Feb. 25, 2007
GIs Petition Congress To End Iraq War
More Than 1,000 Military Personnel Sign Petition Urging Withdrawal
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Some Soldiers Oppose Iraq War
A new opposition to the war in Iraq comes from some men and women in uniform. Hundreds of soldiers have publicly asked Congress to stop the war. Lara Logan has this "60 Minutes" report.
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Logan's Reporter's Notebook
Over 1,000 active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. military are against the war in Iraq and have said so in an unusually public way.
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Soldiers Oppose Iraq War
In Full: Lara Logan talks to a group of soldiers who are against the war in Iraq. Their dissent has been criticized, but they say that nobody has the right to question their patriotism.
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(AP / CBS)
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Correspondent Lara Logan heard dissension in the ranks from a large group of service members who are fed up and have decided to go public. They’re not going AWOL, they're not disobeying orders or even refusing to fight in Iraq. But they are doing something unthinkable to many in uniform: bypassing the chain of command to denounce a war they’re in the middle of fighting.
"As a patriotic citizen who served two combat tours in Iraq, I just feel like this war, it's simply just not working out anymore, and soldiers are dying there everyday," says Specialist Kevin Torres.
Torres didn’t always feel that way—he enlisted in the Army right out of high school, after 9/11. He has twice served in Iraq, patrolling the mainly Kurdish north of the country, and carrying out combat patrols and goodwill missions.
"I joined because I just wanted to make a difference. I wanted to be a part of our generation's war," Torres says.
"You've been on two deployments and you didn't always feel this way. Was there a point at which, you know, something you experienced that made you think," Logan asks.
"Yeah. In January, we were doing routine presence patrol through the city of Hawija, and one of our trucks was hit by a roadside bomb, an IED, and it killed four of the soldiers out of the five that were in the truck. And during the recovery of the fallen soldiers all the debris outside of the truck. And we just had the truck was loaded with school supplies and soccer balls and crayons and notebooks and coloring books. We just wanna help. And it was just a really eye-opening and frustrating experience. Because we're still getting killed out there," he says.
It’s a sentiment echoed by all of the service members who are part of this protest.
60 Minutes gathered some of them in Washington, but they had to be off base, out of uniform and off duty to speak to Logan on camera.
They’ve all sent a petition, called “Appeal For Redress,” to their individual members of Congress, letting them know that “Staying in Iraq will not work” and it’s “time for U.S. troops to come home.”
"It's not about speaking out against the military or speaking out against the war. It's just, we're here four years down the line and there's not an end to it," Sgt. Evans, one of the dissenters, tells Logan.
"What are we trying to accomplish over there? I mean, what is what are we trying to do in Iraq?" another soldier, Sgt. Ronn Cantu asks.
What does he think?
"I don't even know anymore," he tells Logan.
"Well, what would you say to the people that say, 'Alright, it's clear that the war in Iraq is incredibly difficult and life is really tough both for Americans and for Iraqis, but pulling out's not the answer. It's only gonna get worse. There's gonna be all-out civil war,'" Logan asks.
"How does that become the default? Either someday, we have to leave. We can't stay in Iraq for the next thousand years," one soldier remarks.
Asked if there's a possibility that Iraq might be better off if American troops stay and finish the job, Cantu says, "But then our lives are hanging in the balance of a flip of a coin."
"That doesn't seem worth it to you? Those are not good odds?" Logan asks.
"Yes. I mean, we volunteered to make a difference, not just be part of an experiment," he replies.
Produced By Peter Klein
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 914 CommentsNow, those are heroes worthy of the title.
The American people wisely do not want this war fought in their name!
Military men who don't support this worthless war ARE the real heroes!
This is an incredibly courageous stance. I'm sure that they will be smeared and face reprisals by the GOP attack machine and the Pentagon.
Way to Go Troops!
Stay home, refuse to fight illegal Wars. Join West Point Graduate Lt. Watada and say NO to the Cheney/Bush fascist regime.
