22Apr
WASHINGTON — Today, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a news briefing on military operations against Iran from the Pentagon, Common Defense held a news briefing with veterans of the Iraq War and experts on congressional war power. They discussed the rapidly evolving conflict in Iran and its implications for U.S. policy, national security, and democratic oversight.
This comes at a time when a majority of Americans disapprove of U.S. military action in Iran — a staunch difference from 2002 when a solid majority (73%) favored taking military action against Iraq. Speakers also reflected on lessons from past conflicts and discussed how those experiences inform their perspectives on the intelligence and rhetoric surrounding Iran today.
[Please find the recording of the briefing linked here]
Naveed Shah, political director for Common Defense and U.S. Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom:
“As someone who served side by side with my comrades in arms in Iraq, I’m telling you now, we cannot afford to repeat this. Not again. Not with our sons and daughters.”
“Our military is the best in the world. It should be for defending America—not for policing the Middle East or chasing regime change fantasies.”
“Diplomacy, de-escalation, and congressional oversight are not signs of weakness. In fact, it’s the very wisdom of those things that we ignored 23 years ago that led us to where we are today. Let’s finally learn the lesson that this anniversary demands.”
Chris Purdy, founder and CEO of the Chamberlain Network, who served for eight years in the Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq in 2011:
“After two decades, without meaningful oversight or accountability, Americans are left frustrated and questioning whether the system works for them.”
“The Iraq War is a prime example of a conflict that created distance between those making the decisions and those who had to live with them. There’s no reason you won’t see the same thing happen with Iran.”
“The purpose of the [Iraq War] anniversary is not just to look backward but to look forward and ensure this country doesn’t go down the same path it did 23 years ago.”
Sharon Arana, policy advisor at Minority Vets, Air Force veteran, and a ground linguist stationed at NSA during 9/11:
“The lesson of Iraq is simple: When we rush into conflict without accountability, those already on the margins bear the greatest cost.”
“We cannot say that we support our troops if we ignore who our decisions impact the most. Avoiding another forever war isn’t just about foreign policy. It’s about justice for the people we send to fight.”
Chris Anders, director of democracy and technology at ACLU:
“The United States is now fully ensnared in the most significant, deepest, and most expensive, unauthorized and undeclared war since Vietnam.”
“Congress must now reassert its constitutional authority by using its spending powers to stop this unconstitutional war.”
“The administration’s post-strike briefings with members of Congress are no substitute for the solemn exercise of war authority that the constitution conferred solely on Congress.”
Puya Gerami, founding member of Iranian-Americans for Peace and Democracy:
“Let me say this clearly: This heinous war is hurting—not helping—Iranian people. The war is inflaming—not alleviating—our suffering. And the war is closing—not opening—our path to democracy.”
“What we have to do is oppose these authoritarian governments at war, fight for democracy everywhere, and demand that the United States and Israel immediately cease fire. Because if we are truly serious about standing with Iranian people—if we’re truly serious about bringing about a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Middle East—we must stop this war immediately and prevent yet another catastrophe as we had in Iraq.”
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Common Defense Civic Engagement (501c4) (CDCE) is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.