NEW YORK -- In observation of the second anniversary of the Iraq War, a number of national and local antiwar groups are planning to protest this weekend in Fayetteville, N.C., the home of Fort Bragg. Iraq Veteran and Operation Truth Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff issued the following statement today opposing the protestors' plans to protest in the Troops' backyard:

"Demonstrators have every right to protest the Iraq War this weekend. However, their choice of location for one protest -- Fort Bragg --is wrong and insensitive. It blames the warriors for the war. The decision makers are notat Fort Bragg, they are in Washington. Rallying against the war by marching at Fort Bragg is like protesting the cows if you don't like McDonalds.

"The anti-war protesters say they support the Troops. They can say it until they are blue in the face, but that's a hollow sentiment when they're protesting the busloads of Troops coming and going from Bragg to Iraq every day. If you support the troops, don't protest them in their backyards, especially not as they're sent to war or returning home.

Finally, as families living in and around the bases try to salvage some sense of normalcy as they worry about their loved ones overseas, the last thing they need to see on Saturday morning is a crowd of protestors outside their window. This is the height of insensitivity by the anti-war organizations.

If we are to make real progress in supporting and protecting our Troops we should hold our elected officials' feet to the fire for the decisions they make. But protesting the Troops will accomplish nothing; we should be listening to them."

Operation Truth (www.optruth.org) is the nation's first and largest non-partisan organization representing Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.