How goes the war on terror? In the U.S. the answer seems to depend on just who is being terrorized. This week Cuban-born Luis Posada Carrilles officially applied for U.S. citizenship. Posada has been charged with a number of terrorist activities in Venezuela and Cuba, including blowing up a civilian airliner in 1976, which killed 73 people including members of Cuba's Olympic Fencing Team. He escaped from a Venezuelan prison in 1985 as he was awaiting trial.
Posada, who has worked for the CIA, successfully fought Venezuela's extradition request last year when a judge ruled that he may be mistreated in a Venezuelan prison. Posada's alleged accomplice in the bombings, Orlando Bosch, gave a chilling interview on Miami's Chanel 41 earlier this month, where he explained how the Cuban athletes had brought the bombing on themselves by representing their country, and therefore 'the tyrant,' referring to Fidel Castro.
Three days ago in Miami, Luis Posada Carriles' accomplice in the downing of the Cuban passenger plane that was blown out of the sky with 73 innocent people on board on October 6, 1976 was interviewed by Juan Manuel Cao of Channel 41 in Miami. His name is Orlando Bosch.
I read you verbatim excerpts from the television interview:
For most people, the war in Iraq is a distant event with remote, intangible costs and consequences. Two groundbreaking new documentaries supported by IAVA premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival will do their part to change that. They're raw, vivid portrayals of what this war is like for the people who've fought it and how their lives are forever changed. When I Came Home explores the plight of homeless veterans in America, focusing on my friend Herold Noel, a 25-year-old Iraq War veteran from Brooklyn who faced homelessness upon his return from Iraq. Be sure to check out the powerful trailer on the website. Using Herold's story as a fulcrum, NY-based filmmaker Dan Lohaus examines the epidemic of homeless U.S. military veterans who served when called but now must fight tooth-and-nail to receive the benefits promised to them by their government. HOPE For New Veterans is currently tracking over a dozen homeless Iraq Vets in New York City right now. It's a tragedy and a travesty that there are homeless Iraq Veterans already -- and not enough people are aware of the problem. The film also traces the creation and day-to-day work of IAVA as Herold shows up at the office one day looking for help. From Senator Hillary Clinton to legenday rapper Chuck D, a broad spectrum of American icons are touched by their meetings with this young veteran and his story. When I Came Home premiers Friday, April 28th, at 5 p.m. More screenings will follow throughout the week, and tickets are available HERE. The War Tapes is the first Iraq War documentary filmed entirely by the Soldiers themselves. This film will rock you. It has the best footage out of Iraq that I have ever seen. Filmmaker Deborah Scranton supplied hand-held video cameras to a New Hampshire National Guard unit deployed to Iraq just as the insurgency was emerging. The result is an unflinching depiction of this war, and the men and women sent to fight it. It's better than fair and balanced because it's honest and unfiltered. The War Tapes premiers Saturday, April 29th, at 3 p.m. It will also be showing throughout the week. If you are in and around NYC in the next week, please check out these films and tell your friends. If you are not in NYC, hopefully they will be coming soon to a theater near you.
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"Never again shall one generation of veterans abandon another."
From VFP board member Ellen Barfield - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
From: Ellen Barfield Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 09:51:40 (PDT) Subject: Report on Trip to Palestine and Israel
ENEMIES WORKING TOGETHER
I was greatly honored to be able to represent Veterans for Peace at the first public event of the new peace organization Combatants for Peace, Palestinian and Israeli former fighters who have renounced violence and now work together for peace and justice. They have met in secret for a year, their membership growing to 120 brave enough to meet former enemies and describe their previous violence and what their turning points were. Now they have come forward to speak out together about the futility of trying to solve their conflict with more bloodshed. Hundreds of members and supporters, a bigger crowd than expected, gathered on 10 April in the Palestinian village of Anata near Jerusalem, in the shadow of the apartheid wall, to meet and congratulate the brave former fighters and hear some of their personal stories.
