VT Vet Whistle-Blower Points to Target List in U.S. Attack on Hotel

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080514_army_whistle_blower_palestine_hotel_on_target_list_in_baghdad/
By Amy Goodman

More than five years have passed since the invasion of Iraq, since President Bush stood under the “Mission Accomplished” banner on that aircraft carrier. While these fifth anniversaries got some notice, another did not: the shelling of the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad by a U.S. Army tank on April 8, 2003. The tank attack killed two unembedded journalists, Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk and José Couso, a cameraman for the Spanish television network Telecinco. Couso recorded his own death. He was filming from the balcony and caught on tape the distant tank as it rotated its turret and fired on the hotel. A Spanish court has charged three U.S. servicemen with murder, but the U.S. government refuses to hand over the accused soldiers. The story might have ended there, just another day of violence and death in Iraq, were it not for a young U.S. military intelligence veteran who has just decided to blow the whistle.

Adrienne Kinne is a former Army sergeant who worked in military intelligence for 10 years, from 1994 to 2004. Trained in Arabic, she worked in the Army translating intercepted communications. She told me in an interview this week that she saw a target list that included the Palestine Hotel. She knew that it housed journalists, since she had intercepted calls from the Palestine Hotel between journalists there and their families and friends back home (illegally and unconstitutionally, she thought).

Said Kinne: “[W]e were listening to journalists who were staying in the Palestine Hotel. And I remember that, specifically because during the buildup to ‘shock and awe’ ... we were given a list of potential targets in Baghdad, and the Palestine Hotel was listed. [P]utting one and one together, I went to my officer in charge, and I told him that there are journalists staying at this hotel who think they’re safe, and yet we have this hotel listed as a potential target, and somehow the dots are not being connected here, and shouldn’t we make an effort to make sure that the right people know the situation? And unfortunately, my officer in charge ... basically told me that it was not my job to analyze ... someone somewhere higher up the chain knew what they were doing.”

She said the officer in charge was Warrant Officer John Berry.

Kinne’s account directly contradicts the official line of the U.S. government. On May 2, 2003, Colin Powell, then secretary of state and a former general in the Army, visited Spain. He said of the Palestine Hotel: “We knew about the hotel. We knew that it was a hotel where journalists were located, and others, and it is for that reason it was not attacked during any phase of the aerial campaign.”

If Powell was telling the truth, then why was the hotel included on the list of targets that Kinne says she read in a secure e-mail? Or was he just parsing words by saying it wasn’t a target during the “aerial campaign”? Kinne also revealed that the military was spying on nongovernmental organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the International Red Cross, listening in on these groups—also illegal—and justifying the pretense on the grounds that they might by chance report on a cache of weapons of mass destruction, or their satellite phone might get stolen by terrorists. She also received and translated a fax from the Iraqi National Congress, the CIA-funded group of Iraqi exiles who were funneling false information about WMDs to the U.S. government in order to bolster the case for war. The intel was considered high-value and was sent directly to the White House.

Kinne has shown great courage and taken great risks to bring these revelations to light, to blow the whistle. She follows in the tradition of Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War. Ellsberg has called on government workers to blow the whistle:

“It’s a great, great risk to have the amount of secrecy we do have right now that enabled the president to lie us into this war and is heading us toward a war that will be even more disastrous in Iran. And this is the time for unauthorized disclosures, which are the only kind that are going to tell us the truth about what’s happening, and they should be done, in my opinion, on a scale that will indeed risk or even ensure that the person doing it will be identified.”

The brother of José Couso, Javier, has tirelessly pursued justice for his brother, traveling globally to make the story known and pushing the case in the Spanish courts. Kinne’s revelations created a stir in Spain, where the jurisdiction of the case against the three U.S. Army members is being challenged. The video of Kinne’s disclosures was downloaded and quickly translated for presentation the next day to the court in Madrid.

The Bush White House, we now know, used retired generals with ties to the Pentagon and to military contractors to deceive the U.S. public. Unembedded journalists in Iraq were a thorn in the side of the Pentagon spin masters. Might that April 8 attack been a message to them? Thanks to former Army Sgt. Adrienne Kinne, we may be closer to finding out.

