VVAW Statement on the Ukraine

By Vietnam Veterans Against the War

In our 55 years as an organization, Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) has witnessed way too many preludes to war. We know first hand the consequences and devastation of imperial wars.

As we write this, the Biden administration has returned to out-dated Cold War protocols. We are disheartened by this. We had hoped the botched pull out from Afghanistan was a lesson learned. But now the pattern of arrogance and aggression continues.

VVAW calls out Russian aggression as well as NATO militarism. The world and the US need to move beyond the saber-rattling and towards alternative methods of internationalist support and conflict resolution.

Just as VVAW supported the self-determination of the Vietnamese people, we support the rights of the Ukrainian people to determine their own destiny, free of outside influences and threats.

The escalating situation is a sad, shabby attempt at rekindling the burnt-out embers of 20th Century nationalism. The desperate strongman of an exhausted superpower versus a declining, nostalgic president, desperate for a remembered enemy.

Ukrainians, Russians, citizens, soldiers - all will pay the price of their leaders’ war-mongering. Working people are paying the price already, watching, fearing the moribund dance of the decaying giants. No one is really in control. No one will be held responsible. The one inescapable truth is that the poor and working people will pay, first in dollars, and perhaps soon, in blood.

Commentary on VVAW.org:

• On the Necessity of Struggle by Bill Branson
• Serving the Children of Vietnam by Bill Branson
• While Comrades Fade, Hard Lessons Remain by Bill Branson
• Stand Up For Your Rights by Bill Branson
• Putin's War on Ukraine Must Stop by Bill Branson and Joe Miller
• Putin's War on Ukraine Must Stop by Vietnam Veterans Against the War
• VVAW Statement on the Ukraine by Vietnam Veterans Against the War
• Afghanistan: Another Rich Man's War Ends by Bill Branson and Joe Miller
• We Have To Be Winter Soldiers by Bill Branson
• Fascism is Not an Option by Vietnam Veterans Against the War National Office
• Is This Who We Are? by W. D. Ehrhart
• Why We Struggle by Bill Branson
• We Must Continue the Fight for a Better World! by Bill Branson
• Into Another Rich Man's War (VVAW Statement on Potential War with Iran) by VVAW
• Forever Wars Demand Forever Opposition by Bill Branson
• From the National Office by Joe Miller
• The River Keeps Flowing by VVAW
• The Struggle Continues by Joe Miller
• VVAW Still Teaching the American War in Vietnam: On Burns/Novick "The Vietnam War" by Joe Miller
• 50 Years of VVAW by Joe Miller
• For Peace, Justice, and Veterans Rights by Bill Branson
• The Importance of Vietnam and VVAW: Then and Now by Bill Branson
• Veterans Fight Back by Bill Branson
• From the National Office by Bill Branson
• No New War in the Middle East by Bill Branson
• From the National Office by Bill Branson
• Our War, Our Legacy by Bill Branson
• From the National Office by Bill Branson
• Get Out and Vote: Demonstrate Our People Power by Bill Branson
• What We Know and When We Know It by Meg Miner
• From The National Office by Bill Branson
• Blood on the Tracks - A Review by Horace Coleman (reviewer)
• From The National Office by Joe Miller
• Ken and Bill's Excellent Adventure by W. D. Ehrhart
• From the National Office by Barry Romo
• From the National Office by Barry Romo
• Soldier Jailed For Rap Lyrics Is Discharged by Dahr Jamail, truthout.org Reporter
• US Military Plans To Extradite Stop-Lossed Iraq War Vet to Iraq For Court Martial Over Protest Rap Song by Iraq Veterans Against The War
• A Letter to America: No Medal Jacket by Marc Levy
• The Worst Question You Can Ask a Combat Vet: Talking Dirty to the Kids by Marc Levy
