Call From My Nephew from Afghanistan:

[BeHereNow]

I was in the middle of heavy dreaming this morning when my
phone rang at 6:00 AM. Still asleep, I answered and for the first
minutes or more thought I had answered a prank caller.
As I regained consciousness, I realized it was my nephew.
He was calling me from Afghanistan where he is stationed.

Folks, things are much worse than we can imagine.
He told me that troops are routinely abducted there
by resistance fighters. Taken to guerilla camps where
they are tortured, raped, and often killed.
There is no mention in our media of this- and the troops know it.

I don't want to disclose too many details of his assignment,
but he is in a "safe" location due to his usefulnesss.
However, he is routinely in contact with people who are
serving in Iraq, and it is much worse than we know.
He says that the suicide rate is much higher than what
is being reported; they have no food, and the number one
question on their lips is, "Why aren't the people back home
doing something to get us out of here?"

The casualties are MUCH higher than we are being told.
He said it takes at least a month for the information to even
get processed, and at best, it is covered up, even then.

NO one is talking about the Afghanistan situation, and it is
VERY bad. The troops in Iraq are in even worse shape.
He said the kids are very depressed and can't understand why
the American people are not doing something to help them.
I told him about the various movements here in the states
by military families, and other groups, but he said it is not
enough. A day late and several dollars short of the
situation they are facing.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
I am so sad right now...

BHN

On edit for typos:
Forgot to mention, he said that recently they were all offered
up to 15, 000.00 dollars, tax free, to re-enlist. They are all laughing
at the offer- and instead are investigating ways to GET OUT.
I'd like to say again...No army=No empire.
Should we be arranging an underground railroad for these
kids? I think so.
Edit #2- more typos...I can't type for Sh#t!

[nini]

1. contact your senator or house rep?

I'm not sure what to even tell you.. but I think I'd start with my federal govt. reps and then contact the families of the military that are taking action.

good luck

[alcuno]

9. I agree. Senators and Reps should be contacted.

It's sounds horrible and it's hard to tell what's really going on.

[qanda]

2. Oh my!

I feel so helpless right now. Your post made me so sad. I'm not sure what we can do. I'll be writing my representatives again this week, but beyond that I feel useless. Congress seems to follow everything * says and there is NO accountability to the people. Your nephew will be in my thoughts, I pray that he will stay safe.

[BeHereNow]

19. I will forward that to him...

Fact is, he is safe, but well aware that the majority are not,
and completely devastated that the average Amurrrikan does
not know what the reality is- thus the high suicide rate-
They have NO hope.
BHN

[NJCher]

3. did you tell him about the march on the 25th?

I am working on my sign now. It is huge; it is 4' wide!

I hope word can get through to them about this march. It makes me feel horrible that they think we're not thinking of them. I think of them trapped over there in that living hell everyday and every time I hear about a death it is a kick in the gut.



Cher

[BeHereNow]

16. Yes. I did!

I told him to tell the people he came in contact with
about the 10/25 protest-
He said that the only news they get is censored
and that the care packeages should include international
news to help the troops know that people DO care about them,
and that there are Americans who know what is going on!
BHN

[dobak]

4. AHHHH

If this is true (and I have no reason to doubt you or your nephew) then things are much worse than anyone thinks.

This needs to be passed on to the major news outlets and see if they can verify it.

Then watch BushCo. try and explain why this has been hidden from us

[La_Serpiente]

6. If they Democrats were in power

They could call a hearing. I wish they were so they could expose the Republicans for the frauds that they are.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

44. If the Democrats were in power, I doubt seriously...

...that the events of 911 would have ever taken place. And that also means that our guys would never have been be dropped into this terrible mess.

[fizzana]

5. I'm getting the feeling that the "Good News Offensive" is going

to go down with the same impact as the 'Mission Accomplished' and 'Bring It On' messages.

I think we're one really bad incident away from this whole thing starting to unravel at high speed.

[knowledgeispower]

73. I completely agree

I think we're one really bad incident away from this whole thing starting to unravel at high speed.

I totally agree here. But the question is, if some "really bad incident" were to occur-would we even hear about it back home? The U.S. kicked out any media sources that won't toe the line (al-Jazeera, etc.), so that means we are relying on the U.S. Corporate media...

[brainshrub]

7. I don't know

I wish I did.

I hate to admit I am fairly ignorant of the conditions in Afghanistan. All my energy has been focused on protesting the Iraqi occupation & working with the Dean campaign to remove our chimp in chief.

Would anyone like to post a few link about conditions in Afghanistan?

[Spazito]

11. I don't know that much but I do know...

that only Kabul is being "protected"! The rest of Afghanistan has reverted back under the control of the warlords and the Taliban. From what I understand, Kabul isn't that safe either.

[jbm]

8. this breaks my heart...

the idea that they must be feeling not only betrayed but abandoned by their country,on top of everything else they're experiencing makes me very angry. I'm not sure how we set things right again...but I know we must.

