Iraq Veterans Against the War: 'Winter Soldier 2008'
By Bill W. Saturday Mar 15, 2008 10:02pmWinter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan was a 4-day event from March 13-16 in DC that brought together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although the news media has unsurprisingly ignored the event much as they did its predecessor in 1971, this time we have digital media and the intertubes to document it and bring it to a wider audience.
Download | play 
Download | play Contains Some Graphic Content (The full 18 min minidocumentary on IVAW's site here)
Iraq Veterans Against the War:
In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” In 1971, a courageous group of veterans exposed the criminal nature of the Vietnam War in an event called Winter Soldier. Once again, we will demand that the voices of veterans are heard.
Spencer Ackerman has had ongoing coverage of Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan and much of it is beyond disturbing:
"That was the first time I've ever seen a six year old girl dead. And it was not drown[ing] in a swimming pool, but because she had been shot by a bunch of teenage American kids. Not because we want to, but because it happens." ...(read on)
and ...
"My company commander personally congratulated me, "Turner continued. "That same individual said, 'Whoever gets his first kill by stabbing them to death will get a four day pass when we get back from Iraq." ...(read on)
Mike Prysner's testimony was particularly revealing (YouTube here & here) about military commanders' deliberate use of racism as a tool to motivate soldiers to fight and "die to control the market of another country." (excerpted transcript after the jump)
Prysner: When I first joined the army we were told that racism no longer existed in the military. A legacy of inequality and discrimination was suddenly washed away by something called the 'Equal Opportunity Program. We would sit through mandatory classes and every unit had this EO representative to ensure that no elements of racism could resurface. The Army seemed firmly dedicated to smashing any hint of racism. And then September 11th happened and I began to hear new words like 'towel head' and 'camel jockey' and the most disturbing: 'sand nigger.' And these words did not initially come from my fellow soldiers but from my superiors: my platoon sergeant, my company first sergeant, battalion commander. All the way up the chain of command these terms, these viciously racist terms were suddenly acceptable. [...]
We were told we were fighting terrorists, but the real terrorist was me and the real terrorism is this occupation. Racism within the military has long been an important tool to justify the destruction and occupation of another country. It has long been used to justify the killing, subjugation, and torture of another people. Racism is a vital weapon deployed by this government. It is a more important weapon than a rifle, a tank, a bomber or a battleship. It is more destructive than an artillery shell, or a bunker buster, or a tomahawk missile. While all of those weapons are created and owned by this government, they are harmless without people willing to use them.
Those who send us to war do not have to pull a trigger or lob a mortar round. They do not have to fight the war. They merely have to sell the war. They need a public who is willing to send their soldiers into harm's way and they need soldiers who are willing to kill or be killed without question. They can spend millions on a single bomb, but that bomb only becomes a weapon when the ranks in the military are willing to follow orders to use it. They can send every last soldier anywhere on earth, but there will only be a war if soldiers are willing to fight, and the ruling class: the billionaires who profit from human suffering care only about expanding their wealth, controlling the world economy, understand that their power lies only in their ability to convince us that war, oppression, and exploitation is in our interests. They understand that their wealth is dependent on their ability to convince the working class to die to control the market of another country. And convincing us to kill and die is based on their ability to make us think that we are somehow superior. Soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, have nothing to gain from this occupation.
The vast majority of people living in the US have nothing to gain from this occupation. In fact, not only do we have nothing to gain, but we suffer more because of it. We lose limbs, endure trauma, and give our lives. Our families have to watch flag draped coffins lowered into the earth. Millions in this country without healthcare, jobs, or access to education must watch this government squander over $450 million a day on this occupation. Poor and working people in this country are sent to kill poor and working people in another country to make the rich richer, and without racism soldiers would realize that they have more in common with the Iraqi people than they do with the billionaires who send us to war.
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Frist.
...I know. "Frist" is soooo 2007.
Rev up the helicopters.
It's time to go.
But FOX feigns outrage over what Rev. Wright said.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
Any public confessions to war crimes that can be used to arrest these traitors and return them to Iraq for trial and execution by the Iraqi people?
