Guest Author - Cynthia Phillips

Here is my interview with Adam Kokesh from the organization Iraq Veterans Against the War. He plans on running for Congress in New Mexico's 3rd District. He is a "Ron Paul supporter and a freedom fighter." I believe he is making some waves among independent like-minded people, so keep your eye on this guy.

1. Who are you and tell us about Iraq Veterans Against the War?

Kokesh: "I joined the Marines at 17 while attending the Native American
Preparatory School in San Ysidro, New Mexico. I joined the reserves so
that I could attend Claremont McKenna College. I volunteered to go to
Iraq while there and ended up in Fallujah with a Civil Affairs team
from February to September of 2004. When I got out of the Marines, I
moved to Washington, DC to pursue a master's in Political Management
and joined IVAW after seeing the website. I didn't know what I was
getting into, but I was compelled to have my name on that list! Since
our inception, we have called for and been working to achieve through
direct action a complete withdrawal of all occupying forces from Iraq."

2. What do you think about Obama's Presidency? Do you think he'll bring real
change when it comes to foreign policy?

Kokesh: "Obama's Presidency is the manifestation of Americans wanting to wash
their hands, vote for change, and go back to sleep. He has brought
significant change in our foreign policy since getting elected. His
time-line for Iraq was pushed back, and now it will take longer than
even Bush planned to leave, but Obama won't really leave, since his
plan calls for a residual force of 50,000 troops on 14 permanent bases
with an increased reliance on private contractors. He has announced a
surge in Afghanistan that Bush never planned and has already deployed
17,000 of his planned 30,000 troop increase. He has even escalated
strikes into Pakistan. Thank God he ended the Global War On Terror by
renaming all of that "Overseas Contingency Operations!" But seriously,
we have seen no change in premise or principles in our foreign policy."

3. What do you think about the bailouts?

Kokesh: "It is criminal to take money from the American people, be it by forced
taxation, inflation, or through a debt that we are passing on to our
children, in order to give it to corporations who have demonstrated
that they have nothing to offer society."

4. Who is your hero?

Kokesh: "I have found inspiration from thousands throughout history, but as
Memorial Day passed just recently, Smedley Butler stands out at the
moment."


Thank you Adam for doing all you can for freedom; you are truly one of America’s heroes!