[Rose Siding]

10. A letter to a good foreign reporter?

I wouldn't count on govt types to get the word out until there is public pressure and there won't be any until there is a story.

I don't know who does foreign investigative work.

[foreigncorrespondent]

101. Why don't we...

...try to contact Peter Arnett about this? I know he works for a farce of a newspaper now, but he is such a great reporter, and has always been on our side. If he can't write it, maybe he could direct us to someone who could write it, and get great exposure at the same time.

[sable302]

12. oh please oh please oh please

tell somebody important about this. My stepbrother came back from Iraq and says the exact same thing. God knows if he has to go back. He has kidney stones beause he didn't get water for three #%^* days.

[annxburns]

13. So Sorry

I heard much the same thing. Problem is alot of the guys in Afganistan are on "black ops" and the Pentagon can hide the figures because of "operational security".

Your nephew should know that people do care. I am going to work hard for the Dem nominee to stop this sh**.

[proud patriot]

26. Welcome underground annxburns

I will do all I can to get them home .

On My honor !

[madrchsod]

14. yes this is

something no one wants to talk about...my friend talked to a guy just back from iraq and he said the same thing..no one will listen because they don`t want to hear that the beloved president lied to them...and the democrats? it seems byrds the only one who has the balls to"put it in writing" so years from now he will be remember as the voice in the wilderness...

[acmavm]

15. The best thing that could happen is that these people who are in a

position to know what is really going on get start speaking out. They are the only ones that these republican morons would listen to. The news from the troops that they are stuck in a hopeless situation with no end in sight is not taken seriously if it comes from people not directly involved in the fighting. The fact that soldiers are being kidnapped, tortured, and murdered is absolutely nuts. Look at it from the point of view of the followers of Bush & Co. They sincerely believe everything that comes out of the mouth of that liar. And now he has this big campaign going where he only wants "the good news" to be reported in the media. Reporters are being harrassed and arrested in Iraq if they are too near an attack on the troops. They are putting the squelch on all the news coming out of there. And as for Afganistan, there aren't any reporters there like there are in Iraq, so no news gets out period. If the events aren't related by those who are there in the thick of it, it will never see the light of day. How can we do anything when these idiots who believe in the righteousness of the Commander in Thief don't never hear the truth. We can only help so much, they have to help too. I know that they could face sever disciplinary problems if they get caught talking, but what's the choice? Military discipline or possible death by crazed warlords? Tough choice, but somehow, someone will have to open the door to the truth. We are left wing unpatriotic crazies when we try to say anything. They can't say that if the bad news comes from members of the military. I don't see any other way that can make a difference.

I heard today that some eight service people are saying they would rather go AWOL than go back to Iraq. It's this type of stuff that will break the story wide open, not to mention possibly bring Bush's little AWOL story to the fore.

[BeHereNow]

28. DU Military Forum?

I am thinking we should open another discussion forum,
strictly for Military and Reservists.
We could do a grassroots outreach to them-
I know my nephew would help spread the word, and he is
certainly in the position to get the word out.
BHN

[Fatima]

81. Veterans should be welcome too

it would make a nice forum.

[IkeWarnedUs]

106. With or without a special forum

Please tell your nephew that the soldiers would have a forum on DU. If they don't have internet access, I bet DU'ers would be happy to post their words for them. (Pretty big of me, eh? I don't claim to speak for DU, but I've spent enough time reading DU'ers' thoughts and feelings to be pretty confident.)

[caledesi]

17. OMG! I am still shaking from reading this.

When I read "Why aren't the people back home doing something to get us out of here?" - I almost cried. This is so disturbing. Can you just imagine how hopeless, helpless and abandoned that they feel? I can't stand it.

You must contact the media w/ this - you must! Contact Stars & Stripes w/ anonymity. I am feeling so helpless right now.

This reminds me of Vietnam, because when my cousin came back we got the REAL story. There were times when he didn't have SHOES and there were rats in the jungle crawling all around!

These thugs in the WH are truly evil.

[janekat]

18. I would contact the media and your congressmen if they don't help

I'd contact any congressman (or their office) - especially one's who tend to be outspoken - someone like Kennedy or Byrd.

[salin]

20. Very sorry, but not suprised, to hear this.

Shortly before (and again, I believe, after) the "victory" in Afghanistan we resisted other countries call to establish Peace Keeping Troops throughout the country in recognition that without doing so the vacuum would enable a return of War-Lord driven chaos (which sets the stage for the conditions that led to the rise of the Taliban).