• From Vietnam to Afghanistan: The Bling They Curse and Carry by Marc Levy
• The "Obama Drama" by Horace Coleman
• Matthew Hoh Resignation Letter by Matthew Hoh
• Just Like Hanoi Jane by Marc Levy
• Winter Soldier Iraq and Afghanistan (the book) by Horace Coleman
• How What Happened in the Bush Administration Shaped What Happened in Iraq by Horace Coleman
• A Father traumatized by a son's wounds goes into action by Horace Coleman
• All Bets Are Off For Today's Vets by Horace Coleman
• Election Night Musing by Horace Coleman
• War Jokes Wanted: No Laughing Matter by Marc Levy and Susan Erony
• The Leftie Nation Throws a Rightie by Jerry Lembcke
• Thuy's Dream of Peace: Winter in America by Marc Levy
• Retraction of Article in the Veteran, Volume 38, Number 1, Spring 2008 by VVAW National Office
• Support PFC James Burmeister by Carol Rawert Trainer
• Support IVAW's Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan
• Fake Vets Chasing Fame by Marc Levy
• William Hugh Davis: 1948 - 2007 - Anti-war, union activist by Patricia Trebe
• President of Vietnam Vets Against the War - Year-long tour convinced him it was wrong by Larry Finley
• You Tube videos of Bill Davis
• Iraq Dead Ahead: A Brief Military History and Civilian Guide to Arlington National Cemetery Iraq Dead Ahead by Marc Levy
• The Horror of War Can be Catnip for Young Men by Jerry Lembcke
• Iraq War Resister Kyle Snyder Arrested in Canada, then Released: U.S. Army Requested the Illegal Apprehension by Gerry Condon
• Vietnam Veterans Against The War Endorses HR 508:Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007 by VVAW National Office
• VVAW Supports All the Troops
• A Primer on the Whys and Wherefores of PTSD: Whatever You Did in War Will Always Be With You by Marc Levy
• What the Fuss Is All About by W. D. Ehrhart
• Winter Soldier DVD Now Available at VVAW Store
• From Vietnam to Iraq: Ignoring the Veteran Healthcare Crisis by VVAW & IVAW
• Vietnam Veterans and Iraq Veterans Release Memorial Day Report on Veterans' Healthcare Crisis by VVAW National Office
• VVAW Statement to the People of Vietnam by VVAW National Office
• Vietnam Veterans Against the War Denounce Bush Proposal to Cut Vets' Benefits by VVAW National Office
• The Struggle Continues by VVAW
• Stolen Honor - A Dishonor: Vietnam Veterans oppose Sinclair Broadcast smear even in reduced format by VVAW National Office
• A Troubling Tribute by Jan Barry
• Defending VVAW Against Swift Boat Vets Lies by Keith Nolan
• 40th Anniversary of Gulf of Tonkin shows history repeating itself with Iraqi War by VVAW National Office
• Anybody But Bush by VVAW National Staff and Coordinators
• Vietnam Veterans Say Torture Policy Not an Aberration - Dates Back To Vietnam War by VVAW National Office
• Chicago Vietnam Veterans Against the War and supporters honor fallen servicemen on Memorial Day by Chicago VVAW
• Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement on John Kerry
• John Kerry and War Crimes in Vietnam by Jan Barry
• Living with Lies by Dave Curry, Joe Miller and Barry Romo
• On the Oil-Slicked Road to Empire: Are We Really Safer Now? by Barry Romo, Dave Curry & Joe Miller
• No War with Iraq No Blood for Oil or Ego by Barry Romo, Dave Curry & Joe Miller
• Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement on the "War Against Terrorism" by VVAW National Office
• Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement on September 11 Attacks by VVAW
• VETERANOS DE VIETNAM CONTRA LA GUERRA DECLARACION SOBRE LOS ATAQUES DEL 11 DE SEPTIEMBRE
• VVAW Statement on Robert Kerrey by Clarence Fitch Chapter of VVAW
• Remembering the Tonkin Gulf and After by Joe Miller
• Indian Wars & the Vietnam Experience by Ben Chitty
• Recollections:Brainwashing Busts Out at Cecil Field by Mike Woloshin
• "Peace with Honor" by Ben Chitty