Iraq War Debated On YouTube

(CBS)  There's a virtual war of opinions raging on the Internet, and a lot of people weighing in, reports CBS News correspondent Seth Doane.

On YouTube, a Web site where anyone can post video on any topic, there are 65,000 new entries each day, many debating the war in Iraq.

At 16, Vincent Scarpa is too young to vote, but he can make his opinions known on YouTube.

"I hope my video is influential to somebody who is up in the air about the war and George Bush," he says.

Scarpa's views are in the minority in his southern New Jersey town, but his YouTube videos give him a platform.

Asked if he has ever thought of taking part in an anti-war protest by hitting the streets, Scarpa says, "I definitely would, but I live in a very small town and none of that is going on here. ... YouTube is, virtually, what I want my town to be."

A search through this "virtual town" reveals a wide range of video you'd never see on the network news, some graphically violent.

But, keep searching, and find glimpses of humanity, too.

"What I wanted them to understand is some of the good stuff that's happening," says Sgt. Mark Copp.

Copp fought for and supports the U.S. mission in Iraq. He created a posting for his wife, to help her understand what moved him most: Iraqi children.

"I was sending this back to family who had asked, 'What are you doing day to day?'" he said.

CBS News' "48 Hours" took video of Copp's battalion in Iraq. What made it to the screen was the quick advance toward Baghdad. But Copp felt his family back home was only seeing part of the truth.

When Copp's picture collage of quiet, tender moments with children in Iraq made it to YouTube, more than 11,000 people checked it out.

"People find each other and they feed off each other in support or not in support of the war," says Copp.

"At the end of the day, I think it's healthy for Americans to have a little bit of freedom to believe what they want."

Online, unfiltered material is paramount. So Scarpa even posts the negative comments he receives.

A sample comment: All of you are so desperate to be heard, why are you talking about politics?

"That's ridiculous," says Scarpa, who goes on to explain that he talks about politics because he can. "YouTube is one of the sites that you can do it on."

During the Vietnam War people aired their opinions in public rallies and protests.

But YouTube users say today's generation wants more. Uncensored pictures and video bring raw realities home, and opinions evolving at home can instantly spread to the rest of the world.

[michellem99-2009]

Dear Tech Sgt, I am a legally blind lady with vets in my family. My room mate a vet. Yes sir, I have heard of others who switched branches. I am not a know it all. I don''t remember Nam as foster mothers would not allow us to see it. I saw my kin in that middle east war on CBS news TV. He was talking to the reporter. I am a Mainer by birth. I am not for the war. I will thank the vets/troop members. I have since a child to. I have my say and it is against wars.
I do not care for Bush. Yet I can''t blame you as you are told what to do. Some raised their right paws/hands to serve nation but do the honourable thing and try to see all sides of this issue.I could never raise my paw. I am a Maine hillbilly in Seattle. Hope you come home to the loved ones you miss. I can''t watch the war as it brings me to tears. I do think of the troops tho I hate war. Peace to you and your troop.

[copp2000]

I am the guy in the picture. I was in the 293 Infantry for 17 years and was Army for the war, then transfered to the Air Force three years ago. Sorry for the mix up.

[michellem99-2009]

LOOK HIS UNIFORM -THAT MAN HOLDS THE RANK OF TECH SGT. He is adddressed Sgt. Air force markings are blue. Army is black. Learn yer history. It was part of the Amry. Then in 48 the air force broke from the Army to be its own branch. That was before I was born. I am legally blind and 52. That is what I read.

[nativewoman]

"At the end of the day, I think it''s healthy for Americans to have a little bit of freedom to believe what they want."

Duh! Ya think?

Isn''t the latest reason for the war supposed to be about "spreading democracy" worldwide for the freedom to have your beliefs and voice your opinion?

Yeah I find that hard to believe also when our government is doing everything possible to squelch those freedoms right here in our own country, and the military is blocking sites such as YouTube, MySpace, various blogs, etc.

[bluestardad]

A LITTLE RESEARCH WILL GO A LONG WAY TO DISCREDIT MOST OF THESE POST SUPPORTING BUSH AND HIS WAR!

[copp2000]

Just for the record. I was with the 293rd Infantry for 17 years. After the war I transferred to the Air Force Reserve.

[jackmcmac]

STILL UNANSWERED IS HOW COME HE IS WEARING A C.I.B ON A AIR FORCE UNIFORM WHILE BEING IDENTIFIED AS BEING A SGT IN THE ARMY..HMMMMMM..... SOMEONE HAS SOME EXPLAING TO DO....

[bwright923]

You know, on closer inspection he does have an army emblem above his 7 level badge so yea i guess he was attached to the army at some point. I''ll be more observant before i post next time.

[kyrockbkgold]

"Sgt. Copp is clearly wearing an Air Force uniform and unless he was with the Army somewhere he was not with a battalion as the reporter put it. I know it is a minor point but it calls in to question the accuracy of other points that may be of more importance."
-- bwright923

Different service members are sometimes attached to other military units and even different branches of service. For instance, Marines were attached to the U.S. Army Air Defense School at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Marines lived with us and worked alongside us, too. When I was pulling my first tour in South Vietnam, my pilots and crew were attached to the Green Berets in Da Nang at two weeks intervals; we returned to our own unit in Chu Lai for monthly service for our UH-1D helicopters.

[michellem99-2009]

My room mate is a vet. My Dad is a vet. My friend said*out of uniform*. Air Force is blue. Amry is black. I know that. His rank is tech sgt. At that rank should know better. I have seen air men growing up. My late uncle was in the air force and stationed at Dow Air Base Bargor ME. It is the airport in Bangor now.