In a powerful demonstration of international solidarity, seven U.S. veterans visited Nicaragua in mid-March as part of an official delegation of Veterans For Peace (VFP). As the U.S. continues to grapple with mounting challenges such as increasing authoritarianism, mass deportations, and the dismantling of social services, the delegation’s visit underscores a vital message: that solidarity between the peoples of the U.S. and Nicaragua can help break through the lies and disinformation promoted by powerful interests and reveal how the struggles of ordinary people are interconnected.
Veterans For Peace, a 40-year-old U.S.-based organization founded by former members of the military, is committed to “restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations.” The veterans’ delegation to Nicaragua was more than just a show of solidarity—it was an act of resistance against the disinformation campaign that has consistently misrepresented the Sandinista government and the realities of life in Nicaragua.
Delegation members were VFP Vice President Joshua Shurley, VFP Board member Gerry Condon, VFP Communications Director Chris Smiley, At-Large Member Alvin Glatkowski of Virginia, and Michael Kramer, Douglas Ryder and Dan Shea, three presidents of their respective VFP chapters in Northern New Jersey; Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; and Portland, Oregon
VFP Communications Director Chris Smiley, who lives in Managua, spoke to the media.
THE STRUGGLES WE SHARE
Nicaragua, the third poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has long been a symbol of revolutionary spirit. The country’s history is marked by the struggle of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) against U.S.-backed dictatorship and imperialism. Despite facing U.S.-led economic sanctions and limited resources, Nicaragua has made remarkable strides in lifting people out of poverty. The FSLN’s commitment to poverty reduction, and providing free, quality healthcare and education for all serves as an inspiring example of what can be achieved when the needs of the people are prioritized over profit.
In contrast, the U.S. is experiencing its own form of decline. Increasing authoritarianism, the dismantling of democratic institutions, and mass deportations are signs of a system that prioritizes corporate power over human dignity. Many Americans are now beginning to face the harsh realities that countries like Nicaragua have endured for decades. From climate change-induced ecosystem collapse to the ongoing threat of nuclear war, it is clear that the U.S. is not immune to the consequences of imperialism and neoliberalism. The challenge is no longer confined to far-off nations but is increasingly felt on U.S. soil.
WHAT WE SAW AND WHAT WE LEARNED
During the delegation’s visit, members traveled to Matagalpa and San Ramón, a region where the transformative effects of Sandinista policies were visible. From universities in rural communities to healthcare facilities that provide free services to all citizens, the delegation witnessed firsthand the immense efforts made to ensure that no one is left behind. This contrasts sharply with the past, when U.S.-backed governments turned a blind eye to the needs of the most vulnerable.
Dan Shea, president of Portland, Oregon VFP, spoke about the importance of solidarity.
DRAMATIC REDUCTIONS IN MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY
Since the Sandinista government’s return to power in 2007, Nicaragua has made major strides in maternal healthcare, largely through its Casa Materna program. These community-based centers offer free, comprehensive care to women with high-risk pregnancies—providing safe housing, prenatal education, and transport to hospitals when it’s time to give birth. During our recent Veterans For Peace delegation, we visited the Casa Materna “Martina Alemán” in Matagalpa, where we saw firsthand how this program supports women in remote areas. It’s part of a broader public health effort that has helped reduce maternal mortality by 70% and infant mortality by 56%.
“What a difference it makes when a government prioritizes the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. And what a contrast to the U.S., where things are moving in exactly the opposite direction,” said Joshua Shurley, national vice president of Veterans For Peace.
The VFP delegation met with staff and expectant mothers at the Casa Materna in Matagalpa.
Meanwhile, in the United States, maternal health outcomes continue to worsen—especially for women of color. Many areas lack basic access to maternity care, with hospitals closing and services becoming more centralized and expensive. These outcomes are deeply connected to ongoing political attacks on reproductive healthcare, including abortion bans, clinic closures, and restrictions that make even basic care harder to access. Pregnant people face rising out-of-pocket costs, limited or no paid leave, and increasing legal risks just for seeking care.
The Casa Materna model—and Nicaragua’s broader approach—shows what’s possible when healthcare is treated not as a commodity, but as a public good and a human right. For Veterans For Peace, these lessons are profound. One overarching mission of Veterans For Peace is to build a culture of peace—and what we saw in Nicaragua reminds us that peace isn’t just the absence of war, but the presence of justice, equity, and care for the most vulnerable.
