"She had been trying to bring us food and we blew her to pieces."

[JohnyCanuck]

"We Blew Her to Pieces"

Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan by Aaron Glantz

Reviewed by Dahr Jamail

SNIP

"Winter Soldier Iraq and Afghanistan: Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupation," published by Haymarket Books Tuesday, is a gut-wrenching, historic chronicle of what the U.S. military has done to Iraq, as well as its own soldiers.

Authored by Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and journalist Aaron Glantz, the book is a reader for hearings that took place in Silver Spring, Maryland between Mar. 13-16, 2008 at the National Labour College.

"I remember one woman walking by," said Jason Washburn, a corporal in the U.S. Marines who served three tours in Iraq. "She was carrying a huge bag, and she looked like she was heading toward us, so we lit her up with the Mark 19, which is an automatic grenade launcher, and when the dust settled, we realised that the bag was full of groceries. She had been trying to bring us food and we blew her to pieces."

Washburn testified on a panel that discussed the rules of engagement in Iraq, and how lax they were, even to the point of being virtually non-existent.

"During the course of my three tours, the rules of engagement changed a lot," Washburn's testimony continues. "The higher the threat the more viciously we were permitted and expected to respond."

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20813.htm

[TomInTib]

1. "lit her up with the Mark 19"

Now, that's some overkill.

[TahitiNut]

16. Ubetcha.

That's the kind of firepower you'd need if defending a one-man position against a brigade. I made do with an M79, myself.

:scared:



My 'friend' in 1969. Thumper.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

2. I sincerely hope these soldiers find closure by taking this path.

I just can not fathom their pain.

[redwitch]

3. "I remember one woman walking by..."

And you can bet she will haunt his dreams forever. :cry:

[rvablue]

5. I hope not....

I hope she haunts the dreams of Bush!

[Arugula Latte]

9. She won't -- He gets off when people are killed!

I think he has the moral conscience of a reptile. Remember him mocking that woman who was put to death, Karla Fay Tucker?

[gratuitous]

4. This is what war does

It doesn't make anyone free. It doesn't protect anyone. It doesn't preserve, protect or defend anything. It turns people vicious and brutal. It robs people of their humanity. But it makes piles of money for a small group of people who can't spend the money they already have.

[SmileyRose]

6. That's probably the most eloquent thing I've ever read.

thank you.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

10. OMG! *cry* I feel like this regime has robbed me of my humanity!

I want to literally bloody the noses of those profiteering off power-mongering, off fascism! I REALLY WANT TO PUNCH THOSE LIKE LIMBAUGH AND COULTER AND SAVAGE AND FOX FREAKS,...RIGHT IN THE NOSE!!!!

I never felt that way before the BushCO regime,...EVER!!!

[qwlauren35]

11. Not entirely.

While it does turn many innocent young people into cold blooded killers, it usually starts with a small group of people who are already vicious, brutal... and amoral. I cannot think of anything more vicious, brutal or amoral than STARTING a war... over bullsh*t.

[JohnyCanuck]

7. kick n/t

[Hawkowl]

8. Over 15,000 suicides

Does anyone wonder why so many of our veterans kill themselves after they return? Soldiers have unimaginable guilt and grief and no way to deal with it.

[cobalt1999]

12. I can't imagine living with that amount of guilt.

Poor kids, and they are just kids.

[JohnyCanuck]

14. Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be soldiers

What do you do with a drunken soldier?

Two Canadian soldiers were convicted and fined in Cyprus last March for hitting on a man's wife and then hitting the man when he objected. Allegedly, there was also some spitting. Gross.

Typical of the military, Canadian Forces spokeswoman Lieut. Isabelle Riche refused to give details or name names when the story broke, but was quite willing to misrepresent the truth as to the extent of this sort of out-of-control behaviour in Cyprus. From the National Post:

"What I can tell you is that our CF (Canadian Forces) members are highly trained professionals who are respectful and grateful for the opportunity to be in Cyprus for a short stay before returning to their families in Canada," she said.

Since last year, more than 2,200 Canadian soldiers have gone through Cyprus for the program.

Lieut. Riche stressed that this was a rare occurrence.

"Despite the number of military personnel who have visited Cyprus, there have been no similar incidents reported to the authorities involving the public in Cyprus," she said.

Oh, really? Odd then that the Vancouver Sun would not only names the names but also report this:

Local police said the bar brawl is the latest in a string of incidents involving Canadian soldiers over the past few weeks.

And lo and behold, we have another Canadian soldier arrested today for threatening a Cypriot taxi driver with a knife!

I was immediately curious to know why our troops would not be as anxious to go straight home as their families must certainly want them to. But apparently, Cyprus is being used as a "decompression" chamber.

http://www.yayacanada.com/098-20.html

[JohnyCanuck]

13. US soldier gets 7 months for being an accomplice to murder.

Legalized Murder
by Allison Kilkenny | September 20, 2008 - 4:18pm

Remember the wars, everyone? I know, it's easy to get distracted with all of this talk about pigs and lipstick, but in Iraq and Afghanistan, the killing continues. Hell, it's practically legal now!

Belmor Ramos, a US soldier who admitted to involvement in the shooting of Iraqi prisoners, has been sentenced to a puny seven months in prison for his internationally-condemned actions.

Inside an army base in Germany, Ramos finally faced the consequences of his actions last year in Baghdad when he stood by as four Iraqi prisoners were handcuffed, blindfolded, and then executed before him.

While Ramos didn't pull the trigger, he did nothing to stop the killings. Ramos explained his actions to a military judge: "I wanted them dead. I had no legal justification or excuse to do this."

Seven months, along with a dishonorable discharge, are the only punishments Ramos will receive. Seven other troops face charges. His supervising officers will likely avoid messy trials.

Meanwhile, Robin Long, the first US war resister was sentenced to 15 months in jail following his deportation from Canada. He too was dishonorably discharged, but Long received over twice the sentence of Ramos.


SNIP

The point is that no soldier can serve honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan because they are not there to defend a greater good. They're there as occupying forces that can do nothing except perpetuate violence. Astute troops are beginning to understand their dire situations, and they're looking for ways out.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/17286

[DustyJoe]

15. Sad

In Vietnam we had no fire zones in populated areas. We had to receive fire to return fire. This is very sad.