Buzzflash
del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Mixx it!
Reddit"As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for US troops to come home."
This statement – the Appeal for Redress – has been signed by over 600 active-duty soldiers who have had enough of seeing their brothers and sisters sacrificed to the disastrous war in Iraq. In this month alone, 101 American soldiers have been killed, more than in any month since January, 2005 and the fourth highest monthly total since the war began in March, 2003.
Seaman Jonathon Hutto and Marine Sergeant Liam Madden spearheaded the Appeal which is co-sponsored by Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace and Military Families Speak Out. It is the latest effort stemming from the antiwar energy that has emerged among military families, veterans, and active military, including generals and other high-ranking officers. It's also the first antiwar movement organized by active military personnel since the Vietnam War.
Hutto, who served off the Iraq coast from September 2005 until March, told the Washington Post, "I hear discussions every day among my shipmates about the war in Iraq and how it doesn't make any sense at this point. There is no victory in sight."
Madden served in Anbar province from September 2004 until February 2005. "I don't think any more Iraqis or Americans should die because of the US occupation," he told ABC News. "If people want to support the troops, then they should support us coming home." Madden cited his disillusionment with a war based on non-existent weapons of mass destruction and phantom links between al Qaeda and Iraq.
One soldier, speaking under condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said, "I don't think that the American public realizes just how many soldiers and service members in general really do have reservations about what is going on over there….It's very hard. These soldiers seeing all this tribal fighting, ethnic fighting going on around them.…There is not really anything you can do to stop this."
Another soldier said he believed the Appeal would have "a snowball effect" and more and more people would sign on. "Once they start seeing momentum going forward and more and more service members coming out, they will be much more inclined to come out as well."
The names and comments of those signing onto the initiative are not made public. The Military Whistleblower Protection Act allows for "a protected communication" with Congress – but only while off-duty and out of uniform. The Appeal will be delivered to Congress on Martin Luther King Day, 2007.
These brave men and women, who put their lives on the line for our nation every day, must be heard.
Share this article
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Thoughts on politics, current affairs, riffs and reflections on what’s in the news and what’s not--but should be.
RSS
Go to drudgereport.com and you will SEE what soldiers are really saying about the traitorous left and John " D student" Kerry. It speaks VOLUMES
Posted by looneylefties at 11/01/2006 @ 5:26pm
Did Kerry dress up as a ghost for halloween? - he's like a phantom from the past coming back to wreak havoc on the living.
Posted by urmygyro at 11/01/2006 @ 5:42pm
A manufactured crisis: Media preoccupied with a worn out anti-Dem narrative while Iraqi PM issues orders to the US military - Digby: "The Maliki government is playing Bush for the cowardly loser he is, apparently threatening him with more bad headlines, so the Americans backed off and left a soldier behind. But look no further, citizens. John Kerry blew a punchline and that requires a full-on media frenzy. Nothing is more fun and exciting to the kewl kidz than going after a simple meaningless anti-Democrat story that pleases the GOP establishment. Everybody wins. Except the American people, of course. Or that abandoned soldier in Iraq." More here...
http://daoureport.salon.com/
Posted by hsuBfools at 11/01/2006 @ 6:14pm
I am not aware of what the current surveys reveal, but the Le Moyne College/ Zogby Poll released back in February, 2006, stated that 85% of the US troops serving in Iraq believed that the US mission was mainly "to retaliate for Saddam's role on the 9/11 attacks."
If Bush and his plutocratic thugs really gave a shit about the troops, they wouldn't have lied about the reasons for going over to bomb and kill thousands of Iraqis. Bush claims that he wasn't responsible for this blitz of propaganda-just as he now denies his recent repetitions of "stay the course."
I am also quite disgusted with those Democrats turning against Kerry, rather spinelessly, as usual. The were too cowardly to speak out against one of the most hated presidents in recent history, regarding torture and detainee rights, but will jump on Kerry with great haste.