U.S. ECONOMIC WARFARE CONTINUES
Nicaragua’s achievements are all the more impressive given the continuing U.S. economic warfare against its progressive government.The US has imposed sanctions on Nicaragua since 2018, when it opposed an IMF loan to Nicaragua to aid its finances after the US-inspired coup attempt, and then used its influence to block loans from the World Bank and similar institutions. Nicaragua’s finance minister said that this costs the country around $500m annually in development funding that would go to its poorest communities.
There are now threats of new sanctions. The US has been attempting to stop loans from the Central America Bank for Economic Integration, and is also threatening to exclude Nicaragua from the CAFTA trade treaty. The Trump Administration recently threatened higher tariffs on Nicaraguan exports than those applying to its neighbors, although these higher tariffs have been suspended until July.
Stalwart VFP activist Al Glatkowski enjoyed a Managua sunset.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
Nicaragua’s ability to withstand punishing U.S. economic warfare (aka “sanctions”) is partly a result of its focus on “food sovereignty” and renewable energy, making progress in sustainable agriculture and energy production. 90% of the food that Nicaraguans eat is grown in Nicaragua, and over 70% of Nicaragua’s energy needs are met by wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric.
The VFP delegation was covered extensively by Nicaraguan media, here interviewing VFP Board member Gerry Condon.
FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL
Free education is a cornerstone of Nicaragua’s development strategy, with investments in vocational schools and colleges to empower the youth. The delegation visited INATEC (National Technological Institute) in Granada, where students are learning vocational skills as part of the FSLN’s broader commitment to its most valuable national treasure: its youth. These students are being empowered to build their futures through education, a stark contrast to the eroding access to education and opportunities that many youth in the U.S. face today.
The U.S. veterans also visited a school for the arts in Masaya, further underscoring the importance of cultural expression and the value of the arts in building a free and just society. Nicaragua’s commitment to fostering creativity and providing artistic education stands in stark contrast to the growing marginalization of the arts in many U.S. educational systems.
U.S.-BACKED ATTEMPTED COUP IN 2018
Additionally, the delegation traveled to sites in Masaya where brutal violence occurred during the U.S.-backed coup attempt in 2018. Western media portrayed these events as a crackdown by the Nicaraguan government on peaceful protesters. However, firsthand accounts from those on the ground reveal a different story: the so-called “peaceful protesters” were violent mobs, funded through shadowy arms of the U.S. intelligence sector, whose aim was to return the country to neoliberal rule. The truth, as witnessed by the veterans’ delegation, is far more complex than the simplistic narrative often pushed by mainstream media.
British journalist John Perry and his wife Abby told of the terror they experienced during the 2018 attempted coup – a classic “color revolution”-style U.S. regime change operation.
MINISTRY OF FAMILY
The VFP delegation visited The Ministry of the Family, Youth, and Children (MIFAN) in Managua, which works to protect and support families, especially children and youth, through social programs and legal services. It promotes family unity, child protection, and community development. As the ministry states, “La familia es el núcleo fundamental de la sociedad.” (“The family is the fundamental nucleus of society.”)
Douglas Ryder, a Vietnam veteran and delegation member with years of experience as a school social worker, observed that many of society’s problems in the U.S. stem from governmental neglect and lack of empathy toward families in crisis.
“I was deeply impressed and inspired by Nicaragua’s comprehensive holistic strategy for supporting the mental health of both patients and healthcare providers,” said Ryder.
Douglas Ryder, president of Raleigh/Durham VFP, was honored to receive an FSLN pin.
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Healthcare, like education, is free of charge, and constantly expanding and improving.The delegation visited the Centro de Mujeres Ixchen in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua, which is dedicated to improving women’s health and rights. It offers specialized services in sexual and reproductive health, including gynecological consultations, cancer prevention, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections . The clinic emphasizes education to empower women and provides legal and psychological support to those facing violence . Additionally, Ixchen operates mobile units to reach rural areas, ensuring access to essential health services .
Additionally Ixchen/ANFAM, has a broad network of centers throughout the country. With nine women’s centers located in Nicaragua’s main cities, providing specialized services and care for Nicaraguan women.
