IVAW Tries Again
Iraq Veterans Against the War are trying again. Only this time, they better really bring it. Winter Soldier is going for Round 3 in trying to influence the public about the supposed “travesties” taking place in Iraq. Only this time, we’ll be paying even more attention to what they say UNDER OATH about the “failure of troop surge”, according to their press release.
WHAT: Winter Soldier on the Hill
WHO: Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) & The Congressional Progressive Caucus
WHEN: May 15, 2008, 9:30am-12:30pm
WHERE: 2261 Rayburn House Office Building
WHY: To present eyewitness accounts of the Iraq occupation to Congress.
Washington, DC - On May 15, members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) will testify under oath before Congress about their eyewitness accounts of the military occupation of Iraq. Testifiers will include veterans who served during the surge.
This testimony represents a shift from reports to Congress from high-level commanders and political appointees to direct accounts from boots-on-the-ground soldiers and Marines about the situation in Iraq. Testifiers will detail the ineffectiveness of the “troop surge,” the dehumanization, abuse and killing of innocent Iraqi civilians, and the breakdown of the military as a result of the ongoing occupation of Iraq.
Testifiers will include Luis Montalvan, who served two tours in Iraq as an Army Captain; Jason Washburn, a US Marine Corps Infantry Rifleman who served three tours in Iraq; and Kristofer Goldsmith, who served in the Army as an Artillery Forward Observer in Sadr City, Iraq.
I notice that they’re not using any of the same people from Winter Soldier Dos (that’s Spanish for two - I’m an educated Soldier) a few months ago. Maybe they realized what a crock sham it turned out to be. The Soldiers insinuated many of their experiences and presented no first-hand accounts for the most part.
I can’t wait to hear from some of these guys. I checked out Luis Montalvan’s website, sorry - former Captain Luis Montalvan, and got to hear first-hand what we can expect to hear from one of his own videos. I find it hard to believe that he was a Captain and feel truly sorry for the troops that fell under him. He’s inarticulate, yet tries to use his vast vocabulary to sound intelligent and important. He failed. For someone about to testify about the atrocities and the “abuse and killing of innocent Iraqi civilians” I found it odd that his main page features pictures of him holding and playing with Iraqi children.
I’ve discussed this before, but his latest blog post is about a walk out at Columbia University. He posts a flyer of the event that boasts “1,200,000 estimated deaths” after five years in Iraq. Even if we used the disproven Lancelot survey taken back in 2004 and multiply their skewed numbers as an average, the most we would find are 500,000 deaths. Using Mr. Montalvan’s, and Columbia University peace thug figures, more than 20,000 civilians would have to be killed EVERY MONTH to reach the 1.2 million figure. It is assumed that every Captain in the military has at least a 4-year degree before earning their commission, so it perplexes me why he can’t do simple math. Even the extreme left-wing Iraq Body Count tracks a few more than 91,000 deaths on their high end! Montalvan is a hack! But, he’s an IVAW hack and invited to testify by John Kerry to continue the treason Kerry started in the sixties, so give him some credit.
Next up on the ASP hitlist is former Marine CPL Jason Washburn. As I reported he did in March, Washburn will tell us about all kinds of bad things that American Soldiers did in Iraq - none of which he witnessed. He just happens to know “someone” or have a “friend” who did something bad. He talks about seeing bodies in the streets, but never saw how they got there. He’ll tell us about horrible interrogations Marines used that he never experienced. He’ll talk about the “atrocities” of Haditha though he “was not there to witness the shooting.” He’ll have us believe that Haditha is not an isolated incident but can’t recall any others. He held true to my predictions. However, this time he’ll be testifying under oath!!
Kristofer Goldsmith is a bitter former Army Sergeant who was caught up under stop loss. He’s an alcoholic and drug abuser who tried to commit suicide and THIS is the kind of guy that the The Congressional Progressive Caucus wants to hear from!! The poor guy was stop-lossed and just couldn’t handle it. His harshest experiences include documenting mass graves and having a stick pointed at him by a 6-year boy! I wish I had his life when I was deployed.
Now let’s look at the people supporting this treasonous effort to undermine the troops in combat, the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The Caucus co-chairs are Lynn Woolsey (CA-6) and Barbara Lee (CA-9). Go figure! Other members include Dennis Kookicinich (Kucinich), Jim McDorkmitt (McDermitt), James McUngovernable (McGovern), Charles Ranghoul (Rangel), and Henry Waxmymanstuff (Waxman). Adolescent? Yes, but I don’t care. Their main goal is “to take on the Bush Administration’s agenda by providing a comprehensive, thoughtful, progressive alternative” (ie: undermine the war effort against Islamic extremism).
From Col(ret) Harry Riley:
Take a look at the organizations that supports the Congressional Progressive Caucus (Circus)……does this give you an idea of the 70 or so Congressional membership on this caucus(circus) and how they spend their time?
“An array of national progressive organizations will work to support the efforts of the caucus, including the Institute for Policy Studies, The Nation magazine, MoveOn.org, National Priorities Project, Jobs with Justice, Peace Action, Americans for Democratic Action, and Progressive Democrats of America. Also co-sponsoring the kickoff event were the NAACP, ACLU, Progressive Majority, League of United Latin American Citizens, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, National Council of La Raza, Hip Hop Caucus, Human Rights Campaign, Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, and the National Hip Hop Political Convention. The CPC has long maintained cordial ties with the Democratic Socialists of America, which hosted its website during the 1990s.”
