My Testimony as a 'Winter Soldier' Witness (by Logan Laituri)
During the last four days, more than 100 Iraq Veterans Against the War combat veterans, academics, and international guests shared their experiences with the world through Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan, Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations. They offered their accounts in the hopes that they would induce a bit of accountability in the halls of Congress, and detailed the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the occupations of the few who profit, whose profession it is to ensure the longevity of this and other violent conflicts.
My own involvement was in the form of bearing witness [click here to watch the video] to the intricacies and fallibilities of the Rules of Engagement I encountered in my 14 months in combat. Many other panelists offered corroborating evidence and shared similar stories of inadequate training in the use of deadly force, and some explained the troubling, but verifiable, cases in which such restrictions were utterly ignored or outright rejected. In other panels, testifiers shared their experience with the failure of the VA system, outlined the presence of gender discrimination and racism in the military, and described corporate pillaging and war profiteering. The entire event was streamed live to the Web via IVAW's Web site and blogged live via KPFA Radio. Many news articles were written as a result, and the Department of Defense even issued a statement.
I was in the minority as a professed Christian, and I cannot blame my fellow compatriots for their occasional discomfort with the oft-misrepresented ideologies (Religious Right) of the Christian tradition. To my surprise, it was difficult to even blurt out in my own testimony that it was my faith, and not a reaction to the political, economic, or social reality of these conflicts, that inspired me to lay my weapon down. Furthermore, there was no shortage of personal courage displayed throughout the entire event: testifiers ripping off or tearing up the burdensome medals they wore, tears shed in bitter remorse and agony, and (unfortunately) failure to control one's language in frustration and angst. Our critics (whom we invited beforehand, and whom politely agreed to a rigorous code of conduct—to which they submitted faithfully and respectfully) even had some constructive, informative observations to share.
The weekend was never cast as a protest; there were no picket signs or chanting, no march or formation, and it was closed to the public (making the "Gathering of Eagles" just off campus the only actual protesters in attendance). The members and guests who gave "testimony" (a term with which we in the church are well-versed) did so only in the sense that it was an "account" of their experience.
There was one interruption, during the first panel on Friday, where an older gentleman trespassed onto the campus and shouted that people "lied and good men died." He also speculated that those testifying were betraying good men. Interestingly enough, he was NOT talking about our current commander in chief, who is not only directly responsible (according to military tradition and the UCMJ) for the 4,468 American lives lost under his watch, but also for 935 "false statements" (isn't that the same as a "lie?") his administration made in the months leading up to the invasion of a nation we ourselves armed and financed. Besides, the gospels remind us to be wary of any king of men who would reap what he does not sow, or burden his subjects with a yoke he would not carry himself.
Finally, as carefully as I chose to tread with my own faith background, the immense healing properties of confession were hard to ignore. Tears flowed and men of the highest caliber embraced unashamed and readily admitted their reliance on one another. It was an awesome experience that I will forever be proud to have been part of. These honest and humble accounts are a much-needed and too often overlooked offering that has been laid before the American people, a heavy yoke broken by the power of confession and repentance by contrite hearts.
Will America answer the call to metanoia and turn from its destructive, exploitative ways? Will we lay the idols of oil and nationalism and greed upon the altar, and seek a more firm and lasting peace with our neighbors in the global community?
Will we no longer be a reproach to the nations around us, victims of our own arrogance and unconcern?
Insha'allah; God willing.
Logan Laituri is a six-year Army veteran with combatant service in Iraq during OIF II and experience with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Israel and the West Bank. He is an active member of Iraq Veterans Against the War and has co-founded a faith-based veterans assistance initiative called Centurion's Purse, which seeks to provide financial and spiritual relief to fellow service members in need. He blogs at courageouscoward.blogspot.com.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Comments
As the "critic" that saw you testify, I will state that I was impressed with the way you handled yourself, and greatly respect the passion and beliefs you hold. I don't agree with them mind you, but quite clearly you are honest and passionate, and for that sir, I salute you.
I am told though I did violate the rules, albeit unwillingly and unknowingly. Which is why I didn't come back on Sat and Sun since I was unaware I even did it in the first place.
Posted by: Thus Spake Ortner | March 17, 2008 2:37 PM
Thank You Logan, Jon Michael Turner, Jason Hurd, Sergio Kochergin, Jason Washburn, Jason Lemieux, James Gilligan, Garrett Reppenhagen and all the others who organized testified and have the courage to reject the lies, tell the truth and stand against this war. Shame on the main stream media for failing to cover this; may their lack of courage be exposed.
The country owes you an apology. Stand firm , speak the truth. May you find healing and love and strength .
Posted by: jonabark | March 17, 2008 3:34 PM
God Bless you and all the Winter Soldiers! We have lost our way as a nation, and sadly, it is our own who have suffered the most who can help lead us back to the path of God's love and Peace.
