In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
In 1971, a courageous group of veterans exposed the criminal nature of the Vietnam War in an event called Winter Soldier. Once again, we will demand that the voices of veterans are heard.
Once again, we are fighting for the soul of our country. We will demonstrate our patriotism by speaking out with honor and integrity instead of blindly following failed policy. Winter Soldier is a difficult but essential service to our country.
Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan will feature testimony from U.S. veterans who served in those occupations, giving an accurate account of what is really happening day in and day out, on the ground.
The four-day event will bring together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan - and present video and photographic evidence. In addition, there will be panels of scholars, veterans, journalists, and other specialists to give context to the testimony. These panels will cover everything from the history of the GI resistance movement to the fight for veterans' health benefits and support.
When: Thursday March 13 to Sunday March 16
For those interested in watching or organizing around the proceedings at Winter Soldier, there will be a number of ways to watch and listen to the event.
* Live television broadcast via satellite tv, accessible through Dish Network as well as public access stations that choose to carry our broadcast - Friday and Saturday only
* Live video stream on the web - Thursday through Sunday
* Live radio broadcast via KPFA in Berkley California and other Pacifica member stations - Friday through Sunday
* Live audio stream via KPFA's website - Friday through Sunday
Please return to the IVAW website for specific details in the coming weeks.
Most aspects of the Continental Army led by Gen. George Washington from 1776-1781 are long gone. Yet at least three remain relevant to the United States military of 2008: It is involved in a protracted war; it is composed of volunteers, not conscripts; and its personnel system features an open-loop, taking in and returning to civil society of more than 85 percent of its membership before age 35.
While members of a "Professional, All-Volunteer Force," very few in the modern American military are lifelong professionals. A majority takes off the military uniform and permanently enters civilian life before age 25. Less than 15 percent of those who start active duty stay the minimum 20 years required for retirement.
Consequently, America's post-service treatment of its young veterans is critical to the health of our volunteer force and the security of our 232-year-old country. The very future of our volunteer force is tied to the interface between prospective soldiers, their parents, and guardians, and the degree of post-military societal support these parents perceive can be expected for their sons or daughters upon departure from the military.
Surveys done for the Defense Department and the U.S. Army Accessions Command in 2007 tell us several important things relating contemporary American society to its citizen-Soldier military Roughly 90 percent of the new, nonprior-service men and women who enlist in our military are between 17 and 24 years of age. Our military must enlist more than 200,000 new recruits a year from this age cohort and any others who can be enticed to consider military service.
Yet fewer than 30 percent of the 4.2 million young Americans who turn 17 this year — and each forecast year through 2015 — will have the requisite set of characteristics for military service: a high school diploma or GED and no pre-existing sole-parent responsibilities, while also satisfying weight, medical and criminal record criteria. More than two-thirds plan to head directly for college, leaving fewer than 400,000 fully qualified young men and women under first-time consideration for military service each year.
These constrained numbers pose a significant wartime recruiting challenge made even more daunting when only 39 percent of parents and guardians report a willingness to support a young loved-one's decision for military service — an all time low.
Controversial efforts by the Army in particular to widen enlistment eligibility criteria over the last couple years haven't solved this recruiting dilemma. Extending the age limit for service entry, more readily accepting those who have a GED instead of a high school diploma, and being more forgiving of petty —as opposed to felony — juvenile criminal records only goes so far. None of these relaxed standards has altered the fundamental fact that parental concerns tell us much about whether our volunteer military will make or break growing manpower requirements.
Parental surveys indicate their most negative impression about military service — outside the understandable fear of death in combat — is that time in the military will not help get their child get a good civilian job. Many parents fear the civilian jobs playing field is not level and see it as skewed against young vets. Here, American businesses and civic organizations have a positive and powerful role to play.
Continued...
