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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"I'm not anti-war. I'm not a pacifist. I'm not opposed to protecting our country and defending our principles. But at the same time, as citizens it's our obligation to have a questioning attitude, you know, about policy," Hutto says,
"Just because we volunteered for the military, doesn't mean we volunteered to put our lives in unnecessary harm, and to carry out missions that are illogical and immoral," Madden adds.
They say they’re permitted to express their opinions under a number of military rules, which the group lists. Among them is the 1995 Military Whistleblower Act. Although it prohibits them from speaking against the Commander in Chief or any of their superior officers, it does allow “Members of the Armed Forces…” to speak on their own behalf and “to make a protected communication to… Congress.”
"A senior officer in the Marine Corps said to me when I asked him about the Appeal, what was his opinion – and he served in both Iraq wars – he said, 'I have a hard enough time getting young men to put themselves in harm’s way, without having to have men in uniform tell them it’s not worth it,'" Logan remarks.
"We’re not telling young men and women that it’s not worth it, to serve their country. We’ve served our country. The men and women who have signed the appeal have served their country. So those, we’re not saying it’s not worth it. We’re saying that, if you have reservations about it to communicate it. That’s simply what it is," Hutto says.
"There are gonna be a lot of people who don't like what you’re doing," Logan says.
"By volunteering we've done more than about 99 percent of the population. And anybody who joined after 9/11 when the country was at a state of war, it's my opinion that nobody has the right to question that soldier's patriotism, nobody," Cantu replies.
"There are going to be a lot of people listening to this who say that, 'You're a traitor. You're betraying your uniform. You don't deserve to wear it,'" says Logan.
"I hope there aren't people that think that," says Lt. Commander Mark Dearden.
For him, going public has been one of the hardest decisions of his life. He’s a combat surgeon who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, returned for a second tour and now treats soldiers at a Naval hospital in California.
"The decision to come here for me personally was not an easy one. And I don't expect it was for anyone. Last night I was with my family in the park in our town and it hit me that 'At this very moment, while I'm standing here, people are fighting and people are dying.' I've seen it with my own eyes. And I can feel it in my chest," Dearden says.
Dearden acknowledges this is very hard for him and he also admits that it isn't so much a protest as a plea.
According to a recent Military Times survey, many in uniform feel the same way. The poll found that for the first time ever more US soldiers oppose the president’s handling of the war in Iraq than support it.
Still, critics claim the group is partisan, just out to boost Democrats who oppose the war.
"I'm certainly not liberal, and I doubt many of the members on this panel are liberal. It's not funded by any partisan organization. It's soldiers. It's service members. It's grass roots. It's us," says Lt. Kent Gneiting.
White House spokesman Tony Snow has dismissed the protesters as an insignificant minority. "It’s not unusual for soldiers in a time of war to have some misgivings. You have several hundred thousand who served in Iraq. You have reenlistment rates that have exceeded goals in all the military," he said.
Logan read to the group: "And then he goes on to say that it's unfortunate that people like you – and the quote is – are 'going to be able to get more press than the hundreds of thousands who have come back and said they are proud of their service.'"
Sgt. Cantu responds, "You got two right here who are gonna do multiple tours in Iraq and, you know, I'm reenlisting. I never said I wasn't proud of my service. I fit some of those statistics right there myself."
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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