On Tammy Duckworth

Rachel Maddow: 4.24.09

Torture-Related Documents Listing

Thanks to David Swanson who has these posted at AfterDowningStreet

May 10, 2005, Bradbury memo to the CIA on legality of specific interrogation techniques

May 30, 2005, Bradbury memo to the CIA on whether interrogation techniques violate U.N. Convention Against Torture (Part 1)

May 30, 2005, Bradbury memo to the CIA on whether interrogation techniques violate U.N. Convention against Torture (Part 2)

CIA Inspector General report 2004

Aug. 1, 2002, Bybee memo to CIA regarding treatment of Abu Zubaydah

Much More Here

And this from KO's MSNBC Show 4.24.09

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

As well as this

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

In Their Boots: Episode Two 2009; Fractured Minds

Four soldiers navigate the difficult path to recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI), the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Season 2, Episode 2: In Their Boots: Fractured Minds



Related Organizations

Disabled American Veterans

TIRR Foundation / Project Victory

Wounded Warrior Project

HomePage, In Their Boots: Watch the first and second episodes of this years series, second is the one above. And watch the episodes from last year at the site, as well as all the referring links for veterans, military, military families and civilians.

Mother Jones: Abu Ghraib Level 1

Inside the Secret Cellblocks of Abu Ghraib
A soldier-narrated tour of the detainee camp during its final days.

With the recent release of new torture memos, and the news that Obama isn't entirely ruling out prosecutions, it's important to remember just how widespread America's use of torture has been. This video footage was taken of Abu Ghraib during its final days in 2006, after the prisoners left but before it was torn down, and evidence of the camp was buried and burned. >>>>>Rest Here

The Jay Bybee Problem

How did Jay Bybee breeze through an unusually easy confirmation hearing for his appointment to the Federal Appeals Court in February 2003? Not a single Democrat questioned Bybee at the session, and the brief proceedings soon became a love-fest between Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and Jay Bybee. "I've seen a lot of people around here, and I don't know of anybody who has any more ability than you have," states Sen. Hatch in a typical exchange featured in this report.

 

Just six months prior to the hearing, Jay Bybee had signed legal memos providing cover for CIA agents torturing detainees -- yet Congress voted him to a lifetime on the federal bench. How did this happen? And what will become of Judge Bybee now?

 

You Should Demand Answers As This:

Brave Afghan Vet Demands Answers from Congress

From the Testimony Today, 4.23.09, by the Soldiers of Today, on Afghanistan! Brave New Foundation weaves one soldiers opening remarks with the opening remarks, in Congress, of a brother 'Nam Soldier from our Years Past and another Congressional Hearing!

Thanks to your efforts, we were able to bring Rick Reyes, a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, to Congress's attention. A former Corporal in the US Marines, Reyes was powerful and truthful as he told Senator John Kerry and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "I urge you on behalf of truth and patriotism to consider carefully and rethink Afghanistan. More troops, more occupation is not the answer."

Reyes's testimony raises critical concerns that Congress must address before approving a massive supplemental war funding bill in the next few weeks. Let's work to halt this war funding bill by calling our Representatives, and urging them not to vote for it until all the questions raised in these hearings have been answered.

Senate Foreign Relations Cmte. Hearing on Soldiers' Stories from the Afghan War earlier today 4.23.09

If you don't want to watch/listen in to the full testimony, link directly above, at least watch/listen in to the opening statements, or read them from the links below {PDF}:

Senator Kerry's Opening Statement

Senator Lugar's Opening Statement

Witnesses Opening Statements:

Andrew Bacevich
Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Professor of International Relations and History
Boston University
Boston, MA

Genevieve Chase
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Reserve
Recipient of the Purple Heart
American Women Veterans
Alexandria, VA

Christopher McGurk
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Recipient of Combat Infantryman’s Badge,
two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart
New York, NY

Westley Moore
Captain, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Washington DC

Rick Reyes
Corporal, U.S. Marines (Ret.)
Los Angeles, CA

Feingold Questions Cpl. Rick Reyes on Afghanistan

Rick was born May 3rd, 1980, and grew up in the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles. Reyes joined the Marine Corps in 2000, and signed up to be an Infantry Rifle Man in the Marine Corps while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. I support his testimony, will you?

