Iraq Vet Speaks Against War

[thedrifter]

Iraq Vet Speaks Against War

Burlington, Vermont - February 21, 2007

A former Marine from Rockingham is just back from duty in Iraq and now he's traveling the country speaking out AGAINST the war.

Liam Madden just left the service a month ago. He spent seven months in Iraq during his four years in the Marines. And now he's visiting college campuses to mobilize support for ending the war in Iraq and bringing the troops home.

He brought his message to UVM Wednesday night.

"What's my goal? To end the war," says Madden. "To create a culture of protest and debate and to end the paralyzation of a lot of young people who really oppose the war, but don't think they can do anything about it, but to bring to light that they can."

Madden founded a campaign called Appeal for Redress, in which active service members call for the removal of all American forces from Iraq.

Kate Duffy - Channel 3 News

Ellie

[thedrifter]

ACTIVE-DUTY U.S. MILITARY MEMBERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST WAR ON '60 MINUTES'
Thu Feb 22 2007 15:21:11 ET
Drudge Report ^ | 22 Feb 2007 | Matt Drudge

They say they are not disloyal. They say they are not shirking their duty and that they do not oppose war. But over 1,000 active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. military are against the war in Iraq and have said so in an unusually public way -- by petitioning Congress last month. Several of them appear to explain their actions in a Lara Logan report to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday Feb. 25 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

"I'm not anti-war. I'm not a pacifist. I'm not opposed to protecting our country and defending our principles," says Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto, an Iraq war veteran who, along with another veteran, initiated the petition. A 1995 law called the Military Whistleblower act enables military personnel to express their own opinions about Iraq in protected communication directly to Congress. Hutto and others spoke with 60 MINUTES while off duty, off base and out of uniform as conscientious citizens. "But at the same time, as citizens, itÕs our obligation to have a questioning attitudeÉabout policy," Hutto tells Logan.

Marine Sgt. Liam Madden, who helped Hutto to found the organization they call Appeal for Redress that has attracted 1,000 other military members, is more blunt. "Just because we volunteered for the military doesn't mean we volunteered to put our lives in unnecessary harm and to carry out missions that are illogical and immoral."

These GIs and others Logan spoke with expressed frustration with their efforts in Iraq and believe there is no end in sight to the war. Other Iraqi war veterans still on duty there believe Appeal for Redress misses a larger point. "As an American soldier, I feel like we took an oath to obey the orders of our commander-in-chief and officers appointed over us," says Army Spec. James Smauldon. Said another serviceman in Iraq, Army Capt. Lawrence Nunn, "I know what IÕm here fighting for, to give the Iraqi people some democracy and hope, so I am 100 percent behind this mission. You donÕt sign up to pick which war you go to."

Another Appeal for Redress member counters, "Our leadership gets to choose the mission. Congress gets to choose the mission," Staff Sgt. Matt Nuckolls says. HeÕs loyally committed to whatever Congress wants him to do but savors the right to question it. "My Congressman is Lacy Clay. I would like to tell him as a constituent of his, ÔIs the mission in Iraq really what you want us to be doing?Õ And then [if] he responds yes, okay, well, we go back to Iraq and keep doing what we're doing."

Developing...

Ellie

[hmckinley]

madden and murtha kinda rhyme in my redneck dictionary. All these people should put in for page jobs with their supporters in the white house. WTF, they could wear their s---ies backwards and be right at home. If I remember correctly the initial contract to get in one of the armed forces requires for one to agree to six year's of obligated service. Bring this rif-raff back to active duty and court martial them. Can't shoot anyone for treason for a war was never declared. It would open the eyes of those that want to run their pie holes, aiding and abetting the enemy and sticking a knife in the back of the people trying to get the job done.

[thedrifter]

State representative crashes anti-war surge event
WCAX 3

CONCORD, N.H. A news conference by a group opposing the troop surge in Iraq turned heated yesterday when a (New Hampshire) state representative crashed it and loudly criticized a U.S. Marine as the group's pawn.

Londonderry Republican Al Baldasaro said Americans Against Escalation in Iraq should stop their campaign against Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu, who voted last week to block debate on a resolution denouncing the troop build-up.

