Whats really going on in Iraq.....from the veterans who have come home

[drummer55]

Returning veterans paint grim picture of war's toll

Soldiers recently returned from Iraq gave an unfiltered and unflattering assessment of the war's human toll as they detailed their war experiences to a crowd of Oakton Community College students and faculty Wednesday in Des Plaines

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-iraqvets27.html

[Itsthetruth]

1. Thanks

Thanks for the post. Yet another eye opener.

[mom cat]

21. Welcome to DU Itsthetruth. Your name reminds me a bit of

Edith Ann. :hi:

[cthrumatrix]

2. I'm sure Faux is doing a Special on the "reality of War"....... NOT

[Ms. Clio]

3. This is powerful

more from the article, it's devastating:

Rieckhoff criticized the military for not releasing the entire number of those killed or injured in Iraq, a figure he said is far greater than the 1,416 listed as killed and 10,622 listed as wounded by the Defense Department.

"It takes guys like us to embarrass Rumsfeld before things get changed," he said. "The military is being run into the ground, and the American people are unaware of what's really going on."

The group showed a documentary in which former soldiers from Iraq -- many of them amputees -- were angry about how the government treated them once they returned, complaining they were met with a "nightmare of paperwork" to get medical and disability benefits.

"Once you've served your purpose," one young soldier told the camera, "you're no longer of use to the U.S. government."


I'm sure the freepers will just say they are un-American, though--the nerve of those amputees, demanding benefits.

[Catfight]

11. Where's Pat with the purple band aids when we need them most?

Don't these soldiers know that there are plenty of band-aids for their wounds to be distributed for their Honorable service to America? Don't they understand that Bush has been partying in their honor to the tune of 40 million? For crying out loud, quit belly-aching and get on board folks...when mama Bush is happy, everyone is happy.

The right wing pundits will discredit these guys as disturbed or something, they'll never listen to the message. The world is owned by evil now...The pigs have learned to walk and taking over the Farm.

[Ms. Clio]

46. I'm so afraid you're right

After seeing the story about the reporters who had Soviet-style minders with them at the inaugural balls, I realized we may have passed the point of no return.

[Bjornsdotter]

4. We as a country should be ashamed

Veterans should be able to be treated at ANY facility. I'm sick of hearing stories about veterans being denied medical care, especially when their condition is a direct result of serving this country.

This has been happening for far too long...I worked with a woman..her husband was a POW in Korea, it was a NIGHTMARE trying to get any kind of treatment for her husband...he either had to wait or it was denied.


:mad:

Kim

[drummer55]

10. The sad thing is

that this has happened again and again and again in this country.

The bonus army of 1932 comes to mind. http://wappingersschools.org/JohnJayHS/students/ap/ap33/

[PapaJoe]

49. Welcome Home

I feel for you compadres, I came back from Nam with the same sense of betrayal, guilt and angst. I got some real support from my family and from the Viet Nam Veterans against the War. I know that there are comparable organizations arising out of the Iraqi experience. It took the Disabled Veterans of America to help me get my due from the VA. You have friends, look around, we're everywhere.

[commander bunnypants]

5. Thanks

I just printed it and hung it on my office door

CB

[Nordmadr]

23. Me too...but

I work for a highly republican county government...so I'll probably get talked to about it.

Olaf

[Kota]

6. Good article. I have always thought the casulty numbers are

wrong.

Rieckhoff criticized the military for not releasing the entire number of those killed or injured in Iraq, a figure he said is far greater than the 1,416 listed as killed and 10,622 listed as wounded by the Defense Department.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ktowntennesseedem]

8. Great article, nominated for home page.

A must read, in my opinion.

[txaslftist]

9. I'm jist sick of this liberul whining about vetrin's benefits...

These guys got legs and arms and stuff knocked off on account of they was careless. If they'd a been more careful, they could still be over there blowin' away them ragheads. Instead theys jist laying around botherin' nurses fer drugs. If they was really tough they wouldnt need no drugs.

Jesus protects the righteous soljers who does their job right. Them hummer drivers should be taking a better look at the road ahead fer them IUDs.

I heard this same stuff about them fellers at Walter Reid with legs blowed off who had to buy they own dinner. Hail, why not? Don't I got to buy MY own dinner? How come you liberuls is so hot on welfare, anyway?

