Harrison FordSaturday, March 15, 2008
Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghansitan - Eyewitness accounts of the Occupations
Reprise of Winter Soldier anti-war conference held near D.C.
3/15/2008, 2:08 p.m. EDT
The Associated Press
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are meeting this weekend at an anti-war conference modeled after a well-known 1971 gathering at which Vietnam veterans spoke out against that conflict.
The four-day event called "Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan — Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations," is expected to draw more than 200 veterans of the two conflicts through Sunday. It was timed for the eve of the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war next week.
On Friday, former soldiers and Marines addressed an audience of several hundred in Silver Spring. They spoke of having to make snap decisions about whether to fire on civilians, of soldiers firing indiscriminately on Iraqi vehicles, and of an apartment building filled with Iraqi families attacked by an American gunship.
Former Marine Jon Turner began his presentation by ripping his service medals off his shirt and tossing them into the first row. He then narrated a series of graphic photographs that brought gasps from the audience. In a matter-of-fact voice, he described episodes in which he and fellow Marines shot people out of fear or retribution. "I'm sorry for the hate and destruction I've inflicted upon innocent people," Turner said. "Until people hear about what is happening in this war, it will continue."
The event drew dozens of counter-protesters who demonstrated outside.
"We want absolute specifics," said Harry Riley, a retired Army colonel who leads Eagles Up. "This is too important to our nation. The credibility of our nation and the credibility of our soldiers are involved."
The 1971 Winter Soldier in Detroit was similarly controversial. John Kerry, then a young veteran, was a participant, and criticism for what he said at the time resurfaced during the Massachusetts senator's 2004 presidential bid. "Kerry lied while good men died, and you guys are betraying good men," yelled a protester Saturday who managed to slip into the conference, which was limited to participants and the media. The protester was roughly hustled from the room by members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, who are providing security for the event.
A Defense Department spokesman said he had not seen the allegations raised Friday, but added that such incidents are not representative of U.S. conduct. "When isolated allegations of misconduct have been reported, commanders have conducted comprehensive investigations to determine the facts and held individuals accountable when appropriate," Lt. Col. Mark Ballesteros said.
___
Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/
My note: Watch for more on this in the next few days.
3/15/2008, 2:08 p.m. EDT
The Associated Press
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are meeting this weekend at an anti-war conference modeled after a well-known 1971 gathering at which Vietnam veterans spoke out against that conflict.
The four-day event called "Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan — Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations," is expected to draw more than 200 veterans of the two conflicts through Sunday. It was timed for the eve of the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war next week.
On Friday, former soldiers and Marines addressed an audience of several hundred in Silver Spring. They spoke of having to make snap decisions about whether to fire on civilians, of soldiers firing indiscriminately on Iraqi vehicles, and of an apartment building filled with Iraqi families attacked by an American gunship.
Former Marine Jon Turner began his presentation by ripping his service medals off his shirt and tossing them into the first row. He then narrated a series of graphic photographs that brought gasps from the audience. In a matter-of-fact voice, he described episodes in which he and fellow Marines shot people out of fear or retribution. "I'm sorry for the hate and destruction I've inflicted upon innocent people," Turner said. "Until people hear about what is happening in this war, it will continue."
The event drew dozens of counter-protesters who demonstrated outside.
"We want absolute specifics," said Harry Riley, a retired Army colonel who leads Eagles Up. "This is too important to our nation. The credibility of our nation and the credibility of our soldiers are involved."
The 1971 Winter Soldier in Detroit was similarly controversial. John Kerry, then a young veteran, was a participant, and criticism for what he said at the time resurfaced during the Massachusetts senator's 2004 presidential bid. "Kerry lied while good men died, and you guys are betraying good men," yelled a protester Saturday who managed to slip into the conference, which was limited to participants and the media. The protester was roughly hustled from the room by members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, who are providing security for the event.