VT AFL-CIO Calls On Workers to Support Work Stoppage Against War

The Vermont AFL-CIO urges our 10,000+ members, and all working Vermonters, to discuss the actions of the Longshoremen, to wear anti-war buttons, and to take various actions of their own design and choosing in their workplace on May 1^st, 2008.

For Release April 23, 2008
Contact Persons: David Van Deusen,District Vice President of the Vermont AFL-CIO (802) 522-5812
Traven Leyshon , President Washington-Orange-Lamoille Labor Council, AFL-CIO (802) 522-3484

VERMONT AFL-CIO CALLS ON WORKERS TO SUPPORT WEST COAST WORK STOPPAGE AGAINST WAR

Montpelier, VT –The Executive Board of the Vermont AFL-CIO, representing thousands of workers in countless sectors across Vermont, have unanimously passed an historic resolution expressing their “unequivocal” support for the first US labor work stoppage against the war in Iraq. The work stoppage, being organized by the Longshore Caucus of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU), will seek to shutdown all west coast ports during the day on May 1^st 2008. The Vermont AFL-CIO is the first state labor federation to publicly back the Longshoremen; other state federations are expected to follow.

The resolution, among other things, calls the war in Iraq “immoral, unwanted, and unnecessary”, states that the vast majority of working Vermonters oppose the war, and contends that the war will only be brought to an end by “the direct actions of working people.” Many other Vermont labor unions and organizations, including the Vermont Workers’ Center, have also made official statements condemning the war.

The resolution also calls on working Vermonters to “discuss the actions of the Longshoremen, to wear anti-war buttons, and to take various actions of their own design and choosing in their workplace on May 1^st, 2008.”

“Workers in Vermont and all across this nation are against this war. We have already demanded that the government end it, but they have consistently failed to heed our words. Therefore working people are beginning to take concrete steps to make our resistance known. If the war does not immediately end we, the unions and working people of Vermont, will also be compelled to take appropriate action,” said David Van Deusen, District Vice President of the Washington-Lamoille-Orange region AFL-CIO.

Traven Leyshon, President of the Washington-Orange-Lamoille Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, said, “Vermont labor has long called for an end to this war. The untold billions being spent on the war could instead be used to address our domestic needs. It is working people who pay the cost of the war - in some cases with our lives, but always with our sacrifices.”

Vermont AFL-CIO Resolution In Solidarity With Longshoremen’s

West Coast Strike Against War April, 2008

Whereas the war in Iraq is immoral, unwanted, and unnecessary,

Whereas this unjust war is opposed by the great majority of Americans & Vermonters, the bulk of organized labor, and by thousands of enlisted military personal,

Whereas this unjust war has already resulted in over 4000 American dead (including a disproportionate number of brave Vermonters), and tens of thousands of service men & woman being wounded,

Whereas this unjust war has further resulted in untold number of Iraqi deaths,

Whereas the Federal Government has not made any constructive moves towards the ending of this war and the full removal of US troops, and instead has taken the course of escalation and indefinite occupation,

Whereas the government of Vermont, and especially Governor Jim Douglas, have failed to find ways to bring Vermont National Guard troops home from Iraq,

Whereas this war will only be brought to an end by the direct actions of working people,

Therefore, Let It Be Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO continues to stand in firm opposition to this war, and unequivocally supports the decision of the Longshore Caucus of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) to shutdown the west coast ports for a period of 8 hours on May 1^st, 2008, as a means of resistance.

Let It Be Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO stands in full solidarity with the New York Metro Local of the American Postal Workers who have resolved to conduct two minute periods of silence on May 1^st, 2008, at 1PM, 5PM & 9PM in protest of the war and in support of the Longshoremen.

Let It Be Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO encourages all Vermont workers to stand in solidarity with the historic actions being taken by the Longshoremen & other labor unions to end this war.

Let It Be Further Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO calls for all Vermont workers to discuss the actions of the Longshoremen, to wear anti-war buttons, and to take various actions of their own design and choosing in their workplace on May 1^st, 2008 as a means of resistance against this unjust war.

Vermont Veterans Risk All for Truth

By Dan DeWalt

"I can't go back in time and take back what I've done...

At one point I was a monster, and I created hate and

destruction amongst many people. I am sorry for doing

so and I will never turn back into the monster I once

was."