This trip happened because one of the CFP organizers, Yonatan Shapira, a former elite Israeli Defense Forces Black Hawk helicopter pilot, had met Veterans for Peace President Dave Cline and told him VFP was invited to send a representative to the launching gathering. When Dave mentioned that to us on the VFP Board, I leapt at the opportunity. I have visited Palestine and Israel several times before, and was glad to return. But even more compelling was my desire to support former fighters speaking out. I am more and more convinced that those who have most directly practiced violence must lead society toward nonviolence. It is harder for civilians to maintain intractible belligerence when those who have previously "looked at one another only through weapon sights" (from the CFP website) embrace nonviolence and reconciliation.
I was impressed that the Liberation Gathering ceremony was graced by the presence of 6 or 8 European Parliamentarians. These included Women in Black co-founder and Italian Parliament member Luisa Morgantini, who spoke to support the new organization, noting that Italian elections were happening but she chose to be in Palestine. Germany, Ireland, Spain, Britain, and several other countries were represented. I spoke to the German representative, praising him for his presence. He noted he was of Jewish heritage, but said, "I know the terrible situation of the Palestinians". I told him I would have fainted in surprised delight if a US legislator had attended.
During the gathering the Israeli Defense Forces set off both a stun grenade, which fortunately exploded in the air nearby, not in the schoolyard where we were gathered, and later tear gas, of which I got a good whiff. The route of the 25-foot tall separation, or apartheid, wall Israel is building on Palestinian land ran right behind the schoolyard which hosted the event, and of course the presence of hundreds of people, especially foreign witnesses, made the soldiers nervous, and they responded predictably. Luisa Morgantini had mentioned that internationals must say to the Israeli government that enough is enough.
Because this trip formed up fairly late, and due to the Passover season travel crunch, I had to stay longer than I had initially intended, a full two weeks. Though I couldn't really afford that much time away from my too-busy schedule, it allowed me to spend time just living with both Palestinians and Israelis, something delegations dashing from appointment to appointment don't get.
My Israeli host, a member of CFP, was also a wonderful musician. He took me to a gig at a reunion of an oceanographic institute class. I had close to fly-on-the-wall status as a woman the age of their mothers. Of course I couldn't speak their language, but watching the exuberance of those beautiful young people as they met old friends and sang along to the music made me feel what I know philosophically but needed to get emotionally. Individual Israelis are just as likeable as the lovely Palestinians I met. I of course sympathize with the underdog in the struggle between the two peoples. But I had been unconsciously condemning Israelis for the sins of their government. It was good to be reminded not to do that.
My host had suffered the impacts of his decision to leave the Israeli Defense Forces. His former girlfriend was an IDF soldier too, and she staunchly believed in the military mission, so naturally their relationship ended. He had cobbled together a livelihood of playing music at family celebrations and community parties, and was also training in medical clowning (clowning for hospital patients), after quitting his respected position as a tank commander in the IDF. His family was fairly supportive, but not all his friends were of course.
My host had family music appointments he could not take me to, so I got to wander around the Tel Aviv area by myself a good bit. He lived on the outskirts of town so I took buses in. I stood with the Tel Aviv Women in Black in their silent Friday noon vigil calling for the end of the occupation. I wore a black VFP shirt, and when we ended the vigil when the hour was up, an elderly woman I had been on the other end of the banner from asked me what it meant. When I told her about VFP and my military service, she said it reminded her of herself, as a soldier in 1948, and a peace activist now.
The Palestinian CFP contact arranged for me to stay with the family of a young Palestinian woman with whom he works on a community development project. Traveling to their home in Jericho I saw many small Israeli settlements scattered among Bedouin communities, and the roadsides had been graded for the planned superhighway connecting Jerusalem with the Dead Sea and Amman, Jordan, and further dividing the West Bank. My host family had lived and their parents worked in Saudi Arabia for nearly ten years, but the Gulf War caused their expulsion back to Palestine in 1991. This kind of further displacement is common in Palestinian lives. I saw busloads of Palestinians flowing into southern Iraq from Kuwait when I traveled there with Brian Willson and other VFPers in the fall of 1991.
