Fort Hood Soldiers Breaking the Silence in war in Iraq

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: channel 8 news Austin

A growing number of active duty soldiers or recent Iraq war veterans are speaking up about the war in Iraq.

And with the number of soldiers speaking up about their experiences in Iraq via online forums, blogs and pamphlets, some vets feel it's their duty to let the American public know the truth.

"The honest truth is that if the American people knew what was going on over there everyday, they would be raising their voices too. They would be saying, 'Hey, bring those guys home," Sgt. Selena Coppa said.

Coppa blames lawmakers in Washington for filtering the facts on the war in Iraq. She said there's no real end in sight.

Read more: http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=200673

[fascisthunter]

1. There's That Truth Again....

[Kikosexy2]

7. Would be great if...

they all just call mutiny and abandon Iraq and make their way home...stick it to Georgie and Dickie

[IndianaGreen]

85. Obama said he will have the troops home in 2009

I surely hope so!

[babylonsister]

2. Recommend 1,000 times! And someone tell Rush! nt

[awoke_in_2003]

40. Shit

he will just claim they are phony soldiers.

[ForeignSpectator]

48. why again? Oh yes, because he NEVER served himself because of that "boil" on his ass, right?! n/t

[DCKit]

76. Who knew that a boil could grow up to be an insane, RW talk show host? n/t

[luckyleftyme2]

77. RUSH WHO

RUSH:the phony
RUSH:the entertainer
RUSH:the smoker room trash gossip
RUSH:the Clinton didn't in hale (ha ha ) drug addict
RUSH:the Clinton had sex(ha ha) seems he's still married to the same woman how about blimp blog
WILL THE REAL RUSH STAND UP AND ADMIT WHO'S KEPT HIM ON THE AIR-WAYS TO SPEW HIS TRASH?

RUSH =THE MIS-INFORMATION CENTER OF THE REPUKE SQUAD!

[theredpen]

3. Sobering quote

"I honestly thought I might not live through my second tour, so I thought, you know if I'm going to die anyway, I need to say the things I need to say," Cantu said.

[Kolesar]

4. iraq+blog+soldier

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=&revid=732117447&sa=X&oi=revisions_inline&resnum=0&ct=broad-revision&cd=1

[my2sense]

5. I salute these

brave men and women for speaking up. I also fear the twisted and creative repercussions they will face for this.

[barbtries]

52. it's the twisted and creative repercussions

of the bushies administration they're suffering already. and as the soldier said, if i'm gonna die anyway...there is bound to be a tipping point - let's hope it comes sooner rather than later. as someone who's been against the war since well before it began, i believe it's thousands of dead and mutilated bodies too late already.

[ptolle]

67. indeed

No one who has not served realizes the true extent of the courage of these people. The pressure to conform even in the most trivial ways is intense and unrelenting. Unfortunately I had the misfortune to be assigned to Fort Hood upon my return from the sun and fun capitol of southeast Asia these many years ago, and I'm pleased to say that even at the time the place was in the forefront of the antiwar movement among returned veterans not yet to their ETS to the point that the gate town at Hood Killeen, Texas contained the Oleo Strut one of the first of the GI antiwar coffeehouses. I guess I'm pleased to see the tradition continue, displeased that it had to, and wishful that these men and women had the same sort of support structure we did.

[lostnfound]

6. Support the troops by letting their voices be heard! K&R nt

[NewJeffCT]

8. That is what the Iraq Study Group said -

that the media is painting a more positive picture of Iraq than reality on the ground - the opposite of what Fox and Republics were saying. That part of the study never got much airplay...

[L0oniX]

9. The surge is NOT working and things are WORSE than they have ever been.

More suicides. More children murdered. More bombs dropped ...of course with collateral murder. More out right lies and lies of omission.

[Hawaii Hiker]

23. The Bush admin. has always tried to paint a pretty picture in Iraq

Sure, the violence has decreased, but there are still attacks, suicides, bombings, every day....The violence goes from horrific (pre-surge) to just awful & Bush, McCain, Libermann & others act like the war has been won...

Every f-ing day there is still terrible violence there...

www.icasualties.org

[louis-t]

25. Watch for the reversal if a Dem wins election.

Repugs will say "Gee, things were great there when WE were running the show. Dems screwed it up." I believe the next pres is being set up.

