Soldiers Discuss Using "Drop Weapons" To Cover Up Killing Innocent Iraqi Civilians

Several soldiers who have returned from combat zones talk with the American News Project about what they say is the widespread practice of using "drop weapons" to cover up the killing of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. We feature five veterans and current members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, plus retired Lieutenant Colonel Gary Solis, a Vietnam War veteran and legal scholar who taught "Law of War" at West Point. Watch the video from ANP below:

Read and watch more from ANP here.

Comments

[Hurria]

"soldiers in the battle field won't need to worry about "drop weapons" because whoever they face, is another soldier or "the enemy"."

You might want to tell that to the families and loved ones of the hundreds of thousands of "enemy" women, children, infants, elderly and non-combatant men your soldiers have killed and maimed on the "battle field", including the tens of thousands they killed and maimed by means of "shock and awe", the thousands in Falluja, and so on and on and on and on.

[ProFromOre]

(part 2 of 3)

a portion of the population that once sided with the 'authoritarians' is now targeted by the 'authoritarians'. 1968 was the beginning of a change in the US soldier in Vietnam, more disagreement with the war, more resistance and increased rebellion and drug use.

Nixon also is part of 1968, He takes office in '69. Jump to '73, we're scrambling to get out of Vietnam, our eyes have been opened to what a criminal administration looks like, awareness of the US's despicable acts in South and Central America begin to arise. We've learn of the deplorable tretament of VIetnam vet's. The depth of the frustration, the despondence, the feelings of ineffectualness increase further and further.

With the prosecution of Nixon for Watergate, the collective psyche of the American people is bolstered, it begins to trust the rule of law again and WHAM! 'In the best interest of healing our nation, I have elected to pardon Richard M. Nixon' -- Gerald Ford, shortly after taking office.

That was the final blow for millions. The collective mentality became: we can't win, all politicians are corrupt, the government is best to be avoided or they'll 'get you', I'm going to look out for myself and my family, and on.

The '70's - '90's are notorious for the excesses of the citizens and the apathy towards and lack of involvement in representative government.
(cont pt 3 - posted @ 06.02.08 - 9:05 PM)

[ProFromOre]

(part 1 of 3)

I submit to you all that first, the majority of Americans believe in the rule of law and support what that means and entails.

Second the major cause, not the only cause, but the major cause is the effects events in the '60's and early '70's.

First it was JFK. While history has shown he wasn't a choir boy, (well, he was when young, but ..you know what I mean), and wasn't THAT great as a President, his murder, nonetheless, shocked the citizens.

Then we get mired in an illegal war, with no purpose or direction, that bitterly divides our country. This brings out the worst of the 'authoritarians' and the govt and police begin to abuse US citizens over war dissent.

In 1968, our hopes on two fronts, RFK, for the future of our country and MLK, for the future of racial equality are slain. Americans are shocked once again, but this time a feeling of frustration - frustration that our chance to be better is taken away. There's also despondence, feeling like you just can make a positive difference no matter how hard you try.

1968 is a pivotal year, attitudes were changing: about the war, about our government, about the US's direction. More of the mainstream and middle class acknowledge the problems and work for change -
(cont in pt 2)

[willyloman]

"As long as you put high powered weapons in the hands of 18 and 19 year olds, bad stuff is going to happen once and a while..."

This is true to an extent but he misses the obvious problem with his logic and that is that these 18 and 19 year olds are being forced to work as an occupying force rather than what they were trained for and what they signed up for: being soldiers at a time of war.

You see, soldiers in the battle field won't need to worry about "drop weapons" because whoever they face, is another soldier or "the enemy".

These men and women are trained and they are prepared to face-off with the enemy and to fight. What this administration is asking of them goes against what they signed up for, and it goes against what we are as a people. They are being asked to be stormtroopers in an occupation to squash an insurgent uprising of an occupied people.

We need to pull out troops out, let them regroup, rebuild the strength of the military without the use of private contractors, and then as a option of final resort, redeploy these soldiers where they are needed to fight other soldiers at a time of war.

They should not be used to make Iraq safe for Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase. Bring them home.