Then we pulled troops and troops support in the year long build up to invading Iraq. Then the President submitted a budget to Congress with NO dollars for rebuilding or even for aid to Afghanistan (disregarding our promises and rhetoric at the time, and disregarding that we were using the same rhetoric to justify action against Iraq- that by overthrowing, then rebuilding Afghanistan (later Iraq) and establishing a flourishing Democracy that stability would be brought to the region through the example of true freedom of opportunity that democracy represents. Yep while we were shafting the people of Afghanistan and placing at higher risk the US troops we sent to Afghanistan we were using the same rhetoric to justify invading Iraq.

It saddens me to hear the reality on the ground in Afghanistan. It saddens me more to realize that outside blinding ideology - that this result is very predictable (and therefor avoidable). The US made huge promises - and then allowed chaos to reenfold the country. The few troops (in terms of scope of mission) left, represent on the ground the violence followed by reneged promises - with doubts of intent increased (was it really just an "anti Muslim" campaign...?) due to the invasion of Iraq.

Tragic. Please ask him what he thinks that we can do to help?

[Clark Can WIN]

21. Please contact major media about this

Contact all of them repeatedly. Keep contacting them till you snag one that will really hit it and bring all this out.

You can make a difference.

I'll keep writing my state reps as well. We all should.

[0rganism]

64. Just had a thought -- could Candidate Clark publicize this?

Contacting reps can be a blackhole, but at the very least someone like Gen. Clark ought to be in a position to know which angles to work. Plus, he has the benefit of some small amount of media time, to get word out to the anaesthesized masses. If the account in the original post is typical, then he has a direct interest in making this a campaign issue.

Gen. Clark has experience running reconstruction occupations. I'd think he could shed some very precise light on this, given the opportunity.

[Clark Can WIN]

97. You know that's an excellent thought.

I don't know how much I can do but I'll forward it to about 200 to 300 people. Maybe one of them can help get it to the General.

Thanks for that, I'll get to work on it.

[ablbodyed]

22. I know only one...

Kid who was there. Had wanted to go into Marines since 8 or 9. Now wants out ASAP. Spoke only VERY briefly, with father there. He said it want horrible, but that was the fighting, and they pulled his unit out. A sweet kid, a little too nice to be a hard-bitten marine, and too young to understand that macho does not equal manliness.

[Don_G]

23. I Hate To Say It, But What About Drudge

He and another reporter are pissed off at what the wounded are going through at Ft Stewart and the substandard medical care. Maybe if someone sent his number to Afganistan so Drudge could talk to one of the guys serving there...?

[BeHereNow]

30. How do I do that?

I think there are growing numbers who would
be willing to talk...
BHN

[Don_G]

40. I Suppose E-Mail Him And Explain GI's In Afganistan Want To Talk

Will Pitt may be another avenue you can explore. PM him for his PO Box and give out his address to the troops serving there. I'm certain that if the lettrs are being censored, there's enough movement from Afganistan to another country where someone can drop a letter into the mail (like the AF cycling to Germany and back).

[0007]

24. The story must get out

Contact everyone you know including Senators, Congressmen and the media. I'd start with the local media. T.V. and newspaper.

This is what being an American is all about, 'eh?

[Donna Zen]

25. I am terribly sorry to hear this,

and while I have no great ideas, the only two jounalist I can think of are Christiane Ammenpour or Robert Fisk. Fisk is more of a muckraker, but Ammenpour lately sounds as if she's had enough.

My daughter told me her college roommates brother just got back with a tale of a soldier standing next to him being shot in the neck.

I'm afraid we will be seeing less and less, not more and more.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

27. Yikes

That sucks.

We are going to continue to see major coverup here, but I think the WH propaganda machine is a bit stuck here: if they bring the troops back before Nov. 04, lots of stuff is going to come out in the press about coverup of casualities and atrocities, but if they don't bring them back before Nov. 04, they are likely to have a major revolt on their hands.

It's outrageous how these soldiers are being used as pawns.

[LibertyorDeath]

29. BHN send this disturbing info here

http://www.cbc.ca/newsworld/ they reach millions of American viewers

and they have the Integrity to do this tragic story justice.

Please forward all you know without jeopardizing your Nephew.

[BeHereNow]

31. Threats from the military-

The troops are being threatened with revealing anything to the
media- twenty years in prison for talkng about what is going on.

We need to find a journalist who will protect their anonymity,
OR challenge the threats against them for revealing the facts.
BHN

[LibertyorDeath]

32. Would your Nephew tell his story if he can be guaranteed anonymity ?

[BeHereNow]

34. Absoulutely-

He told me this morning that he must make the call however-
he can not recieve calls.
Well, he can, but it will suffer consequence, so would prefer to call.
BHN

[LibertyorDeath]

39. Hi again BHN was a while tracking this info down

Contact this reporter http://www.cbc.ca/programs/sites/foreign_schlesinger.html

Here is his email He will give a phone # for your Nephew to call if he wants to run with this. I hope to hell he does. It's worth a try.
Wish I could be of more help.

Here is his email. If you want I can forward the info to him from my IP address. No problem.