These were the closing remarks of John Turner, former

Marine returned from Iraq, testifying

in early March with three other former members of the

armed forces, to students at the University of

Vermont. His Marine dress uniform jacket, with seven

shiny medals lined up across his chest contrasted
Read more...

IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR NEED OUR SUPPORT

This March 13-16, the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) will gather in Washington DC to reveal the truth about the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. In what will be history's largest gathering of U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Iraqi and Afghan survivors, eyewitnesses to the war will share their experiences in a public investigation called Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan.

Some of you will remember a similar investigation in 1971, when Vietnam Veterans Against the War gathered in Detroit to expose the atrocities and devastation that was the war in Vietnam. That event gave the world a glimpse into the systemic brutality of the war and helped turn public opinion against the Vietnam War.

Winter Soldiers, according to Thomas Paine, are those who stand up for the soul of their country, even in its darkest hours. With this spirit in mind, Iraq Veterans Against the War will stand up to make their experiences available to all who are concerned about the direction of our country.

BUT THEY NEED OUR HELP!!

IVAW needs to raise over $100,000 for the Winter Soldier campaign. The money will be used to fly Veterans, as well as Iraqi and Afghani citizens to Washington, and to support outreach, media coverage, site needs, video feeds, and other associated costs.

Only those who have experienced the war and occupation first hand can speak out and tell the horrible truth. But without our contributions, their voices will not be heard. These brave men and woman need us to donate as generously as possible to make this campaign possible.

Vermont Labor Against the War, Central Vermont Peace and Justice (CVPJ), the Peace and Justice Center (PJC), and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) are joining together to raise money for this important campaign, The money we raise will help support Vermont members of IVAW to attend Winter Soldier. Vermonters such as Liam Madden, Matt Howard, Adrienne Kinney and other IVAW members have asked us to show our support for their efforts.

View a powerful video about the Winter Soldier campaign and what Iraq Veterans Against the War stand for.

To donate to this campaign, please send a check, tax deductible, made out to Iraq Veterans Against the War, to:

Joseph Gainza, American Friends Service Committee, 73 Main St., Montpelier, VT 05602-2944

Withdrawal of the Vermont National Guard

H.746 is a bill to bring the Vermont National Guard back from Iraq. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Fisher (D-Lincoln), H.746 asserts that all authority for deployment of the national guard has expired and calls on the Governor to order our Vermont contingent home immediately.

The bill lays out the legal authority for any deployment of the national guard outside the United States. In the case of the Iraq war, that power comes exclusively from the law passed by Congress in October 2002 authorizing use of military force against Iraq. That law permits the President to use the armed forces (including the state national guard) for only two purposes:

1) to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq (i.e. weapons of mass destruction), and

2) to enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq.

Because there is no other lawful basis for the deployment of Vermont’s National Guard, and because both of those purposes have already been met (there are no WMD and no outstanding UN security resolutions to be enforced), there is no legal basis for Vermont’s National Guard to continue service in Iraq. The bill therefore directs our Governor to take all necessary steps to withdraw Vermont National Guard units from Iraq.

Click here to read the bill (which lays out the legal argument very clearly).

Iraq Vets Speak Out on Veterans' Day in Rutland Herald

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.

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. More...

Sergeant: False war isn't worth the sacrifice

By DREW CAMERON

I served with the U.S. Army as an active duty field artillery soldier for four years and then a subsequent two years in the Vermont Army National Guard in the State Medical Detachment. I originally enlisted in August of 2000 and worked hard to become a professional soldier.

I was sent to Iraq in April of 2003 under the suspicion that Saddam Hussein was harboring weapons that were an imminent threat to the United States. I served until December of that year traveling around the country finding and destroying weapons caches. Since my return I have been working to answer all of the questions that I was left with upon the end of my time there. What I experienced and took part in was nothing short of disgraceful and blatant betrayal of the military service member. More...

Officer's job was targeting Americans

By ADRIENNE KINNE

Thank you for giving veterans a forum to share their perspective on what Veterans Day means to us.

I served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves from 1994 to 2004 as an Arabic linguist in military intelligence. After the events of Sept. 11, I was mobilized in the Reserves and stationed stateside where I served in direct support of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq as a voice interceptor.