[FIREYFREE]

HI GANG

IM NOT SURE IF THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE POSTS..... IM ASHAMED TO SAY I HAVE NOT READ EVERY POST... WITH THAT BEENING SAID .. I WOULD LIKE KTO ASK A QUESTION OF THE BRIGHT THINKERS OF THE SITE//// IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT OUR SOLDIER ARE MAKING THESE KINDS OF JUDGEMENT CALLS BECAUSE OF THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.. WHAT I MEAN IS ARE THEY JUST SO WORN OUT AND DISGUSTED WITH THE STATE OF THIS MISSION THAT THESE ACTS ARE OUT OF DESPERATION... I WOULD APPRECIATE ONLY SERIOUS COMMENTS. THANKS

[ResidentChimp]

It's hard to take anybody seriously who uses caps locks. You should be ashamed. Not only are you wrong but you're assuming this story is true with no more proof than it showed up on HuffPo. You obviously haven't been paying attention. HuffPo has been wrong on about 80% of these stories.

[Zenfro]

> HuffPo has been wrong on about 80% of these stories.

Documentation please.

[ProFromOre]

They're still ahead of you unless you start citing some resources and references other than the voices in your head.

[Hurria]

Where have you been? In fact, soldiers have been reporting for years that they and their colleagues make a practice of planting weapons and shovels and other "incriminating" evidence on their victims in order to justify murder. Some have reported that as a routine they carried shovels with them for just that use, and a few have suggested that their commanders have approved, if not recommended this practice.

[Hurria]

That's a nice, handy excuse, but it won't wash. In some cases they plan ahead for these things by carrying a collection of shovels with them "just in case" they happen to murder someone.

[PuppaX]

And people will still tell you that they hate us because of our way of life. Maybe its because we keep doing everything we can to destroy theirs.

[awcbuddy8]

Soooooooooooo, 9/11 was a retaliation for what there exactly?

[Zenfro]

Well documented that 9/11 was a retaliation for US troop bases in the Islamic holy land of Saudi Arabia. Bush caved on this and withdrew the troops, just as Bin Laden wanted.

[nyyankee70]

Brobro,
Your ignorance would be laughable if not for the fact that our soldiers are dying due to the illegal, immoral and criminal war started by your party and backed by idiots like you who somehow feel it is patriotic to kill anyone who doesn't agree with your point of view and that we are justified in our genocide against the iraqi people. Most soldiers are great, admirable and noble. I served with many of them. Since I haven't seen any mention of it, I will assume you are one of those republican cowards who believe in endless wars and occupations as long as you don't have to spill your own blood. Unfortunately, for every noble soldier serving his country, there are soldiers with this neocon point of view. I remember hearing soldiers comment that they couldn't wait to get over there and kill all the sand Nig*@! in Iraq. Disturbing? Absolutely. Not all soldiers are noble and unselfish servants of their country just like not all citizens are upstanding and law abiding. Add to this the fact that their cue is being taken by a bunch of corrupt and cowardly politicians in this administration and this is what you get. I would go into detail about what makes a true patriot, but like I've said before, you right-wing nuts don't and never will get it. Just get this election over with so you guys can crawl back under your rocks, this time, hopefully forever.

[fourex]

Two reasons why planting weapons is unnecessary.

1. GW Bush declared Iraq a free kill zone a long time ago. (see Falujah)
2. Bremer the former Viceroy, codified that neither Iraq nor the U.S. could prosecute war crimes. (see Bremer leaves with bags of money)

[ProFromOre]

But the Bush crime family's enforcers, (Defense Dept), will use any excuse they can to avoid paying post-service. The DD will prosecute for just that reason.

[BlackWidowPilot]

If you believe Cheney's war for oil and empire launched and sustained by over 900+ *documented* lies about WMDs and debunked claims of connections between Saddam Hussein and 9/11 is morally acceptable, why aren't *you* over there in uniform fighting this war?

I happen to have studied war and soldierin' all my life, starting with family stories of "those times" (WW2 and the Great Depression). Your Social Darwinian attempt to dismiss the utter moral bankruptcy of the Bushevik war in Iraq as "that's just the way it is" is IMHO the lowest form of rationalization and intellectual bankruptcy.

So I ask *you* again; if you're not already up to your neck in the s*** and the blood in Iraq, when are you going to do the right thing and sign up for the US Marines the way my Father did after Pearl Harbour? If this war is so righteous to you, Bobby, then get off your high horse and go join in the fight, and do your part for making the world safe for corporate welfare and profit margins of Cheney's corporate cronies.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[antiprop1]

While returning to the US last month I was confronted by a depressing scene in the Atlanta airport, hundreds of soldiers returning to Iraq for another tour of duty. I was struck by how tired and burned out they appeared. These are young kids, in the prime of their lives, early twenties. Wanting to get the real story I quietly listened to their conversations. Americans who joined the reserves or National Guard were telling horror stories of having to kill people, getting hit by IED's, dealing with friends with severe burns. Four years or more of dealing with Iraq while their contemporaries at home were getting the job promotions and starting families. Alot of these young kids will now have psychological problems they will have to cope with for the rest of their lives. For what. One kid said how the Iraqi troops that we have sunk an unbelieveable amount of money and effort into training deserted in Basra in the April uprising. He said that the Iraq war was 'stupid'. The Bushies will have you believe that the 'surge' is working. Believe me, there will always be hatred and war in the Middle East. We have put our troops in a impossiable situation. They were trained to win ground wars, not be an occupying police force.