[e-mail]

[janekat]

86. He's a hero - if he gets in trouble - maybe DU can help him

[nostamj]

35. if you can... you need to spread this

call Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes, Tom Hartman.

they will welcome this story.

check your PMs.

nost

[BeHereNow]

36. I just checked my PM

What I am thinking is that I should have my nephew call
the show...
I can contact his wife and see if he/they would be able
to do that from a pay phone-
the military is threatening these people, so they
have to be very careful.
If they can't, I WILL.
BHN

[nostamj]

37. that's great!

let me know.

don't want to discuss this too much in the thread. but, if your nephew *could* call... that would be amazing radio!

again, let me know

on edit: DUMB TYPO, that's all!

[in_cog_ni_to]

33. I'm so sorry

that your nephew has to suffer through this! Damn Bush! Contact Greg Palast... He's probably one of your best bets for getting this out. I wish your nephew all the best and hope he and every soldier comes home safe and SOON!

[janekat]

38. Found a few articles that back some of that up...

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=15817
The military recently launched an investigation into the unusual number of suicides among U.S. military personnel in Iraq. To date, according to USA Today, at least 11 soldiers and three Marines have committed suicide and another dozen deaths are under investigation. Another 478 soldiers have been sent home from Iraq for mental-health issues.

The number of suicides has caused the Army to be concerned," Lt. Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, psychiatrist at the Army's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., told USA Today. "They are ... looking at the stresses on the troops, how well the troops are coping and how well the basic principles of battlefield psychiatry are working," Ritchie added.


http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/7041989.htm
Have we really prevailed? Friday's Stars and Stripes newspaper reported a recent increase in the soldier suicide rate in Iraq.

"Deployments are rife with conditions that can lead to troops resorting to suicide: austere, harsh and dangerous environments, family separations and easy access to weapons," the Stars and Stripes online edition reported.

"Army mental health and suicide prevention experts returned to the United States this week after spending more than a month in Iraq, working to discern the mental condition of troops and probing not just 11 incidents of possible suicides, but several other deaths," Stars and Stripes reported.


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=17479&archive=true
The soldier suicide rate in Iraq has been climbing in recent months, surpassing normal rates and prompting mental health officials to take a hard look at what might be triggering troops to take their own lives, officials said.

Army mental health and suicide prevention experts returned to the United States this week after spending more than a month in Iraq, working to discern the mental condition of troops and probing not just 11 incidents of possible suicides, but several other deaths.


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/memorial/20031017-0837-iraq-toll.html

[dirk007]

49. OK, this is good.

"In 2002, the Marine Corps averaged 12.6 suicides per 100,000, higher than the Army and Navy’s average of 11 per 100,000, and the Air Force’s rate of 9.5."

What is the 'normal' rate of suicide per year broken out by service branch?

How about run out over the last 20 years...

Is there a breakout of suicides agrivated by 'news from home'. Dear john letter, bad news....?

How does the rate of suiced in the military compare to society as a whole?

How does it compare to other high stress profession such as police officer?

Get it....?


Dirk

[Snow]

75. Compared with the average for that age group,

it doesn't look any different.
Check on this site,
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/pdf/nvsr50_16t1.pdf
Look at the link to the age, race, sex breakdown.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/pdf/nvsr50_16t1.pdf

Looks like the 15-20 year-old boys are running about 13/100,000
and the 20-25 year olds are at 20/100,000.

Unless I'm reading things wrong, these guys seem to have a normal suicide rate.

[ConsAreLiars]

41. Do you mind if people copy this and send it to our reps or others?

I know this is a public posting, but I'd like to honor your wishes regarding forwarding your news to others.

And for any who wonder how a the people in a "primitive," "defeated," and impoverished region would sustain a resistance movement, I traveled through it 30 years ago, spending a couple months. At that time almost all men outside of the two major cities carried a rifle as routinely as we here carry a pen or pocket change. Not some K-mart mass production model, but a beautifully handcrafted single shot and more often a muzzle-loader. But I never felt threatened or unsafe; I was a guest, not an intruder. When I exited into Peshawer I met a young Pushtun Afghan who was returning home. His family had been killed in a raid by hostile neighbors and had been adopted sort-of by Brits who had taken him to England where he became quite fluent in English. My companion, more the young utopian than I, pressed him quite hard on his belief that retaliation was the only honorable response. It became clear that he was not stupid or ignorant or simply blinded by emotion. It was as clearly as a deep a truth for him as that the sun rises in the east. The unquestionable loyalty to family and village and tribe and nation and this expectation that injustices against any MUST be avenged was as natural tohim as breathing.

This is why I rallied against waging war against Afghanistan (apart from believing that repressive violence is the mother's milk of terrorism) as strenuously as I denounced US reinforcing of Taliban power through aid and support before 9/11. Nothing short of genocide will enable the US to control that country, and every day of occupation will earn only the US nothing but more blood enemies.