I’m glad these guys will be under oath. You better believe that if the Caucus doesn’t ask them tough questions and demand proof (names, dates, time, locations, units, witnesses, leadership involved, etc) that we will. If their stories are indeed true, then the Soldiers involved should be punished, including any IVAW members involved that didn’t report these atrocities when they had the chance. I will not allow them to trash my brothers and sisters without proof. So, they better “bring it!”
Richard Langtry
May 16th, 2008 at 10:25 amOK, it’s the 16th and I don’t see any reports of what happened yesterday with the Winter Soldier on the hill drama ????
CJ
May 17th, 2008 at 8:10 pmRichard, hang in there. I’m still wading through the “testimony” and researching the truth to contrast it with. I should have something up by Monday.
Hamid
May 29th, 2008 at 4:58 pmWow you’re investigating the facts and you can’t even post the most basic facts correctly? You should stick to writing things you know about. First of all, all the people who testified before congress also testified at Winter Soldier II. (Here is a hint: thats why they call it Winter Soldier on the Hill). I like how you try to cover up the inaccuracy of you generalities with “for the most part”. The Holocaust was an exaggeration “for the most part”.
“For someone about to testify about the atrocities and the “abuse and killing of innocent Iraqi civilians” I found it odd that his main page features pictures of him holding and playing with Iraqi children.” What the hell is wrong with you? You’re criticizing somebody for posting a picture of playing with kids.
“Even if we used the disproven Lancelot survey taken back in 2004 and multiply their skewed numbers as an average, the most we would find are 500,000 deaths.”
The Lancelot study? What the hell is this? Camelot’s study? Its called the Lancet study, and in 2006 they estimated 650,00 deaths, and its a lot more credible then your fair and balanced reporting. You aren’t going into this with a preset agenda are you?
The extreme left wing Iraq Body Count? Who are you kidding? Counting deaths that show up in the press is reliable, and extremely left wing? I’m sure the press counts the number of farts in Iraq also, and has made an accurate report on how that is effecting greenhouse gases.
I like how anybody who comes back from Iraq, isn’t all cheery and happy about everything that went on there, and then talks about it publicly is a traitor. Hell, most of my unit was saying “F-ck this sh-t” y the end of the deployment so criticizing them is criticizing most of my unit, hence you can suck it.
Jason Washburn talking about firing on a woman with a Mk 19 or being in a free fire zone sounds like he didn’t witness that, that was just other people yeah?
I don’t know anybody in the Army who is an alcoholic. I’m sure you’re just fine after dealing with the stench of rotting corpses all day.
I’m sorry for messing with you. “Tailgunner Joe” McCarthy was a good man, and saved America from those Democrat communists.
CJ
May 30th, 2008 at 8:40 amHamid, almost everyone on that panel with one exception spoke about what they heard or “thought” happened. But, I like that you compare IVAW members with Germans responsible for the holocaust. Not much difference there since these guys are also enabling the enemy to continue killing Soldiers. Additionally, perhaps you should read more of my posts and you’d understand the sarcasm that I’ve ALWAYS used to describe the Lancelot Study. I’m not a moron, moron. I know what the “Lancet Study” is. I also use terms like Nancy Peloser and Jack Murthafocker. Care to correct me on those too?
Finally, there aren’t many Soldiers that WANT to be in combat for combat’s sake. Like you, most members of my platoon and company wanted to get home and use similar language to voice their frustration. I even said the same thing, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want success! Combat sucks. It’s inhuman. It’s vile. It’s disgusting and violent. No one, except the few sickos out there that get kicks from killing another human being, wants to kill people! Overwhelmingly though, we understand our mission in total. I’ve been volunteering to go back and I can guarantee that by the time I get towards the end of my next tour, I’ll want it to end as soon as possible then too. You can’t rely on your own false logic.
Tony
July 27th, 2008 at 11:20 amCJ. Well said and done my friend. I love how these groups and some politicians take HEAR SAY as fact and proof now a days.It just blows my mind. If their have been 1,200,00 deaths in Iraq then why hasn’t this been all over the news? I don’t care who you are,something like that COULD NOT be covered up or hidden for long at all.
Now, granted,are their bad Soldiers? Yes, their are. And do some do horrible things? YES, they do.It’s been that way sense war was first started.That will never change but the Military as a whole is good and decent and doesn’t want to go to war.War sucks.But,as a soldier you ALWAYS put your mission first and if that mission happens to be ethically wrong,THEN by all means speak up.Other wise, proceed with your mission.
I have a good feeling most of these people that are “former ” soldiers and I use the term soldier loosely, were either kicked out for some reason that pisses them off or were there ONLY for the college money and were pissed they had to go fight.God knows we wouldn’t want someone that just wants college money to do their duty and fallow the Oath they took and contract they signed.
I am in the Military so everyone knows and no, I have not been deployed yet.But as a soldier I WILL go when and if i’m called to do so.If I refused to go for what ever reason,then I would be dishonoring them memories of those fallen soldiers like these former soldiers are doing in these groups.
Hooah