Posted by Oustbush at 11/01/2006 @ 7:42pm
In fact, which Democrat running for election for any national office this year is going to draw attention to the plea by making a public statement in support of it?
zero, would you like a list of democratic candidates, either currently serving or attempting to serve, who want an immediate (either phased or instant) withdrawal?
there are literally hundreds.
Posted by darladoon at 11/01/2006 @ 7:57pm
can somebody tell me what happened to the thingprogress.org site?
Posted by darladoon at 11/01/2006 @ 7:58pm
sorry, thinkprogress.org
Posted by darladoon at 11/01/2006 @ 7:58pm
Soooo...these troops. They must hate America, right?
Posted by skeletonman at 11/01/2006 @ 8:03pm
And allowing these so-called soldiers to exercise their right to free speech?
That's got to help the terrorists somehow.
Or is free speech part of that freedom pack we brought to the Iraqis? At gunpoint?
I am so confused.
Posted by skeletonman at 11/01/2006 @ 8:19pm
Saw that picture on Drudge....
I'm sure we'll find out later that "all those soldiers are evil Republicans"....or something.
Posted by Mask at 11/01/2006 @ 8:21pm
Great comment on the Kerry comment http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15519404/
To zero, umogotsheadupass reality must really suck.
Posted by dycel8r at 11/01/2006 @ 9:13pm
I know that if the Dems win, there won't be a whisper about Diebold machines.
Posted by FREIHEIT 11/01/2006 @ 9:57pm
No, they'll probably just get fixed with a paper verification system. I bet the repubs will be the ones yelling as 2008 is just around the corner and there goes one repub option-- poof.
Posted by hsuBfools at 11/01/2006 @ 10:18pm
My two cents, after breaking down and turning the TV on;
The abbreviated, out of context response, being parroted by the GOP, is just politics as usual.
The only apology required here, is by the alleged "liberal media", who keep repeating his words, out of context, without explaining their context, or the obvious distortions created by their opponents.
Kerry is, (and sadly was, even during his campaign) and should continue to be, irrelevant to the elections, being as he is not a candidate.
Any response to/by any non-candidate is, by definition, a distraction from what should be a lively debate, from the strangely mute, candidates themselves.
Eric
Posted by Malcontent at 11/01/2006 @ 10:24pm
"You know something about the Diebold machines that I don't?
Posted by FRANKGRITS 11/01/2006 @ 8:15pm "
I do Frank, and that is you are already making an excuse if the dems fall short on election day. If everyone felt as you regarding Bush and the repubs, one wouldn't need to worry about Diebold machines...the dems SHOULD win easily..but this doesn't seem to be the case.....so as usual, if dems lose then it must not be the voters choice but someone cheated...like democratic grave yards voting by the dozens.
Frank, you are as predicatble and as deep as an elementry school girl..
Posted by john maasch at 11/02/2006 @ 12:31am
"is by the alleged "liberal media", "
Ah, how many republicans did the NTY endorse this cycle?
Where were the head lines for Kerry gaffe? Not one paper printed the story...why is that?
Posted by john maasch at 11/02/2006 @ 12:32am
Where were the head lines for Kerry gaffe? Not one paper printed the story...why is that?
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 11/02/2006 @ 12:32am
Uh...maybe, because it is not really a story? Because it is a contrived distortion. Typical politics.
The only story here, is how the MSM perpetuated the distortion, instead of enlightening us to it.
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 11/02/2006 @ 12:31am
Why do you insist on making easily tamperable elections, which should concern all Americans into a partisan bickering point. It is annoyingly glib. And disrespectful of our alleged form of government.
Eric
Posted by Malcontent at 11/02/2006 @ 12:41am
"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act" - George Orwell.
As a member of Veterans for Peace and an active supporter of the Appeal for Redress - I salute the courage of Mr. Hutto and all the servicemembers willing to be heard.
