Washington – Anti-war groups are trying to rally active troops to speak out against the war in Iraq – a political tactic they hope will sway voters Nov. 7.
A small group of active-duty members opposed to the war created a website last month intended to collect thousands of signatures of other service members. People can submit their name, rank and duty station if they support statements denouncing the U.S. invasion.
The electronic grievances are passed along to members of Congress, according to the website.
“Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home,” the website says.
Jonathan Hutto, a Navy seaman based in Norfolk, Va., who set up the website a month ago, said the group has collected 118 names and is trying to verify that they are legitimate service members.
There are 1.4 million troops on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserve.
Hearing publicly from active-duty troops is rare.
Military laws bar officers from denouncing the president and other U.S. leaders, and regulations typically prevent service members from lobbying for a particular cause while on duty or wearing the uniform.
Legal experts who reviewed the website said the effort probably would not violate any rules because the site is not a personal attack on members of the administration and allows service members to quietly pass their grievance to Congress in their free time.
Backers of the website also cite a “whistle-blower protection” law as added protection. Under the law, service members can file complaints to Congress without reprisal.