Over the next two years, I witnessed firsthand the behind-the-scenes dismantling of the Constitutional rights of Americans, as higher ranking officials in military intelligence had us target journalists, humanitarian aid workers, the United Nations and other non-governmental organizations, to include Americans and their phone calls to family members in the United States. More...

Vets Deserve What They Earned: Dignity!

Kurt Staudter's weekly column, "While We Were Sleeping":

Members of Congress and other political leaders often say that the men and women who have served in our military since 9/11 are the ‘new greatest generation.’ Well, here’s a thought from two infantry combat veterans of the Vietnam era’s ‘wounded generation’: if you truly believe that our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are like those who fought in World War II, let us provide them with the same G.I. Bill that was given to the veterans of that war.” Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in a New York Times Op Ed.

There is no doubt in my mind that much of the prosperity that we’ve enjoyed in this country was as a direct result of the G.I. Bill after World War II. I believe that a whole generation of veterans went to college on the government nickel that would have never attended otherwise. This led to unprecedented innovations, technological advances, and the Nobel prizes in the sciences are still rolling in. Our investment in these returning war veterans is what made them the “greatest generation.” Not because of what they did in the war, but what they did afterwards. In a way, by thanking these vets for their sacrifice, by helping them buy homes and go to college, we set off a wave of prosperity that has only now begun to crest.

On this Veteran’s Day, I’m ashamed at the way we are treating vets now. No matter how you feel about this war, or war in general, those citizens that answer the call to serve deserve our gratitude. At the very least they’ve earned the right to be treated with dignity.

But somehow I don’t see the dignity in the fact that “wounded veterans are getting the runaround” according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office which chastised the Pentagon and Veterans Administration. The reports about conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and the case backlogs at VA hospitals around the country are an outrage. The irony here is that before the war the VA was held up as a model of efficiency and effective care, and many looked at it as a way to proceed towards a single-payer system for all of us. It seems like it was almost a deliberate effort on the part of Bush to trash the VA system in order to just discredit government-run healthcare. It makes me sick.

What sort of dignity is there in the taking of your own life? Since this war started over 283 combat veterans have committed suicide. In a culture where mental illness is dismissed by your superiors as a sign of weakness, still over 100,000 combat veterans have requested care – Many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The Bush administration has finally acknowledged the problem and has directed the VA to create programs that identify and help suicidal veterans. In that one dark moment of hopelessness, no veteran should feel alone. They need to know that a nation stands behind them ready to help.

Coming of age in the 1970s in and around New York City, you couldn’t help but notice that many of the homeless on the streets wore military fatigues. Even back then, the government did little to help these veterans suffering from mental illness, but by now it should be expected that we’d have gotten a handle on the homelessness of vets. Sadly, today veterans make up about one in four of the homeless. Some estimates put the number of Afghanistan/Iraq vets that are homeless at around 1,500, and shelters are reporting that many of the new arrivals include wounded veterans of the current war.

What about the myth that veterans have health insurance for life? In a new report from Harvard places the number of veterans and their families without health insurance at around 6 million, and the number of uninsured veterans at 1.8 million in 2004. This is up roughly more than a quarter of a million people since 2000. Preliminary numbers for more recent years are showing that the problem is becoming bigger. It seems that like the population as a whole, veterans are no longer getting their insurance through their employer, and almost 2/3 of the uninsured vets were employed.

Here are some other findings of the Harvard study to be released in December in the American Journal of Public Health: 56.5% of the uninsured veterans are over 44 years old; 645,628 are uninsured Vietnam-era vets and 1.1 million are vets from wars that include the current conflict; 26.5% reported they failed to get care because of costs; 31.2% delayed care because of costs; 49.1% has failed to see a doctor in the last year; and finally, 66% failed to receive preventative care. This is just shameful.

The Bush administration in 2003 made many middle income veterans ineligible for VA care, set co-pays for specialized care at unaffordable levels, and set the stage for overwhelming the VA system.

As I sit here on this Veteran’s Day I wonder what a difference this next generation of warriors might make in this country if we sent all of them to college for free, helped them buy homes and gave them the medical care that they deserve. You can’t help but believe that this next generation would shine in our history books. However, we all know that this will never happen. So if we aren’t going to have a meaningful G.I. Bill for these folks, the very least we can do is to treat them with the dignity they earned.