Scrapiron @ 5:
Stupid troll
Scrapiron @ 5:
Soldiers are told by their higher ups that those people were armed insurgents. That's the point of what this soldier said that when he saw what they had just destroyed homes and civilians not people who were about to kill them. These kids joined the Army believing like many Americans who were lied to that Iraq was somehow related to the war on terror and 911. I agree their should be war crimes, but for those at the top, all the way to the White House.
Ruthless People @ 7:
...charges for war crimes I meant..
LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD, AT LAST.
Ruthless People @ 7:
Somehow new kids keep coming. I don't trust these new ones..
History will speak of the name Dick Cheney in the same breath as Saddam Hussein and Slobodan Milosevic . Traitors, murderous demons who used their own countries and their countries resources for their own self serving political and financial agendas killing countless of their own citizens, and in Cheney's case, citizens of other countries as well in the process. The only difference between these 3 "men" is that one of them will get off for his war crimes and killings.
Of course racism is a primary tool in getting these kids to kill brown people. It's very hard to rally a bunch of soldiers to the war cry of "We need your oil more than you do!"
Ruthless People @ 11:
Word. ('Cepting that I still have some hope it'll go to zero... not counting W, aka the UnterDick)
If you are in bad personal economical times, you will be despised for finding a solution in drug running, joining a violent gang or the mafia.
But if your solution is to join the army, so going to Iraq, and so becoming a tool for the biggest criminals alive, you are considered only misinformed..
How did we get there in the first place? Explain these "coincidences"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3999464125515790745&q=7%2F7+dri...
NOVAK: All kidding aside. Is this country, with the permissiveness, that we are moving toward a fascist theocracy?
ZAPPA: You bet we are buddy.
There are 3,988 - and counting - reasons to get the hell out of Iraq NOW.
Cas @ 10:
Most of these soldiers are kids in their teens and early 20's. In the Republican economy there are fewer and fewer jobs. In some communities the choice is military service or the family doesn't get supported. In other cases it's young impressionable kids lied to by military recruiters about a glamorous adventure with stories of patriotism and pride. In other cases kids are brain washed by friends, conservative family members and the MSM that killing brown people in Iraq helps the war on terror at payback for 911. Most often its people in our government and their surrogates who tell these lies over and over again till many of these impressionable kids believe it and join over the wishes of their parents. Thanks to Bushco the military is having such a hard time meeting it's recruiting goals sometimes the kid is even mentally challenged due to lower recruiting standards.
Yes, as with any profession there are a few bad apples but the ones who should ultimately pay the ultimate price for the death and destruction they have caused are the ones at the top. They are ones ultimately responsible and the ones "supporting the troops" by throwing them under the bus for crimes the higher ups have orchestrated and sanctioned while working over time to protect themselves from legal repercussions.
Impeach.
Indict.
Imprison.
mary @ 17:
More because of the 1.134.432-and-still-counting Iraqi's.
Cas @ 19:
I wonder what BushCo in conjuring up to knock American death number 4,000 off the front pages. Unfortunately we will be finding out soon enough.
War
John Adams is coming on. I will be back later.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 22:
You live in the past ;-)
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 21:
If that's not disturbing enough for you here's a war song sung by a man in drag:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6EFyofhXPw
This war could easily be over if the republican chickenhawks would just enlist.
Republicans are all talk and no action.
http://www.symbolman.com/chickenhawks.html
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 22:
John Hussein Adams?
We're only in it for the money.
Bush, Cheney, Exxon, Hallliburton, et al's money.
Heaven forbid the MSM report the experience of these proud lads.
Here's Obama's statement today about the ongoing horror of the war in Iraq: ------ ----- ----- ------
Here's Clinton's statement today about the ongoing horror of the war in Iraq: ------ ----- ----- ------
Anthology @ 28:
Right now the economy is collapsing. There will be time to get back to that other Bush orchestrated disaster. There is only so many hours in one day for all of BushCo's disasters, scandals and failings. I'm sure Obama and Hillary will address the Bush war again soon enough...and McCains will to rubberstamp it.
whizkid @ 27:
Who is really paying?
