Michael McPhearson joined the Army Reserve as an enlisted soldier at the age of seventeen. He went on to become a field artillery officer in the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division during the first Gulf War and eventually separated from active duty in 1992 as a Captain. Mr. McPhearson is now the national executive director of Veterans For Peace, where he oversees all programs, communication, and administration.

“Representative (Jim) McGovern talked about how Congress is fearful and powerless in not wanting to have these (war authorization) debates, because they’re afraid of what the political fallout would be. And I said to him I think it goes beyond cowardice. I think there’s a level of decadence in it. And the reason I say that is because by not debating and not facing whatever the outcome might be, they’re trying to play it safe and gain from the blood that is spilled by U.S. service members and the Iraqis, Afghans and people around the world that are being killed by U.S. service members, while they continue to stay in power and enjoy the benefits of being a congressperson. And to me, that’s a deep immorality that has set into our political system.” Michael McPhearson: Executive Director of Veterans for Peace