[Nyland8]

Given the history since our occupation began, why would any single American be stupid enough to believe that the entire population of Iraq might somehow forget the events of the last 5+ years? How can any thinking, feeling American not put themselves in the Iraqi's place, and ask themselves if they would have tolerated being occupied by a foreign power under the conditions that the Iraqi's have endured?

So long as our boots are on their soil, we will be resented, hated and targeted, and the most we can ever expect of the Iraqis is for them to look the other way and not inform us when mortar teams roam the streets, or when an IED has been planted in our path.

It would require a new definition of winning to continue to occupy under those circumstances.

We cannot “un-fail” Iraq. We can only leave Iraq.

That is what we should do.

8

[ChiGuy]

As always, well said 8.

[ResidentChimp]

Typical "Summer soldiers" on Soros' payroll parrotting the terrorists propaganda. Huffers eat this stuff up. Anything that denigrates America is just fine with them. When these two are shown to be plants as many of the ones Kerry shilled for, you won't see any retraction on Huffpo. they just spew the lies out in an effort to undercut our war effort. Each week sees a new effort to slime America. Soros has plenty of money and we will see more as his Manchurian candidate marches in lockstep with the other marxists towards November.

[StillAmused]

Aw, pull your head out... then take a deep breath and try to catch up. You sound like one of Cheney's speeches from the '03 archives.

[antiprop1]

Hey R.C. Are you capable of independent thought or is it just the same old Fox News Propagaganda Spew that you parrot. We have been defeated in Iraq. Get over it. It must be difficult for you right wing ditto heads to be in such a sad state of denial. But the reality that you have to avoid is coming home to roost. You can always use the Cheney (5 deferments) /Goebbels (Nazi propaganda minister) strategy and call those with differing opionions traitors. Maybe its time you realize the difference between fascist/nationalism and true patriotism. And by the way, how much fighting in Iraq will you personally be involved in. You probably have a hard time walking up a stair case.

[ResidentChimp]

You got one thing right. I served in Vietnam as a volunteer and I do have trouble getting up the stairs. But as a typical surrender monkey, you been waving your white flag for so long, you think we have lost. Even when it has been addmitted by DEms that the surge is working, you still have to tell yourself we have already lost. I know what patriotism is and it's no "blame America First" denigrate our Country while ignoring our enemies crimes. I find it interesting that you parrot the same language as the terrorists and wright when you say that our sins are coming home to roost. Illiterates, like yourself would be amazed to learn that their spineless retre4at has be mirrored in all our conflicts. During the Revolutionary War, people like you said we had already lost and should surrender. During the Civil War, the same surrender monkeys were saying the same thing. In WWI, WWII and Vietnam, the refrain from the surrender monkeys have been the same.

[walk0nwalls]

Shove it down your miserable rotten piehole you imperialist swine and see if I don't beg to be the one to ram every bullet put into Iraqi civilians through your thickened, slime-encrusted skull.

[BlackWidowPilot]

"Marxists?" If there's anything afflicting America's body politic that resembles the late, unlamented communist system of status through party membership, cronyism run riot, intellectual dishonesty and moral bankruptcy in a system ruled by a corrupt insider oligarchy, it is the GOP and the "Bushevik" regime it has spawned.

Comrade Chimp, your Freudian Projection Behavior does not a cogent argument make.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[BlackWidowPilot]

Chimpy,

I've seen what modern weapons do to the human body, including children. Your John Birch Society screed may have flown when "Tailgunner Joe" McCarthy was in office, but such nonsensical paranoid fantasies concerning Manchurian candidates and communists under every rock have been long since debunked.

Perhaps you should heed your own advice and check yourself in to one of those "free hospitals" you were talking about below...

Wonder if you'd have the cajones to call some actual vets "summer soldiers on Soros' payroll" to their faces, up close and personal?

Given the content of your profile, I rather doubt it.

And speaking of the 'war effort," when are *you* shippin' out? My Dad signed up for the US Marines right after Pearl Harbour, so I am still waiting for *you* to put your Bushevik money where your mouth is...