Baldasaro denounced Marine Corporal Brian VanRiper, who is not on active duty but could be called up again. VanRiper, of Pembroke, Massachusetts, said sending 20-thosuand more troops to Iraq is too little, too late.Baldasaro, who served as a Marine in Iraq in the first Gulf War, said the group and VanRiper had a cut-and-run attitude. He pointedly asked VanRiper how he could stand with the group while fellow Marines continued to serve in Iraq.

Ellie

[hmckinley]

Call this vanripper back to active duty, run him up and disk him. Name sounds like it probably come over on the mayflower and stepped off on plymouth rock up there somewhere, with some kind of attitude attached.
Keep up the good information in keeping a few of the american people informed, Miss Ellie! Semper fi !!

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Hutto is a big time socialist, who, before he went into the navy, worked for all sorts of left wing outfits like greenpeace, etc. The Hutto outfit is 'grass roots in name only', being funded by the likes of International ANSWER and such.

This other kid, the first one, certainly has the right to speak out all he wants, just as the USMC has the right to re-activate his butt from the IRR and send him someplace to "Free a Marine to fight".

VanRiper (is he related to General (RET) VanRiper??) is not too far off the mark as far as what he said; 20,000 is too little, it should be lots more. Don't know what else he said, but I agree with that.

And, actually, Sgt Madden, you volunteered to go where you were told to go and do what you were told to do. As long as you do that, you are fine.

[maverickmarine]

And, actually, Sgt Madden, you volunteered to go where you were told to go and do what you were told to do. As long as you do that, you are fine.[/QUOTE]


NO ****! That's the one that keeps going round and round in my brain housing unit. I just can't figure out what part of him thinks that isn't the case. Not to mention, stop running your holes about that ****. You're a Marine or in the Navy and "It is not yours to question why, it is yours to do or die".

[d c taveapont]

to "do or die"....words to die by..right...come on!!!!...then what happens to those that were killed or maimed in this war????? What IF iraq Fails to govern itself....Then would it have been worth it.....

[maverickmarine]

to "do or die"....words to die by..right...come on!!!!...then what happens to those that were killed or maimed in this war????? What IF iraq Fails to govern itself....Then would it have been worth it.....

It's not about whether it's worth it or not. Yeah, the cost of combat is high, believe I know, but it's not for us as Marines or for any other branch to question whether it's right or it's wrong for us to be there. You signed the line to defend our Country and to go into harms way if directed to do so. It's just that simple.

[d c taveapont]

I hear what you are saying...I enlisted back in 69. Knowing full well that i probably was going to end up in RVN....But the reasons for this war were all wrong in my opinion.....and it took me a hell of a long time. too get back to "almost" normal again...I still have my bouts with the past...and i have also learned. to make "Friends with the Ghosts of my past".....

[maverickmarine]

Right, and how we fought the war in Vietnam was all wrong but at the very least while you're still in, you just gotta do it. The Country didn't support that war or the troops and that was horrible, my dad served three tours. This time the Country is trying to seperate the two due to lessons learned but in alot of ways what they are doing to denounce the war is still hurting our troops and is greatly affecting the mission at hand. I completely hear ya about the ghosts and all the **** that ****s with you when you get back from seeing and doing what you signed up to do and it has taken me along time as well to get to peace at least with it. Hasn't gone away but it's better. I hate that we have young Marines over there dying in that ****hole but right or wrong we are there and the Marine Corps was directed to go so that's what we did. Those Marines can talk behind closed doors about whether or not the war is right or wrong but shouldn't be publicly denouncing it.