60 minutes would only have 60 minutes left if they in Iraq under Saddam.
-- Thomas Jefferson
Punishing dissenters for exercising their First Amendment rights makes the very document upon which our country is founded nothing but a meaningless piece of paper. Such an action is more akin to a fascist state and not a republic as we have, or are supposed to have.
One first, than 1000 ... good
http://www.thankyoult.org/
This war is not illegal, as so many like to claim -- congress approved the move. I'd like for someone to tell me what laws were broken to make it "illegal."
War is ugly, but so is terrorism. Nobody "likes" to go to war, but service members do it because they believe in serving the nation and protecting our way of life.
War is ugly, but so is terrorism. Nobody "likes" to go to war, but service members do it because they believe in serving the nation and protecting our way of life.
Posted by pltrrf at 08:42 AM : Feb 23, 2007
International Law provides that one nation shall not attack another nation without provacation. If you remember when Sir Lies-A-Lot ran the inspectors out of Iraq so he could attack that nation he used the UN Resolution on WMD's... the problem? The Resolution was the UN's AND there were no WMD's, thus Sir Lies-A-Lot is a War Criminal in the eyes of International Law, which he refuses to honor. Strange how criminal types are like that huh? LMAO
60 minutes would only have 60 minutes left if they in Iraq under Saddam.
Posted by d_c_b at 12:06 AM : Feb 23, 2007
I really do not see this nation as being Paralyzed from dissention at all. I see a nation that has been mislead starting to catch up with the Southern Fascist who LIED to them and who mislead them but there seems to be a more united nation today than at any time since the Religious Reich came to power. IF you look at the issues used to divide this nation they all, every last one of them are taken from the agenda of the Religious Reich. When you remove those Extremist from the picture, there's a pretty united nation.
I think the recent story on Prince Harry shows the difference in leadership. NO commanding officer would send his troops into a situation into which HE himself is unwilling to go into.
Posted by nikosk1 at 11:17 AM : Feb 23, 2007
What difference does that make? I'm a Combat Vet of Vietnam and would ask the same question about Sir Lies-A-Lot. People who are to much of a coward to serve in combat,rest assured those of us who were there KNOW what the Guard was in our day, should NOT be sending others to die. Just my feelings on the matter.
I'll have to listen to Rush Limpbow (UGH!) this afternoon to see what propaganda he is telling his mindless dolts to follow.
It must be really, really tough trying to keep up and "support" the worst administration in US history. Especially for the mentally challenged. But, then again, a person would have to be mentally challenged to still support the criminals in the White House.
Will the GOP begin requiring IQ testing and only accepting those who fail to become members of the GOP?
Posted by lmrgt at 09:08 AM : Feb 23, 2007
There are a lot of Right Wing News outlets outthere who cater to your needs. There isn't a lot of "good" to report but they go WAY out of their way to report it. Since OUR DEFENSE is in harms way here and since our ONLY Ally has just pulled out, I'd suggest that ALL of us be concerned with the BAD... Since the BAD is what KILLS those kids and cost us all that tax money.
This war is not illegal, as so many like to claim -- congress approved the move. I'd like for someone to tell me what laws were broken to make it "illegal."
Posted by pltrrf at 08:42 AM : Feb 23, 2007
The oath of enlistment requires obeying (lawful) orders. It omits the word "lawful" because it is an unnecessary word. No one, civilian or soldier, is required to obey an unlawful order from anyone, regardless who he thinks he is.
It also requires supporting and defending the US Constitution against ALL (key word) enemies, bothe foreign & domestic.
The president failed to comply with his own oath when he unlawfully and without proper authority issued an order for soldiers to overthrow the government of another sovereign nation.
The congressional resolution required specific UN approval; the UN Charter is equivalent to constitutional law under Article 6 of the US Constitution and the Chapter 7 of the UN Charter obligates member states to have UN approval before initiating a war of aggression; and, the Nuremberg Principles established by the US & allies after WWII to try "war criminals" established that initiating a war of aggression is a "breach of peace" and is a "war crime."