Tom Palumbo, Sgt, US Army Retired Norfolk, VA
Posted by RegimeChanger at 11/02/2006 @ 01:19am
Here's a point for you:
Is KVH antiwar or antiwar in Iraq? What does this article really mean? She links the dissenting soldiers with the antiwar movement at large, but is this really the case? An antiwar soldier? That's like saying cold molten lava; the two are in direct conflict.
If KVH is antiwar in general, I would like to see an article weaving Iraq into the big picture of antiwar ideology.
Posted by Person at 11/02/2006 @ 02:38am
Posted by REGIMECHANGER 11/02/2006 @ 01:19am
Thank you for your service, and your post.
Posted by drhammer at 11/02/2006 @ 07:49am
i think the founders of the republic envisioned an antiwar military. by that i dont mean a bunch oh hippy dippy wusses, but a military that prefers peace but is prepared to fight WHEN NEEDED.
and i think this accurately describes most in our military, from bottom up. it is unfortunate when incompetant politicians involve our military in something like the current bloody, expensive mess.
Posted by ibbleblibble at 11/02/2006 @ 09:28am
can somebody tell me what happened to the thingprogress.org site?
Posted by DARLADOON 11/01/2006 @ 7:58pm
How CAN they?...you've got everybody on "Ignore"!
Posted by Mask at 11/02/2006 @ 10:21am
"WE GIVE UP!!!!" these "soldiers" scream! "YOU WIN, TERRORISTS!!! YOU WIN!!!"
Posted by woodyee at 11/02/2006 @ 10:25am
"WE GIVE UP!!!!" these "soldiers" scream! "YOU WIN, TERRORISTS!!! YOU WIN!!!"
Posted by WOODYEE 11/02/2006 @ 10:25am
Never have I seen evidence of a person in greater need of giving himself a wedgie.
Posted by skeletonman at 11/02/2006 @ 11:45am
I know that if the Dems win, there won't be a whisper about Diebold machines.
Posted by FREIHEIT 11/01/2006 @ 9:57pm | ignore this person
you neglect to mention that Mr. Diebold is a partisan repub. inconvenient for your argument isn't it?
Posted by johannesrolf at 11/02/2006 @ 12:08pm
JIHAD IS FUN! VOTE DEMOCRAT! November 1, 2006
John Kerry is the "botched joke" of American politics. For those of you keeping score at home, John Kerry has now called members of the U.S. military (a) stupid, (b) crazy, (c) murderers, (d) rapists, (e) terrorizers of Iraqi women and children. I wonder what he'll call them tomorrow. Whatever Karl Rove is paying John Kerry to say stupid things, it's worth every penny.
Now, back to the midterm elections ...
Analysts place the average midterm loss for the party in the White House at around 15 to 44 seats, depending on which elections are counted -- only elected presidents, midterm elections since the Civil War, midterm elections since World War II, comparable-sized congresses, first and second midterm elections and so on.
The average first midterm election loss for every elected president since 1914 is 27 House seats and three Senate seats. The average sixth-year midterm election, like this year, is much worse for the president's party, which typically loses 34 seats in the House and six seats in the Senate.
This makes the average loss in two midterm elections for the party in the White House: 30 House seats and four or five Senate seats in each midterm election.
In his first midterm election, George W. Bush picked up six House seats and two Senate seats -- making him, according to The New York Times, "the first Republican president to gain House seats in an off-year election" and only the third president of either party to pick up House seats in a midterm election since the Civil War.
This means that for Democrats simply to match the historical average gain for the party out of the White House during the first and second midterm, they would have to pick up 67 seats in the House and 11 seats in the Senate. They're about 30 Mark Foleys short of having that happen.
It at least seems clear that Democrat gains this year are going to fall far short of the historical average. No poll has the Democrats winning even half of their rightful midterm gains.
Despite the precedent of big wins in midterm elections for the party out of power -- especially in a sixth-year midterm election -- something is depressing the Democrats' popularity with Americans this year. I suspect it's the perception that many of them are Democrats.
But instead of recognizing that the Democratic Party is a dying party, falling far short of its due historical gains, any gain by the Democrats will be hailed as a crowning mandate for the party that wants to lose the Iraq war, shut down Guantanamo and stop spying on Islamic terrorists on U.S. soil.
