"I wasn't protecting America. I was protecting Halliburton trucks going to

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

military bases," she said.

Excellent article about an Iraq vet, MP, who tells it like it is. She co founded Iraq Veterans Against the War and speaks in heart wrenching detail about the price Iraqi civilians are paying.

Iraq vet works against war
Former soldier's doubts grew as conflict wore on

By Deborah Frazier, Rocky Mountain News
October 31, 2005

COLORADO SPRINGS - Sgt. Kelly Dougherty went to Iraq in 2003, doubting that the war was just.

She returned in 2004, certain it was wrong, and co-founded Iraq Veterans Against the War.

snip>

"The war in Iraq is not about protecting this country. The war is about aggression," said Dougherty, who doesn't receive a salary for her work against the war.

At Regis College in Denver last week with the Wheels of Justice Tour, Dougherty said her unit was often ordered to burn broken-down civilian contractor trucks loaded with supplies rather than allow the impoverished Iraqis to loot them for the water, food, fuel and vehicle parts that could be sold.

Lots more in the article. This is a brave young woman. I hope I can connect with her out here in the near future. MKJ


http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_4199796,00.html

[pberq]

1. Recommended!

These are the people we need to support. The American people are getting very little of the truth on Iraq.

[MelissaB]

2. another snip

"People say you are a traitor. People say you are unpatriotic," said Dougherty, 27, about her anti-war work. "We are doing this because we feel strongly about America.

"I really appreciate America, but we are capable of doing some very bad things."

Dougherty was stationed near Nazaria in southern Iraq for 10 months with the Colorado National Guard's 220th Military Police Co. She saw action but never fired her weapon.

Dougherty said the thousands of innocent civilians who have been killed and the broken American promises about repairing water, electricity and sewage systems convinced her the troops should come home.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. kick

[MindPilot]

4. Article in latest Hustler about a KBR driver who

blew the whistle about using refrigerated trailers for "mortuary service" then using the very same trailers to haul potable ice.

It's ALL about the money.

[tularetom]

5. Anyone serving in Iraq who thinks

about what they are doing and why they are there will reach the same conclusions as this soldier. Which is exactly why thinking is something that is frowned on by those in charge of whatever it is we're doing there. In fact the * administration would probably perfer if no American citizen thought at all.

[tanyev]

6. Protecting Halliburton IS protecting America.

:sarcasm:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

7. She has some harsh things to say about the contractors out there.

This young lady is bright, perceptive and principled.

Another candle lit against the dark. MKJ

[tanyev]

8. Have you seen this site?

You can light a virtual candle. I've started doing it every night.

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/exit.cfm?l=ENG&s=f&cid=965335

[StaggerLee]

9. wow that is awesome

Just lit one for the people of Iraq.

Thanks.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

10. Thanks for the reminder, I bookmarked that website before Katrina hit.

I need to head back over there. MKJ

[tanyev]

13. Oops. This is a better link.

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm

[texpatriot2004]

14. I had not seen that site with the candles. It's great. Thanks. nm

[Cults4Bush]

11. IVAW is an awesome org and are friends of Cindy.

The guys I met from IVAW at Camp Casey were amazingly well spoken, and they have a lot to speak of and on.

I support IVAW and I suspect they will be a growing power in the anti Iraq war movement.

Thanks for posting this!

Peace...

[lumpy]

12. Kick

She is a true patriot.