The United States invaded Iraq under false pretenses without a constitutionally-required declaration of war. Our Founders understood that how we go to war is as important as when we go to war, which is why they vested the power to declare war in the Legislative Branch. The resolution passed in Congress authorizing the president to use force in Iraq said nothing about the U.S. Constitution, but it mentioned the United Nations a dozen times. The United States should never go to war to enforce UN resolutions!
Our continued presence in Iraq is serving as a recruiting tool for al-Qaeda. A recent National Intelligence Estimate found that the U.S. presence in Iraq has had a “rejuvenating” effect on the terrorist group. Proponents of the surge say that we are achieving victory. However, even if the level of our troops being killed has declined, they are still being targeted and the Iraqi government is no closer to stability, meaning that the violence will continue.
While we keep our focus on Iraq indefinitely, bin Laden remains free to plot his next attack, and can continue to portray us as occupiers and recruit more volunteers to his cause. Shortly after 9/11, I voted for the authorization to go into Afghanistan because it told the president to do what he already had the authority to do: go after the ones who directly hit us. I was extremely disappointed that the mission there changed to one of nation-building.
Military experts, including Generals Barry McCaffrey and John Batiste, have sounded the warning that our military is stretched so thin because of Iraq and our other commitments that, as General Batiste put it recently, “our Army and Marine Corps are at a breaking point with little to show for it.” A weakened and over-committed military is a recipe for a national security disaster. Meanwhile, Washington continues to talk about how many other countries it could send troops to.
As if a national debt topping $9 trillion is not bad enough, each day this war is fought, deficit spending increases. To avoid raising taxes and the subsequent anger that would follow come election time, the federal government will continue to borrow money from countries like Saudi Arabia and China, making your children and grandchildren’s futures dependent on the actions of other nations and selling out our national security to the highest bidder.
Make no mistake, as Congress spends more and more, there will be less and less to fund Social Security and Medicare, the programs Washington has made us dependent on, without a massive tax increase. Meanwhile, bin Laden proclaims that our falling dollar is a sign that al-Qaeda’s “bleed-until-bankruptcy plan” is working.
More...
Quote by Raine: Morning Liv! herelooks like you could use some more... hey... I could use some more. Woke up at 630 this morning to some terrible storms. About 100,000 people are out of electric here in the Atl this morning.
Quote by starling310: So what?! Why are people so up in arms that Mommaprefers Obama? Seriously. . .
Quote by starling310: Here's an idea; why don't people call and tell us why they are FOR their candidate, rather than why they are against the other?
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Quote by starling310: Here's an idea; why don't people call and tell us why they are FOR their candidate, rather than why they are against the other?
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Quote by velveeta jones: Morning ALL!! Its a GREAT DAY!!
Actually we have high wind and severe thunderstorms and its blah, blah, blah!!
But Velveeta is still on a HIGH because her friend has been "found". I spent yesterday with him and will today. He's considering moving here.!!!(YAY). Since he can fly out to do his shows in NY and/or London.
I'm just so happy 'cause I really saw him (from a distance) going downhill fast - I've seen this career take too many people - and I really thought I'd be going to his funeral soon. But not yet!!!
Have a GREAT DAY everyone.
XXxxxxx oooooooo xxxxxxxx
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Quote by Raine: Poor~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~
Bank seizures of U.S. homes almost doubled in January as property owners failed to make higher payments on adjustable-rate mortgages.
Repossessions rose 90 percent to 45,327 last month from the same period a year ago, RealtyTrac Inc. said today in a statement. Total foreclosure filings, which include default and auction notices as well as bank seizures, increased 57 percent.
``The most troubling thing is that we are seeing more and more of these properties actually going all the way through the process and going back to the banks,'' Rick Sharga, executive vice president of Irvine, California-based RealtyTrac, said in an interview.
Quote by Raine: Chris Dodd is endorsing Sen. Obama
Quote by Raine:Quote by velveeta jones: Morning ALL!! Its a GREAT DAY!!
Actually we have high wind and severe thunderstorms and its blah, blah, blah!!