I stayed long enough with this family that most of them used me as sounding board for their frustrations at some point. The middle sister apologized that she and her husband were fighting about staying in her parents' relatively safe and quiet home in Jericho, where Israeli harassment is comparatively seldom, or moving back to their own home outside Bethlehem where jobs and opportunities are better but Israeli-imposed curfews and military patrols, and the attendant danger, are common. The youngest sibling and only brother referred to his generous dinnerplate (this was a well-off family) but still feeling no energy, the malaise of few opportunities and restricted movement. The mother expressed exhaustion caring for her young and rowdy grandchildren, and missing the job she had in Saudi.
I was quite honored that the siblings felt I could handle their grilling me on my last day there about US support for Israeli violence, and why the US public goes along with that. They also appreciatively mentioned Rachel Corrie, the young US woman bulldozed to death by an Israeli soldier. The son-in-law joked afterward as if he were an Al-Jazeera reporter signing off after a tough interview. Both he and Ministry of Health and Sport personnel I met were unable to work due to the funding cutoff of Palestine by almost all previous donor governments after the recent election victory by Hamas. Many Palestinians, already on the edge financially, face real hardship and hunger if the funding does not resume. The rate of malnutrition among Palestinian children was high even before the election. It was a tense time for many.
My last night I stayed with another Palestinian CFP member and his family in a village outside Ramallah. This was a smaller, quieter household, where only he spoke English. The two daughters, 5 and 3, were quite shy at first, but the next morning they got rambunctious and showed off for the visitor. The little one began chanting a poem, and my host grinned and said it was a teasing rhyme about Sharon in a diaper. None too considerate of a sick old man, but entirely understandable given Sharon's criminal history toward the Palestinians.
Leaving Palestine that afternoon, I crossed into west Jerusalem at the Qalandiya checkpoint, now a modern and intimidating series of offices and gates and corridors. On my previous trips it was just a stopping point in the road, where you got out of the Palestinian taxi, passed the soldiers behind concrete barricades, and got an Israeli taxi. I had all my luggage with me, which did not fit through the turnstyles, so I had to ask the soldiers to open the 4 or 5 wheel chair gates for me. I was reminded how harmless white middle-aged women are assumed to be. Sometimes they were slow to push the gate buttons, but the soldiers never even came out of their offices to talk to me or check my luggage.
It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck to get home and realize I had been within 18 hours and a few hundred yards of the recent suicide bombing at the falafel stand near the bus station in Tel Aviv. I had thought occasionally on the buses about such a possibility, but to actually be so close felt weird. I fear the increased pressure on Palestine will increase these terrible incidents. The slow work by CFPers who now intend to speak with school classes and other groups in pairs of one each, seems far too little in the face of such urgent need. But face-to-face, one-on-one, is how real changes of heart occur. CFP is a small grain of hope in a sea of risk. I am very glad they exist.
I want to thank VFP chapters and individuals who donated to make my trip possible. I will send pictures soon. And I invite you to have me speak and do a slide show. On the eastern seaboard I am happy to just get myself there. Farther away I need travel assistance. Call or e-mail me to set up a showing.
And check out the Combatants for Peace website "Combatants for Peace" Israeli-Palestinian Liberation, for the media their event generated, some personal stories, and other info. ~~~~~~~ Here is aVideo of the First gathering in Beit Jala, 16.06.2005
IRAQ AND VIETNAM: MORE SIMILARITIES THAN YOU THOUGHT
Vietnam was a war fought more than 30 years ago in the jungles of Southeast Asia. Iraq is a war fought in the cities and deserts of the Middle East. Vietnam was fought purportedly as part of the larger battle against international communism. Iraq is being fought purportedly as part of a larger war on international terrorism. But there are many similarities:
Visit Site URL Above for more, or Download PDF HERE. There is abit more at site URL.