You foks jist wanna reward them careless sojers for their own incontinence.

fer shame.

[mom cat]

20. Are you any relation to my red neck ma?

Glad to here there are still some lftist left in txis.Yee howdy and dad gum it all. :bounce:

I'm a certified refugee from them parts up here in the land of the Eastern Liberal Establishment. :hi:

[drummer55]

12. so can somebody post this article in the freeper site? n/t

[tinymontgomery]

13. He better only run as for office as a repub

He better only run as for office as a repub because other wise his bronze star isn't worth crap and he only went there that way he could run for president and he wrote his own citation and he lied about even being there etc because we know that liberals don't earn medals the real way like our great hero * did or chaney or ashcrack or delay or any other of the great repub war hero's that protected America by not going to war.


"We need the support of the American people to do more than put a bumper sticker on their car," said Chris Lawrence of Chicago, who served in the Army for 12 years and received a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq.

This guy is obviously an American hater! Needs to get sent to gitmo.

/obvious sarcasm

[BrotherBuzz]

14. This quote sums it all up.....

"We need the support of the American people to do more than put a bumper sticker on their car," said Chris Lawrence of Chicago, who served in the Army for 12 years and received a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. He encouraged members of the audience to write their congressmen in support of pending legislation."

Buddy, I'm with you, and I'm doing as much as I can, but it's still not enough. You have my support!

[Jensen]

15. I'ms sure Bob Dole and Company would say they have not bled enough!

[radar]

16. They just don't see the BiG PicTure...

....National Security & all that. *!*Sarcasm alert*!*

Veterans' Benefits "hurtful" to National Security, says Pentagon
by Joel Wendland (Tuesday 25 January 2005)
http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/12861

The Wall Street Journal describes the pittance set aside for veteran’s benefits as "Congress’ generosity," even as the Republican-controlled Congress and Bush Pentagon get set to slash billions more from Veterans Administration’s (VA) programs. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (1-25-05), Pentagon official David Chu, in a mockery of the contribution of veterans, defended a new round of cuts by ironically describing funding for programs like veterans’ education and job training, health care, pensions, VA housing and the like as "hurtful" to national security.

[against all enemies]

17. Freedom isn't Free.

God I hate that. I always thought when people said that they were referring to our freedom. (In fact they were) Now they use it to refer to Iraq's "freedom". When did it become OK to change the meaning. During WWII yes we had to sacrifice lives to protect the freedom of the US, and when these assholes started this stupid war it was still to "protect our freedom", and now another Bush bait and switch, we went to war to protect Iraq's freedom. Bullshit, can these assholes ever tell the truth?

[tavalon]

32. When people throw that one at me

I turn it around. Yeah, freedom isn't free, it requires diligence. Diligence in making sure that our government is behaving appropriately (which they most assuredly are not). Freedom also requires a willingness to stand up and be heard when your government isn't doing the right thing and freedom also requires that each of us protect our country from things that endanger it and right now, that would be our own government.

If one chooses to use that useless little ditty on me, it goes right back at 'em.

[PapaJoe]

50. Right on!

This Ain't Freedom and it is costing us a lot, anyway.

[benddem]

18. I'm glad they get to talk

no one wanted to listen to us when we came home.

[Weembo]

31. By the way, thanks for your sacrifice

Sincerity intended

[DUBYASCREWEDUS]

19. THEN ...

Somebody explain to me why the military votes Republican? The majority of the soldiers sent to the front lines are from minorities; lower income; are there because they need the money and yet the support these chickenhawks who send them to war to die while their own children stay at home. Voter education needs to begin with the military personnel.

[LynnTheDem]

25. 1. THINK about WHO keeps telling you they vote republican and 2.

They don't.

Not anywhere near the numbers you've been told they do.

OFFICERS are ONLY 15% of the entire military.

OFFICERS are a majority republican.

But they are ONLY 15% of the military.

The rest, enlisted personel, average out at 1/3 republican, 1/3 Democrat, and 1/3 Independant.

Of my husband's entire unit, ONLY ONE is republican who voted for bush.

Again; WHO TOLD YOU they're all republican?

