Calls for a New York Parade Honoring Iraq Veterans The New York Giants on Tuesday will be showered with confetti and greeted by throngs as they are feted with the city's most storied honor: a parade through its Canyon of Heroes. Paul Rieckhoff, founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, says veterans deserve a parade as much as the Giants. But all the fanfare - the parade this week is the fourth since 2000 to honor a sports team - has touched off anger and unease among some returned Iraq veterans, who are eagerly awaiting their own recognition. "Everybody recognizes that the Giants deserve a parade," said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. But, he added, "If a football team gets a parade, shouldn't our veterans?" Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has long expressed his regret that the United States did not do a better job honoring veterans of the Vietnam War in the 1970s, has cited advice from the Pentagon in deciding it was not appropriate to hold a parade while American soldiers are still fighting in Afghanistan. But a growing coalition of veterans, elected officials and other public figures are disagreeing, saying it is time to celebrate the men and women who served in Iraq. Leslie H. Gelb, the president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, a former correspondent for The New York Times and a board member of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, called the Pentagon's position "supercilious sensitivity" and "Washington-think." "Celebrating the Iraqi vets doesn't negate a future celebration for the Afghan vets or deny that we're still at war," Mr. Gelb said, adding that "if we had to wait to honor our servicemen and women until wars were over, that would take a long time." And former Mayor Edward I. Koch, who in 1981 was the host of a "ticker-tape" parade for American hostages released from Iran over the objection of Alexander M. Haig Jr., then secretary of state, said he thought a parade for Iraq veterans was important and timely. Mr. Koch, who also hosted a belated parade for Vietnam War veterans in 1985, said the Pentagon was making "a political decision" that he termed "ridiculous." "It's not premature," he said. I believe that a parade is required, is necessary, and New York City is the place to have it. At least one large city, St. Louis, has gone ahead with a parade for Iraq veterans, on Jan. 28. And on Monday, the White House announced that President Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, would hold a dinner on Feb. 29 to honor troops who had served in Iraq. But the Defense Department, noting that American soldiers are still fighting in Afghanistan, says it is too soon for a celebration with the recognition and symbolism of a New York City parade. Col. David Lapan, a spokesman for Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "We simply don't think a national-level parade is appropriate while we continue to have America's sons and daughters in harm's way." Some of the country's largest veterans" groups seemed uncertain about a parade. A spokesman for the American Legion declined to comment. A spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars said at first that he understood the Pentagon's position, but then went on to praise the organizers of the St. Louis parade and to say that, if Mr. Bloomberg decided to hold a parade now, the organization would support him. "If he did it now, it would be great," the spokesman, Joe Davis, said. If he did it twice - you know, obviously, when Afghanistan veterans come home - that would be great. But, you know, it's difficult to celebrate the wars" ending when the wars haven't ended." In recent weeks, Mr. Bloomberg has repeatedly said that he wanted to honor the veterans of the Iraq war, but not without a green light from Washington. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Army secretary and the Army chief of staff, the mayor said in a statement on Jan. 25, "have made it clear that a parade would be premature while so many troops are still in harm's way around the world. This is wise counsel and the safety of our brave men and women overseas dictates that we in the city follow it.