[dirk007]

42. Id like

to have this independantly verified please... No offense, but you are some anonymous poster on an internet forum....

Interesting that not one responder yet has the presence of mind to question the source.

Verifyable facts help us to make sound decisions.

Dirk

[dweller]

46. well, gosh almighty dirkoo7

get down to an enlistment center, and tell them you want to get to Afhanistan post pronto!
after all, you are just an anonymous poster on an internet forum, maybe you could lend a little credibility one way or the other.

dp

[dirk007]

52. If you feel that my enlistment

will help you unravel this great mystery, then sure off I go.


Dirk

[dweller]

54. well, you wanted some verification

and that's a first hand source, you needed some credibility to the news on this thread, and that's an opportunity to find it.

my apologies to you if i have suggested something impossible for you to attain.
but there is no mystery to the clusterfuck and abomination that is continuing still in the countries the *moron has thrown our bravest and finest into and abandoned, leaving the family members and friends to seek advice from those that still have a bone of sympathy and understanding left to share.

but i'll not maim the messenger, and give you the benefit of doubt.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=558510#559482
has another view.

dp

[Tinoire]

48. Dirk- We have known each other for years

that is why not one responder on this thread has questioned the source. BeHereNow is a personal friend of mine and of several others- there's nothing to question there.

This is a little more than your normal anonymous forum for the old-timers.

Welcome to DU :)

[dweller]

53. you at least have

the calm presence of mind to address what i cannot after reading this thread, and this one
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=558510#559482

thanks Tinoire,
dp

[Tinoire]

88. You know... My heart is so broken over all of this

that it almost doesn't even beat. Threads like this one and Mari's bring me to that point of grief where you can't even feel the anger any more.

That wasn't really presence of mind- just 3 years worth of grief and the strange resigned mood that puts you in sometimes.

The worse is that it's not just Bush- it's us too. No one even thinks about Afghanistan anymore... Yugoslavia? Iraq? Latin America? Wow... It's gonna be a long grieving period... :(

[BeHereNow]

57. What do you suggest?

Should I give you his name and address?
Blow his anonymity under the threat of twenty years of
prison time?
Would you like my detail?
I am a mom, a community activist and concerned citizen.
How do you suggest I verify his validity without putting him
in danger of being penalized for telling me this?
Do you actually think I, or he, made this up?
Why would we do that?
BHN

[janekat]

87. The media would verify the story - that's their job. Our job- to report it

n/t

[On the Road]

43. I Sent Your Post to Ted Rall

and gave him a link to this thread. He was one of the only independent voices from the ground in Afghanistan during the war, and I thought he'd like to see your report.

I also tried to contact Robert Young Pelton, adventurer and author of "The World's Most Dangerous Places." He was on the ground in Afghanistan, where he discovered John Walker Lindh. He doesn't give a rat's ass about politics but likes to publicize bad news that's being concealed.

BeHereNow, I hope this is OK. Sounded like you wanted to share and were looking for avenues. These two are some of the few able to evaluate and publicize what's going on. Government officials can talk off the record -- why shouldn't our soldiers?

[BeHereNow]

55. Fine by me...

My nephew was careful about what he said, but he is obviously
in a position to call and not worry too much about being intercepted.
He has stated clearly that he wants OUT- but he, like many,
is worried about his future-the majority of these young people are trying to survive
economically; it is imperative that we understand the THREAT they
are being subjected to for revealing the truth.
WE must address this issue.
This is how the neocons are controlling and imprisoning these soldiers.
BHN

[Media_Lies_Daily]

45. This needs to hit the desk of every single Congressperson, and every...

...media outlet in the U. S. and overseas.

The Guardian and the BBC would print this in a New York minute. Who's that Philly news website that has been outspoken lately? UPI and AP might also pick it up.

[eleny]

47. I sent one paragraph to Peter Werbe

and also sent the url for this thread. His radio program is on Sunday nights. He's gone off the air now. But he's going to the demonstration this Friday. So, this all ties in. Peter has been around for a very long time.

I would urge you to send an email to Mike Malloy - as has been suggested. Copy and paste your first few paragraphs. They are very powerful. Here is his email addy [e-mail] He's on weekday nights. I'll be more than willing to send him an email as well, asking that he please discuss this. Just let us know.

The news that you've shared with us is heartbreaking.

Edit: I just sent a note to Mike Malloy including the url for this thread. -E.

[Tinoire]

50. Miltary Families Speak Out and Veterans for Peace

I'd also suggest Occupation Watch- even though they're more focused on Iraq now, they're also concerned about Afghanistan.

If you need contacts, PM me.

Justin Raimondo at www.antiwar.com also.

Our head receptionist got a letter a few months ago from one of family members in Afghanistan- he said it was a blood-bath. The situation there is horrible!

I do hope we can all band together to do something. My heart is breaking for you.

