Matthew Hoh
| Matthew Hoh Keywiki Twitter Website (Soldier, academic, journalist) | |
|---|---|
| File:Matthew Hoh.png | |
| Nationality | USA |
| Interests | peace, US/Foreign policy |
US soldier who became an activist against war. | |
Matthew Hoh is a former US soldier who became an anti-war activist. In 2009, he resigned his position with the State Department in Afghanistan in protest of the escalation of the war.[1] He then became a Senior Fellow with the Center for International Policy and a member of the Eisenhower Media Network (EMN), who offer "alternative analyses untainted by Pentagon or defense industry ties."
Career
Hoh worked nearly twelve years with the US military and the wars overseas with the United States Marine Corps, Department of Defense and State Department.[1]
Hoh took part in the American occupation of Iraq; first in 2004-2005 in Salah ad Din Province with a State Department reconstruction and governance team and then in 2006-2007 in Anbar Province as a Marine Corps company commander. When not deployed, Hoh worked on Afghanistan and Iraq war policy and operations issues at the Pentagon and State Department from 2002-2008.[1]
In 2009, Matthew Hoh resigned in protest from his post in Afghanistan with the State Department over the American escalation of the war.[1]
From 2010-2024, Hoh was affiliated with the Center for International Policy, first as a senior fellow and later as a senior fellow emeritus, and a member of the Eisenhower Media Network (EMN)[1], "an organization of expert former military, intelligence, and civilian national security officials" who offer "alternative analyses untainted by Pentagon or defense industry ties. They counter Washington’s establishment narrative on most national security issues of the day. They oppose systemic corruption, nepotism, and the undue influence that the military-industrial-congressional complex — through its money and army of 'revolving door' lobbyists — has on the policymaking process."[2] EMN is a left wing antiwar organization founded and led by Ben & Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen.[3]
Matthew Hoh addressed the UN Security Council during its briefing on Ukraine in March, 2024.[4]
He is listed on the World Beyond War Advisory Board.[5]
Own words
In college I lost my faith and then became a comparative religion major.
I worked in finance and publishing for a couple of years after college and then joined the Marines.
In 2007, after my second deployment to Iraq, PTSD, moral injury and severe depression took over my life. I began trying to drink myself to death. Thoughts of suicide became common until they were a near daily presence by 2011.
In early 2012, after thoughts of suicide had evolved into plans for suicide, I began to have breakdowns. At rock bottom, a description for a circumstance I used to think cliched until I met it personally, I somehow made the right decision. I entered into therapy and stopped drinking. Minus a few days, I’ve remained sober. I also take medication.
The concept of a future is available to me again; PTSD, moral injury and depression take that from you. It is an incredibly profound joy to once more have a life ahead of me.
More importantly, my soul, which I had kicked into a hole and subjugated years ago, is getting healthy too.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 https://eisenhowermedianetwork.org/staff/matthew-hoh/
- ↑ https://eisenhowermedianetwork.org/about/
- ↑ https://vtdigger.org/2023/03/20/vermont-nonprofit-founded-by-ice-cream-magnate-ben-cohen-opposes-u-s-support-for-ukraine/
- ↑ https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1q/k1qlssk4om
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230710204532/https://worldbeyondwar.org/who/
- ↑ https://matthewhoh.com/about-me/