[krkaufman]

83. Well, their primary goal is to postpone the total meltdown of the military and Iraq...

... until after the November election, but I definitely agree that we'll hear that rationale should a Dem win the election -- even if the violence further escalates before Inauguration.

[bulloney]

28. Violence is decreasing because the ethnic cleansing between Shiites and Sunnis has run its course.

Plus, the number of Iraqis who have fled to Syria and other neighboring countries is affecting the number of fatalities.

The war supporters' case for this war is so simplistic that it insults your intelligence.

[L0oniX]

29. According to Paul Craig Roberts they are being paid off. It IS as bad as I suggest IMO..

Iraq: At least 17 killed in another bloody day of US occupation: Five people were killed and 16 others wounded when a barrage of rockets hit areas near Baghdad's international airport on Monday, including the U.S. Camp Victory military base

http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=50931

Iraqi Interior Ministry orders police to round up beggars, mentally disabled: The decision came after a series of suicide attacks, including two female bombers who struck pet markets in Baghdad on Feb. 1, killing nearly 100 people. Iraqi and U.S. officials have said the women were mentally disabled and apparently unwitting bombers.

http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=565247679589123617

Iraq: At least 21 killed as US occupation grinds on: Three people were killed and four others wounded in a roadside bomb attack in northern Mosul

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSANW82079520080218

Iraq: Civilian killed by U.S. occupation forces fire near Ramadi – police : "The victim was driving a taxi cab when U.S. soldiers opened fire at him for drawing near the patrol at an intersection," the source added.

http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle=69948&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1

Deal between key Iraq Shiite figures collapses: Radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's movement Sunday announced it was cancelling a pact it signed four months ago with its main Shiite rival aimed at reducing tension between the two groups

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jTTdylk3cpJcPqZPRS39zHcFeipA

Oh and there is the problem of the refugees

UN says Iraqi refugees need more help: UN Refugee Chief Says World Community and Iraq Goverment Must Do More to Help Refugees

http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=50044

Paying Insurgents Not to Fight By Paul Craig Roberts
It is impossible to keep up with all the Bush regime’s lies. There are simply too many. Among the recent crop, one of the biggest is that the “surge” is working.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19384.htm

Ok ...well I can come up with more links but I still stand by my post that is is worse than ever in Iraq.

[krkaufman]

84. Also, we're paying off Sunnis not to fight ...

... which will work for a while, until their political aims divert from ours, and the Shia militias have been largely idled by al Sadr. All will quickly spin out of control as soon as one side thinks it can gain an advantage.

Further, I'm of the opinion that both sides in the conflict have opted for a wait-and-see approach largely owing to the marketing of Bush's escalation -- his labeling it The Surge(TM). Just based on the name, both sides must realize that the US troops increases are only temporary and so they just need to wait-out The Surge(TM), resting and reorganizing all the while.

[SharonAnn]

34. When areas have been "ethnically cleansed", violence goes down.

There are no longer an "outsiders" in the area.

[krkaufman]

82. The massive aerial bombing campaign over the last year is the most untold story of The Surge(TM).

We've gotten nowhere politically, but have alienated thousands more and have now armed the Sunni insurgents. The Surge(TM) will eventually be relabeled The Lull(TM).

[katty]

10. thanks for posting

[katty]

11. thanks for posting

[Roland99]

12. Buncha surrender monkeys; terrorist sympathizers; America haters...

and I'm damn proud of every single one of them!! :D


:patriot:

[jeff30997]

13. Yeah.

Those yellow-bellied cowards should all be waterboarded! :sarcasm: (Just in case).

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Me too

:patriot:

[IsItJustMe]

27. Amen and Amen to that!!!

[democrank]

14. Bring these soldiers home and

send in the Bush Chickenhawks to replace them. Anyone supporting Bush`s obscene, immoral occupation at this point ought to suit the hell up and get over to Iraq. If the surge is working so well, these Barco Lounger war supporters should rush right in and help celebrate.


http://icasualties.org/oif/

[Ahpook]

63. I have asked a couple of them...

around here about going over and fighting what they support. They all have these mystery knee injuries or back trouble:eyes:

One told me he can't because he has a wife and a job here. I wonder how many soldiers in Iraq can say that same thing?