Peace and my prayers are with you and your nephew

[Solly Mack]

51. Your nephew and your family will be in my thoughts

Thank you for bringing this up...I've often thought the soldiers returning to our post from Afghanistan looked worse than those coming home from Iraq..and the ones from Iraq look horrible.

We've been told our troops will either go back to Iraq or to Afghanistan after their year long Iraq tour is over.

Troops in our company are also turning down the re-enlist bonus and it's gotten up to 20k for them. So far, 1..that's ONE...person has re-enlisted in a company of 250. 2/3's of the company have come up for re-up since they've been in Iraq. They are losing so many that the r&r promised is now being reduced to 6% instead of 10%.

[grasswire]

56. it's time....

.....for some organization to start selling bracelets with soldiers names on them. They may not be MIA, but they are KAW (Kept Against their Will) or something worse.

Time to raise the public consciousness.

I did some volunteer work with prison reform organization, and one of the pieces of advice to families of prisoners was to make sure the authorities knew the prisoner had people on the outside who were watching and taking notes of any ill treatment.

And so I wish we could all raise a little hell. Wouldn't it be great to send postcards to the Pentagon to notify the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs that we are watching Corporal Ken Jones, or Private Tony Risoti or something like that?

We need a buddy system to pair each of them up with some of us out here.

[BeHereNow]

58. THAT IS A GREAT IDEA!

If we form a grassroots buddy system, we can
keep track of them- and continue to put a face with the name
of the troops in question.
Just like the POW-MIA.
YES!
I like this idea.
My nephew has contact with several thousand of them-
he can help.
I will call his wife, she is mil too, but has not yet been deployed.I
I sent her the Scoop article from NZ- she says the troops that
are still here are well aware of the situation and do NOT want
to go.

BHN

[Solly Mack]

59. There's a company here that makes the bracelets

I have one with my husband's name on it. They are exactly like the Vietnam era MIA bracelets.

They are 9 bucks. An organization could sell them for 12 and use the money to fund the project. Just a thought.

[BeHereNow]

60. Profits could be used for...

FOOD care packs.
We should contact other groups for sign ups.
Despite the fact that our tax dollars are being
pillaged to no good end for our troops- they are HUNGRY.
Unforgiveable in my book.
This is the Halliburton plan and execution of privatized
operations for supporting our troops.
BHN

[Fridays Child]

61. Bookmarking. Please keep us posted, BHN. Has anyone suggested...

... that you PM Will Pitt about interviewing your nephew?

[BeHereNow]

62. I met Will a few months ago-

If he remembers me, I would love to hook him up
in an interview with my nephew.
I have neglected to emphasize that the kid is
incredibly intelligent and articulate.
He would make an excelllent interview subject.
I need to figure out how to facilitate such a venue
that will protect his anonymity though.
BHN

[onebigbadwulf]

63. What do you know

It sounds like Vietnam all over again.

[oasis]

65. the "duplicate letter story" propaganda was meant to head off the

tales of returning service people.

All of Bush's $200,000,000 won't be enough to beat back the tide of shock and resentment for this war of his. Come, 2004 Chimpy is toast.

[BeHereNow]

69. He did not know about the letter-

I told him about the fake letter and he was
disgusted- but not surprised. He will tell others.
He said the soldiers are counting on the 2004 election
and that NONE of them will vote for Bush. They HATE
the neocons and what they have done to them.
I told him about the voting machines and he said
they had not heard about that debaucle either,
but that the fact was, even if the shrub was re-selected,
the troops would not go to war for him again.
They are not being fooled in the least.
They all want OUT.
No troops=No hegemonic takeover.
The neocons truly underestimated the true patriots
of our country. They figured they could force them
into service by devasting all economic and educational
opportunities. It aint gonna work.
The troops are on to them and would prefer to
go homeless and hungry in America than the ME.

That is the good news.
BHN

[Junkdrawer]

95. Said as much last week...

There are a lot of servicemen home on a short R&R leave before they have to go back to that hellhole called Iraq.

I'll bet they are on orders to not speak to the press regarding their opinion of the conflict. Some will want to speak anyway, but the mainstream press will be reluctant to print their accounts, especially with the recent "we only hear bad news from the Liberal Press" campaign from this administration.

So my guess is that it's only through alternative media sources that their stories will get out. And I also think there will be a concerted attempt to discredit these stories.

PS: Just to doubly discredit myself, I think the 500 astroturf Letters To The Editor we've seen recently were a ham fisted attempt to preempt the negative accounts soon to be seeping into the press.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=542792#545048

[Mari333]

66. and contact these folks

www.bringthemhomenow.com
www.mfso.org

[eleny]

67. Kick n/t

[E_Zapata]

68. This is really disturbing......BHN, be very, very careful.

You have to find a way to make sure that YOUR identity doesn't get revealed in any way. Remember.....ashcroft and ridge cronies watch us very closely, and they have no doubt seen this thread.