But Velveeta is still on a HIGH because her friend has been "found". I spent yesterday with him and will today. He's considering moving here.!!!(YAY). Since he can fly out to do his shows in NY and/or London.
I'm just so happy 'cause I really saw him (from a distance) going downhill fast - I've seen this career take too many people - and I really thought I'd be going to his funeral soon. But not yet!!!
Have a GREAT DAY everyone.
XXxxxxx oooooooo xxxxxxxx
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I like reading such wonderful news!
Quote by livingonli: Morning, Velveeta.![]()
Any particular favorite cheese this morning?
Quote by velveeta jones: Hey ya'll according to the NYTimes (our liberal media *snicker*) the next new "crunch" will be auto's. Seems people who have been upgrading are now owing more than the cars are worth and going broke!
For any of us that need new (used) cars, this would be the time to get them, but sadly its on the backs of our fellow Americans. :(
Quote by velveeta jones: Hey ya'll according to the NYTimes (our liberal media *snicker*) the next new "crunch" will be auto's. Seems people who have been upgrading are now owing more than the cars are worth and going broke!
For any of us that need new (used) cars, this would be the time to get them, but sadly its on the backs of our fellow Americans. :(
Quote by m-hadley: Here's an interesting story thast reveals how the surge is really working or not:
it is in the Rolling Stone and it is entitled The Myth of the Surge
Check it out - it shows that the surge is not working - yeah John Methuselah McCain, hang your star on that fiasco - go ahead and claim it, and good luck with that...![]()
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Quote by BobR:Quote by velveeta jones: Hey ya'll according to the NYTimes (our liberal media *snicker*) the next new "crunch" will be auto's. Seems people who have been upgrading are now owing more than the cars are worth and going broke!
For any of us that need new (used) cars, this would be the time to get them, but sadly its on the backs of our fellow Americans. :(
I've got 6 payments left, and then it's paid off. It's a Toyota truck with <100K miles on it, so I should be good for several years
Quote by Raine: Did anyone see the pic I posed yesterday of john McCain't WITHOUT a lapel pin???
Quote by wickedpam: Truth about Cats and Dogs - I love that movie.
Quote by wickedpam: Truth about Cats and Dogs - I love that movie.
Clever Jamie Lynn Passes GED Exam
Quote by Raine: http://www.jacksonpollock.org/
I remebered this from a few years ago, I found it posted again. it is truly computer crack! MAke your own Jackson Pollack!
Quote by wickedpam: Play the tape Steph!
Quote by BobR: People that are this stupid scare me.
Quote by Raine: OH dear.
Oh Dear.
OH DEAR.... THIS is why we need to make sure that John McCain NEVER gets elected. I love our elders, but our elders seem to quite oft not want to know the truth. My Oma is one of them.
Quote by starling310:Quote by Raine: http://www.jacksonpollock.org/
I remebered this from a few years ago, I found it posted again. it is truly computer crack! MAke your own Jackson Pollack!
HEY! I am learning Actionscript as we speak. I will be able to design stuff like this soon. :banana:
Quote by shelaghc: Hey, I just got a boon. Someone's willing to drive me to and from work until the car is fixed - which hopefully will be tomorrow evening.
Quote by BobR: That caller sounded like he didn't just drink the koolaide, he took a bath in it...
Quote by livingonli:Quote by BobR: That caller sounded like he didn't just drink the koolaide, he took a bath in it...
One should not take a bath in Koolaid, it's bad for the skin.
Quote by Raine:They just said on the show that Shano is from Pittsford NY.
I think Bobber might have some interesting things to say about that.
Quote by Raine:They just said on the show that Shano is from Pittsford NY.
I think Bobber might have some interesting things to say about that.
Quote by Raine: USA TODAY/Gallup poll:
Among Democrats, Obama has surged to a double-digit lead, thumping Clinton 51%-39%. It is the first time Obama has topped 50% and the first time he has led Clinton outside the survey's margin of error.
