Iraq's Jails Today - Under Occupation

Images show pleading Iraq prisoners

Rare footage from inside a Baghdad prison camp shows hundreds of inmates packed into wire-mesh tents, protesting their innocence.

"I have been jailed for two years and have never been put before a judge or court!" one prisoner is shown shouting.

The video pictures were given to Reuters Television on Saturday by the office of Sunni Arab Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who visited the Rusafa prison compound in eastern Baghdad with his Shi'ite counterpart.

See those on the Other Side of the bars?

They're, and their kids, are the Future this administration and the 109th rubber stamp congress has given to the World!

Your kids will be Asking Tough Questions as they turn into young Adults!

Veterans For Peace Convention

The VFP convention, for 2007, is taking place this weekend in the hometown of the National Office, St Louis.

It's the 22nd Annual Veterans For Peace Convention comprising Veterans from WWII to the present day, and sadly growing, as our so called modern wars are frequent and are wars of choice not need.

Remember when a certain American Political party were screaming that the U.S. Military should not be the 'Police Force' of the World, well guess what, that same party, and it's leadership have turned our Military into the most destructive 'Police Force' on the face of this planet, for that's exactly what we are in Iraq and and to abit lesser degree in Afganistan!

The theme of this years convention:

VETERANS’ TRUTH - GATEWAY TO PEACE
Building Community to Achieve Justice and Abolish War

Veterans, applying their experience, strength and conviction to the abolishment of war, invest the Gateway Arch of St. Louis with new significance as a portal to peace.

And is being held at The Holiday Inn Select, 811 N. 9th Street - St. Louis, MO 63101
for anyone in St Louis who might want to drop by.

Now you might be wondering the why of posting about a convention of Peaceful Veterans, especially when it comes to how forgetful this nation is when our many conflicts have ended, especially as to Korea, still open, and Vietnam, of which I served, as to those who have served this nation, too many sacrificing their lives, limbs and minds.

Well a few years back, at the convention in Dallas History Was Made, a History that will live on, especially for the Peace Activists, always to few in numbers, but also as a part of what has occurred in the time span from 2000 to the present, and that time frame has now dictated what this country and world will be facing far into the future!

That History was started by one grieving mother, Cindy Sheehan an American Gold Star Mother, and a small group of friends and veterans, from that venue in Dallas. You can read what Cindy had to say in her speach to that convention shortly before embarking on down the road to Crawford Texas.

Cindy, by her stand and grief, managed to wake up an awful lot of people, who always stand way off to the side of their Right Of Activism seemingly not wanting to rock the boat in this country that supposedly practises Democracy, an ideology of For The People, By The People, that hire their representatives.

Will history be made at this years convention, doubt it, but hey one never knows. But wether history is made or not, this country better start listening to it's Veterans, especially those of us who really understand that Wars bring nothing but grief and more conflicts.

The Political game playing won't make a differance, the future is laid out before us, and the only way to stop what will be is by the people of this planet to come together and stop it themselves!

The United States, of which we are no longer United, must start living by what we preach it to be, and become the example we falsely think we are by our descriptions, while we allow our representatives to carry on the complete opposite. For leadership comes from living the example we set forth not by being a country of hypocrites, and now doing, in the open, what we condemn others for!

The Speakers for this years convention will be:

Israeli – Palestinian Combatants For Peace
"Combatants For Peace"


Korea Veterans For Peace

April Fitzsimmons - "The Need To Know" A play by April Fitzsimmons

Phyllis Bennis – Institute for Policy Studies

Charlie R. and Nancy L. – MFSO

Col. Janis Karpinsky

Sara Rich - Mother of Suzanne Swift

Jonathan Hutto - Appeal for Redress

Jeff Slocum - Appeal for Redress

David Cortright - Fourth Freedom Forum

Dennis Kucinich – U.S. Representative (OH-10)

Aimee Allison – Vet/Politician

The Iraq Veterans Against the War

Elaine Johnson - Gold Star Families Speak Out

Fernando De Solar - Guerrero Azteca Project

Fatemeh Keshavarz - Professor Washington University

Saturday, August 18
9:00am - 5:00pm - VFP Business Meeting (with simultaneous IVAW Business Meeting)