WHO do MINORITIES overwhelmingly vote for??? GUESS who a large proportion of the enlisted troops are.

Light is now breaking...and you're realizing you done been propagandized by the rightwingnuttery. ;)

[DUBYASCREWEDUS]

36. WELL

Then in the 2000 election why did a majority of the military votes go for Bush and not Gore? Why in this election did the same thing happen? The majority of the military votes went for the Moron and not Kerry? I don't believe I am being "fed" anything. Find the exact number of military votes in this election and I will bet the majority favor the Moron.

[LynnTheDem]

39. Oh?

A Military Times survey last December of 933 subscribers, about 30 percent of whom had deployed for the Iraq war, found that 56 percent considered themselves Republican - about the same percentage who approved of Bush's handling of Iraq.

Half of those responding were officers, who as a group tend to be more conservative than their enlisted counterparts.

Among officers, who represent roughly 15 percent of today's 1.4 million active duty military personnel, there are about eight Republicans for every Democrat, according to a 1999 survey by Duke University political scientist Peter Feaver.

Enlisted personnel, however - a disproportionate number of whom are minorities, a population that tends to lean Democratic - are more evenly split. Professor Feaver estimates that about one third of enlisted troops are Republicans, one third Democrats, and the rest independents, with the latter group growing.

http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/headlines04/0921-02.htm

My husband's entire unit is Indy or Dem, only 1 is republican and he's the only one voted for bush. You'd be shocked to hear the opinions his unit has of bush. "spawn of satan" and "the antichrist" seem to be their favorites.

[DUBYASCREWEDUS]

40. GLAD TO HEAR IT

Hope it makes a noticeable difference in the 2006 and 2008 elections.

[LynnTheDem]

41. If you're in the area, Ft Hood Texas, let me know...

it's VERY heart-warming to listen to the guys go on. :D I learn my best cussing and insults from them.

[DUBYASCREWEDUS]

51. UNFORTUNATELY

I live in the newly minted, bigoted State of Ohio. We used to be a blue state then somehow the Republicans took over - The Ohio Supreme Court, the US Senate, the State Senate, Governor, Attorney General, and, of course, let's not forget the super Republican Ass-Kisser - Kenneth Blackwell. Despite what some say I still believe Ohio was blue in this election - someday I hope all votes will be counted to prove that!

[LynnTheDem]

52. Could be worse...

You could be in Texas, lol!

My Worthington Ohio friend says the same as you; Ohio is blue IF all votes are fairly counted. But the right does prefer to cheat & lie & steal.

[Laurab]

26. They don't appear to vote republican - not this time, anyway

People are having a very difficult time getting anyone to release the military vote. NJ released theirs - the votes were overwhelmingly for Kerry. If the military had voted rethug, you can bet it would have been all over the news. It's been strangely silent, which to me means one thing. They didn't vote for shrub. My nephew who is in the army (and sadly, probably headed to Iraq in March), told me in October that everyone he talked to was praying for a regime change here. People assume the military voted rethug, because they normally do vote for their president, but this time, I don't believe they did. I read in another thread that people who are trying to get the actual military vote result are having a difficult time getting it. It'll come out eventually, and it won't have been for chimp-in-chief.

[Sweet Freedom]

22. Print this article

Highlight this paragraph:

"We need the support of the American people to do more than put a bumper sticker on their car," said Chris Lawrence of Chicago, who served in the Army for 12 years and received a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. He encouraged members of the audience to write their congressmen in support of pending legislation."

and start placing it on the windshield of the cars and trucks with yellow magnets and Smirky/Snarly bumper stickers.

[insane_cratic_gal]

24. with 40 million Inauguration funds

BushINC could be protecting 20,000 troops by outfitting them with body armor.

2,000.

How many Humvees can you up armor with 40,000,000
considering the contract they just landed for 3 million, apparently could of done the whole fleet twice over with that money.

We have all of this money being spent in IRAQ . Why do people have no water, shortages of food, why is that my first grader is being asked to donate toilet paper for a reserve troop of 136 soldiers? (I'm happy to do it however someone needs to explain to me where this money for Iraq is going?
We know it's not on the food, water, electricity, body armor or humvees. So who is getting the cash. Dick's companies?

