 2010; dozens were arrested, including [[Ray McGovern]], [[Daniel Ellsberg]], [[Chris Hedges]] and a number of Veterans for Peace members.<ref>[http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=6017][[The Real News]]<span> (TRNN)</span></ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=August 2021}}

In 2016, the [[US Peace Memorial Foundation]] awarded [[The US Peace Prize]] to the group “In recognition of heroic efforts to expose the causes and costs of war and to prevent and end armed conflict.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Veterans For Peace Awarded 2016 US Peace Prize |url=https://www.uspeaceprize.org/ |access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>

==Issues==
{{Primary sources|section|date=September 2021}}
Veterans for Peace takes positions on a number of issues which generally oppose the military policy of the United States, [[NATO]], and its allies against nations such as [[Iran]], [[Russia]], [[Palestine]] and [[Syria]].

===Veterans affairs===
Members and chapters actively participate in efforts to save [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|VA]] healthcare and defend veterans rights; to provide counseling through the GI Rights Hotline to active duty military needing assistance; and providing alternative information to counter military recruiters in the schools.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

In April 1986, VFP protested the judicial execution of [[David Funchess]], a Vietnam War veteran who was [[Electric chair|electrocuted]] in [[Florida]] for a double murder despite exhibiting signs of severe [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] from his service that may have affected his moral culpability in the murders he committed. VFP set up a round-the-clock vigil at the Florida Vietnam War Memorial in the days leading up to Funchess's execution. Members of VFP called Funchess a "forgotten man" and protested that neither Florida Governor [[Bob Graham]] nor the state and federal courts had taken Funchess's PTSD into enough consideration when refusing to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |date=1986-04-23 |title=Mercy Pleas for Condemned Veteran's Life Unheeded |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117357910/mercy-pleas-for-condemned-veterans/ 1], [https://web.archive.org/web/20230202003050/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116976887/mercy-pleas-for-condemned-veterans/, 2] |work=[[Tallahassee Democrat]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117357910/mercy-pleas-for-condemned-veterans/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2023-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202003031/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117357910/mercy-pleas-for-condemned-veterans/ |archive-date=2023-02-02 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-11 |title=Battle Scars: Military Veterans and the Death Penalty |url=https://documents.deathpenaltyinfo.org/pdf/BattleScars.f1560295684.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203175259/https://documents.deathpenaltyinfo.org/pdf/BattleScars.f1560295684.pdf |archive-date=2023-02-03 |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=[[Death Penalty Information Center]]}}</ref>

===Central America===
In the 1980s, VFP opposed US-sponsored wars in [[Central America]]. On Easter Sunday, Apr 19, 1987, VFP members marched on President Reagan's Western White House in California, and Vice President Bush's vacation home in [[Kennebunkport, Maine]], protesting U.S. intervention in Central America.<ref name="Peace p. 78"/> From May 4–18, 1987, sixteen members of VFP representing eight states traveled through [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]] and [[Nicaragua]] conducting site visits and interviews with high level government, military, religious and private sector elders, and talking with many average citizens. Following their return, they published a 40-page delegation report that was distributed to 5,000 opinion leaders in the United States including members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the heads of many government offices and agencies, church, labor, and educational leaders, and media pace setters.<ref>Veterans for Peace: The First Decade, pp. 61-76</ref> In 1988, many VFP members participated in the ''Veterans Peace Convoy'' which was intended to truck medical and humanitarian aid to the suffering children of Nicaragua. Though the convoy was stopped by U.S. Customs and Treasury officials in Texas at the Laredo border checkpoint, on June 15, 1988, the vehicles were off-loaded into containers at a Texas port facility and about 95% of the cargo reached its destination in Nicaragua.<ref>Veterans for Peace: The First Decade pp. 81-82</ref> In July 1988, VFP member Joe Ryan, an environmental scientist, of Tallahassee, Florida, established VFP's ''Nicaragua Environmental Science Project''. Ryan spent two years working in Nicaragua training pollution control teams how to correct water contamination problems. The project was credited with significantly reducing the nation's infant mortality rate.<ref>Veterans for Peace: The First Decade pp. 83-84</ref> Also in July 1988, VFP member Randy Parent of Caribou, Maine, drove a truckload of smelting and casting equipment to Guatemala where he established the ''Pro-Tierra Machine Tool Project'' to train members of several indigenous tribes how to make farm tools for the 100,000 members of the Pro-Tierra land reform movement.<ref>Veterans for Peace: The First Decade pp. 84-85</ref>  VFP regularly sends [[Election monitoring|election observers]] to [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], [[Nicaragua]] and [[El Salvador]].<ref name="veteransforpeace.org"/>   {{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