The bottom line is that George Bush is legally equivalent to Saddam Hussein and the invasion is legally equivalent to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
Posted by tuckerndfw at 11:39 AM : Feb 23, 2007
WOW....A TRUCKER and A LAWYER!!!! I can't even begin to tell you how wrong you are, so I won't even try. Suffice it to say, you have no clue as to what powers the president has at his/her disposal to uphold his oath. Must have been one of those law schools in the back of Popular Mechanics, eh????
Posted by connapa at 11:23 AM : Feb 23, 2007
George Bush is the "Commander in Chief" and he refused to go to a combat zone when it was his turn to "protect Americans." As did his second in command, D. Cheney.
I notice their zeal for "protecting Americans" is especially ardent now that they have taxpayer provided multi-million dollar security forces protecting them 24/7.
I wonder who died or was maimed for life in their places in Vietnam? (a place they avoided at all costs, much like Iraq's combat zones)
They should be impeached.
Posted by notblue at 11:34 AM : Feb 23, 2007
You can bet CBS, CNN, et. al. seeks these folks out WAY over and above the vast majority who serve honorably.
60 minutes would only have 60 minutes left if they in Iraq under Saddam. "
are you kidding me...... where did they say that they wouldn't do their jobs..... So I guess you don't have a job, because if you did, you would know you don't have to agree with every decision the company makes to do your job. In fact, if you see they are making a mistake, you should tell them, maybe they just don't see it.
Posted by bigwhtpony at 11:47 AM : Feb 23, 2007
You cannot tell me how wrong I am because:
A: I am not wrong;
and,
B: You are ignorant.
See how easy that is?
Now, go outside and play with your little friends.
New agencies are a business. The first 3 rules of business is get the money. They want to put out to the public what sells. The majority of people today won't pay to see good stuff - they will pay though to see blood and guts. Now that sells. I doubt you will see both sides to Iraq.
There is not way to end a lost battle!
Iraqis gonna hate americans and they fight you!
because Americans are the occupiers.
The more time goes on the more the Insurgent groups became organised.
The result will be more attacks on american troops.
And finnaly the more your husbend, wife, father, mother, son etc.. gonna die there just for nothing.
Just like now the GOP wants us to support our president regardless (like they did with Clinton).
I just say if the media actually showed both sides of the issue BEFORE we got into Iraq, we would have never gone in the first place.
Period.
if you are so pro-war why do not you get your fat A*S to Iraq and fight. It is easy when you are not there and someone else is dying for your "questionable" cause.
the non stupid silly little fascist nazi Islamic muslims love us..... get it right haji....
liberals are a good example of why we do not want or need the draft...... all those liberals nancying around getting in the way of getting the job done..... all they do is help the enemy...... just like turncoat hanoi jane kerry did.... better they stay right here running their mouths like monday morning quarter backs......lol... right skippy.....
hahahahahahahahaha
same goes for you, if you support the war, get your chicken A*S to Iraq and fight. but well your type always wants someone else die for your "chosen" bu*tt, dont you.
Posted by GunOwnerDan at 12:06 PM : Feb 23, 2007
According to White House attorneys, including the attorney general, there are no limits to George Bush's power and authority. According to them, George Bush can (legally) order anyone stripped naked and skinned alive on town square.
That would seem to include the authority to have anyone picked up off the street and sent to Guantanamo and held incommunicado for the rest of his life.
Or, until Congress decides to stop treating the president as if he was a Roman Caesar or God and begin impeachment hearings. Whichever comes first.
As usual, you've got it twisted lars. Kerry was in Viet Nam while Bush was partying at the country club and Cheney was applying for serial deferments.
The Bill Of Rights.
Read it, Learn it, and LIVE it!
live free or die
hahahahahahahahaha
Posted by lars008 at 12:12 PM : Feb 23, 2007
Liars008... Your Posts PROVE that YOU ARE, without a DOUBT, A COMPLETE D U M B A S S !
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