Back in 1970, when the United States was involved in an imperial war in Viet Nam, the national returned Peace Corps Volunteers organization of that era (CRV, Committee of Returned Volunteers, over 1,000 RPCVs) reached a very sad conclusion.

We concluded that US foreign policy towards the rest of world was so odious that the Peace Corps itself was at best irrelevant, and at worst, the sugar-coating that sought to make our nation's aggressive posture more palatable.

The parallels with today are sadly unmistakable.
A policy of unilateral war in Iraq, based on lies to the American people undermines the Peace Corps. The US ousting of a democratically-elected government in Haiti undermines the Peace Corps. The contempt that the Bush Administration has repeatedly shown for the United Nations undermines the Peace Corps.

For the sake of the very legitimacy of the Peace Corps, the institution that seeks to uphold the best of American values abroad, it is imperative that the Bush clique be ousted in the November elections.

-Andy Berman, RPCV Togo, Co-chair Committee of Returned Voluteers.

By Terese Condon (204.145.129.188) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 11:16 am: Edit Post

I completely agree with the above. I served in Ethiopia in 1967-68 and saw first hand what our nations policies did to the underdeveloped countries. Now I travel all over the world and see how other countries view our "big brother" attitude and "bully" attitudes. Though we say we are a democracy we also say if you don't do what we want and if you don't agree with us then you are an enemy of the U.S.

What happened to Freedom of Speach. What happen to democracy?

It would be shameful for Peace Corp to support Bush. We are mandeated to "Seek Peace, Live Peace etc"

Terese Condon Ethiopia