===Yugoslav wars===
Within a year of the start of the [[Yugoslav Wars]] in 1991, it was announced the hospitals in several cities were no longer functional, and thousands of refugees had fled to the mountains. As the refugees were ill-equipped to face the coming winter, many were expected to perish. VFP's UN-NGO representative Ben Weintraub was instructed to offer U.N. officials whatever assistance VFP could provide in helping to deliver medical and humanitarian aid. Following discussions with the [[International Organization for Migration]] (IOM), another UN-NGO, the VFP National Office began contacting hospitals around the U.S. requesting ''[[pro bono]]'' services for any war wounded children that could be evacuated. Within weeks VFP had secured ''pro bono'' space and services for over 100 wounded children, but IOM had been able to evacuate very few due to [[Serbia and Montenegro|Serbian]], [[Croatia]]n, and [[U.N.]] political constraints. In response, VFP organized the Children of War Rescue Project, and with assistance from contacts in the U.K., chief among them John Morrison of the [[Ex-Services Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]], and over 200 other British volunteers, a 63 vehicle convoy including 50 ambulances was staged at [[Brighton, England]]. Seven VFP volunteers including three physicians also joined the convoy that traveled almost non-stop for five days and nights. The convoy stopped only to regroup in Croatia. A Spanish battalion of U.N. protection forces assisted with armored vehicles in the evacuation of over 22 wounded children from [[East Mostar]], [[Bosnia]], including at least one family member accompanying each child. The children were airlifted to [[Ancona, Italy]], and once stabilized, from there to hospitals throughout western Europe and the United States. In all, ''pro bono'' space and medical services were provided for about 50 wounded Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian children through the project.<ref>Veterans for Peace: The First Decade pp. 154-222</ref>

===War on Terror===
In the immediate aftermath of [[9/11]], VFP called for restraint while agreeing that: "...the hijacked airplane attacks on the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon a grievous assault upon innocence; a cause for outrage, sadness and disbelief....At this critical point, we believe it is essential to recognize that terrorists do not represent, nor are representative, of any community or country as a whole. We must not allow terrorism the power to create fear, suspicion and hatred -- or to direct our nation's domestic and foreign policies. We must not surrender to the cycle of retaliatory violence these angry people would push us into. Instead, we must come together and support each other, with faith and trust."<ref>[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/press/response911.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613234411/http://www.veteransforpeace.org/press/response911.htm|date=June 13, 2006}}</ref> Veterans For Peace seeks to protect [[civil liberties]] that they believe are threatened by the [[Patriot Act]] and other similar legislation.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===War in Iraq and Afghanistan===
When the U.S. government threatened [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]], VFP conducted [[public forum]]s, met with elected representatives and participated in marches to express its opposition. As the war began, VFP gathered in [[Washington, DC]], with other veterans groups for Operation Dire Distress. The organization participated in the [[Bring Them Home Now Tour|Bring Them Home Now]] campaign and supports the [[Iraq Veterans Against the War]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

Local chapters continue{{when|date=September 2021}} to conduct educational forums, demonstrations, and ongoing Iraq memorial displays such as [[Arlington West]] (portrayed in the documentary ''[[Arlington West: The Film]]'') to remember the growing human cost of the war, to end the [[military occupation|occupation]], and to bring U.S. troops home.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

VFP Chapter 14 in [[Gainesville, Florida]] has for the last eight years{{Clarify timeframe|date=June 2022}} installed a display of small [[headstone]] replicas along a one-mile stretch of road in town which they call the Memorial Mile. Rows of 4 "tombstones" and columns of about {{frac|1|1|2}}-mile long represent every person killed since the beginning of [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|war in Afghanistan]] to the very day of installation. Every single marker can be located for a friend or loved one to visit, and often remembrances or flowers are left by friends and relatives. From Sat. Morning to Monday evening on [[Memorial Day weekend]] VFP members and volunteers guard the memorial in shifts.  The community has welcomed this tribute to the fallen service men and women and Chapter 14 continues to do this until all the troops come home.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===Impeachment of George W. Bush===
In 2005 and 2007, VFP called for the [[impeachment]] of [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]]. In a letter sent to each member of the U.S. [[United States House of Representatives|House]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]], Veterans For Peace stated that "this administration's war on Iraq, in addition to being increasingly unpopular among Americans, is an unmistakable violation of our Constitution and federal law which you have sworn to uphold. In our system, the remedy for such high crimes is clear: this administration must be impeached."<ref>{{cite news |title=Veterans Group Calls on Congress to Impeach George W. Bush and Richard Cheney |url=http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/033005VeteransForPeace.html |access-date=7 April 2020 |work=Baltimore Chronicle |date=2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=VETERANS FOR PEACE RALLY FOR IMPEACHMENT OF BUSH AND CHENEY |url=https://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/a358d6fb0c07b5307b4abc954a25f93b/VETERANS-FOR-PEACE-RALLY-FOR-IMPEACHMENT-OF-BUSH-AND-CHENEY/ |access-date=7 April 2020 |work=United Press International}}</ref>