Even a dying party has death throes. If Democrats win a slight majority in the House or Senate, Americans will get shrill, insane leadership of the nation in time of war.
Democrats can't not be crazy. They will instantly set to work enacting a national gay marriage law, impeachment hearings, slavery reparations and a series of new federal felonies for abortion clinic protesters. The only way to get Democrats to focus on terrorists would be to convince them that the terrorists are interfering with a woman's right to choose or that commercial jetliners exploding in midair are a threat to America's wetlands.
The probable new House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is in a catfight with Rep. Jane Harman for not being insane enough. Pelosi has indicated she will deny Harman the chairmanship of the Intelligence Committee, instead giving it to Rep. Alcee Hastings, whom Pelosi voted to impeach from his federal judgeship in 1988 for conspiring to extract a $150,000 bribe from convicted criminals in return for lowering their sentences.
An O.J. jury had acquitted Hastings on the bribery charge in a criminal proceeding, though his alleged co-conspirator, attorney William Borders, was convicted.
But the evidence of Hastings' bribery plot was so overwhelming that a Democratic House voted to impeach Hastings 413-3 on 17 separate counts -- including falsifying evidence to win his acquittal in the criminal case, and a majority Democratic Senate voted to convict Hastings on the very first count by 69-26, enough to remove him from office.
Rep. John Conyers Jr. -- another finalist for the coveted "craziest Democrat in congress" title -- led the charge for Hastings' impeachment, saying the judge had "betrayed his office."
In addition to having a history of soliciting bribes from criminals before his court, Hastings wants to shut down Guantanamo, and he adamantly opposes the U.S. government listening to phone calls from al-Qaida phones to anyone in America (especially federal judges negotiating bribery deals by telephone).
As millions of lunatic Muslims plot to murder Americans, some Americans -- we call them "Soccer Moms" -- will cast a vote to save Michael J. Fox this year. In the process, they will put all Americans at risk by voting for a frivolous, dying party.
COPYRIGHT 2006 ANN COULTER
Posted by looneylefties at 11/02/2006 @ 12:18pm
"WE GIVE UP!!!!" these "soldiers" scream! "YOU WIN, TERRORISTS!!! YOU WIN!!!"
Posted by WOODYEE 11/02/2006 @ 10:25am
I would give a thousand bucks to watch you say this to a single one of these soldiers.
Watching him punch you directly in your flapping mouth would be a joy.
Posted by New Dawn at 11/02/2006 @ 12:33pm
Another KVH desparate attempt to cite a non group as something significant. 600 out of over 1.4 million active duty personnel and 330,000 National Guard personnel. That is a nearly unregisterable blip.
For every miscreant lib that joined the military and becomes a John Kerry or these anti-war nuts, there are probably a 100,000 who are just the opposite
Posted by LVLIBERTY1 11/02/2006 @ 12:31am
The voices of American soldiers are insignificant because they don't agree with Liberty.
You heard it here first.
Posted by New Dawn at 11/02/2006 @ 12:34pm
Another KVH desparate attempt to cite a non group as something significant. 600 out of over 1.4 million active duty personnel and 330,000 National Guard personnel. That is a nearly unregisterable blip.
For every miscreant lib that joined the military and becomes a John Kerry or these anti-war nuts, there are probably a 100,000 who are just the opposite
Posted by LVLIBERTY1 11/02/2006 @ 12:31am
I thought this (free speech) is one of the rights that we are supposedly fighting to bring to Iraq (not to mention retain at home).
You must hate America, Luvvy.
Posted by skeletonman at 11/02/2006 @ 12:39pm
Revealed: U.S. Soldier Killed Herself After Objecting to Interrogation Techniques The true stories of how American troops, killed in Iraq, actually died keep spilling out this week. Now we learn, thanks to a reporter's FOIA request, that one of the first women to die in Iraq shot and killed herself after objecting to harsh "interrogation techniques."
