IVAW on PBS NewsHour tonight!

KWAME HOLMAN: Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Gary Solis is an attorney and expert on the law of armed conflict. He teaches at West Point. Before watching the televised "Winter Soldier" meeting at our request, he was skeptical about their claims. Afterward, he changed his mind.

LT. COL. GARY SOLIS: I was immediately impressed with the sincerity, the depth of feeling, the sense of wanting to right wrong.

What they had to say jibes with reports I've received from lieutenants who returned to West Point where I taught. My former students come back and tell me the same thing.

James Starowicz
USN '67-'71 GMG3 Vietnam In-Country '70-'71 COMNAVFORV - CHNAVADVGRP MACV, RVN

The PBS News Hour carried a report on the IVAW 'Winter Soldier' testimony in Congress tonight, 5-21-08

Witnesses to War Speak Out on Rules of Engagement

Reports of innocent civilian deaths in Iraq have been numerous, but barring a few instances caught on tape, they have yet to be recognized by the soldiers themselves. Some soldiers have begun to speak out, about the actions they have taken and the things they have seen.

You can Listen with this Link

KWAME HOLMAN: As the House debate continued last week over funding the Iraq war, leading anti-war Democrats convened nearby to hear from a group of veterans who say they witnessed and participated in widespread misconduct during their time in Iraq.
The stories came from a dozen or so former Marines and soldiers who left Iraq at least two years ago. They include accounts of unwarranted killings of Iraqi civilians and mistreatment of detainees that were met with indifference or encouragement by commanding officers.
Two of the men said the weight of such experiences led them to suicide attempts.
They have dubbed themselves "Winter Soldiers," the same name used by Vietnam veterans who reported similar alleged abuses during that war.
They were welcomed by California's Lynn Woolsey.

Or you can Visit this News Hour link to listen and read the rest of the transcript of the report.

James Starowicz
USN '67-'71 GMG3 Vietnam In-Country '70-'71 COMNAVFORV - CHNAVADVGRP MACV, RVN

Anyone living there or near by, I received the following:

NCDP Rally in Fayetteville to Support 21st Century GI Bill

RALEIGH -- President George W. Bush must honor his contract with the military by approving a 21st Century G.I. Bill that is worthy of their sacrifice and service to our country.

We join President Bush in his praise of the 82nd Airborne as he participates in their Division Review, a rich Army tradition that spans generations.

We also call on the President to match hollow promises to “support the troops” with meaningful action in supporting the Webb G.I. Bill.

That is why the North Carolina Democratic Party is hosting a rally at 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Arthur D. Smith Recreation Center at Seabrook Park in Fayetteville. The address is 1520 Slater Street.

Speakers will include Kara Hollingsworth, April Padilla and Phillip Gilfus.

As military wives and a former Army officer, respectively, they have the first-hand knowledge to understand that investing in the future of our returning troops and veterans is as critical as providing them the resources they need on the battlefield.

But President George W. Bush and his Republican allies have called a bipartisan bill that would expand educational benefits to our 21st century soldiers “too generous” and he has threatened to veto it.

Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole is a leading co-sponsor of a watered-down version that falls significantly short of honoring the service and sacrifice of our troops.

Our men and women responded bravely to the call to serve our country. They deserve nothing less than our best when they return home.

Paid for by the North Carolina Democratic Party – http://www.ncdp.org/
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee

Join this Rally if possible, Fight for the Troops!!

If anyone can grap a few sound bites, from the tour of the Barracks at Bragg, they ought to be Real Interesting!!

After all, while ordering the military into Two Conflicts of Occupations, he and his rubber stampers along with his military leaders were Neglecting The Military Soldiers, Across The Board!!

James Starowicz
USN '67-'71 GMG3 Vietnam In-Country '70-'71 COMNAVFORV - CHNAVADVGRP MACV, RVN