U.S. War Vets to Speak Publicly About War Crimes

[NNN0LHI]

http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/155726/1/

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 29 (OneWorld) - U.S. war veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have announced they're planning to descend on Washington, DC this March to testify about war crimes they committed or personally witnessed in Iraq.

"The war in Iraq is not covered to its potential because of how dangerous it is for reporters to cover it," said Liam Madden, a former Marine and member of the group Iraq Veterans Against the War. "That's left a lot of misconceptions in the minds of the American public about what the true nature of military occupation looks like."

Iraq Veterans Against the War argues that well-publicized incidents of American brutality like the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and the massacre of an entire family of Iraqis in the town of Haditha are not the isolated incidents perpetrated by "a few bad apples," as many politicians and military leaders have claimed. They are part of a pattern, the group says, of "an increasingly bloody occupation."

[K Gardner]

1. Thanks for posting, will be watching for this. n/t

[stop the bleeding]

2. these words are so true and timeless

In one of the most famous antiwar speeches of the era, Kerry concluded: "Someone has to die so that President Nixon won't be -- and these are his words -- 'the first President to lose a war'. We are asking Americans to think about that, because how do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

[karynnj]

4. I had been amazed in 1971 that he was only about 5 years older

than me and my peers at college. It was an incredible, brave speech. He knew - even as he gave it that he could be sacrificing a political future, but knew that he had the credibility to get people to change and end that war. (When asked if he wanted to be President by Morey Safer, he responded something like - yes, but there were important things to do and he did not know if he he could keep do them and keep people happy with him. - the dishonest BG chopped off "and keep people happy with me." in their biography.)

In 2004, I read it and realized that I misunderstood the entire end of the speech, where he, at 27, spoke in front of the SFRC and spoke of the need for Vietnam to be the place where America turned. By, the time he was in the Senate, he was the brave person willing to fight Reagan at the height of his power on his illegal wars in Central America - following the same misguided policy that was there in Vietnam.

The amazing thing is that he very very nearly succeeded - with most of media against him in becoming President.

I hope that any of these brave soldiers, if they have his brilliance and temparment and like him, they do tell the truth, they will not have an evil modern day version of John O'Neil to follow them through life.

[TahitiNut]

12. It was just a couple blocks from where I was working that he said that in 1971 ...

... at the Howard Johnson's Motor Hotel at Third and West Grand Boulevard. I was working at Chevrolet Central Office, one block south of West Grand and just off Second. I was a only 14 months back from Nam myself ... trying to "put it behind me." Those were some tough times. Seeing Viet Nam vets on the street in fatigue jackets and other gear had me flashing. Not good.

[lumpy]

13. Pride is not an admirable trait and is used as a nationalistic

tool, i.e. expecting citizens to take pride in country, flag, military, national values, pledge of allegience, etc.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

3. Important story

Hope folks will give it some attention.

K&R

[wildbilln864]

5. k&r! n/t

[robinlynne]

6. During the Vietnam war, it took the soldiers' opposition to finally end the war.

[magellan]

7. K&R

For the courageous on and off the battlefield.

[Diamond Dave]

8. Anne Wright mentioned something tonight at her appearance about

time to go to DC, massive rally on the anniversary in March of 2008, five long years, it is time for all of us to get off our butts and go fill the streets of DC (Dallas Peace Center, 21st Annual PeaceMaker of the Year Banquet). The time is now, or something to that affect. Guess it just might be time.....................

[Zywiec]

9. They're planning to descend on Washington, DC this March to testify about war crimes they committed

Why don't they just turn themselves into the Hague for committing these crimes?

They should know that being ordered to commit a war crime is no defense.

[ms liberty]

10. K&R n/t

[qwertyMike]

11. War Crimes?

In combat all bets are off.

Can you imagine it?