Loud mouthed fucking punks... all of them.

[babydollhead]

15. we will fight for their freedom

bring them home now!

[lovuian]

16. Bring our children back this is SO WRONG

the Military is fed up

Nobody is going to trust this government ever again

[bdamomma]

43. it will be a long till other countries ever trust us again

these soldiers need to come home, this whole thing is immoral.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

18. Big K&R!

[Laelth]

19. k&r for abused public servants.

I am, again, ashamed of my country. I detest people who make me ashamed of the USA. I hope this outrage spells the end of the vile Republic Party.

:mad:

-Laelth

[lonestarnot]

20. Hey Sgt. Selena Coppa, we know what's going on! We've been trying to help you for years now.

:hug:

[Hissyspit]

24. Yes, almost half a decade depending on where you start counting.

Half a decade.

Sigh.

[sandyj999]

21. That "truth" is sure a pesky thing it just keeps turning up! n/t

[Deny and Shred]

22. They could form a Swift Boat type group.

I am NOT for using people in tough situations for political purposes, particularly US troops who have been through all they've been through in Iraq, but we all know that Rove and all his minions would do so if they could. They already have.
The guys (and women) mentioned here should carry far more weight than that bogus anti-Kerrey group because they are the genuine article. I'm sure the Democrat candidate would get plenty of blowback, especially if put up to it by a well-heeled left leaning PAC, but, justice and just desserts almost demand it.

[focusfan]

26. you know they tried to shield people from the war when Vietnam was going on

but you know Larry Flynt Showed pictures from Vietnam in his
magazine

[Thothmes]

56. Hell, every night on the 6 O'Clock news

were the latest film of combat in Viet Nam. There was no effort to shield people from the Viet Nam war. What they shielded the American People from was the truth about our success in Viet Nam. There were plenty of pictures of GIs in combat, wounded, killed, and of the VC and NVA also, but what was really happening was suppressed. TET in 68 blew the lid off of the scam.

[Le Taz Hot]

59. That is incorrect.

We actually had real journalists back then and we saw the war, including American and S.V. dead and wounded. Every night. We were lied to, yes, but we were not shielded. And interestingly enough, what turned the tide was the vets coming home telling the American populace that we were NOT winning -- that the war was unwinnable and that we were never meant to win it in the first place. Just like this war it was a war for profit -- in that case the M.I.C. In this case they have Big Oil as their accomplice.

[defendandprotect]

30. These soldiers speak out at great risk ---

and no real right to conscience or power over their own lives once they are in military -- !!!

[wanpete]

31. I think they are trying to make sure the truth gets out so that we won't have

a president McCain....they don't want to spend another hundred years in Iraq.

[muyojoe]

32. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

Bring them home!

Thanks for the post, too little is heard from those who really know.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

33. Recommended

[frogcycle]

35. month to-date

Staff Sgt. Chad A. Barrett, 35, of Saltville, Va
Mosul 02/02/08
Non-hostile
Died as a result of a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. The incident is under investigation.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/02/chad--a-barrett/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Chief Petty Officer Michael E. Koch, 29, of State College, Pa.
02/04/08
Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
Died from wounds suffered from small arms fire during combat operations in Iraq.
He was assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/04/michael--e-koch/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Chief Petty Officer Nathan H. Hardy, 29, of Durham, N.H.
02/04/08
Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
Died from wounds suffered from small arms fire during combat operations in Iraq.
He was assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/04/nathan--h-hardy/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Spc. Christopher J. West, 26, of Arlington, Texas
Balad 02/04/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Died of wounds suffered on Feb. 3 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/04/christopher--j-west/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Staff Sgt. Donald T. Tabb, 29, of Norcross, Ga
Sangin, Afghanistan 02/05/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 6th Military Police Detachment, 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker, Ala.
http://www.dothaneagle.com/media/DEA/2008/02/06/0005.Image.NULL,NULL.300,198,2,NULL,NULL.MGSpooler.img
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/05/donald--t-tabb/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Sgt. Rafael Alicearivera, 30, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Tallil 02/05/08
Non-hostile
Died of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
http://www.nbc17.com/media/NCN/2008/02/06/0029.Image.NULL,NULL.300,188,2,NULL,NULL.MGSpooler.img
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/05/rafael-alicearivera/">Local News Link
Local News Link