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[ResidentChimp]

Many of us who have served have seen first hand what weapons do to children. What I find objectionable from you and other Huffers is the pretense that our military are guilty of false charges without ever acknowledging that the enemy kill far more women and children as a matter of course. As to McCarthy, funny thing is that when the Russian empire collapsed and their records were made public it was found that majority of people macCarthy accused were in fact working for the Russians. At first when you said you had seen war up close I assumed that you serve in the military. I'm a regular army volunteer and served in Vietnam. Why don't you educate yourself by reading Obama's books and his churches website. You will see that Wright is the one who said his Afro-Centric liberation theology was an offshoot of the marxist liberation theology that was used in South America. As you seem to be blissfully unaware, when Kerry brought out his summer soldiers, almost one half were shown to be lying about their service and their experience. How is it that no one else has carried this story? It is a matter of public record that soros has committed $40 million to smear McCain.

[BlackbirdHighway]

All the troops should wear the logos of Exxon-Mobil and Chevron-Texaco on their uniforms. That's who they are fighting for, not for America.

[BlackWidowPilot]

No, all the Exxon-Mobil and Chevron-Texaco executives and other chickenhawks should be wearing the uniforms and doing the patrols dodging IEDs, not our people in uniform sent to fight for their profits in Cheney's war for oil and empire on 900+ *documented* lies about WMDs and debunked claims of connections between Saddam Hussein and 9/11.

Soldiers fight for each other when the shooting actually starts. The bonds they develop under combat conditions are - unique to say the least. To shamelessly and cynically use those loyalties as the Busheviks have and continue to do is one of the greatest crimes of all in this bastard conflict.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[brokenarrow]

BWPilot...­.......Hav­e never seen you here before, so if you're new, welcome.

Your comments are insightful, and it's always a good thing when the level of discource is raised another level.

This all just gets too much to bear sometimes. If you've got the steam, DemocracyNow! has yesterday's interview with BlackWater's worst nightmare, and my personal hero, Jeremy Scahill, up and runnin'...­..........­it's a must see.

May we all come out of this with the wisdom that ends all unjust war (invasions­).........­it's a concept created by wealthy men who want to dominate the world.

[UncensoredReports]

Bobrobert,

Shouldn't your screen name be Bwak BwaaakBwaaak ?

You obviously think it's a GREAT war & all especially considering it's an ILLEGAL WAR OF AGGRESSION BASED ON LIES & GREED.....

WHY aren't you THERE instead of here?

Your mom need the eggs or something?

[awcbuddy8]

Why aren't you there?

[Matango]

Why am I here?

[CyrusBeaucephus]

maybe he is anti-war, what do you think mr genius?

[BlackWidowPilot]

Isn't that question the one *you* should be answering, "acwbuddy8?"

When are *you* shippin' out for Iraq, sport? Or do you believe in fighting for the corporate profits of Cheney's cronies to the last drop of some brown-skinned inner-city kid's blood like our heroic Dear Leader Chimpy "Mission Accomplished" McFlightsuit and his close pal "Hundred Years War" McCain?

Quite the "party of family values" you so consistently champion BTW:

http://www.armchairsubversive.org

"Family values" only if we're talkin' about the court of Roman Emperor Caligula or the locals in THE HILLS HAVE EYES.

Seems to this independent voter and proud son of a WW2 US Marine that if your vaunted GOP isn't grabbing for another country's resources or grabbing for bigger corporate profit margins for their cronies, they're grabbing *at* America's *children.* Small wonder why your vaunted GOP now stands for "Greedy Old Perverts" or "Gang of Pedophiles."

Despicable, disgusting, and utterly, irredeemably morally bankrupt.

This is the party and the cause you're championing "awcbuddy8." What should one conclude about *you?*

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[UncensoredReports]

Read this newsletter online http://tinyurl.com/dy6yy

===

Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered Since The U.S. Invaded Iraq "1,219,596"
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/iraqdeaths.html

===

Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America's War On Iraq 4,083
http://icasualties.org/oif/

The War And Occupation Of Iraq Costs
$524,911,831,024

See the cost in your community
http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

[LondonGQ]

The face of real America, and they still wonder why they hate us.

[UncensoredReports]

Kill Them! We Are Going to Wipe Them Out!

Presidential Bloodlust

By Tom Engelhardt

According to Sanchez, Powell was talking tough that day: "We've got to smash somebody's ass quickly," the general reports him saying. "There has to be a total victory somewhere. We must have a brute demonstration of power."
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20033.htm