The poor in Asia, who's currencies are dollar pegged, and who because of that experiencing huge inflation.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 22:
Heeeeeyyyyyy......look at you - all comfy and who knows what with our 2nd president. Just what is he coming on?
intertubes? i thought it was a bunch of big trucks?
Suggestive comments aside (my post @ 31,) this is a powerful, powerful statement. Kudos and much respect to Mike Prysner.
L.A. Confidential @ 16:
Not sure if you saw my question on the other thread but where did you find that delightfulZappa/Novak thing. Please tell me it's on YouTube someplace.
Is anyone seeing media coverage of this? I don't have TV and I couldn't find SHIT about Winter Soldier on their website. Best I could find was a Yahoo web-clipping from before the event started.
To verify "their" that would be CNN.
Oooh I found it.
Two books:
War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges
and
The Lessons of Terror: A History of Warfare Against Civilians by Caleb Carr
It is my belief (as a retired USAR officer) that the increased suicides in the army result from being told one thing by assholes who sit in safety and never served in uniform themselves, and then experiencing something completely different on the ground... those are very difficult thoughts to process together in the situations our kids are in... and keep in mind that our kids are the best we have, with mostly pure intentions, who will die if needed and if asked... and they only need to be asked... and only asked once... so reality hits hard and betrayals run deep.... to make matters worse, we all know that the Shit Weasels in power will never be held accountable...
Truthful, brilliant post Frank. And unfortunately true. Where are the Bush twins? How 'bout George P. Bush, Jeb's son - he's service age? How many Repig legislators have children who are serving their country? Are Mitt's sons enlisting, since their "war effort" of helping to get their Dad elected president is over?
Fuckin' hypocrites.
Matt Hussein in Texas @ 39:
thier saveing these assholes kids so they can spend the war profits !
Thanks Matt in Texas...
There's a great video on You Tube using CCR's Fortunate Son about the Bush kids... If I remember right it's called the Fighting First Family.... very well done...
Feds cut prime rate by .25% on a Sunday.
J P morgan buys Bear & Stearns for $2 a
share. Oil hits $111 a barrel. Gold at $1,030
an ounce. It's gonna be a wild ride on Wall St.
tomorrow.
I'd like to watch this video, but I fear I'll clog up all the tubes.
God Damn America!
Mentioning of Thomas Paine = Awesomeness
I watched (online) almost all of the testimony given by veterans on Sunday. All of it was extremely compelling...much of it, infuriating. I hope someone edits together the highlights and makes them available online. These soldiers' stories deserve to be heard by many, many more people.
mary @ 17:
I could give you 100,000 to a million more reasons, but they, of course, are less important and don't really count.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 44:
An Iraqi perspective
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clq4Z3Qc2jo&feature=user
Leg Hussein Paine @ 47:
Mary acts like she personally knew those 3988 U.S. soldiers when the only thing she has in common with them is citizenship and, perhaps, cultural background.
When it comes down to it, one realizes that we have more in common with each other as human beings. As cliche as it is, we all bleed the same blood. That's when you start caring about your fellow man (and woman), rather than being selfish and ethnocentric. I think that's the message the Winter Soldiers are trying to send, as well.
"Although the news media has unsurprisingly ignored the event much as they did its predecessor in 1971, this time we have digital media and the intertubes to document it and bring it to a wider audience."
The American press/media sucks to put it mildly.....there is nobody in the American press/media who should ever think they are intelligent or doing anyone any favors.