Rick Reyes, The New John Kerry: Afghanistan Vet Speaks Out Against War Before Congress

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday hosted a hearing of compelling politics and historical parallels, as an Afghan war veteran offered critical testimony of that war in front of a committee chairman who had done the same during Vietnam.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Holding a Powerful Re-Evaluation Of Af-Pak

Sadly, I’m working on other things, but I’m listening to the livestream of an extremely powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing featuring Afghanistan veterans criticizing the continued war in Afghanistan. ...

Hell No, I Won't Go

Hearing: SOLDIERS’ STORIES FROM THE AFGHAN WAR

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Time: 10:15 A.M.
Place: 419 Dirksen Senate Building
Presiding: Senator Kerry

As Jon Soltz, of VoteVets and VetVoice, writes here, John Kerry's Veteran Legacy

Thirty-eight years ago today, a young veteran was invited to testify before a committee of Senators and silenced the talkative politicians by speaking about the human costs of war. He did so on behalf of thousands of compatriots who could not be there. He spoke with the power of one who had seen war up close. The Senators listened intently, for some of them had never worn the uniform of the soldier and none had served in the jungles of Vietnam.

Today, that young veteran is himself not only a distinguished Senator but also chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the very same committee he had addressed in 1971. And tomorrow, at a hearing before his committee, Senator John Kerry will be giving a new generation of young veterans a chance to share their views of war, specifically, the war in Afghanistan.>>>>>More

If online tune in at the Senate Committee Link above and watch/listen to the hearing.

Senator's panel to call Afghanistan veterans

No counterparts to the young Kerry at war hearing

Thirty-eight years ago today, a soldier fresh from Vietnam riveted the nation by recounting the horrors of a far-away war, famously asking the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

The speech by 27-year-old John Kerry launched his rise from antiwar protester to presidential nominee to chairman of that very same powerful committee.

Tomorrow Senator Kerry will listen as veterans of the war in Afghanistan shine a spotlight on a conflict that a small but growing number of Americans are beginning to question, even as President Obama increases troops. But in a sign of how much Kerry - and the country - has changed since 1971, tomorrow's hearings will feature few - if any - dramatic calls for withdrawal.

Kerry's committee did not invite any witness from the Iraq Veterans Against the War, the modern-day analog of the antiwar group he represented when he testified in 1971. That group, which includes Afghanistan war veterans, has called for an end to the Afghan war. At least three out of the four Afghan war veterans who will testify tomorrow oppose a US withdrawal. >>>>>More

Baghdad: City of Walls

Baghdad: City of Walls, Pt.1: Scars of war

Guardian: Baghdad wears its scars as a series of giant walls dividing its neighbourhood

Baghdad: City of Walls, part 2: Crossing the wall

Guardian: Eight new ghettos divide Baghdad's Shia and Sunni neighbourhoods

Baghdad: City of Walls, part 3: City of the dead

Guardian: What legacy will the poison of hatred and violence bequeath Baghdad?

Baghdad: City of Walls Pt. 4: Hope in hell?

Guardian: Ghaith Abdul-Ahad finds there is evidence that the killing is still going on

VA Press Release: Opens New Website and Blog

VA Welcoming Vets Home with New Web Site, Blog

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched its new “Returning Veterans” Web site -- Returning Service Members (OEF/OIF) -- to welcome home Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, Veteran-centric Web site focusing on their needs and questions.

“VA is entering the world of Web 2.0, because that’s where this generation of Veterans is already communicating,” said Dr. Gerald M. Cross, VA’s Principal Deputy Undersecretary for Health. “We’re opening our doors to them virtually to let them know what they can expect when they step through our doors in reality.”

