Alternet posted an amazing interview today between Nora Eisenberg (author of When You Come Home) and Paul Sullivan, the Executive Director of Veterans for Common Sense.

Below are a few excerpts and you can (and should) read the full piece here.

Nora Eisenberg: You’ve been involved with veterans’ issues and rights for close to two decades — as a veteran and advocate for veterans. Why have you devoted your life to this?

Paul Sullivan: The military taught us a valuable lesson during war: never leave a fallen comrade behind. We are now applying that essential lesson for use outside the war zone: We must never leave a fellow veteran behind….

…Now that President Bush has been peaceably removed from office, President Obama need only sign an executive order to end the wars (see Title 38, United States Code, Section 101, Paragraph 33). Congress also has the authority under the Constitution to end the war. Yes, it is that simple.

NE: We’ve had a history of the government hiding the truth about soldiers’ service exposure and the sickness that results — the fallout from atomic testing, Agent Orange, the recently exposed pesticides and anti-nerve gas pills in Desert Storm. Why do you think there’s so much subterfuge? What are the subterfuges in today’s wars that most concern you?

PS: Why? Money and reputation. The military remains more concerned about saving money in the short term and with glorifying war so recruits will want to join. The military uses the same tactics over and over again to avoid responsibility.

The military initially tries to hide the facts, usually by failing to collect data about the release of toxins and the exposure levels among our troops. … Then the military tries to block congressional hearings, investigative journalists and scientific research. For example, the Pentagon fails to answer legislators’ questions, refuses to answer reporters’ calls and rejects proposals for scientific inquiry….

…..

NE: Looking ahead, what do you hope that the Obama administration will accomplish for veterans, veterans’ health and national security? What do you find most encouraging in his statements and actions? I know you’re concerned about his statements about widening the war in Afghanistan. Why?

PS: Veterans for Common Sense issued a detailed report, “Our VCS Vision for a Vibrant VA in 2009.”

We are currently reviewing his policy statements on Afghanistan. While efforts in 2001 appear reasonable to defeat al-Qaida in Afghanistan, the war has turned into a bloody occupation. First, we need an accurate, complete and consistent assessment of facts on the ground, a process made nearly impossible by the propaganda efforts of the former administration.

We are troubled that military efforts in Afghanistan appear fleeting and that the Taliban controls major sections of the country, even going so far as to cut off the vital main supply line from Pakistan going through the Kybher Pass. Corruption and drug crops appear to be flourishing even as more U.S. troops flood into Afghanistan.

We will remain engaged on this issue because the combination of deployments to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has seriously undermined the ability of our military to protect the United States, which should be their primary function.

In the interim, we are exceptionally pleased to learn President Obama ordered the closing of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prison camp, ordered an end to torture and is already evaluating how to bring our troops home from Iraq.

NE: Michelle Obama has expressed special interest in veterans issues. Have you had contact with her? What do you expect that she will be able to accomplish for veterans and their families?

PS: VCS is very pleased at the strong interest shown by Michelle Obama in our service members, military families, veterans and veterans’ families. VCS has not had contact with her. We hope she will continue meeting with these groups as our best advocate inside the White House who definitely has the ear of our new president.

We are impressed with the broad plan for our veterans that President Obama has outlined at his new White House Web site.

….

These are excerpts from “Obama Could Issue an Executive Order to End the Wars Tomorrow (Yes, It’s That Simple)” by Nora Eisenberg originally posted on AlterNet.

takepart with Veterans for Common Sense

takepart and read When You Come Home