Cause if they can get your identity, they have your nephew's identity. See?

and I have a very bad feeling about your nephew's safety were it to become known that he is getting word to the outside world.

Don't respond to this question on here, but IF you are anywhere near NYC........find a way to get this to Dan Rather. (Amennpour is a GREAT choice......and she's mobile enough, I think, to dig around. Fisk is iraq-focused, I think).

I don't want to sound paranoid (yet I am.....), but remember.....in the USA, phones are tapped, internet is infiltrated, and there are lots of eyes. And don't think for a minute that the US Govt isn't watching the journalists like HAWKS! I consider the news media to be basically embedded HERE just as they were in Iraq.

God bless your sweet nephew. God speed!

[libertad]

82. PLEASE PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL TO PROTECT HIS

IDENTITY. He could be placed in even more danger than he already is in if his identity gets out. (I was in the military and I know first-hand that they monitor communications.)

[htuttle]

70. The regional media has been reporting this sort of thing for 2 years

There were reports of the Taliban holding scores of US prisoners as far back as Jan 2002. Papers like Baluchistan Post, Frontier Post, Hindustan Times, etc...

However, I'm continually told they are not 'credible' compared with our fine US press institutions.

:eyes:

[TNOE]

71. This makes me

fucking nautious - to say the least. Where are all those Free Republic members now and * Supporters with their "Support The Troops" signs and American Flags. Do they all love their *resident so much that they can't be bothered with any deaths or sufferings from our troops.... yea, that's what I thought. Absolutely sickening and exactly what I have feared. Something has got to be done and soon.

My thoughts are definitely with you and thanks for all the helpful heartwarming posts of help.

[donsu]

72. kick

nt

[Catherine Vincent]

74. This is so sad.

But you know what the right wingers will say..."well once you enlist you can't b!tch about it". And what about the countless right wing shills on the tube that just arrived back from Iraq and say that there are a lot of good things happening in Iraq and damn anything else?

[William_WaLLace_]

76. good news!

Military votes still go towards Bush, and certainly did the last election, and will continue to do so on this one.

They like W so much and his empire let them die for it!

[William_WaLLace_]

77. dont know why message got posted twice

[tlcandie]

78. Greg Palast, BBC....

On the freeper blacklist Catie Couric was listed as liberal. ABCs Peter Jennings (not sure about this one, but a possibility), Michael Moore, Democracy NOW!, LINK, FSTV, Moyers, Senator Byrd, all the 2004 dem candidates...thinking still...

Radio shows?

Would love to help with your bracelet idea and is there a way to not list the name but a number so that they are not jeopardized? And I agree in helping to spread out on the care packages, etc. and throwing some news in for them to read.

PM me if you want. I will do what I can..just let me know! :hug:

[DinahMoeHum]

79. Contact the Soldiers For The Truth website. . .

at www.sftt.org

and scroll down halfway to the section flashing "Urgent Message To The Troops". Then click. Although this message concerns those troops in Iraq, not Afghanistan, it still might be worth using.

You might also try www.hackworth.com and e-mail to the good colonel personally.

From what I've read and heard, pissed-off troops are sounding off at these two sites, and their messages are getting through despite the BFEE's attempts to suppress them.

Good Luck. And your nephew is in our prayers.

:bounce:

[janekat]

93. Remember how they were preventing soldiers from going on the internet

-the ones overseas. They were trying to prevent them from doing it...

[Fatima]

80. Your nephew will be in my thoughts

and now I know what to put on my sign for the 25th-

TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ NOW!!!

Plain and simple.

If you talk to your nephew again, tell him a lot of veterans will be marching for him.

[Snow]

83. Underground railroad?

Does anyone want to put any more thought into that? If we could get these lads (& lassies, I presume) out of there, where & how would they end up? It'd be a desertion offense, I assume....although it might be worth thinking about how to defend against that charge by going on the offensive. The end of the trail for anyone choosing to take that route, and I could certainly see how they would arrive at such a decision, needs to be well-considered.

For the local geography, Sean Paul's travel diary
http://www.agonist.org/silkroad/
is worth a peek. Speaking in general terms, that's an interesting area, the northern border of afghanistan, and some of the old feudal families there have held land forever and are highly respected. Oddly enough, they occasionally send their sons off for education overseas. In the past, groups such as the Peace Corps had people in there as well.

[AndyTiedye]

84. With Arthur Andersen^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Accenture Counting Them

> Military votes still go towards Bush, and certainly did the last election, and will continue to do so on this one.

Accenture counts the votes for the Military in Iraq.
Accenture is Andersen Consulting.
OF COURSE ALL THE VOTES WILL BE FOR BUSH, DUHHH!

[RandomUser]

98. Accenture =! Arthur Andersen Accounting

Accenture is technology consulting firm. They do IT consulting just like IBM, Sun, and numerous others.