However, the 12-point lead is at odds with a separate Gallup tracking poll, taken Friday through Sunday, that gave Obama a 47%-45% edge.
================================
Quote by shelaghc:Quote by Raine:They just said on the show that Shano is from Pittsford NY.
I think Bobber might have some interesting things to say about that.
:-<
Shoot.
Quote by Raine:They just said on the show that Shano is from Pittsford NY.
I think Bobber might have some interesting things to say about that.
Quote by wickedpam:
it's a cheap way to dye your hair too.
Quote by wickedpam: I just love the term -
"Festival of Ignorance"
Quote by Raine: I REALLY am not liking ANYTHING hillary is doing these days.
Quote by shelaghc: Hey, do either Chris or Stephanie read email sent to them during the show?
Quote by livingonli: Since Obama was raised by his mother, wasn't the mother's side of the family Christian?
God, this B.S. has to stop.
Quote by livingonli: Michael Jackson is a Jehova's Witness, not a Mormon.
Quote by shelaghc:Quote by shelaghc: Hey, do either Chris or Stephanie read email sent to them during the show?
I guess if they do, I was too late.
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Quote by shelaghc: I was hoping I could get Stephanie to do a shoutout about Drinking Liberally in Pittsburgh tonight by sending her an email since it's become so hard to actually get through the line. Plus, if it's off topic they generally won't put it through.
I had the same experience with Randi's producer a few weeks ago.
Quote by Raine:Ahhhh......Quote by shelaghc: I was hoping I could get Stephanie to do a shoutout about Drinking Liberally in Pittsburgh tonight by sending her an email since it's become so hard to actually get through the line. Plus, if it's off topic they generally won't put it through.
I had the same experience with Randi's producer a few weeks ago.
Does your local Station have a PSA program? Just a thought, Until we can get it shouted out nationally, maybe you could get a local shout out.
Quote by Raine: If I may disagree with Thom, I am NOT glad about Ralph Nader in the Race.
Quote by m-hadley:Quote by Raine: If I may disagree with Thom, I am NOT glad about Ralph Nader in the Race.
Raine,
I heard Thom say that about Nader, but I must agree with you. Everytime I think about Ralph mucking up the works, my stomach turns - I throw up in my mouth just a little bitBTB, I love it when you rant - rant away, Raine :)
Quote by Raine: Another heavy blog question:
Am I the only person who finds it strange that the president (whover that person is) has far more power on foreign policy than domestic issues? Could it be becuase Our constitution never really dealt with these things, (due to the fact that our constitution deals with America as a nation in relationship to it's citizens and it policies) and going one step further, should we start to question the consitutionality of ALL foriegn policies with regard to our constitution?
Yeah, it is a radical question. The constitution states that Congress only can give permission for this nation to go to war. So to a certain extent our founding fathers tried to take this into consideration. But, as far as FOREIGN policy, as far as POLICY, how much of this is within the realm of the constitution?
More importantly, WHERE in the constitution does it say that the President of the United States should have more power over foreign policy than Domestic Policy? Where does it state that Congress should have less power over foreign policy? Where are the checks and balances?
Shouldn't any policy remain constitutional when it all affects American citizens, equally? Does it matter if it is Domestic or Foreign?
Just a question, A muse as it were.
Quote by Raine: Another heavy blog question:
Am I the only person who finds it strange that the president (whover that person is) has far more power on foreign policy than domestic issues? Could it be becuase Our constitution never really dealt with these things, (due to the fact that our constitution deals with America as a nation in relationship to it's citizens and it policies) and going one step further, should we start to question the consitutionality of ALL foriegn policies with regard to our constitution?
Yeah, it is a radical question. The constitution states that Congress only can give permission for this nation to go to war. So to a certain extent our founding fathers tried to take this into consideration. But, as far as FOREIGN policy, as far as POLICY, how much of this is within the realm of the constitution?