[Harry S Truman]

35. Exactly.

The amounts of money are staggering. When will state media ever question where the money is going? We've spent enough in Iraq to rebuild Saturn.

[LevelB]

47. Yah, this one sticks in my craw.

We are spending ungodly amounts of money in this war. When all the shouting was going on about whether or not the Army was buying armored humvees fast enough, were the factories at full capacity, etc. my response was - Goddamnit, people are dying. With the kind of money we are throwing around here, build another fucking factory.

Christ on a crutch, I am getting pissed off.

B.

[gordianot]

27. I have heard these stories first hand from Dads in our Boy Scout Troop.

It is horrible what is going on, and the Corporate Media is covering this up big time.

Notice they do not elaborate on the stories in this article. I can understand why, I would never repeat second hand what I have heard.

Someday an angry young man is going to go in front of a Congressional Committee and tell what he saw. I hope he is treated better than the young men who returned with stories about Vietnam more than 30 years ago.

[Just Me]

28. "Operation Truth" is THE BEST!!!

I completely appreciate and admire "Operation Truth".

:yourock:

[Seoul]

29. Other soldiers report "rape and torture" as part of etiquette

I'm hearing from my soldier buddies that "torturing" suspects is not uncommon among the higher ranks. They say that they even allow their Iraqi National Guard pawns to steal from suspects' houses and some have even said that rape is a common practice. US OUT OF IRAQ!

[The Backlash Cometh]

30. How many of these soldiers voted for Bush? And how many of

them are prepared to vote for Democratic Senators and Representatives in 2006? We all may agree that something needs to be done, but do we agree on the same approach?

[jakpalmer]

33. Link to Operation Truth:

Operation Truth

[poe]

34. April 2004 the VA stated it received 26,633 disability claims....

from servicemen returning from Iraq. I have read of an estimate as high as 6,000 killed and 48,000 wounded-Americans. Remember in Viet Nam the KIA was said to be only 6,000 and it then came to be the 58,000 we are led to believe as the total. Of course a further 40,000 were missing in action. The US casualty figures are being manipulated as is always the case with the Pentagon. According to a U.S. Army file 19,644 US Army servicemen who were killed between Jan. 1, 1965 and Dec. 31, 1975 did not count as casualties because their death certificates were written in other countries.
Look at the figures from Gulf War 1, 56% are on permanent medical disability-325,000 by the year 2000. Most of these can be attributed to Dep. Uranium. Of course the toll on Iraqis is in the several million when one counts the sanctions the lasting effects of Dep Uranium, bombings, starvations, disease etc. This is a very dark episode in a series of US murders which stretches across several administrations.

"Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy."
-Henry Kissinger

[Karenina]

42. Tell it like it is, Poe.

:yourock:

[eddieb]

37. Iraq=Vietnam

Goooood MORNING IIIIIIRAQ!!! I'm a Vietnam Vet (disabled). This is stirring up a lot of repressed memories of what happened 30 plus years ago! I'm sure the Repugnicants are busy creating an Iraq vets for lies/truth brigade at this very moment. I think any vets from this fiasco who are or may be inclined to run for office best be prepared!

[Kikosexy2]

38. I think...

it's time that we all make copies of stories like these and distribute them at all malls, public parks, etc. to get the word out and truth on how bad Iraq really is. We can't rely on the "liberal media", so I think we should do our part. What do you all think?

[poe]

45. yes-i do this every day

pre-pay $20 at copy shop and they give discount to activists. single page leaflets with concise info and varied resources to back up data and for further investigation. we MUST stop whining about the MSM and take matters into our hands. it works. do not be afraid to go into unusual and unfriendly places and don't try to convince folks. most people don't believe US media though they may not want to face how deplorable the situation is in never-never land. do small theatrical vignettes to draw attention, this is very effective especially if you are not so in-your-face and then have someone in the crowd distribute the dirty truth news. go for it.

[spanone]

43. She said it best 'sad and appalling'

[donheld]

44. I'm glad to see the "Sun-Times"

would print something like this. The country needs to see what's really going on.

[bajamary]

48. Tragically true article

Thanks drummer 55 for posting this tragically true article from my hometown newspaper. If we had more news and media stories about the terrible struggle of these valiant war ravaged veterans, American's might not be so easily manipulated by the spin of the W team.