Spc. Miguel A. Baez, 32, of Bonaire, Ga.
Mahmudiyah - Babil 02/05/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Died of wounds suffered in Al Muqdadiyah when his unit encountered an improvised explosive device during combat operations. He who was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/05/miguel--a-baez/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Sgt. John C. Osmolski, 23, of Eustis, Fla.
Mahmudiyah - Babil 02/05/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Died of wounds suffered in Al Muqdadiyah when his unit encountered an improvised explosive device during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/05/john---c-osmolski/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Sgt. Timothy R. Van Orman, 24, of Port Matilda, Pa.
Mahmudiyah - Babil 02/05/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Died of wounds suffered in Al Muqdadiyah when his unit encountered an improvised explosive device during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/05/timothy--r-van-orman/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Sgt. Bradley J. Skelton, 40, of Gordonville, Mo
Baghdad 02/06/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1138th Engineer Company, 35th Engineer Brigade, Missouri Army National Guard, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/06/bradley--j-skelton/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Petty Officer 1st class Luis A. Souffront, 25, of Miami, Fla.
Iraq 02/07/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Died from wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device while serving in combat operations in Iraq. He was assigned to an East Coast based SEAL team.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/07/luis--a-souffront/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Sgt. Gary D. Willett, 34, of Alamogordo, N.M
Baghdad 02/08/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
BAGHDAD – Four Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while the Soldiers were conducting a combat patrol northwest of Baghdad Feb. 8 He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
http://cmsimg.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/08/gary--d-willett/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Staff Sgt. Jerald A. Whisenhunt, 32, of Orrick, Mo
Baghdad 02/08/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
BAGHDAD – Four Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while the Soldiers were conducting a combat patrol northwest of Baghdad Feb. 8 He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/08/jerald--a-whisenhunt/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Sgt. Timothy P. Martin, 27, of Pixley, Calif.
Baghdad 02/08/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
BAGHDAD – Four Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while the Soldiers were conducting a combat patrol northwest of Baghdad Feb. 8 He who was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/08/timothy--p-martin/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Spc. Michael T. Manibog, 31, of Alameda, Calif.
Baghdad 02/08/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
BAGHDAD – Four Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while the Soldiers were conducting a combat patrol northwest of Baghdad Feb. 8 He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
http://cmsimg.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/08/michael--t-manibog/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Pfc. Jack T. Sweet, 19, of Alexandria Bay, N.Y
At-Ta'mim province 02/08/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/08/jack--t-sweet/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Sgt. Corey E. Spates, 21, of LaGrange, Ga
Diyala Province 02/10/08
Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack
Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/10/corey--e-spates/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Staff Sgt. Javares J. Washington, 27, of Pensacola, Fla
Kuwait City 02/11/08
Non-hostile vehicle accident
Died at Camp Buehring in Kuwait City, Kuwait, from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. He was assigned to the 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/dates/2008/feb/11/javares--j-washington/">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Specialist Chad Groepper, 21, of Kingsley, Iowa
Diyala Province 02/17/08
Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their dismounted patrol using small arms fire. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
http://www.ktiv.com/Images/groepper,chad.jpg
http://icasualties.org/oif/pdf/20080217-05-MND-N.pdf">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link


Spc. Luke S. Runyan, 21, of Spring Grove, Pa.
Diyala Province 02/17/08
Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire
Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their dismounted patrol using small arms fire. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

http://icasualties.org/oif/pdf/20080217-05-MND-N.pdf">Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link
Local News Link

[barbtries]

54. this is what should be on the nightly news!

every fucking day, every day. gawd! i'm soooo sick of this war, and so sad for these men these boys and their loved ones.

[frogcycle]

79. visit my website, Zeitlangers.com

I update it daily. I spin off the scripts to post here as a byproduct.