===Israel-Palestine===
[[Image:Veteransforpeace-01-10-09.JPG|170px|right|thumb|Veterans for Peace members at January 2009 protest vs. Israeli attacks on Gaza]]
Veterans For Peace issued a statement on [[2006 Lebanon War|Israel's 2006 invasion of Lebanon]] condemning the targeting of civilians by both sides and the "unjustified and totally disproportionate use of force and violence by the IDF ([[Israel Defense Forces]])."<ref>[http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3340 Veterans For Peace Statement on the Fighting in Lebanon-Gaza-Israel] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114073735/http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3340 |date=January 14, 2009 }}, on [[United for Peace and Justice]] web site, July 31st, 2006.</ref> In 2009 it issued a statement against [[2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict|Israel's attacks on Gaza]] condemning attacks on civilians both sides and stating "Bombings, rocket attacks, blockading medical supplies and military invasions will not lead to peace and security but will perpetuate the cycle of death, destruction, fear and insecurity among the people of all countries, including the U.S."<ref>[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/National_vfp_statement_crisis_in_gaza.vp.html National VFP Statement on Crisis in Gaza] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113202610/http://www.veteransforpeace.org/National_vfp_statement_crisis_in_gaza.vp.html |date=January 13, 2009 }}, Veterans for Peace web site, January 7, 2009.</ref>

VFP was a sponsor for the Boston March for Palestine which demanded to "Free Palestine! No war on Iran or Syria! and Boycott Israel!" along with the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights and the Palestine Task Force of United for Justice with Peace. Members of the Palestine Working Group support remembrance of Al Nakba, and have made visits to Gaza and participated in "efforts to break the blockade of essential supplies to the area, including the Gaza Flotilla".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/join-a-working-group/palestine-working-group/ |title=Palestine Working Group |publisher=Veteransforpeace.org |access-date=2012-08-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013210856/http://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/join-a-working-group/palestine-working-group/ |archive-date=2012-10-13 }}</ref>

===War against Iran===
VFP agrees with the Iranian complaint that [[NATO]] seeks to "surround and threaten the nation of Iran".<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2012/05/10/veterans-for-peace-calls-for-an-end-to-nato |title=Calls for an End to NATO |publisher=Veterans for Peace |date=2012-05-10 |access-date=2012-08-18}}</ref> In 2012, the group stated that "Iran does not have a nuclear bomb. The U.S. intelligence agencies unanimously confirm this and say that Iran has not made the decision to build a nuclear weapon. Yet Iran has three neighbors that possess nuclear arsenals—[[India]], [[Israel]], and [[Pakistan]]."<ref name=vfp-ufpj>{{cite web|url=http://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2012/03/07/vfp-endorses-ufpj-stand-against-war-with-iran |title=VFP Endorses UFPJ Stand Against War with Iran  |publisher=Veteransforpeace.org |date= 2012-03-07 |access-date= 2012-08-18}}</ref> VFP endorsed [[United for Peace and Justice]] position against a War against Iran.<ref name=vfp-ufpj />

===Humanitarian intervention in Syria and Libya===
In 2012, VFP opposed military “humanitarian intervention” in [[Libya]] and in Syria as "opposition to all war is the official position of VFP because we know that peace cannot be realized by waging war."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2012/04/03/vfp-opposes-humanitarian-intervention-in-syria- |title=VFP Opposes "Humanitarian Intervention" in Syria April 03, 2012 |publisher=Veteransforpeace.org |date=2012-04-03 |access-date=2012-08-18}}</ref>

===Drones===
Veterans For Peace joined [[Code Pink]], [[World Can't Wait]] and Afghans For Peace to protest Drones in Chicago in 2012.<ref>[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2012/05/18/veterans-protest-against-nato-and-drones-in-chicago Veterans Protest Against NATO and Drones in Chicago], May 18, 2012</ref> On their national calendar, April 2013 was marked as the "No Drone" action month.  Chapters across the nation held actions, protesting the use of drones.

===NATO===
VFP has called for the dissolution of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a "NATO has always been a war-making institution lacking in accountability to the peoples of the nations it claims to represent." VFP states that NATO has waged wars of aggression against Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.  VFP states that NATO maintains nuclear weapons in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. They back Russia's protest that Russia is threatened by missile base construction on its borders.  VFP cites Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Mubarak as examples where NATO did not address human rights abuses by dictators who supported NATO, and charges that NATO supports "Israel's expansionist agenda".<ref name=autogenerated1 />