We pray every day for ALL those serving, that they return home safely, and that this terrible, immoral war end soon. We also pray that our nation step down from our self-annointed role as those chosen bu God to enforce democracy on the world, euphemistic for enforcing our economic and political might on the world. We pray that America becomes the bastion for real peace and freedom, without resorting to naked aggression, forsaking the ways of aggression for God's message of love.
Pray for Peace, and dare to act!
Posted by: Doug & Jan in CO | March 17, 2008 4:04 PM
For a different perspective on the Winter Soliders gathering go to Blackfive.net.
At Blackfive you will find an informed refutation of much of what was put forth at Winter Soldiers.
Posted by: Jason | March 17, 2008 4:18 PM
Thanks Jason
Posted by: Mick | March 17, 2008 7:08 PM
Go ahead and refute, Jason.
Posted by: justintime | March 17, 2008 7:25 PM
Justintime,
Look at Blackfive.net.
Logan even participated in the blog posted on Blackfive.
Jason
Posted by: Jason | March 17, 2008 7:31 PM
Jason,
Make your point.
I thought you were supposed to speak for yourself on this blog.
Posted by: justintime | March 17, 2008 9:24 PM
Justintime what point ? Listening to a different perspective by people who have been there is healthy in regards to most issues .
Both perspectives come from sincere people , who have risked their lives .
Posted by: Mick | March 17, 2008 11:34 PM
Im sorry but I fail to see how Winter Soldier helps to end the war. I can only see it as a publicity stunt. From my personal experience with IVAW there tends to be too many self promoters within the organization. I was until recently a member of IVAW. Unfortunatly political ambitions, book deals, record deals and so on have gotten in the way of opposing the war in Iraq.
Posted by: AdamReuter | March 17, 2008 11:38 PM
OK Jason, I went to Blackfive.net and this is from the first post I saw:
"Bite me Barack you nanny state, racist church-attending, non-military-supporting, professional wanking device." Pretty typical of the informed refutation you will find there,
The Blackfive blog on the Winter soldiers hardly constituted anything that can be called an " informed refutation". What I saw were just a bunch of of scattered, seat of the pants denials. The whole site is a testosterone drenched yawp to hot guns and machismo. The logo is creepy.
Unfortunately there is a vast body of film, photos, video, military records, and eyewitness accounts showing the immoral and illegal behavior of American soldiers and Government hired mercenaries who are not given proper guidelines and training and who are told they are defending America when really that has no basis in any reality apart from the lies and theoretical nonsense of the Bushies and the other non-soldiers who invented and supported the invasion, decimation, and occupation of a country that never attacked or threatened the United States. This same administration continues to abuse the war vets and deny the traumas this war has produced.
What Amercan militarism has accomplished so far is to cause more violent death in 5 years than Saddam Hussein did in 30 years. Plus we have destroyed a great deal of infrastructure, caused millions to flee and presided over a violent sectarian division.
I do not believe this tragedy points to American soldiers or to the Iraqi people. This tragedy points to the nexus of fundamentalism, xenophobia, and fear mongering. It points to those with god-like power fantasies and those who falsely deify militarism and violence.
Posted by: jonabark | March 18, 2008 12:07 AM
Does AdamReuter have a better way to stop this war?
I doubt it.
Posted by: justintime | March 18, 2008 8:24 AM
"Unfortunately there is a vast body of film, photos, video, military records, and eyewitness accounts showing the immoral and illegal behavior of American soldiers"
Show me just one where the soldier in question was not punished, and I assure you I will make it happen. Or, more likely, prove to you that the story is not as it is being portrayed.
Posted by: Thus Spake Ortner | March 18, 2008 8:35 AM
justintime-
I may not have all of the answers on how to end the war, but im sure that an organization that lacks credibility is not helping.
Posted by: AdamReuter | March 18, 2008 9:34 AM
Sorry Ortner , The vast majority of times the military investigates itself it finds itself innocent. When is the last time you read the Geneva accords, because I am listening to the testimony of winter soldiers right now and they are clearly describing orders to kill civilians indiscriminately and with no consequences? Are you a General, because I have listened to many soldiers who questioned the actions of soldiers to their superiors. None were followed up on and investigated?
But as many soldiers said when asked by one of the Winter soldiers testifiers why they called non americans "hajis " said " they're just hajis; who cares?"
How would you be able to "prove" events you did not witness were falsely portrayed.
Proving things in the bizarre world of military justice under G Bush has become very problematic. 5 of the military's most qualified prosecutors have now stepped down from the Guantanamo tribunals. All saying the trials are rigged. The judges have also handed down preliminary decisions showing disapproval of the process. Col Davis the commander in charge of the trials has refused to appear before Congress and ordered the most recent prosecutor who refused to proceed with the trial not to appear.