By Greg Mitchell
(November 01, 2006) -- The true stories of how American troops, killed in Iraq, actually died keep spilling out this week. On Tuesday, we explored the case of Kenny Stanton Jr., murdered last month by our allies, the Iraqi police, though the military didn't make that known at the time. Now we learn that one of the first female soldiers killed in Iraq died by her own hand after objecting to interrogation techniques used on prisoners.
She was Army specialist Alyssa Peterson, 27, a Flagstaff, Ariz., native serving with C Company, 311th Military Intelligence BN, 101st Airborne. Peterson was an Arabic-speaking interrogator assigned to the prison at our air base in troubled Tal-Afar in northwestern Iraq. According to official records, she died on Sept. 15, 2003, from a "non-hostile weapons discharge."
"Peterson objected to the interrogation techniques used on prisoners. She refused to participate after only two nights working in the unit known as the cage. Army spokespersons for her unit have refused to describe the interrogation techniques Alyssa objected to. They say all records of those techniques have now been destroyed. ...
She was was then assigned to the base gate, where she monitored Iraqi guards, and sent to suicide prevention training. "But on the night of September 15th, 2003, Army investigators concluded she shot and killed herself with her service rifle," the documents disclose.
The Army talked to some of Peterson's colleagues. Asked to summarize their comments, Elston told E&P: "The reactions to the suicide were that she was having a difficult time separating her personal feelings from her professional duties. That was the consistent point in the testimonies, that she objected to the interrogation techniques, without describing what those techniques were."
Peterson, a devout Mormon, had graduated from Flagstaff High School and earned a psychology degree from Northern Arizona University on a military scholarship. She was trained in interrogation techniques at Fort Huachuca in Arizona, and was sent to the Middle East in 2003.
The Arizona Republic article had opened: "Friends say Army Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson of Flagstaff always had an amazing ability to learn foreign languages.
On a "fallen heroes" message board on the Web, Mary W. Black of Flagstaff wrote, "The very day Alyssa died, her Father was talking to me at the Post Office where we both work, in Flagstaff, Ariz., telling me he had a premonition and was very worried about his daughter who was in the military on the other side of the world. The next day he was notified while on the job by two army officers. Never has a daughter been so missed or so loved than she was and has been by her Father since that fateful September day in 2003. He has been the most broken man I have ever seen."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mutiply this by 2800 X the number of close family members and friends.
Posted by hsuBfools at 11/02/2006 @ 12:59pm
Another KVH desparate attempt to cite a non group as something significant. 600 out of over 1.4 million active duty personnel and 330,000 National Guard personnel. That is a nearly unregisterable blip.
For every miscreant lib that joined the military and becomes a John Kerry or these anti-war nuts, there are probably a 100,000 who are just the opposite.
Posted by LVLIBERTY1 11/02/2006 @ 12:31am
Yous disproved your own point. The simple fact that most soldiers would consider one who signed this petition an "anti-war nut" makes it quite remarkable that as many as 600 completely reversed their decision to serve and their psychological training, and came out against a war in which they fought and in which their comrades died.
Honestly, how many Vietnam veterans look back and say, yeah, that was a good war. The percentage for this war will be lower because the fighting force is much more professional. But in time, a great many will look back and wonder why.
Posted by MyParadigm at 11/02/2006 @ 1:24pm
NEW DAWN - I'd love to say this to one of these cowards!!!! I don't think these wimps would lay a hand on me.
Posted by woodyee at 11/02/2006 @ 3:46pm
NEW DAWN - I'd love to say this to one of these cowards!!!! I don't think these wimps would lay a hand on me.
Posted by WOODYEE 11/02/2006 @ 3:46pm
Hey Woodster
How's it going, pulling those tighty whiteys out of your ass?
How did you accomplish said self wedgie anyway?
Posted by skeletonman at 11/02/2006 @ 4:53pm
Posted by WOODYEE 11/02/2006 @ 3:46pm
yawn.