===Agent Orange===
VFP works with other Vietnam veterans, Vietnamese-Americans, and the [[Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign]] (VAORRC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vn-agentorange.org/index.html |title=Vietnam Agent Orange Campaign &#124; Home |publisher=Vn-agentorange.org |access-date=2012-08-18}}</ref> to secure justice and compensation for the Vietnamese victims of [[2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin|dioxin]]-contaminated [[Agent Orange]] and other herbicides that were sprayed over more than 1/8 of the land of southern [[Vietnam]], [[Laos]] and [[Cambodia]] during the American portion of the [[Vietnam War]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===School of the Americas===
Each year VFP members from across the country go to [[Fort Benning]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], to demonstrate for the closing of the Army's controversial [[Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation|School of the Americas]], a training center for thousands of soldiers from [[Latin America]]n countries which VFP identifies as having "long records of [[human rights]] abuses".{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===Korea===
After revelations{{when|date=September 2021}} of the [[No Gun Ri tragedy|massacres of civilians]] by U.S. soldiers during the [[Korean War]], VFP sent several fact-finding delegations to investigate these allegations and bring the hidden history of that war before the public.<ref name="veteransforpeace.org">[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/our-work/vfp-national-projects/korea-peace-campaign/html]{{dead link|date=July 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>  They continue to work for an end to that conflict through their Korea Peace Campaign.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===Vieques===
The VFP has [[Navy-Vieques protests|actively supported the end]] of the U.S. Navy's use of the [[island]]-[[municipality]] of [[Vieques, Puerto Rico]] for bombing target practice. VFP continues to support current efforts for cleaning up the environment.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===Colombia===
VFP sent fact-finding delegations to [[Colombia]] and educated Americans about US military involvement, the murder of union leaders by [[Paramilitary|para-militaries]] and other human rights abuses, including the use of harmful chemical defoliants in the [[War on Drugs]]. {{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

==Government monitoring and infiltration==
According to [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|FOIA]] documents obtained by the [[American Civil Liberties Union|ACLU]] in 2006, VFP was among the peace groups targeted by FBI monitoring and infiltration by the FBI and local law enforcement terrorism task forces that targeted environmental, anti-war and faith-based groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/national-security/fbi-jttf-spying#group |title=FBI / JTTF Spying |publisher=Aclu.org |date=2006-10-25 |access-date=2012-08-18}}</ref>

==In Fiction==
The former British offshoot of Veterans for Peace, Veterans for Peace UK (2011-2022),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://veteransforpeace.org.uk/ |title = VETERANS FOR PEACE UK}}</ref> was fictionalized in [[Bodyguard (British TV series)]] as "Veterans Peace Group." The fictional British peace group even used the same logo as the real group Veterans for Peace, apparently without permission according to a statement by Veterans for Peace UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forceswatch.net/comment/bodyguard-gets-it-wrong/ |title = Bodyguard gets it wrong}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Cindy Sheehan]]
*[[Ron Kovic]]
*[[Brian Willson]]
*[[James B. Burkholder]]
*[[Coffee Strong]]
*[[Vietnam Veterans Against the War]]
*[[Iraq Veterans Against the War]]
* [[List of anti-war organizations]]
*[[Occupy Oakland#Chronology of events|Scott Olsen (VFP/Occupy injury)]]
* [[Soldiers in Revolt: GI Resistance During the Vietnam War]], book about soldier & sailor resistance during the Vietnam War
*[[Camillo Mac Bica]]
*[[David Cline (activist)|David Cline]]

== References ==

<references/>

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.veteransforpeace.org/ Veterans for Peace official site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141227210703/http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu/product/War-Is-Not-a-Game,5324.aspx ''War Is Not a Game,''by Nan Levinson]
<!-- 
*http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6849029001567018956&q=veterans+iraq
*[http://chicagofreespeechzone.blogspot.com/2007/09/impeachment-bus-stops-here.html The Impeachment Bus Stops Here] A profile of Jim Goodnow, VFP activist who's been traveling across the country in an "impeachment bus" dubbed The Yellow Rose; from the Chicago FreeSpeechZone
*[http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Anatomy_of_antipeace_movement_Military_families_1004.html/ Anatomy of a peace movement: Military families increasingly raising voices against war] (404 on 4Jan05) -->
*[http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/02/1577030.php Video clip] of Vietnam vet and anti-war activist Jaime Vasquez speaking for VFP
*[https://archive.org/details/jmoon Video clip] of VFP member Jason Moon talking about his experience in Iraq
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060608060600/http://www.soaw.org/new/ SOA Watch] (School of the Americas watchdog site)
*[http://www.mccormack.umb.edu/nejpp/articles/19_1/12.PAtwood179-200.pdf War IS The American Way]
*[http://www.vfpsb.org Veterans for Peace Santa Barbara Chapter]
*[http://www.vn-agentorange.org/index.html/Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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[[Category:1985 establishments in Maine]]
[[Category:Peace organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Veterans' organizations opposed to the Iraq War]]
[[Category:American veterans' organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1985]]
[[Category:COINTELPRO targets]]