12:00pm - Lunch (more details on Open Mike Speak out TBA)

6:00 - 10:00pm - Banquet
MCs: Elliott Adams & Ann Wright
Speakers: Phyllis Bennis, Jonathon Hutto, and Dr. Fatemeh Keshavarz
Performers include Pat Scanlon

10:00pm - Movie - "Meeting the Resistance"
Steve Connors & Molly Bingham—producers available for discussion

Sunday, August 19
10:00am - Farewell Ceremony, Holiday Inn Select

Actions: March to the Arch - Begins at 10:30am
Learn more HERE!

If in St Louis you might want to catch some of what's going on, and the entertainment.

Now how many, who attended Yearly KOS, knew that there were well over 200 Veterans of Vietnam Veterans Against the War in Chicago, at the same weekend holding their convention. And if so how many visited and talked to the Vets!

Anyone in Chicago, next week, can join them for the following:

Chicago Homeless Vets Standdown: Chicago, Illinois

When: August 24, 2007
Where: The Armory on SE corner of North Ave. and Kedzie
What: A day of health care, food, and shelter for homeless veterans
Details: The Chicago Homeless Vets Standdown will be held on August 24 the Armory on SE corner of North Ave. and Kedzie. August 23 is the cleanup day. Hours are: 08:00 - 14:00 on the 23nd, 06:00 - 20:00 on the 24rd. Please plan on helping out in the kitchen, as usual. Contact me at the email address below with any questons.
Bill Branson


This country, still not on terms with the Vietnam fiasco, now has to contend with the present day debacles of Iraq and yes Afganistan! Because both have now set forth, as I noted above, the future of this country, and world.

This is just some of what this Whole Country will have to come to terms with and do All It Can for those who served:

Road to Recovery:

It has been six months since we first told the story of two soldiers struggling to recover from traumatic brain injuries, caused by roadside bombs in Iraq. Tonight, Bob Woodruff checks in with those soldiers and takes a look at their long road to recovery.

Sharing A Bond - Vets with TBI



War on the Brain: Understanding TBIs

Bob Woodruff Talks to Soldiers and Families Enduring the Long Road to Recovery

{according to a footnote, in the article above, ABC's Nightline will be having an extended version of Bob Woodruffs report on Mondays show.}


Mental BattleField


Treating the Psychologically Wounded in Iraq

Jay White helps soldiers cope with what they see on the front lines.

Keith Olbermann and Brandon Friedman,


Afgan and Iraq Veteran, of Votevets.org and author of The War I Always Wanted: The Illusion of Glory and the Reality of War: A Screaming Eagle in Afghanistan and Iraq , Discuss the Report out about the Rise in the Suicide Rate in the U.S. Army and also the effects of War as to Mental Trauma, PTSD!

A world, we as Responsible Adults, should have not shaped for the children now and to come!

Moyer's on Rove

He Used "Greed to Win Four Elections in a Row"

Need one say anything more, certainly not when Bill Moyers speaks!!

What's The Cost? Suicide - PTSD

Keith Olbermann and Brandon Friedman,



Afgan and Iraq Veteran, of Votevets.org and author of The War I Always Wanted: The Illusion of Glory and the Reality of War: A Screaming Eagle in Afghanistan and Iraq , Discuss the Report out about the Rise in the Suicide Rate in the U.S. Army and also the effects of War as to Mental Trauma, PTSD!

TBI - PTSD

These will air tonight, 8-16-07, on ABC News:

Road to Recovery:

It has been six months since we first told the story of two soldiers struggling to recover from traumatic brain injuries, caused by roadside bombs in Iraq. Tonight, Bob Woodruff checks in with those soldiers and takes a look at their long road to recovery.

Sharing A Bond - Vets with TBI



War on the Brain: Understanding TBIs

Bob Woodruff Talks to Soldiers and Families Enduring the Long Road to Recovery

Mental BattleField


Treating the Psychologically Wounded in Iraq

Jay White helps soldiers cope with what they see on the front lines.

The 'Kiss' Seen Round The World - For Peace

Dale Earnhardt move over Kannapolis NC has another Favorite Son!