[Stephanie Hicks]

I understand that nobody wants for our country to be at war. I hate it just as much as anyone else, but I think that with all of this debating about whether we should stay in Iraq or leave, we are forgetting what got us there to begin with. Doesn't anyone remember 911? Maybe it wasn't Iraq who was directly responsible for those planes hitting our buildings but it most certainly is a hotbed for terrorists who will do anything in their power to come after us again here at home. When 911 first happened everyone agreed that we must & will hunt these people down - all of them -no matter who or where they are, but it seems that nobody cares about that anymore. What is happening to us? Isn't the murder of 3000 innocent American men, women, & children in our own land enough to convince you that we have to go after these people? That we cannot stop until the mission is complete? Just think about how a Marine on the ground risking his or her life every day over there in that hellhole feels when they hear - especially from other Marines - that what they are fighting & dying for is wrong & its not worth it. To all of you whining anti-war jerks out there, you had better remember something. When you run your mouth like you are now you are hurting the only people who are standing between you & your children & the terrorists. No true Marine would do that & you should be ashamed of yourself, so do us all a favor & shut up!

[d c taveapont]

i'll tell you what is happening....its words like this....Cheney: They are in their last thoes....i do believe he was talking about al-queda. and NOW he is saying that...They are building strenght again...so which is it....

[ridingcrops]

I agree with most all said here. As Marines we go where we are ordered and we do our jobs and take the fight to the enemy anywhere. anytime, that's what makes us Marines.
But I don't agree with the party line that Stephanie speaks about. Iraq was in no way responsable for the 9/11 attacks. Yes it was terrorists and they didn't become a problem in Iraq until we invaded. We should have been going after them in Afghanistan instead of going to Iraq. That should have been taken care of in 91.
And these guys who are speaking out against the war have been there and done that so I can take it with a grain of salt. But I still support everyone in uniform whether I agree with this or not. I was one of those who served in Nam when no one support us at all.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

"Shoulda/woulda/coulda" basically is re-hashing what 'might' have been and, unless you are a historian, doesn't do us much good. While I agree we 'shoulda' taken care of things in 91, no one has a crystal ball to determine those kinda things.

[bootlace15]

sounds like our brother needs a rest.....That is all

bootlace15 out

[ErikHeiker]

I'd rather be fighting the enemy over there than over here. I did my time in Afghanistan and I sleep real good at night knowing I did my part.

[Stephanie Hicks]

I also respect every man or woman who has ever had the courage to be a Marine but I cannot respect anyone - Marine or not _ who criticizes a war when we still have Marines in the field fighting & dying every day. Whether you agree with the war or not, they need & deserve our complete support in what they are doing. There will be plenty of time when this war is done to whine & cry & argue about whether it was the right thing to do or not, don't you think? As for "party lines", I don't give a rats behind about political parties here. I'm concerned with the safety of my country & if we want to keep it, then we have no choice but to defend it. As for the first Gulf war in '91, I was on active duty then & I remember it well. Yes, maybe we should have finished it then but we didn't. So what. That is ancient history now. Yes there are terrorists in Iraq. They have been there for a long time. If you think that they intended to just sit over there & leave us alone, with all due respect, you had better wake up. The terrorists in Afghanistan didn't pull off a full scale attack on us either until September 11th. Wouldn't it be nice if we had gone after them BEFORE they killed 3000 men, women, & children here in our own country? We could have. We had the warning signs but did nothing. If we forget that & back off from this fight, it will happen again.

[Kegler300]

They account for only one tenth of one percent of all active duty servicemembers serving world wide. Got a few around my place of business that don't like working there. Maybe I should call C-BS?

[USMCmailman]

You are one of the reasons that I am so Proud to be a MARINE !!!!!!!!

[yellowwing]

It looked up this Marine's organization Appeal for Redress (http://www.appealforredress.org/).

The Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to their Congressional Representative and US Senators to urge an end to the U.S. military occupation.
That's really pushing inciting something evil within the ranks.

I'm all for citizen's 1st Amendment Rights. I know for myself when I enlisted I suspended some of those rights for the privilege to serve.

Even that Congressional Candidate what's-his-face shut up his antiwar talk when he was recalled to active duty.

[maverickmarine]

Yeah, what happened to "we are here to defend democracy, not practice it".

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Appeal for redress is more of the same socialist twaddle being disguised as a 'grass roots' movement, only it's nothing of the sort. Being funded by the usual left wing outfits like ANSWER, Code Pink, etc etc.

They want to complain? Fine. Excercise their right and write letters to the editor. Otherwise, either get out, or shut the hell up because you are committing Sedition. It wouldn't hurt my feelings to see them prosecuted.