From Matt Howard, an Iraq Vet: Iraq war is a betrayal of American democracy

[babylonsister]

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18718.htm

Iraq war is a betrayal of American democracy

By Matt Howard

Editor's note: Matt Howard gave this statement at a recent protest at the Statehouse.

11/14/07 "Rutland Herald" -- - -In 2003 I illegally invaded the sovereign nation of Iraq with 1st Tank battalion 1st Marine Division. My commander in chief unleashed the world's fiercest fighting force upon the country and people of Iraq, and now those of us used and betrayed by him are demanding justice.

Four and a half years after our opening "shock and awe" Bush's lies are known throughout the world, and yet he continues to act with impunity. Four and a half years later the Bush regime has unleashed a hell upon the country of Iraq that only those who have been there can truly understand.

snip//

George Bush is a war criminal who has violated international law, the Geneva convention and the Nuremburg standards and needs to be tried accordingly for crimes against humanity.

I ask every red-blooded American today: What would you do if your homeland was savagely invaded and occupied by another country? The Iraqis will continue to resist and fight until the last American has left their homeland. Period. End the violence in Iraq? End the occupation.

We veterans are speaking out to stop the violence being perpetrated in our name. When we voted in the Democrats on an anti-war mandate, the Bush regime expanded the war. As we are marching against further occupation, the Bush regime is making threats against Iran.

And we will not continue to be silenced by the mainstream media. Top generals and bottom privates are all speaking in unison now. We know the truth about the slaughter of upwards of one million Iraqis. Why is no one listening? We will not stand by as this regime tricks the country into thinking that if you oppose the war you do not support the troops. We ARE the troops and we have never felt support from this administration. Stop mindlessly supporting the troops. Start demanding that we come home – and maybe think about apologizing to us when we get back.

[MasonJar]

1. Please be very, very careful.

[babylonsister]

2. Hopefully there's safety in numbers, and their numbers are growing. nt