The Web site will feature videos, Veteran stories, and a blog where Veterans are encouraged to post feedback. The site also will restructure the traditional index-of-benefits format found on other VA pages into question-based, categorized, and easily navigated links by topic. This will allow Veterans to find benefits of interest easily and discover related benefits as they explore.

“We hope our returning Veterans find this site easy and helpful, but also engaging,” Dr. Cross said. “As the site grows, we will be linking to Veterans’ blogs and highlighting more of their own stories from their own views. We are their VA, so we are eager to provide a forum for Veterans to discuss their lives.”

# # #

Iraq Vet in Pennsylvania Murders......

Was Radically Changed by War and PTSD

PTSD sufferers can't always leave the war behind.

Sergeant Nicholas Horner and his Wife
Tragedy and war-inspired Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can meet like a head on crash when the nation's care providers at the Veterans Administration, notorious for lies and deceit, deny our combat veterans the care they need.

This story of deadly, senseless shootings in Altoona, Pennsylvania April 6th is possibly the most tragic story I have ever reported, and if it isn't, it is among the very worst.

A close friend of Nick's, Tina Zahurak, wrote to Salem-News.com asking if I would pay attention to this case and help people understand how this veteran was part of the system that is designed to, yet fails to, adequately treat the unique and varying needs of combat vets.

She wrote, "This man was a good man, not a monster or murderer. He saw and was involved in situations that he should've never been in. This is the other side of PTSD, the dark side, the side where one is not treated suitably and fell through the cracks. I was hoping that maybe you or somebody could share his story, so those victims he killed and injured did not die in vain."

You can find the Rest Here with a Number of Back Links

**********

A short list of reading materials I posted recently

That some may find very helpful, others should find to be useful in the educational quality of understanding and research, and not only for combat veterans but civilian suffers of:

I Can Still Hear Their Cries, Even In My Sleep: A Journey Into PTSD

Veterans's PTSD Handbook: How to File and Collect on Claims for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle against America's Veterans

Vets Under Siege: How America Deceives and Dishonors Those Who Fight Our Battles

After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families

Life After Deployment: Military families share reunion stories and advice

Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops

Help Horner

This website is dedicated to helping Sgt. Nicholas Horner and all other soldiers who are slipping through the cracks of our military system. This story is a tragedy from all angles and our mission is to show you Sgt. Horner's.
After 3 deployments to Iraq, Nick, a highly decorated war veteran, came back a changed man. He was officially diagnosed with PTSD yet he had to fight to get any kind of treatment for it. Sadly, many of our soldiers are not getting the mental help that they desperately need. Doctors in the military are being told not to diagnose PTSD in an effort to deny our soldiers benefits. Because of this, soldiers are being released back into society with severe problems. In Nick's case, he knew that he needed help and he actively sought help. However, he was told he simply had an anxiety disorder. Yet this was so severe that the army discharged him early, even sending him home from Iraq.

Military Suicides

Redeployment sparks many suicides

The number of soldier suicides this year is most likely due to the redeployment of soldiers with psychiatric illnesses, a U.S. researcher says.

David Rudd, Texas Tech University professor and author "The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, said the more a person is exposed to violence or death, the more that person loses anxiety about death. This specifically applies to soldiers living in a war zone because the interaction with death makes it more probable that these people will kill themselves when they get depressed or anxious. >>>>>Rest Here

As many as 13 soldier suicides in March

As many as 13 soldiers are believed to have killed themselves in March, bringing the number of reported soldier suicides this year to 56, officials announced April 10.

None of the March cases under investigation have been confirmed, but about 90 percent of deaths involved in such investigations typically are ruled to be suicides.

The March total marks a decrease in suicides compared with the first two months of the year.

As many as 24 suicides were reported in January, but on March 4 officials removed one case because it was determined that the soldier was no longer on active duty when he died. Of the 23 remaining cases, 14 are confirmed suicides; nine are pending a determination. >>>>>Rest Here