Gee, look around at the havoc that the United States has committed around the world. It's truly amazing that there hasn't been a few dozen 9/11 type attacks. The American government has long been one of the greatest terrorist organizations ever. Do some homework. Read a little history. Learn who the real terrorists are in this world. The government has ordered dozens of coups over the last 60 or so years. The government has supported the most brutal thugs because they were "anti-communist". The government has used it's private army, the C.I.A., to terrorize and harm countless people around the world. When Rudy told Ron Paul that Paul's explanation of "blowback" for the 9/11 attack, was the most absurd thing that he's ever heard, he was just carrying on the myth that the country is a shining beacon of freedom and hope. In many countries around the world, the United States is looked upon as a bully and a tyrant, always meddling in others affairs and dictating others ways of life. South and Central America have been particularly hard hit by U.S. oppression. The Pinochet government was helped into power by the C.I.A., the Argentines were given help with their coup. The list is a long and shameful one.
In Indonesia, the Philippines, Iran and where ever else U.S. governments felt that they were losing control of affairs, they quickly stepped in and installed their own puppet governments.
The U.S. government and the C.I.A. has for years been the cause of untold suffering in many other parts of the world. At the same time they put out the myth that they are the good guys and that American foreign aid is helping impoverished people the world over.
Why do the troops hate the troops?
The most coverage I've found so far has been on www.therealnews.com
There are a couple excellent interviews as well.
40 years and we haven't learned a thing: March 16th, 1968 ~ My Lai massacre
Wars are atrocities waiting to happen.
I am a member of the antiwar movement, and have spent much of the weekend watching the testimonies at my own place and at others. I am really disappointed at how little knowledge about WS there was through the antiwar movement - the students and veterans were the only groups who really knew that this was going on.
I am, however, incredibly excited about the fallout of these testimonies. From what I heard, IVAW received more requests to join than their website could handle at the time. Hopefully, the veterans and active-duty troops will begin to stand up, to speak out against the war and to refuse to serve, or refuse to go on missions in the continuing illegal occupation. If the men and women on the ground won't fight, the Administration can't continue. If Congress refuses to fund, the Administration can's continue. If the populace here refuses to accept the war, the Administration can't continue. So make some noise!
So where in the Hell is all the cheap oil our glorious teenagers are killing and dying to bring to us?
Acting Patriotic @ 54:
Democracy Now also has some excellent coverage, as always:
I fail at linkage.
People need to wake up to the war crimes happening down there. We need to get out of Iraq and send Cheney INC to prison.
Once again, another generation begins to learn the same old lesson.....all over from scratch.
All participants in Bushco belong in prison, for the rest of their natural lives. Until we've collectively learned enough to find the will to send them there, we haven't learned a thing. Not a thing.
Cas @ 14:
word. except the mafia and gangs don't have million dollar PR campaigns, and most of our highschoolers don't have any idea of this country's legacy of genocide and war for profit. education is the key, and the neocons know that. that's where the no child left behind act comes in.
Readers of websites like C & L need to push this story into the mainstream media. Democracy Now! has been giving this story amazing coverage, and I was pleased to find it here. I've included the letter to the editor that I just wrote to the NYT which has been silent.
The reason this war started and continues is because people are totally unaware how distorted the mainstream news is. What possible reason could NYT (and others) have for saying nothing about this current event?
Pass it on...
Re:
"Looking Back on Iraq, 5 Years In"
I've been following the Winter Soldier event currently being held at the
National Labor College in Silver Spring, Maryland in the alternative media
on the net. These eyewitness accounts by US troops of atrocities committed
by US troops during the ongoing occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan seems
highly relevant to the theme of this issue.
I searched the term Winter Soldier on your site, and found no mention of
this timely story, but I did find a piece from August 9 2005 on a film of
the original Winter Solder event regarding Viet Nam. In that piece, David
Halbfinger writes, "Its distributors say that the war in Iraq has made the
Vietnam-era film as powerful as when it was new, and its filmmakers are
calling it eerily prescient of national embarrassments like the torture at
Abu Ghraib."
There is no need for prescience to report on today's Winter Soldiers, just
the willingness of mainstream media to do its duty and tell its readers
the ugly details of what this US war is doing to the people of Iraq and to
its own soldiers. I wonder how many years before the NYT will report on
today's Winter Soldiers? Instead of waiting, I'd best keep myself informed
by relying on the alternative media sources that have been way ahead in
terms of accuracy since before the war started.
Peter Bowers
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