Winter Soldier Makes Washington Post Cover War Crimes

[babylonsister]

Winter Soldier Makes Washington Post Cover War Crimes
Submitted by davidswanson on Sat, 2008-03-15 12:11.



War stories echo another winter
Former soldiers, Marines share their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan
By Steve Vogel, Washington Post


Grim-faced and sorrowful, former soldiers and Marines sat before an audience of several hundred yesterday in Silver Spring and shared their recollections of their service in Iraq.

The stories spilled out, sometimes haltingly, sometimes in a rush: soldiers firing indiscriminately on Iraqi vehicles, an apartment building filled with Iraqi families devastated by an American gunship. Some descriptions were agonized, some vague; others offered specific dates and locations. All were recorded and streamed live to the Web.

The four-day event, "Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan -- Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations," is sponsored by Iraq Veterans Against the War and is expected to draw more than 200 veterans of the two wars through tomorrow. Timed for the eve of the fifth anniversary of the war's start next week, organizers hope the soldiers' accounts will galvanize public opposition.

For some of the veterans speaking yesterday, the experience was catharsis.

Former Marine Jon Turner began his presentation by ripping his service medals off his shirt and tossing them into the first row. He then narrated a series of graphic photographs showing bloody victims and destruction, bringing gasps from the audience. In a matter-of-fact voice, he described episodes in which he and fellow Marines shot people out of fear or retribution.

'I'm sorry'

"I'm sorry for the hate and destruction I've inflicted upon innocent people," Turner said. "Until people hear about what is happening in this war, it will continue."

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/31821

[Jack Rabbit]

1. I remember protest like this 35 years ago

When will they ever learn?

[stillcool]

2. No words.

[bobthedrummer]

3. K&R#5

[malaise]

4. About time

BBC had great coverage this morning.

[Spurt]

5. K&R

[w8liftinglady]

6. I am struggling with how to relate what I've seen to my paper's readers.

I so badly want to write on this event...but how do you put this pain into words?It's crucial that these brave soldiers' words are heard without the "SwiftBoat" spin