A sailor kissing a nurse standing in the middle of Times Square became the iconic image of the end of the Second World War. Several men have claimed to be the man in the picture. But this month a forensic artist has identified the man as Glenn McDuffie of Kannapolis. The 80-year-old spoke with WFAE's Lisa Miller about that moment and the following years.
Listen To Glenn describe The 'Kiss'

And today in New York Cities Times Square:

62 Years Later, a Kiss That Can’t Be Forgotten

About 75 couples gathered in Times Square this afternoon to re-enact the famous kiss, from V-J Day in 1945, of a sailor and a woman, part of an exhilarated crowd that thronged the streets to celebrate the end of World War II. Alfred Eisenstaedt’s photograph of the kiss is said to be Time-Life’s most requested {and reproduced image}, an instantly recognizable icon.

With another tale of 'The Kiss'.

If only he'd put a caption on his picture . . .
Man Claims He's the Mystery Sailor in 'The Kiss'

Experts Say Glenn McDuffie Is Probably the Unidentified Sailor in Famous Photo

V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945 -- World War II is finally over and New York's Times Square has erupted in spontaneous celebration.
Suddenly a handsome sailor pulls a young nurse into an embrace. The iconic image of that kiss, immortalized by the photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt in Life magazine, became the symbol of a joyful nation's victory.

And funny how the Charlotte Observer and the 'Concord/Kannapolis' Independant Tribune aren't carrying a story in either of todays papers.

PTSD Discussion

The following is an hour show on 'Charlotte Talks', the local daily NPR radio show on PTSD, it's effects and one treatmnt being used.

It aired yesterday morning.

Monday August 13, 2007

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Once again, we visit with a member of the UNC Charlotte Iraq War Veterans Club.  We'll explore the impact of PTSD on returning soldiers.

Guests:
Ross Medlin - Sergeant, USMC, Iraq War veteran
Bobby Bodenhamer - Minister and PTSD counselor

Contact the show:  704-926-9323, 800-603-9323 or charlottetalks@wfae.org.

You can listen With this Link which brings up Windows Media Player.

Reviving One Life in a War Zone

This was on ABC News tonight:

Baby Girl Found Near Baghdad Home After Mother, Uncle Shot to Death

What could have been another tragic ending for an Iraqi Child in the Debacle we have created in her country:

After the murders, Jbouri was dumped — literally — outside in the garbage on a day when the temperature hit 118 degrees.

May just turn into hopefully her life being spared, maybe!

"When she first got here, she looked like this little alien child," 1st Lt. Katie Van Beusekomon told ABC's Miguel Marquez. "Now she's just like this cute little baby that … screams at us when we don't feed her."

You can view photo's of her HERE

Even though she has lost her mother and uncle to the devestating violence unleased she apparently has brothers and sisters, now in an orphanage, that she will be reunited with.

I wonder though, how many of them will continue to survive and will she, and what world have we given them?

As those of us know, who have served in this countries War Theaters, most serving will try and do good towards those we occupy, especially the kids.

But no matter how much good might be accomplished, when the bombs and the bullets start flying, and the innocents fall, All That Good Is Gone!

And in many cases more hate is created thus creating the enemies who seek retaliation!

That's War!!!!!!!

"My War, My Story"

"My War, My Story" Visit Site For Much More Information!



Documentary Trailer:
We traveled across the U.S. to make this documentary. Our motive was simple - we felt that an important story about the war was not being told. These vets who oppose the very war they fought in were not making sweeping statements or generalizing. Their ideas developed after seeing and hearing specific things in Iraq. Where can you hear stories like this? We weren't exposed to anything like these stories on the major media. There was broad support for the war, on the one hand, or stories of big scandals on the other, but nothing like this, the quiet opinions of many ordinary vets. These are stories that need to be heard.

Dick Cheney '94:

Invading Baghdad Would Create Quagmire


In this interview from April 15th, 1994, Dick Cheney reveals the reasons why invading Baghdad and toppling Saddam Hussein wouldn't be a great idea. Frankly stating exactly what has happened, after he and the others did order the invation