[Elspeth]

68. I'd like to recommend your post

:kick:

[frogcycle]

80. I appreciate that

Just added four more - names not yet released - to Zeitlangers.com

[artemisia1]

Kicked and Recommended. /nt

[artemisia1]

36. Kicked and Recommended. /nt

[drm604]

37. Deja Vu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Soldier_Investigation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Against_the_War

[sonias]

38. For people in Austin, TX you can help IVAW

There are two local events planned for Austin this week where Scott Ritter will appear and they both benefit the Ft.Hood IVAW Chapter 38

#1

Friday February 22nd, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Scott Ritter: What Mainstream Media Doesn't Tell Us About Iran, Iraq and U.S. Foreign Policy
Join former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter for a discussion on the corporate media's coverage of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, the Bush administration's secret plans for the "War on Terror", and the need for diplomacy, Event includes remarks by local Iraq Veterans Against the War chapter Hart Viges, audience question and answer segment and book signing.
http://www.ustourofduty.org
Location: Friend's Meeting House 3701 E. MLK Blvd (East of Airport)
$10 suggested donation

#2

Friday February 22nd, 8:30-midnight
House Party to Benefit Ft. Hood IVAW Chapter 38
Support Fort Hood soldiers working to oppose the war -- with an appearance by Scott Ritter. Food and soft drinks provided (please bring other beverages of your choice). Music by Bill Passalacqua. Sponsored by CodePink Austin and IVAW Chapter 38
http://www.codepinkaustin.com
$10 suggested donation

Sonia

[FirstLight]

39. Kick & REC for the night shift!

:kick:

I followed the links in the news story and found the VAIW site
http://www.vaiw.org/vet/index.php

I am so very glad that these men & women are finding a voice! It is SO unfortuate that they have signed up for this mistreatment, because they probably did it because of love for this country....and the Administration has done them wrong.

Let's bring 'em home, and hope that will help the tragedy we leave in our wake over there...I hope that someone can clean up the mess Bush & Cheny have made of that poor country, and ours too!

[bdamomma]

41. More and more of these soldiers need to come back and tell

their stories. Shameful all this death for lies.

[bdamomma]

42. .........

[Voltaire99]

44. Careful, brave dissenters. Remember Pat Tillman.

Our government does not condone thinking, let alone thinking unpopular thoughts.

Meanwhile, any Democrat worth his or her salt will be backing these dissenters to the full.

Remember the politicians who have put the troops in harm's way and, in all cravenness and contempt, kept them there. There is no moral consistency in claiming you want the troops home while supporting a war enabler like Hillary Clinton.

[gratuitous]

45. Mutiny, quit, desert

There's no "honor" or "integrity" here. If there ever was, it's long gone. The government you are serving has broken its trust with you, and you are under no further obligation to serve an outlaw regime. Come home now.

[Gonnuts]

46. And NONE of the remaining candidates except ...

Mike Gravel and Ron Paul want an end to this carnage ... what's wrong with that picture?

[kas125]

47. Do you guys know about Winter Soldier??

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans are going to do what Vietnam veterans did, get together and testify to everything they've done and seen. It will be four days, March 13-16. It will be streamed online, there are a couple of radio stations who will have the audio (one was KPFA and I don't remember what the other one was) and hopefully C-SPAN will show at least part of it. There will be an edited dvd available afterward. Check out http://ivaw.org/index.php for more info.

My CodePink chapter is having a fundraiser tomorrow night to help the guys from our area who are planning to go and testify. All the guys need help, though, so if anybody reading this feels generous and is looking for a place to donate a little money, IVAW can certainly use it right about now.

[donheld]

49. K & R

That's wonderful

[ClintonTyree]

50. He's got it all wrong....

"We lost really good friends, really good leaders who died in Iraq. From my perspective, it didn't make any sense, we didn't
accomplish anything, and I talked to a lot of other soldiers who feel the same way," Fort Hood soldier Casey Porter said.

Ahh, impetuous youth. You DID accomplish something over there, soldier Porter. You accomplished the means for continued record quarterly profit reports for B-I-G O-I-L with your sacrifice of blood and sanity. Not to mention increasing "shareholder value" for Halliburton, KBR and a host of other conservative defense industry parasites. And don't think they don't appreciate it either! :sarcasm: So you see, your sacrifice HAS NOT been in vain. You've made a few people very, VERY rich, and isn't that what war is all about in the end?

Yes, George Bush and his cronies thank you from the bottom of the place where their hearts would be, if they had hearts. They just haven't gotten around to communicating that to you yet, but they will. Just as soon as they're finished counting their money.

