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| Anti-War Agitators Plan 'Winter Soldiers II' In Front Of Congress | ||
| 2007-12-01 | ||
| 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." "This is our generation getting to tell history," Madden told OneWorld, "to ensure that the actual history gets told -- that it's not a sugar-coated, diluted version of what actually happened." Iraq Veterans Against the War is calling the gathering a "Winter Soldier," named after a similar event organized by Vietnam veterans in 1971. In 1971, over 100 members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to share their stories with America. Atrocities like the My Lai massacre had ignited popular opposition to the war, but political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were isolated exceptions. "Initially even the My Lai massacre was denied," notes Gerald Nicosia, whose book Home to War provides the most exhaustive history of the Vietnam veterans' movement. "The U.S. military has traditionally denied these accusations based on the fact that 'this is a crazy soldier' or 'this is a malcontent' -- that you can't trust this person. And that is the reason that Vietnam Veterans Against the War did this unified presentation in Detriot in 1971. "They brought together their bonafides and wore their medals and showed it was more than one or two or three malcontents. It was medal-winning, honored soldiers -- veterans in a group verifying what each other said to try to convince people that these charges cannot be denied. That people are doing these things as a matter of policy." Nicosia says the 1971 "Winter Soldier" was roundly ignored by the mainstream media, but that it made an indelible imprint on those who were there.
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?"
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| Posted by:Anonymoose |
#15 "He was an idiot then and he's an idiot today. And an idiot every day in-between." And tomorrow doesnt look very good either... |
| Posted by: Abu do you love 2007-12-01 22:39 |
| #14 #10 Sgt Mom - The poppers are just out of PM and I've got extra boxcarloads of popcorn on the way. :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-12-01 20:49 |
| #13 This might be entertaining. It took, what, less then 5 minutes before the Hillary Plant in the youtube debate was exposed? This is a last minute measure by the Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and give aid and comfort to their allies. But it won't work this time. People have instant access to a vast amount of information - unlike when John Kerry lied before congress in 72. I wonder how many laptops, blackberries, and cellphones will be hitting google from the hearing room.... For more information on fraud which was Winter Soldier see: www.wintersoldier.com |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2007-12-01 20:33 |
| #12 Not only are these guy goin' up against the milbloggers, but what about our "active" military folks? They are professional, they are educated, they have street smarts after the combat they've seen, when they speak they are highly articulate, and they are proud of who they are and what they are doing. And, they know their story hasn't been told. As they have come home, they've seen the respect of Americans, and still know, their story isn't being told. Seems to me, if I was a "Winter Soldier" I would want to be very careful, that my story is true. This time, you don't have a bunch of draftees with they "just whatever" attitude. They are going up against what I have heard many say, "the best, the most professional warriors" I/we have commanded." Can't see these guys standing aside.... being quiet. Throw them all in jail, or brig... or whatever. Good luck "Winter Soldiers." You will need it this time. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2007-12-01 19:53 |
| #11 I was thinking that if they are "Planning" a Winter Soldier what have then been doing up till now? The should telivise the event that way they posers can be outed before they are done testifying. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2007-12-01 18:27 |
| #10 Oh goodie! I can hardly wait, it'll be more fun than some ancient Roman arena-sport, especially if it is broadcast. The mil-bloggers watching and google-searching each one of those pukes stepping up to "testify" will have the DD214 in living color before they even finish. Like tu3031 said, it won't take years to figure out who was full of it - it'll take minutes. I'd hope the IVAW does go ahead with this poisonous bit of 60s nostalgia, just for the fun of watching them walk into the shredding that milbloggers would have ready for them, but on the other hand, I'd guess that the legacy media wouldn't mention that part of the narrative - the part about the debunking. Barbara, fire up the industrial-strength popcorn poppers! |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2007-12-01 13:40 |
| #9 Took less than 24 hours to smoke out the plants in the last debate. I imagine a lot more energy will be spent by a lot more people to ensure these new Winter Soldiers are legit or else held accountable. You don't even get free news cycles to propagate your crap in the blooger world. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-12-01 13:40 |
| #8 I would throw them all in prison for a very long and lengthy investigation. Then, when all is found to be BS, keep them in prison for lying under oath, fraud and possibly even sedition. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-12-01 12:53 |
| #7 |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-12-01 12:09 |
| #6 Among those in attendance was 27-year-old Navy Lieutenant John Kerry, who had served on a Swift Boat in Vietnam. Three months after the hearings, Nicosia notes, Kerry took his case to Congress and spoke before a jammed Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Television cameras lined the walls, and veterans packed the seats. Of course no mention that the POS now admits he was lying. |
| Posted by: Intrinsicpilot 2007-12-01 11:52 |
| #5 Oh, goody! So will all their Big Stars be coming out for the party? Sgt. Jimmy Massey? Jesse Macbeth? Scott Thomas Beauchamp? Some advice to Liam. This ain't 35 years ago, bub. It won't take 5 or 10 years to figure out who's full of shit, it'll take minutes. Your "witnesses" had damn well better be bulletproof... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-12-01 11:30 |
| #4 This should be amusing. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-12-01 11:07 |
| #3 This story is propagating and a LOT of people are really angry about it. The Republicans in congress are going to have their feet held to the fire over this: they had better stand up for America or else. NO immunity to confession of war crimes. If someone says that have committed a war crime, they are going to a military prison. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-12-01 10:23 |
| #2 they so want to relive the 1960's again. |
| Posted by: Whomong Guelph4611 2007-12-01 10:06 |
| #1 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. IIRC, Congress changed the law so that former service members can be recalled to active duty to face courts martial for violations that occurred during their time in service. Art. 78. Accessory after the fact Any person subject to this chapter who, knowing that an offense punishable by this chapter has been committed, receives, comforts, or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial, or punishment shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. So, they're going to make public record that they knew but failed to report/act? You don't have to make 'lists' if people voluntarily sign up. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-12-01 10:01 |