Winter Soldiers
In “Common Sense” , Thomas Paine challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. An essay by Paine started, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country.”
The first “Winter Soldier Investigation” was sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War was intended to publicize war crimes and atrocities by our Armed Forces and their allies in the Vietnam War. The VVAW challenged the morality and conduct of the war by showing the direct relationship between military policies and war crimes in Vietnam. At the three-day gathering 109 discharged servicemen from each branch of military service, as well as civilian contractors and medical personnel gave testimony about war crimes they had committed or witnessed during the years of 1963-1970.
In April 1971; Senator Fulbright requested John Kerry testify before the Senate, as a member of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Kerry testified: “These are not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day to day basis with full awareness of officers at all levels of command. It is impossible to describe to you exactly what did happen... the emotions in the room and the feelings of the men, who were reliving their experiences in Vietnam. They relived the absolute horror of what this country, in a sense, made them do...We wish that a merciful God could wipe away our memories of that service; as easily as this administration has wiped away their memories of us.”
From March 13-16, the Iraq Veterans Against the War will convene another “Winter Soldier” hearing at the National Labor College, 10000 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Springs, Maryland. The IVAW members and others will courageously provide eyewitness accounts of their experiences of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. By telling the truth about these occupations, which they hope will provide, the impetus for a long overdue national debate on the morality and legality of America’s alleged “War Against Terrorism.” Many who consider themselves to be “patriots” will accuse these veterans of being un-American, unpatriotic and even treasonous, but they are the sunshine patriots.
The former head of the bin Laden unit, Michael Scheuer, wrote: “It’s about the impact of our policies in the Islamic world. And because we won’t talk about that here in America, we’re not adequately defended.” Sunshine patriots like Senators Clinton, Schumer and Rep. Gillibrand refuse to admit that our past and present policies in the Middle East endanger our safety.
The first “Winter Soldier Investigation” was sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War was intended to publicize war crimes and atrocities by our Armed Forces and their allies in the Vietnam War. The VVAW challenged the morality and conduct of the war by showing the direct relationship between military policies and war crimes in Vietnam. At the three-day gathering 109 discharged servicemen from each branch of military service, as well as civilian contractors and medical personnel gave testimony about war crimes they had committed or witnessed during the years of 1963-1970.
In April 1971; Senator Fulbright requested John Kerry testify before the Senate, as a member of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. Kerry testified: “These are not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day to day basis with full awareness of officers at all levels of command. It is impossible to describe to you exactly what did happen... the emotions in the room and the feelings of the men, who were reliving their experiences in Vietnam. They relived the absolute horror of what this country, in a sense, made them do...We wish that a merciful God could wipe away our memories of that service; as easily as this administration has wiped away their memories of us.”
From March 13-16, the Iraq Veterans Against the War will convene another “Winter Soldier” hearing at the National Labor College, 10000 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Springs, Maryland. The IVAW members and others will courageously provide eyewitness accounts of their experiences of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. By telling the truth about these occupations, which they hope will provide, the impetus for a long overdue national debate on the morality and legality of America’s alleged “War Against Terrorism.” Many who consider themselves to be “patriots” will accuse these veterans of being un-American, unpatriotic and even treasonous, but they are the sunshine patriots.
The former head of the bin Laden unit, Michael Scheuer, wrote: “It’s about the impact of our policies in the Islamic world. And because we won’t talk about that here in America, we’re not adequately defended.” Sunshine patriots like Senators Clinton, Schumer and Rep. Gillibrand refuse to admit that our past and present policies in the Middle East endanger our safety.
posted by Jim O'Leary | 12:01 AM
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