A FOCUS ON DISASTER RESPONSE
While in Managua, the veterans visited SINAPRED (the Nicaraguan System for the Prevention, Mitigation, and Attention to Disasters), which serves as Nicaragua’s equivalent to FEMA. The delegation was deeply impressed by SINAPRED’s comprehensive approach to disaster response, which prioritizes the protection of the most vulnerable communities in both natural and man-made disasters. In the U.S., by contrast, disaster relief has been severely defunded, with recent crises—such as the devastation following Hurricane Katrina and more recent events like the California wildfires—demonstrating the failures of a privatized and under-funded disaster response system. The U.S. could learn a lot from Nicaragua’s focus on on disaster resilience and community-based preparedness.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROMISES A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR NICARAGUA
Outside the Juventud Sandinista (Sandinista Youth) office in Managua after a great meeting
In several Nicaraguan cities, the veterans were honored to meet with the Juventud Sandinista, the youth organization of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), who reflect the revolutionary spirit of Nicaragua with great enthusiasm and dedication. Young men and women are actively engaged in many aspects of Nicaraguan society, and represent a bright future for Nicaragua.
We had a formal meeting at their administrative offices in Managua. At the Universidad Nacional Casimiro Sotelo Montenegro, also in Managua, we observed a political meeting they organized on campus to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the launching of the historic 1980 literacy campaign. At an agricultural university outside of Matagalpa and in the streets of Matagalpa itself we saw the Juventud Sandinista in action. We met teenagers in high school, college students and the older (not by much) leadership of the Juventud Sandinista.
These meetings and interactions lead us to be very optimistic about the next generation of Sandinistas as they prepare to get ready to take on the roles of leadership of Nicaragua.
“The Sandinista Youth are patriotic and anti-imperialist, and they know their revolutionary history. They are determined to move Nicaragua forward while defending Nicaragua against neo-liberalism and all the enemies of the revolution, said Michael Kramer, president of the Northern New Jersey chapter of Veterans For Peace.
Michael Kramer, president of Northern New Jersey VFP, makes a new friend.
CULTURAL PERFORMANCES
Nicaragua is very proud of its rich culture, both traditional and modern. Many of our meetings began with cultural performances – song and dance – often from the students and workers at the school or institution we were visiting.
A traditional dance performance at Centro Tecnologico in Granada, Nicaragua.
These young dancers performed beautifully and then playfully stole our hearts.
GENDER EQUALITY – A DEEP, SOCIETY-WIDE COMMITMENT
We were also struck by Nicaragua’s deep commitment to gender equity—not just in healthcare, but throughout public life. The Nicaraguan Constitution mandates gender parity in political representation: if a mayor is a man, the vice-mayor must be a woman, and the same standard applies across government ministries. Today, Nicaragua is ranked first in gender equality in the Americas and sixth globally. As Nicaraguan lawmaker Flor Avellán put it:
“Women there are not fighting for space anymore. They are occupying leadership roles across society because the system has been intentionally structured to include and empower them.”
There are actually more women in the National Assembly and in cabinet-level leadership positions than men. Nicaragua now has a co-presidency that is filled by a man and a woman, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, longtime Sandinista leaders who are also married. While this may seem like a strange arrangement to some observers from abroad, it is widely accepted in Nicaragua. Because it works. And because it sets an example for all of society.
Xochitel Cortes,Co-Director of SINAPRED told of Nicaragua’s deep commitment to gender equality, while Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez looked on.
COMMITTED TO INTERNATIONAL LAW, NICARAGUA MOVES AGAINST GAZA GENOCIDE
Nicaragua has a deep commitment to international law. The Nicaraguan people also have a long relationship of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their liberation struggle. Nicaragua has supported South Africa’s case against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its genocide in Gaza. The Nicaraguan government has initiated an ICJ case against Germany for complicity in genocide by its provision of weapons to Israel.
Nicaragua won an ICJ judgment against the United States for mining its harbor in Corinto and for CIA backing of the “Contra” war in the 1980’s. The U.S. refused to pay the reparations ordered by the ICJ. Nicaragua has settled border disputes and fishing rights conflicts with neighboring countries by adhering to the judgments of relevant international courts.
VISITING U.S. EXPATS BRIAN WILLSON AND DOROTHY GRANADA
Vietnam veteran Brian Willson hosted us at his home in Nicaragua, where he is a national hero.
The VFP delegation was delighted to be reunited with our good friend Brian Willson, a Vietnam veteran who has been a beacon of moral courage and nonviolent resistance to U.S. intervention in Central America. In 1987, Brian was run over by a munitions train he was attempting to block, losing his lower legs. Brian had previously led a peace walk in the war zones of Nicaragua and had Fast for Life on the steps of the U.S. Congress to oppose funding for the CIA-led “Contras” in Nicaragua. Brian now lives in Nicaragua, where he is considered a national hero and has been awarded Nicaraguan citizenship. He is a prolific writer, and has published several books, including Blood on the Tracks, in English and Spanish. Brian’s accounts of My Early Years in Nicaragua are published by NicaNotes on the website of the Alliance For Global Justice. Brian was very happy to see his fellow veterans, including longtime friends.
