Anti-war group says war crimes are "encouraged"
1/19/2008 5:10 PM
By: Brian Dwyer



WATERTOWN, NY - "I was messed up in the head. It was okay for me. I laughed afterwards. We all did. It's just the way things go."

Iraq war veteran Jon Turner said it was almost expected of him to pull the trigger on people who didn't need to die. So he did.

"It was my decision," Turner said. "I made it. Now I have to live with the fact I see someone's eyes screaming at me after I shot them."

But Turner says it wasn't his choice to be encouraged to do it from higher ranking officers. He and three other veterans speaking out Saturday at the Different Drummer Cafe in Watertown said committing war crimes is not only the way things go, but it's unofficial policy.



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War crimes "encouraged?"

A group of Iraq war veterans are planning a gathering in Washington D.C. in March to talk about war crimes they've seen or committed during their tours of duty.







"The killing of innocent civilians is policy," veteran Mike Blake said. "It's unit policy and it's Army policy. It's not official policy, but it's what's happens on the ground everyday. It's what unit commanders individually encourage."

The group, part of the national organization called Iraq Veterans Against War are planning an event to be held in Washington, D.C. this coming March called "Winter Soldier" that will have veterans all speaking about war crimes they committed or witnessed during their tours of duty.

"These decisions are coming from the top down," veteran Matt Howard said. "The tactics that we use. The policies that the military engages will create situations, create dynamics, create, ultimately, atrocity."

IVAW hopes to have 100 veterans speak at the event. Once it ends, they'll document the testimony and package it for Congress.

IVAW says it expects a number of veterans from Fort Drum to be at the event and it is hoping to get more veterans to attend and speak at the event and will help pay for any active duty soldier who wants to go and listen.


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the act of war is a crime in itself.....aint it hell?

This doesn't surprise me. The act of war is a bloody hell, what would make the innocents that die of any value. War is the art of destruction and dominance. In order to accomplish those objectives, lives will be lost. Collateral damage, there is a reason they have a name for it.

Spoken like a true liberal.

GI's are the ones that gave war such a bad name

I think if we do not put a stop to this, we are going to pay with the loss of our whole country and our lives, because other people are hating us for good reason, and will eventually do something about it if we don't.(as you sow, you will reap)

This is about the same as trying to defy gravity, eventually it will get us one way or another.

and surely God is not pleased about this foolishness.

Our Morals are getting pretty bad, it looks like to me. These Arabs are our brothers too, as well as all races on this earth.We share this home together.

I don't call myself a liberal so is that supposed to be a slam?? Or were you flirting again

I also heard that our soldiers just shoot innocent Arabs just for target practice(Sniper practice)

I don't agree with this necessarily, I imagine there are bad and good GI's just as in all humans. The soldiers who are doing what they are told by our illustrious baby shrub cannot be held responsible for what he tells them to do. The sad thing is we will always need to have military. It is the way of the world. Our military brothers and sisters who are being sent to do the deeds of the evil administration should still be held in honor by us here, regardless. No offense intended madison

Im sorry dear dragoness I meant that the horrors of war are spoke of by GI's and due to there explanations of it are the reasone most sane people recoile in horror as to what our Gi's are forced to endure i am sorry if you took it wrong

At least you anti-war types have finally shown your true hatred for the American military servicemen and woman that we always knew was really there.

"GI's are the ones that gave war such a bad name"

"I also heard that our soldiers just shoot innocent Arabs just for target practice(Sniper practice)"

we hadnt heard from you for a while I figured you had enlisted. why havent you?

Very mature of you, avoiding the question about your hateful comments directed towards our servicemen and women by using the chickhawk insult.

Okay, you caught me again... but I can't help myself Dragoness. I think we need to date.

no seriously I took you to be a man with the courage of your convictions. maybe i was wrong , no harm no foul

More personal attacks totally void of any relation to the topic at hand. My convictions are to honor those who risk their lives and serve our country well. My convictions are not to totally defame and dehumanize all of them because of the acts of a few or mere claims by those who hate them.

no need to get so hostile or angry.....I dont blame you for not enlsiting at all.....

Angry? No

Disgusted? Yes

Madisonman...I saw your comments. You are foul. You hate GIs so much, why don't you come pick on me instead of hiding behind your computer. Despicable comments such as yours make you no patriot. I know you have served your country but it must have been dishonerable if you can say such things.

have you heard about Pat tillman..that was a tragedy and my oh my how they tried to spin that tale into a fable