I just received the following Announcement, from Sean Huze - Marine, Iraq Vet. You may want to add his new Blog to your Blog Rolls and Visit often, for progress on his Production of "Homecoming". You can read more about the production below and by visiting the Site and New Blog. The link above, with Sean's name, takes you to the page, to find out all about him, in his words. Below is the E-Announcement:
Vet Films Blog Hey all, So, I created a blog for the project. I plan to make a tab to link to it from the Veteran Films - Sand Storm Productions site late Sunday night. That way, it gives everyone a chance to post and/or comment over the next few days and when it is linked up, it won't look lame (ie the only posts being mine). I'll be using it to post when we have new donors/producers, updates on the status (shoot dates, screenings, film festival acceptance, etc), and I've asked the cast/crew to post their thoughts and experience with the project on the blog as well. I hope that it will be a fun & ACTIVE blog. If not, it may be short-lived. Thanks to all of you for being a part of this project and I look forward to seeing your posts on the Vet Films Blog! All the best, Sean Huze Veteran Films - Sand Storm Productions
Abit of information from the Site, other links can be found there as well as in the building of the Blog:
The Production from Sand Storm: Homecoming The war ends at home Veteran Films Homecoming is the first in what we hope will be a series of short films related to the war in Iraq and/or the veteran's experience upon return. Homecoming focuses on the turmoil war inflicts on its combatants and their families and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Produced by Sand Storm Productions in association with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the hope is that the film will raise both awareness and funds so that IAVA can make this veteran’s issue a part of mainstream media and conversation.
The Announcement went out to Contributors to the Film Project. The link for the Site is where you can join us and Contribute what you can afford and become a part of this Project.
Help this New Generation of Combat Vets out if you can, to bring Awareness/Truth where it belongs, Into The Light!!
As the project is about the returning Vets and touching on PTSD you might want to visit this Article, from the UK that was posted today, adding to the Many coming out:
26 April 2006 EXCLUSIVE: BROKEN BY THE WAR MACHINE EXCLUSIVE These are four mates who dreamed of joining the Army together. But two years after serving in Basra they say they are suffering from post-traumatic stress.. By Ros Wynne-Jones
"Never again shall one generation of veterans abandon another."
Wed Apr 26, 2006 at 12:22:16 AM EST Today, the University of Nebraska-Omaha College Democrats presented a Tribute To The Fallen. In front of 2,390 flags, the members of the UNO Democrats spoke the name of each and every soldier that died in Iraq. The genesis of this idea came a year or two before I was a member of what I believe in my heart to be the best damn grassroots organization in the state of Nebraska. We needed to give people a visual reminder of the costs of the war in Iraq. One flag for every soldier. I consider it a tremendous accomplishment that something like this was realized for us. It's a testament to every single member that the time and money required to do this did not deter us. I'm amazed at the enthusiasm of the people who headed up this project, and got all of us to help. It's contagious.
More Photos Here Our intent was not to make this be an in your face political message. It was respectful, and somber. The rain and cold winds made things worse for all of us there, but it was almost appropriate for the mood. It served as a reminder to everyone, and though some people rolled their eyes at us, others genuinely said "thank you for doing this." This was Omaha, Nebraska. And we can do something like this, and even get through to people. Change can sometimes come slowly, but it is a great thing to work for.
A Greek protester raises a painted hand next to a banner with a picture of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Athens April 24, 2006. (Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters)
I received a Newletter from Jan Berry, Vietnam Vet, once President of VVAW during period that led up to the "Winter Soldier Testimonies" on Atrosities committed in Vietnam by U.S. Military Personal in fighting that Conflict, and take place in any Conflict as Man wages Wars against Others!