Posted by Malcontent at 11/02/2006 @ 7:55pm
NEW DAWN - I'd love to say this to one of these cowards!!!! I don't think these wimps would lay a hand on me.
Posted by WOODYEE 11/02/2006 @ 3:46pm | ignore this person
Hey Woodyee, remember when the story broke about the squad of US Marines slaughtering Iraqi women and children in Haditha...and your response was "maybe they deserved it"?
What do you think THOSE Marines would think of your..."WE GIVE UP!!!!" these "soldiers" scream! "YOU WIN, TERRORISTS!!! YOU WIN!!!"
Posted by Lillian at 11/02/2006 @ 8:55pm
SKELETONMAN - I didn't pull out any white stuff from my ass. In fact, I didn't pull out of your mother and left plenty of white stuff for you.
Posted by woodyee at 11/02/2006 @ 9:33pm
LILLIAN - Those REAL soldiers would totally agree with me!!!
Posted by woodyee at 11/02/2006 @ 9:34pm
"WE GIVE UP!!! YOU WIN, OSAMA!!! YOU WIN!!! WE'LL CONVERT TO ISLAM LIKE YOU'VE REQUESTED AND WE'LL LEARN TO SPEAK THAT GOAT LATIN!!! WE GIVE UP!!!!" screamed the "Soldiers" as they left the Middle East and headed to Mass. to get married.
Posted by woodyee at 11/02/2006 @ 9:37pm
"WE GIVE UP!!! YOU WIN, OSAMA!!! YOU WIN!!! WE'LL CONVERT TO ISLAM LIKE YOU'VE REQUESTED AND WE'LL LEARN TO SPEAK THAT GOAT LATIN!!! WE GIVE UP!!!!" screamed the "Soldiers" as they left the Middle East and headed to Mass. to get married.
Posted by WOODYEE 11/02/2006 @ 9:37pm
What did ossama win?
He certainly didn't win Iraq.
Posted by Will C. at 11/02/2006 @ 10:12pm
and why are we converting to islam?
Posted by Will C. at 11/02/2006 @ 10:12pm
LILLIAN - Those REAL soldiers would totally agree with me!!!
Posted by WOODYEE 11/02/2006 @ 9:34pm | ignore this person
Wow Woodyee, do think they're REAL soldiers because they killed innocent Iraqi women and children?
That's funny because most REAL soldiers have been spending a LOT of time claiming that those guys...
...weren't REAL soldiers!
Posted by Lillian at 11/02/2006 @ 11:14pm
WOODYEE, When your done playing with your Tickle-Me-Elo Doll, spend some time looking up events sponsored by Veterans for Peace, or other similar groups. Hop on you Big Wheel and roll on down. Voice your opinion to the biggest guy you can find, or in your case, the smallest chick, and see how you fare.
Always with the "I did your momma" joke. You are a small little boy, with a small little brain, and a small little...
Posted by crabwalk at 11/03/2006 @ 12:23pm
And of vourse, all the retired officers that are coming out and saying what a mess chimp has made, these are not "Real " soldiers either, are they LUVDESPOTS1? Nope, the only real soldier is one that agrees with you, and shops with communists.
Posted by crabwalk at 11/03/2006 @ 12:25pm
CRABWALK - Been there, done that with the Vets for Peace. I told them that they were wimps, they lisped something back, and that was it. The next week they protested again, I called them wimps, the most masculine of the bunch (not saying much) took a swing, he got laid out by your hero, Wood Yee. My only regret is that I didn't put the Angle Leg Lock on one of these queens and make him tap out!!!!
Posted by woodyee at 11/03/2006 @ 2:13pm
Posted by WOODYEE 11/03/2006 @ 2:13pm
Wow. I'm like, so impressed with your ability to pick up old chicks and start fights with peace protesters.
Stop. You're turning me on. (Give me a call, when you are old enough).
Eric
Posted by Malcontent at 11/03/2006 @ 6:56pm
Posted by John_A at 11/03/2006 @ 11:47pm