More importantly, WHERE in the constitution does it say that the President of the United States should have more power over foreign policy than Domestic Policy? Where does it state that Congress should have less power over foreign policy? Where are the checks and balances?
Shouldn't any policy remain constitutional when it all affects American citizens, equally? Does it matter if it is Domestic or Foreign?
Just a question, A muse as it were.
"We are trying to isolate (the source of the outage) to determine what other actions we need to take as well," he said.
Widespread power outages caused by nuke plant shutdown
A nuclear reactor south of Miami was shut down Tuesday afternoon, triggering waves of power outages spreading from South Florida to the Keys and as far north as Tampa and Daytona Beach.
A spokesman for Florida Power & Light said the Turkey Point reactor was shutdown for safety reasons but would not elaborate. The state's emergency operations director estimated that about 3 million customers were affected, but an exact figure will likely not be known for some time. FPL said the outage was affecting several hundred thousand customers.
At 3 p.m., FPL said it expected to restore service to most customers within 2 hours.
In a statement on its Web site, the power company said the system was being restored "in a systematic process to ensure its safe operation." Officials said the system responded as designed to ensure the outage was contained.
Quote by TriSec: Florida Power and Light generally has a good reputation on the Treasure Coast, but you may want to check in with the Jacksonville wing for another opinion.
We've never had any trouble with them in West Palm / Lake Worth in all the years my grandparents and now mama TriSec have been there.
Quote by wickedpam: Craig Accepting Applications for Summer Interns
It writes its own joke![]()
Quote by wickedpam: Craig Accepting Applications for Summer Interns
It writes its own joke![]()
Quote by TriSec: I'm heading out in a few...'tis a school nite for me, and Jazz is always good!![]()
Mrs. TriSec has family in the affected zone, we may try to put a call through to see if we can get any firsthand information...
Quote by livingonli: I'm back. Did y'all miss me?![]()
Quote by livingonli: Thanks a lot.![]()
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Quote by Raine: Guh I walk away for a little while, and I get to listen to this wingnut tell us WHY Democrats always lose.
Thanks douchbag.
Quote by livingonli: Rachel mentioned the Four Freedoms speech (no blog/message board though) when she introduced the Paul Reickoff segment tonight.
Quote by velveeta jones: Raine!!
Are you blogging by yourself? :lol:
That can be dangerous..............................
Quote by Raine: You know whay I love KO? not becuase I learn NEW things, but becuase he confirms in better words than I could how I feel about the days events.
I look forward to the plausible deniability segment...
(and damn, dinner is smelling so good. we are having pork stir fry tonite, with spring rolls, and thai soup--- coconut milk tofu and mushrooms, all made from scratch...)
Quote by velveeta jones: Wow! Google is .................... down!!
Is the world ending?![]()
Quote by Raine:Quote by velveeta jones: Wow! Google is .................... down!!
Is the world ending?![]()
Holy crap! Are you kidding?
And no I wasn't blogging alone, liv was here!
But so far, this deabte is getting me REALLY pissed off. Particularly, hillary. Does she think she can win by talking more than Obama and interupting the moderators???
Quote by velveeta jones: Hillary is getting pissed!! She even mentioned the SNL sketch. :rofl:
Quote by livingonli: Remember when they didn't have commercial interruptions in debates.
Quote by velveeta jones:Quote by livingonli: Remember when they didn't have commercial interruptions in debates.
Remember when they were really non-partison and run by the league of women voters?
Quote by velveeta jones:Quote by livingonli: Remember when they didn't have commercial interruptions in debates.
Remember when they were really non-partison and run by the league of women voters?
Quote by velveeta jones: Hillary sounds like a loser. Sorry, but she is struggling.
Quote by livingonli: Who got the Stephanie Miller test e-mail?
Quote by Raine: RACH!!! Talking about the Indian affairs committee! Where is faye???
Quote by m-hadley:Quote by livingonli: Who got the Stephanie Miller test e-mail?
I didn't get butt-kiss - what was it all about? Please just let me know...
:)