[barbtries]

51. high time. hope they all listen.

i've thought for so long, what if they threw a war,
and nobody came?

[Pooka Fey]

53. K&R #100

[Orsino]

55. The lawmakers are filtering facts, of course...

...but few Americans listen to them. It's the TV, goddammit, that keeps singing us to sleep.

[jhain]

57. We Must Listen

Listen to these vets, give them venues to speak. They are trying to save the lives of their fellow soldiers.

[octobit]

58. Sgt. Coppa

I have known Sgt. Selena Coppa for over a decade now and she is one of my closest friends. I am ending years of lurking on this site to post a congratulations and thank you to her for all of her great work. If any of you would like a message passed on to her, feel free to send me a private message and I will make sure that she sees it.

[Stalwart]

60. Officer/Enlisted = Management/Labor

They are bargaining positions, everybody in service knows it, especially the weaker side which is management. The non-negotiables are protected by the flag the rest is negotiable but is protected by flag waving often under the guise of leadership.

There is no card carrying organized power among enlisted but there is power. Power to get what they collectively want. Better working conditions, more liberty, time with the family, big screens in the barracks, etc. The bargaining goes on all the time and the chips are well known.

As the situation gets worse, enlisted get more bargaining power to trade what they do for what officers want. The ranks are getting into a very powerful position and should use it to get every single thing they can get to personally benefit their lives.

We are seeing the expression of that power in this example. Management knows its position and it is weakening. Labor should use every bit of their power to get what they want in personal terms which is primarily selfish but that is the reason people go to work everyday.

"Its more than a job" is more of a slogan created by management than a reality in the military. Fundamentally it is true but often inspired flag waving at 0800 every morning to benefit management objectives to wring performance out of the troops that really may have little to do with performing the primary mission. Something like stickers on a car. At some point it has become management trick to get more production for less pay or poorer working conditions.

[FATCATs]

61. How Disgusting these Chicken Hawks Are !

[spanone]

62. what war in iraq? i thought we won that last year with the surge and all...????

:sarcasm:

[Vickers]

64. If only those poor, deluded soldiers were as brave as George.

He's never come back from a war and badmouth it.

:(

[hazardballsaem]

65. I think

that this whole war is a joke these young men and women only a couple of years older than me can go over there and kill people but cant come home and drink a beer i mean WTF!!!!!


:wtf:

[immoderate]

66. Welcome to DU!

WTF indeed!

I really dislike playing the adult (I still like my beer and smokes at my advanced age. :smoke: ) but stick around, and you'll see it's a serious problem, and since you young folks will suffer all your lives for it, it's good that you are interested. The fact that you are interested enough to make an appearance here puts you way ahead of most your age.

--IMM

[texastoast]

69. Beer won't help

With my generation, Vietnam, and that same argument, it just made more drunks in the world.

Work to end the stupidity of war. Stupid, stupid, stupid war.

Oh, gosh, I'm about to get started.

[Joey Liberal]

70. Proud of those Soldiers

For speaking up!

[ChiciB1]

71. I Lived There When They Did It Back During Viet Name!! Anyone Ever Hear

of the Oleo Strut?? Killeen, Texas... Ft. Hood, TX! I grew up there and graduated from school there. I will be going back there in April for yet ANOTHER Class Reunion!

Jane Fonda came there when I was there and THE SOLDIERS marched with her! Yes, THEY DID... many stories that have been told over the years really aren't true! Yes, Fonda did screw up later... but the soldiers were with her when I was there! The 1st & 2nd AD were both there at the time, and there was a LOT of upheaval going on.

[ChiciB1]

72. Correction!! Viet Nam... n/t

[Supersedeas]

73. kick for the troops

[pacalo]

74. Impressive minds -- & astounding that this report was aired in Austin. K&R.

[ChiciB1]

75. Austin Has Always Been More "Liberal" Than Most Places In TX! n/t

[pacalo]

81. I now remember reading awhile back that it was more liberal, but nice to see a story

like this coming from anywhere in the boy king's adopted state.

[Kurovski]

78. K&R. (nt)

[IndianaGreen]

86. Obama said he will have the troops home in 2009

I certainly hope so. Too many deaths and too much suffering, and for what?