They were previously named Arthur Andersen Consulting. But this is not the same as Arthur Andersen Accounting (reponsible for the Enron scandal). Arthur Andersen Consulting and Arthur Andersen Accounting -- as well as numerous other companies -- were part of Andersen Worldwide. Arthur Andersen Consulting was spun off from from Andersen Worldwide in 2001, and renamed Accenture.

Accenture (previously Arthur Andersen Consultin) does IT consulting, not business accounting and consulting. They are different from Arthur Andersen Accounting of Enron fame, related only in that the two companies where once owned by the same global corporation named Andersen Worldwide.

Most global megacorps own a bunch of companies, and these companies are bought, sold, and traded amongst the global megacorps. Internally, these companies have different personnel and may even be operated along different command chains, and have nothing to do with each other, especially since they're often traded, sold, or bought as separate units. Thus, it might be premature to paint Accenture as evil just because they once shared a parent company with Arthur Andersen Accounting (Enron).

It would be like painting Kraft Foods as evil just because it's owned by Altria, which also owns Philip Morris of tobacco fame.

[scarletlib]

85. Kick

n/t

[hedda_foil]

89. BHN ... Malloy just read your post on his show.

Did you catch it?

[linazelle]

90. Wow...this story has legs

I've posted it all over today. Not even the freepers have countered it. My prayers are with your nephew and the others risking their lives for BushCo.

[roguevalley]

92. If you organize something especially along the lines of the bracelets,

let us know. Let us know what we can do to pair up with
these kids. This is something that would be news worthy
if people began to wear bracelets again of live troops.
I remember my POW/MIA bracelet. This should begin again.
Whomever sees them on you will ask and you can say your
thing to them, gaining one convert at a time.

[eleny]

94. God bless Mike Malloy!!!!

n/t

[janekat]

91. Freepers claim networks to broadcast to US soldiers overseas - protests

Don't know what THAT's all about....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1004159/posts

http://www.afrts.osd.mil/facts/page.asp?pg=afrts2001

[Ms. Clio]

96. Some Pakistani news sources have been saying this for over a year

I have always believed that we were not getting the truth on this. One of my first posts over a year ago was a link from the Pakistani paper The Dawn, I think, claiming that the Taliban were holding numerous U.S. soldiers as captives. As I recall, it was met with much scorn and skepticism because it wasn't a "valid" western news source.

If you want some even more disturbing information, consider that during the Russian occupation, Afghan mujahadin would torture Russian soldiers, extract information from them about their families, and then send tapes of the torture (such as skinning them alive) to those relatives.

We are being lied to about Afghanistan as in everything else. But then, we already knew that, didn't we?

I am so sorry about your nephew. I hope he gets out of this nightmare soon.

[RandomUser]

99. Thank you for bringing this to the fore, BHN

Stories like this need to be heard and taken up by the media. The more people who hear it, the better. My heart goes out to you and your nephew, and I hope things work out. Tell him he's not alone, many others at home worry about them.

[TacticalPeek]

100. Kick.

:kick:

[L.A.dweller]

102. Your nephew's story is heart breaking.

BHN, I have a brother who is in the army right now and the description that your nephew gave is very chilling to me. I know that if bush is elected in 2004 my brother will be sent overseas and will be apart of another military invasion. That is why it is so imperative to me that a Democratic president will be put in to office instead.
I wish the very best for your nephew. I have a nephew myself and I understand the bond that you may feel with your own nephew. It would break my heart hear the same words that you have heard.

[chickenhawkcards]

103. BeHereNow... an open offer...

Your story was posted on the "Leading with the Left" board at WLS AM in Chicago. I'll post here what I posted there (before I realized this story originated here.) I understand the need to keep your nephew anonymous, however if we can somehow corroborate this so that he is protected in a way that the neocons can't claim it's made up, the offer still stands.

I would like to sponsor releasing this story on the PR Newswire to get picked up by other news wires as UPI and AP. I am very serious. A lot of people accuse my wife and I that we are just manufacturing our chickenhawk cards to make money, when the truth is, we did it out of disgust for this administration and wanting to reveal what a bunch of criminal hypocrites they are. It's our way of trying to pull back the curtain on these bastards, and the word is spreading, but not fast or wide enough. When your nephew asks why more Americans aren't demanding that something be done, it's because the media here is part of the problem and more stories like his aren't getting out.

E-mail me at: [e-mail] if you would like to discuss this. Again, if you can corroborate this as factual without revealing his identity for security reasons, maybe we can get his story out to a wider audience. I also have a contact with Mike Malloy's producer and maybe I can get them to pay attention to this story and get it out quickly along with a newswire release.

JV

[BeHereNow]

104. I just emailed you-

at the address in your post.
We'll talk soon?
BHN

[lebkuchen]

105. Tell your nephew to get a letter into Stars and Stripes

or you write one, reporting what you've heard.

[e-mail]

Letter policy info is found here:

[e-mail]