While in Matagalpa, the delegation also had the honor of meeting with Dorothy Granada, a U.S. nurse who has lived in Nicaragua for many years, and who is well known in Nicaragua for her dedication to providing healthcare for rural women. “Dorotea,” as she is affectionately known, has written a remarkable memoir, They Are All Our Children: Memories from Nicaragua, which is available online at the website of the Alliance For Global Justice. Dorothy, 94 years young and still going strong, served refreshments and had a joyful exchange with her visitors from Veterans For Peace.
VFP national vice president Josh Shurley shared a laugh with 94-year-old Dorothy Granada.
THE COSTS OF WAR AND THE NEED FOR TRUTH
At the heart of the Veterans For Peace mission statement is the exposure of the true costs of war—both for the countries subjected to U.S. intervention and for the people living in the “belly of the beast.” The delegation’s visit to Nicaragua served as an important reminder that the consequences of war are not limited to the battlefield; they extend to economic sanctions, humanitarian crises, and the dismantling of social programs that protect the most vulnerable.
Nicaragua’s resilience in the face of U.S. sanctions and its commitment to prioritizing the well-being of its people—especially the most marginalized—is something that the U.S. can learn from as we face our own social, political, and environmental crises.
“Life in Nicaragua is not without its challenges. Yet, it is crucial to place these challenges in proper context and not succumb to the many lies that abound about the country,” said Josh Shurley, national vice president of Veterans For Peace.
NICARAGUA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF RESISTING U.S. IMPERIALISM
The delegation was able to visit the home of Nicaragua’s national hero, Augusto Sandino. Sandino led an army in the 1920’s that kicked out the U.S. Marines. He is the namesake of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), which overthrew the U.S.-backed dictator Somoza in 1979 and fought the U.S.-backed “Contras” throughout the 1980’s.
The Veterans For Peace delegation traveled to sites in Masaya where brutal violence occurred during the U.S.-backed attempted coup in 2018. Western media portrayed these events as a Nicaraguan government crackdown on peaceful protesters. However, the veterans heard a different story from Masaya residents: the “peaceful protesters” were actually violent mobs, funded through shadowy arms of the U.S. intelligence sector.
“U.S. imperialism has not yet given up on undermining and overthrowing the Sandinista revolution. Our role, as veterans of many U.S. wars based on lies, is to tell the truth about the remarkable successes of the Nicaraguan people and their precious revolution,” said VFP Board member Gerry Condon
The veterans visited the grave of Ben Linder, the young U.S. engineer who was killed by the U.S.-backed Contras in 1987 while working on a small hydro-electric project in northern Nicaragua.
CALL TO RECOGNIZE THE SHARED STRUGGLES OF PEOPLE IN ALL COUNTRIES
The VFP delegation’s visit to Nicaragua is more than just an educational and solidarity mission; it is a call for U.S. citizens to recognize the shared struggles of people around the world.
The achievements of the Nicaraguan people, even while facing U.S. hostility, lies and sanctions, provide critical insights into the systemic challenges we face in the U.S. today. The erosion of democratic institutions, the targeting of vulnerable populations, and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few are all issues that demand our attention.
As we confront these challenges, it is essential to push back against the lies and disinformation that seek to divide us. Solidarity with the people of Nicaragua, as demonstrated by the Veterans For Peace delegation, is a crucial step in the fight for a more just, equitable, and peaceful world. Now more than ever we need a revolutionary spirit that brings peace and dignity for all people.
Many thanks to our good friend Coleen Littlejohn, who hosted the VFP delegation, coordinated our itinerary, and did much of the driving. Thanks also to Becca Maholly Renk of Jubilee House Community and Casa Ben Linder, who provided excellent simultaneous translation for us through the earphones she provided. She was also a great driver!
Coleen Littlejohn and a woman whose husband died in the U.S.-backed “Contra” war. The Juventud Sandinista visit her every month and give her a basic food basket.
Becca Maholly Renk explains the mural at Casa Ben Linder in Managua.
The veterans’ delegation to Nicaragua will report back on a June 22 webinar with the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition. We highly recommend subscribing to NicaNotes. For more information about the work of Veterans For Peace, check out the VFP website.
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Gerry Condon refused US Army orders to deploy to Vietnam in 1968 and spent six years of exile in Sweden and Canada. He is a past president and current Board member of Veterans For Peace.