A Defense Department spokesman said he had not seen the allegations raised Friday, but added that such incidents are not representative of U.S. conduct. "When isolated allegations of misconduct have been reported, commanders have conducted comprehensive investigations to determine the facts and held individuals accountable when appropriate," Lt. Col. Mark Ballesteros said.
___
Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/
My note: Watch for more on this in the next few days.
Happy Birthday Eva
Happy Birthday wishes go out to Eva Langoria, aka Eva Jacqueline Langoria Parker, who turns 33 years old today. Eva was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. She first starred in the daytime soap "The Young and the Restless" and is currently starring in "Desperate Housewives." Eva is married to Tony Parker, a professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs and they live in the San Antonio area. Happy Birthday Eva!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Men's college basketball UCLA 57 USC 54
After a great basketball game, the UCLA Bruins beat the USC Trojans in the PAC 10 conference tournament 57 to 54. USC built a mid-first half lead of 10 points and led at half time. UCLA came back in the second half with a 15-2 run and held on at the end. It was a great game to watch. Go Bruins!!!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Lest we forget
Washingtonpost.com
March 13, 2008
Karen DeYoung
Only twenty-eight percent of the public is aware that nearly 4,000 U.S. personnel have died in Iraq over the past five years, while nearly half thinks the death tally is 3,000 or fewer and 23 percent think it is higher, according to an opinion survey released yesterday.
The survey, by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, found that public awareness of developments in the Iraq war has dropped precipitously since last summer, as the news media have paid less attention to the conflict. In earlier surveys, about half of those asked about the death tally responded correctly.
My note: According to icasualities.org, the U.S. military death toll for the Iraq war as of March 12th stands at 3,975 killed with 29,314 more wounded.
Happy Birthday Dana Delany
Imagine how my heart skipped a beat when I learned this morning that today is Dana Delany's birthday. Dana Delany is one of my all-time faves. I first discovered her in the movie "Tombstone" (I love that movie!!) where she played Josephine Marcus. However she first came to fame in the series "China Beach" where she played a nurse during the Vietnam war. She won two Emmy awards for her work on "China Beach." I saw much more of her (she comes out of a swimming pool naked!!) in the movie "Exit to Eden" where she played a dominatrix named Mistress Lisa. She is currently on "Desperate Housewives" which I don't watch. (Too much drama for me!!) Dana was born in New York City, New York, on March 13, 1956. She has never been married and has no children. What a babe!!!!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Resigned or Fired???
In the wake of a favorable profile article just published in Esquire magazine, CENTCOM commander Admiral William Fallon, a former fighter pilot with the nickname "Fox," has resigned. The Esquire article, written by former Pentagon official Thomas P.M. Barnett, describes what had been the Admiral's on-going "challenge" to official Bush Administration policy regarding Iran: Fallon had stated in interviews and in meetings with Mideast leaders that an unprovoked, preemptive U.S. attack on Iran was "not on the table," directly contradicting saber-rattling words by White House officials including President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, who have both asserted that "all options" (presumably including aggressive war) are, indeed, on the table.Concern is being expressed in some quarters that the resignation of Admiral Fallon has removed one significant remaining barrier to a pre-emptive attack on Iran that would not only solidify Bush's legacy as a war President, but also embroil his successor, whoever ends up being elected, in three simultaneous wars.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
You go girl!!!
Gilligan’s Island’ star caught with marijuana
DRIGGS, Idaho - Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island,” is serving six months’ unsupervised probation after allegedly being caught with marijuana in her car.
DRIGGS, Idaho - Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island,” is serving six months’ unsupervised probation after allegedly being caught with marijuana in her car.
She was sentenced Feb. 29 to five days in jail, fined $410.50 and placed on probation after pleading guilty to one count of reckless driving.
Under a plea agreement, three misdemeanor counts — driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance — were dropped.
Keep in mind that Dawn is now 70 years old!!! She was the best part of the "Gilligan's Island" series!!
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