The Nation: "About Face - Soldiers Call For Iraq Withdrawal" (INTERVIEWS w/ Appeal Soldiers)

[Hissyspit]

Note: A complete version of this report will appear next week in the print and online editions of The Nation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20061216/cm_thenation/20070101cooperweb

Opinion
About Face: Soldiers Call for Iraq Withdrawal

Marc Cooper
Sat Dec 16, 12:00 AM ET
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After appearing only seven weeks ago on the Internet, the Appeal for Redress, brainchild of 29-year-old Navy seaman Jonathan Hutto, has already been signed by nearly 1,000 US soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen, including dozens of officers--most of whom are on active duty. Not since 1969, when some 1,300 active-duty military personnel signed an open letter in the New York Times opposing the war in Vietnam, has there been such a dramatic barometer of rising military dissent.

Interviews with two dozen signers of the Appeal reveal a mix of motives for opposing the war: ideological, practical, strategic and moral. But all those interviewed agree that it is time to start withdrawing the troops. Coming from an all-volunteer military, the Appeal was called "unprecedented" by Eugene Fidell, president of the National Institute of Military Justice.

The Nation spoke with rank-and-file personnel as well as high-ranking officers--some on the Iraqi front lines, others at domestic and offshore US military bases--who have signed the Appeal. All of their names will be made available to Congress when the Appeal is presented in mid-January. Signers have been assured they are sending a communication to Congress protected under the Military Whistleblower Protection Act. The Pentagon is powerless to take official reprisals and has said that as long as active-duty personnel are not in uniform or on duty, they are free to express their views to Congress.

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Mark Mackoviak--24 years old. US Army. Recently returned from Iraq. Stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina:

I joined the Army on September 23, 2001. I had been out of school for a year when September 11 came around, and I was supportive of our action in Afghanistan. I wound up there a year later, and it was pretty eye-opening to see how people live. I was also in Iraq for about a year, deployed near the International Airport, west of Baghdad. I was never that supportive of the invasion. I thought the media coverage of it was horrendous, really disgusting.

Just about everything I saw in Iraq reinforced my views that it was wrong. The point that really hit me was when the Asmara Mosque got blown up. I said, Wow, this is really a civil war. I really enjoy being in the Army, enjoy the experience. I just happen to not support this war. I'm very open about that. My buddies either disagree with me or just pay no attention. But I get absolutely no hostility. None.

MANY MORE INTERVIEWS AT LINK

[PuraVidaDreamin]

1. I've been looking for updates on this petition

Thanks so much!

I send parents of soldiers to their site regularly,
but still some troops are hesitant to sign on for
many of the reasons stated in the article.

[Hissyspit]

2. PuraVidaDreamin - long time no see! Keep it kicked if you think of it.

I mean I haven't seen you around, but that doesn't mean you haven't been around. It's easy to miss people here.

[Hissyspit]

3. Never mind on the kick. Kpete already has the article posted here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2923973

I thought it was a different article when I posted.