What an enormous hole is a month of black-out, especially for an organization more key to ending the war in Iraq than are bucket-loads of intellectuals and activists writing for Dissident Voice.

However, dear radical readers of DV, on the outside chance that you’re reviewing old posts to Sheila Samples’ very fine piece, this is for your information:

“IVAW to Show Military Opposition to the Iraq War on October 27

If you are a soldier or veteran who has served on active duty or in the Reserves or National Guard since 9/11, and you are frustrated and angry with the way our military has been used and abused to wage an occupation against the people of Iraq, then know that you are not alone. On October 27th, veterans, soldiers, and citizens will gather in 11 cities around this country in a national expression of the breadth and depth of antiwar sentiment in this nation. One of the biggest gatherings of IVAW members will be in Boston, where IVAW members from across the Northeast will come together for a fundraiser on Friday night, the march on Saturday, and a regional meeting immediately following the march. If you are a veteran or active duty person interested in meeting IVAW members in Boston, please email newengland@ivaw.org or boston@ivaw.org. The Seattle chapter has also been integral in the planning of their regional march, please contact seattle@ivaw.org to connect with fellow veterans in the Northwest. For additional information on regions and chapters participating in the October 27 marches and demos, including those in NYC, LA, and Orlando, please contact the regional coordinator or chapter in your area, http://www.ivaw.org/chaptersandregions. Check http://www.Oct27.org for directions to the events and additional information.”

The IVAW website is http://www.ivaw.org/

Spread the word.

Thank you.

I’ve been trying to raise money for the Iraq Veterans Against the War. If you Google to IVAW, you’ll find the group’s homepage, first, followed by a relatively balanced piece on them at Wikipedia, followed immediately by loonies’ blogs and rants. To date, these rants constitute the “last word.”

But AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS IN IRAQ against the war? It cannot be spoken in America. Arthur Silber’s most recent writings, embodied, in the persons of many incredibly brave and committed soldiers and veterans.

I suspect none of this comes as a surprise to either of you. But indulge me a moment longer. There follows a brief statement by an IVAW member, “Just a Matter of Time,” by Chris Ritter.

“As an active duty member of IVAW, I’ve always known it was just a matter of time before someone tracked me down to question my loyalty. I recently logged on to my Army mail account and mixed in with all the work related business I find a letter from an individual who had nothing better to do than check our website and send me his thoughts about my membership. He clearly did not read all of my profile. I felt a bit invaded at first but then realized the individual had to scratch his head and think why would someone join IVAW and stay in the military. Here is a great reason or two. I LOVE my job and would not trade it for anything. I also LOVE my country and fellow service members enough to care and not stand silently by while they die for this administration’s pride and contractor’s wealth. He said he will return to Iraq next spring as well. Perhaps we will meet when he needs heli-born insertion, or critical cargo on time on target. It’s funny. Everyone in my unit from my peers to the CMDR knows of my views and efforts to support and effect change. They support and respect me. As aircrew man we must place total trust in each other in our flight duties and that has not been affected whatsoever. They also know that when we deploy I give 150% to the mission. The soldiers and marines just like us deserve, expect and will get no less. The fact that I do it for them and my unit does not mean I have to spout the propaganda and lies that make up the justification for our invasion and occupation of Iraq.”

How? How? How would Hunter try to get that reality across to our terrified countrymen, today, October 21, 2007?

if any have read the book, does he name it?

and if not……………why not?

Gonzo was talking to his wife on the telephone about something they were going to do, when suddenly he decided to shoot himself in the head. That really makes sense, doesn’t it? Also, his wife said all she heard was a “click,” which meant the gun had a silencer on it.

I have read that he was working on an expose of 9-11. He absolutely hated George Bush, and I think he got a bit too close for the cabal. He once wrote that Bush came to a party he was giving (crashed it), but got drunk and passed out in the bathtub, and he had to have him hauled away…

I miss him.

But in the grand tradition of literary speculation, I would ask whether or not Thompson was bummed big time about the Bushwazee and their yuppie murdering.