Handout from Vets for Peace

This is a copy of the handout given out last week at the Veterans for Peace protest at the National Archives Building. (More information at this link about this event- scroll down.)

Here's the text of our handout (which we also signed and sent to each Judiciary Committee member):

Our Intention

As veterans and family members of military personnel, we respect and honor the military oath of service to America—a solemn oath, having no expiration date, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Since January of 2001, we have witnessed George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and other administration officials abuse the Constitution by violating the Bill of Rights, by ignoring international agreements, by defying Congress, and by violating the public trust through lies and deception. Bush and Cheney’s serial abuse of the Law of the Land clearly marks them as domestic enemies of the Constitution. In addition, they have illegally invaded and occupied Iraq, deliberately destroyed civilian infrastructure, authorized torture, and unlawfully detained prisoners. These actions clearly mark them as war criminals.

We realize that during our action today at the National Archives, we might be in technical breach of some minor statutes. But given our concern for the Supreme Law of the Land and the ineffectiveness of our lawful efforts to date, we are compelled to take this extraordinary action. We are not disturbing the peace; we are attempting to restore the peace (and restore the integrity of government as well). We are not conducting ourselves in a disorderly manner; our action is well-ordered and well-considered. We are not trespassing; we have come to the home of our Constitution to honor the oath to defend it.

We take this action as a last resort. For years we have pursued every avenue open to conscientious citizens to re-establish the rule of law and to restore the balance of power described in our Constitution. We have called, written, and visited our members of Congress. We have written guest editorials and letters to the editors of our newspapers. We have held vigils; we have demonstrated; we have marched in the streets. Despite these repeated and ongoing actions, Congress has not acted, and the media has largely ignored this momentous crisis in our nation.

Our action today is intended to raise public awareness of the crimes of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney and the need to hold them accountable; to motivate Congress to begin the impeachment process; and to induce the mainstream media to focus on the misdeeds of the current administration instead of the promise of the next. We want to emphasize that accountability extends beyond impeachment to prosecution for war crimes even after their terms of office expire.

We appeal to Congress to hold the Bush Administration accountable!

We call on the media to report with fairness on our action and, especially, on the grave misdeeds of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney!

We urge all Americans to join in defending the United States Constitution!

Through this action, we honor the wisdom and foresight of those original patriots who crafted this defining document of our great nation, as we also honor all those who, since 1787, have sacrificed to support and defend this law of the land.

Veterans for Peace – September 23, 2008