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Nothing a "suicide bomber" can't fix
October 23rd, 2006 7:13 pm
Active-Duty Troops Launch Campaign to Press Congress to End U.S. Occupation of Iraq
65 Members to Send "Appeals for Redress" Under the Military Whistle-blower Protection Act
News Advisory:
For the first time since the U.S. invasion of Iraq, active- duty members of the military are asking Members of Congress to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and bring American soldiers home.
Sixty-five active-duty members have sent Appeals for Redress to Members of Congress. Three of these people (including two who served in Iraq) and their attorney will speak about this on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. EDT.
Under the Military Whistle-Blower Protection Act (DOD directive 7050.6), active-duty military, National Guard and Reservists can file and send a protected communication to a Member of Congress regarding any subject without reprisal.
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Way to go troops. Let's bring our boys home.
Last edited by SA210; 10-24-2006 at 01:07 AM.
Nothing a "suicide bomber" can't fix
Wow.
Yeah, I heard about this. Stunning stuff, really. Troops have to be really serious and organized to spring this in October.
October 25th, 2006 1:26 pm
Grass-Roots Group of Troops Pe ions Congress for Pullout From Iraq
By Ann Scott Tyson / Washington Post
More than 100 U.S. service members have signed a rare appeal urging Congress to support the "prompt withdrawal" of all American troops and bases from Iraq, organizers said yesterday.
"Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home," reads the statement of a small grass-roots group of active-duty military personnel and reservists that says it aims to give U.S. military members a voice in Iraq war policy.
"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 American military forces and bases from Iraq," it reads. The group, which aims to collect 2,000 signatures and deliver the message to Congress in January, is sponsored by antiwar activists including Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace and Military Families Speak Out.
The unusual appeal -- the first of its kind in the Iraq war, organizers say -- makes use of a legal protection afforded by the Military Whistle-Blower Protection Act, which provides that members of the military, acting in their capacity as citizens, can send a protected communication to Congress without reprisal.
"Just because you put on the uniform of our country doesn't mean you've given up your rights as a citizen," said J.E. McNeil, a lawyer for the group and executive director for the Center on Conscience & War, a Washington organization that protects the rights of conscientious objectors.
But the service members can exercise this right only while off duty and out of uniform, and they must otherwise make clear they are not speaking for the military. In addition, they cannot say anything disrespectful about their commanders, including the president, McNeil said.
Navy Seaman Jonathan Hutto of Atlanta was the first service member to sign the appeal.
"I hear discussions every day among my shipmates about the war in Iraq and how it doesn't make any sense at this point," said Hutto, who is based in Norfolk and served from September 2005 until March on a ship off Iraq's coast. "There is no victory in sight, and war is still inevitable." He said he opposes the war because of its human and economic tolls, adding that the billions of dollars should be spent on jobs and education at home.
Marine Corps Sgt. Liam Madden, 22, served in Iraq's restive Anbar province from September 2004 until February 2005 and found his opposition to the war intensified after he returned to the United States. "I don't think any more Iraqis or Americans should die because of the U.S. occupation," he said, expressing disappointment that Iraqi elections in January 2005 did not lead to a decline in violence.
"I think some things are worth fighting for, I just don't feel Iraq is one of them," said Madden, of Bellows Falls, Vt. The Quantico-based Marine plans to leave the service to attend college in January.
Madden said he and Hutton met and learned of the vehicle for expressing their views to Congress when they attended a lecture at the YMCA in Norfolk by David Cortright, the author of "Soldiers in Revolt: GI Resistance During the Vietnam War."
Staff researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report.
Another symptom of a wider malaise.
100 members out of an estimated 1.4 million active duty troops really speaks for the majority opinion of the military? Granted, to put their careers on the line (If they ever intended to have one) takes courage, but I don't believe they speak for the military as a whole.
I saw the interview with one of the Marines on MSNBC and I tell you what. I commend the young man for having the balls to speak out. I may be a progressive, liberal to some, but when I was serving I lived and breathed Marine Corps.
Major juevos.
No one is saying they do. The mere fact they have come out is noteworthy, and you have to realize even this behavior is subject to limitations.
I concur.
Well yea, but did the alternative of doing about a zillion "mountain climbers" seem the better option?
BRave, gutsy.
But if anyone thbinks just going home literally tommarow fixes things, then, uh yeah ok.
Where are all the republicans calling them chicken pussies?
It doesn't nessesarily mean they don't want a career in the military. Maybe they don't see the logic or agree with the reasons for this mission.
As predictable as the sun rising in the east the GOP chickenhawks will come out and criticize these folks... bank on it.
Want to keep painting with broad strokes, or do you want to keep within the lines mr partisan.Where are all the republicans calling them chicken pussies?
It doesn't nessesarily mean they don't want a career in the military. Maybe they don't see the logic or agree with the reasons for this mission.
As predictable as the sun lowering in the west, this too has become partisan fodder.As predictable as the sun rising in the east the GOP chickenhawks will come out and criticize these folks... bank on it
Well, the neoconbots aren't logged in. They need to check some blogs before they know what to think.
I am a supposed Neocon, so do we still want to keep painting?
So if they don't agree with this mission they don't deserve to be in the military?
I think I know where you stand.
Troops don't make policy, they are policy (Yes, they are compelled to resist if they believe that they are executing an unlawful order, so spare me that arguement).
I'll spare you that, but there is a question as to whether this is a lawful endeavour.
Now the numbers grown to 200
U.S. troops on active duty call for Iraq withdrawal
47 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters)- More than 200 active duty U.S. armed service members, fed up with the war in Iraq, have joined an unusual protest calling for withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country, organizers said on Wednesday.
The campaign, called the Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq, is the first of its kind in the Iraq war and takes advantage of Defense Department rules allowing active duty troops to express personal opinions to members of Congress without fear of retaliation, organizers said.
"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," states the appeal posted on the campaign's Web site at www.appealforredress.org .
"Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home," it adds.
The Web site allows service members to sign the appeal that will be presented to members of Congress. Organizers said the number of signatories has climbed from 65 to 219 since the appeal was posted a few days ago and Wednesday when it was publicly launched. There are 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
I don't consider you one.
OMG, here we go.....get on the merry-go-round and
lets all go for a spin. SA210, boutons and dan and God
only knows who is in seventh heaven.
Bring me home.........isn't there a song that goes by
that le.
These mutineers have real balls. They're basically ending their military careers, a la Shinsheki.
That said, we absolutely have to win in Iraq.
dubya and head are ing lying, again, when they say they are winning.
Only 20% of US think the US is winning, but of course, the media is causing dubya/ head/rummy to up Iraq.
boutons, you have lost your war.
I have won mine. We haven't lost a battle yet?
People like you are the losers. Like Viet Nam. Your
group made our country the losers. And over a
million people lost their lives AFTER we got out of the
war and the same will happen again.
You folks say you want freedom for people, but you
wont support you country to fight for it.
You want the Taliban back in charge? Where women
are beaten in public or stoned to death? Is that what
you want?
Can you tell me what you do want?
Can you tell me what the dimm-o-craps want?
Can you tell me that you don't support your country?
I will give you a sprout. You are a loyal American,
support your country and the troops. But if so:
The I question your judgement. And any like you.
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