This is the most important military trial in progress and it reveals the depth of blatant political corruption of legal processes in the military.
Perhaps you would like to "prove" to us the propriety of this situation.
As far as I can tell propriety now involves refusal to comply with the degradation of the Geneva accords and the degradation of due process. Heroic men like General Taguba who have challenged this corruption and followed the law and their conscience have been forced out without explanation, General Taguba after 34 years of distinguished service.
Posted by: jonabark | March 18, 2008 10:28 AM
"How would you be able to "prove" events you did not witness were falsely portrayed."
Generally I do it fairly easily by 1) looking at the military record and ensuring the unit was where the soldier claims, then 2) comparing prior statements of the soldier, and 3) contacting other members of the unit.
Now, not only have I read the Geneva Conventions, I wrote a law school paper on them As for the stories of the IVAW guys, if you give me one such simple story, and then allow me to ask questions to get the material I need, I would happily take up that challenge.
Just today I had a CSM call me about some of the testimony, and he claims he was there and the testifier was lying. So, the best one can do is compare all the documents. Since one guy is freely giving them to me, and the other refuses to, what is it you would suggest I do?
Posted by: Thus Spake Ortner | March 18, 2008 3:03 PM
Truxter. Thanks for at least using periods.
Logan--Thanks for your labors and testimony. I don't wish to speak to the big picture; and that is what I want to thank you for. I have appreciated your sense of boundaries--identifying your realm of responsibility and acting therein.
I frankly appreciate the entire military in that regards. Even though there are profound boundary issues that you speak to regarding clear, just, effective rules of engagement--the military enterprise has forced such a better discipline for clearly identifying realms of responsibility and demanding those responsibilities be fulfilled.
Too many of us (i.e. me) go through life speaking to all kinds of other peoples' responsibilities and exhibiting lousy stewardship over the matters in our own lives.
I appreciated your comments regarding the death of the American in the Humvee forcing an examination in a way that the death of many Iraqi's did not. Just an example of a responsible reflection on one's own mind, values, heart and circumstances.
I appreciate your willingness to make hard decisions and to work at carving out a Christian way that I assume collects fire from all sides.
And I am not even agreeing or disagreeing with your conclusions. I don't even know them. I just appreciate your being given to following Jesus within the realm of responsibility given to you.
Thank you Brother
Posted by: letjusticerolldown | March 18, 2008 9:19 PM
You made it through the week. You did a great job. I was proud to see you holding your own given the agenda. I am sure your loved ones will be glad to see all of you again when you get back. I also am sure you have given others who were not yet ready to be there with you the courage to connect and be counted among you.
I was checking the website and listening to KPFK. Its hard to get enough time to listen to the entire stream. I look forward to when they start labeling shorter clips so we can find our places from section to section. I definitely learned some things.
I know it seems that Reverend Writght sucked all of the air out of the room this week. That's really just a side show to the economy. It could have been something worse. But I think Bill Moyers is going to have a piece on his Friday edition that is in reference to some of your testimonies.
At least you have some very educational materials on video that can be reused in the future as the need occurs. You had the benefit of being much more organized and polished than your older predecessor from the Vietnam WS. Be sure to give them credit were credit is due.
Its looking to be a very rough and tumble ride in this next year and we don't know who will be at the helm after November. No matter who gets in it is no guarantee that they will be able to get us out of Iraq even if it is the Dems. Strap your self in and hang on tight. This country is going to need you in the future when the road gets bumpier.
Posted by: Ms. Cynthia | March 19, 2008 8:32 AM
If these "men" in winter soldier are really telling the truth of there atrocities, then why don't they turn themselves in? A real man of conscience would do so. In fact they would begg to be put in chains, but yet they do not do so, why? Just like those who testified during Nam, I am willing to bet my life that most of those tales are bald face lies. The credibility of those who tell these stories are vast in contention. After watching with disgust the entire proceeding, I have not been presented with any real evidence. I do not doubt that there are a few instances of misconduct done by US personnel. But the enditement by winter soldier is in on the whole of the military, and that is abhorrent. Loagan I would love to talk to you about war and faith and how it purtains to the bible, If you wish. But when it comes to those who are involved in this venture, there honor is very much in question.
Remember, over the thousands of years God has allowed us to exist, he has not changed. He is the same God who lead Joshua into Cainann(sp) and brought Jerico down. The same who comanded that the philistines be purged, the same who destroyed egiypts armies in the red sea. He has not changed, only our perception of him has.
Posted by: Alan G. Eskew future marine | March 24, 2008 6:32 PM
Post a Comment
Are you aware of our Rules of Conduct?