In the Newsletter, which I'm posting below, there's a link to a Short Documentary produced by two High School Students “To Fight Again: The Vietnam Veterans Against the War.”, link also in Newsletter, about the forming of VVAW and the lead up to the "Winter Soldiers Testimony" and "Dewey Canyon III". 35yrs Later This Is Important, Ignored History that needs to finally come out of the Dark, for War should be the Absolute Last Resort, and No Wars should be Started On LIES!
The Newsletter is a Review of "Sir! No Sir!" and "Winter Soldiers" with this Powerful Documentary added in and Jan's participation and thoughts. This Country has to Finally come to terms with it's Denial on Vietnam, for look at where we are today, and that today puts ours, as well as others, Security into a Much Dangerous Situation, for Now we have the long running threat of Criminal Terrorists Retaliations for our Actions!
“Sir! No Sir!” and “Winter Soldier” ought to be required viewing at the Pentagon, White House and in Congress, but are more likely to be banned from military bases and banished from the Bush Administration’s self-centered deliberations.
“Sir! No Sir!” is a brash new documentary by David Zeiger. It shows via interviews, period film clips and photos, blazingly eloquent GIs and veterans challenging the conduct of the Vietnam war in wider and wider ripples of dissent: speaking out, marching in peace parades, refusing military orders to Vietnam, refusing to go on combat patrols in Vietnam, conducting their own war crimes inquiries, cheering Jane Fonda’s “Free The Army” counter-war tours, and publishing dozens of underground GI newspapers that blew superiors’ stacks and raised the issue of free speech in the military.
While I was involved in Vietnam Veterans Against the War in some of the actions featured in this documentary, I learned a lot from Zeiger’s detailed reporting on a movement that spread across the country and throughout the military, in what The New York Times called “one of the most memorable chapters of the Vietnam War” and “one of the least revisited.”
Ebert & Roeper, the widely syndicated film critics for the Chicago Sun-Times, gave the antiwar flick, which recently opened at theaters across the country, “two thumbs up!” The New York Times review is headlined “A Salute to Dissenters in Uniform.” Among the array of dissenters featured in the film is Louis Font, a West Point classmate of mine, who refused to serve in Vietnam. He stood up to the threat of a court-martial and is now an attorney representing GIs challenging the war in Iraq.
“Winter Soldier” is a gutsy 1972 documentary about Vietnam veterans testifying to war crimes, which was virtually banned from America movie theaters and television during the last gasp of the Vietnam War. This black and white footage, of haunted young men describing a descent into hellacious actions military recruiters don’t advertise, was created by a film collective dedicated to recording the ghastly parts of war that mainstream media avoided then and still do.
It was revived last year by Milliarium Zero, independent film distributors in New Jersey, and will soon be available on DVD. Its revival has stirred up an astonishingly respectful response by the news media. “Everyone should see Winter Soldier,” wrote Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post, which fired off a review and a feature story on the film.
This is a short documentary on the organization that inspired “Winter Soldier” and much of “Sir! No Sir!” It was created by two Massachusetts high school students, Hadley Piper and Danny Selgrade, as an entree in the National History Day “Take a Stand in History” contest.
I was delighted to be interviewed for this project by these students, who had thoughtfully prepared questions, and am impressed by their tapestry of historical film footage, music, and their own commentary interwoven with interview threads.
In contrast to the media bashing of John Kerry for his association with VVAW, during his run for the presidency in 2004, the students found an experienced observer with no raging resentment of veterans who protested the war. “I would say they certainly were effective,” said Thomas Henneberry, a West Point grad who served in Vietnam and is now an administrator at MIT. “The Vietnam Veterans Against the War had in fact taken a stand based on their own experience that was viewed as valid.”
The following are just a few of the reviews of the Important Documentary 'Sir! No Sir!'. They can also be found on the Right Side in the links colume, along with the links to the trailers. In the G.I. Specials PDF,the last 5or6, on the right, Thomas has also added writeups about 'Sir!' in his Newletter which is a throwback to the Newsletters of the G.I. Movement, only now Online, ahhh Technology wish we had this than! Sir! No Sir!! - Site
