In Their Boots

In Their Boots premieres today, Wednesday July 2nd, at 4pm Pacific/5 Mountain/6 Central/7 Eastern at www.intheirboots.com. The stories are riveting and the show will be broadcast LIVE. You will have the opportunity to hear the stories from these servicemembers, learn about organizations that are helping, and find out how you can help as well.

GI Bill Signed Into Law

President Bush signed the new GI Bill into law yesterday. If anyone who reads here wrote and asked him to sign it, I thank you.

"This is a day of incredible celebration for our country's newest generation of veterans and their families. Thanks to today's passage of a modern GI Bill, the future is much brighter for the more than 1.6 million Americans who have served in the current conflicts," said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "In supporting this GI Bill, Senators Webb, Hagel, Warner, Lautenberg and hundreds of other lawmakers laid aside their partisan differences and put the troops first. Their vision and perseverance will change the course of an entire generation."

John McCain did not support this bill.

From Baghdad to Beijing

Melissa Stockwell, Scott Winkler and Carlos Leon served in Iraq and suffered serious injuries. Since then, they have overcome incredible obstacles to earn the right to represent the US at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, China. IAVA will be sponsoring their journey from now until the games begin in September. We are hoping to raise $20,000 to help Melissa, Scott and Carlos pursue their dreams of gold.

Can you make a tax-deductible contribution to help us reach our goal? Take a minute to watch a short video about their incredible journeys.

Melissa Stockwell was the first female amputee from the Iraq war. Less than a year after losing her leg, she ran the New York City Marathon. She had never swum competitively before losing her leg, and recently became the first Iraq war veteran to qualify for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Carlos Leon managed to survive an entire year in Iraq as a Marine in the Sunni triangle, only to tragically break his neck in a swimming accident just weeks after returning home. After attending a Paralympic Military Sports Camp, Leon discovered a hidden talent and passion for throwing the discus. Carlos is headed to Beijing as the best in the world in the discus.

Scott Winkler was unloading an ammunition truck near Tikrit while under fire when he fell and became paralyzed from the chest down. He was introduced to sports during a Paralympic Sports Clinic. At the clinic, he tried throwing the shot put for the first time, and less than a year later he broke the world record. He is expected to dominate his field in Beijing.

Together these athletes carry the hopes and dreams of 30,000 other injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. They are role models for turning adversity into opportunity.

Can you donate today to help us reach our goal of $20,000 to help them get to the games? Your contribution will help Melissa, Scott and Carlos cover the expenses they'll incur over the next few months of training.

Along the road, Melissa, Carlos and Scott will be updating us on their progress. You can follow their journeys at www.iava.org/warrior-champions.

We're honored to be helping these three veterans represent our country at the Paralympics. Can you help them get to Beijing?

Thanks for your generous support.

Sincerely,
Paul Rieckhoff
Iraq Veteran
Executive Director
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Mary

Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris, Beth Nielsen Chapman

From Iraq to Afghanistan our soldiers feel forgotten. What are you going to do about it? Anything?

"Tell me the last time you saw the body of a dead American soldier. What does that look like? Who in America knows what that looks like? Because I know what that looks like, and I feel responsible for the fact that no one else does. ... And the soldiers do feel forgotten, they do. No doubt. From Afghanistan to Iraq, they absolutely feel -- you know, we may be tired of hearing about this five years later, they still have to go out and do the same job."
--Lara Logan

Oh... Please Please Please say it's so!

"After I wrote that I supported the selection of Jim Webb for VP, I received this picture from a reader. This tells me that there are big supporters out there for Jim Webb. Let's see what the dirty, filthy Republicans can do with a former Reagan official, war veteran and Father of son serving in Iraq. I cannot wait to see how they make him out to be a traitor to his Country."
--Capt. Kevin O'Meara
The Command TOC

Radio Nation With Laura Flanders

Interview with Ava Lowery, the 18 year old who began making anti-war videos at the age of 14 talks about her Alabama roots. Her website is Peace Takes Courage.

Will Justice Be Denied?

Physicians for Humane Rights has released their report Broken Laws, Broken Lives providing medical evidence confirming torture in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantánamo Bay:

"Broken Laws, Broken Lives" shows the human consequences of harsh and unlawful US interrogation practices. This landmark report reveals the excruciating pain and continued suffering of men who, never charged with any crime, endured torture at US detention facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantánamo Bay. Based on internationally accepted standards for clinical assessment of torture claims, the report documents practices used to bring about long-lasting pain, terror, humiliation, and shame for months on end.

Major General Antonio Taguba, USA (Ret.), who led the US Army’s official investigation into the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal, writes in the preface of "Broken Laws, Broken Lives":

After years of disclosures by government investigations, media accounts, and reports from human rights organizations, there is no longer any doubt as to whether the current administration has committed war crimes. The only question is whether those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account.

Military Spouses for Change Urgently Needs Your Help

Last Friday PBS NOW interviewed the President of Military Spouses for Change, Carissa Picard. She discussed personality disorder discharges and PTSD/misconduct discharges and the cases MSC has been involved in. MSC was able to successfully intervene on behalf of several soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, who needed to be placed in the Warrior Transition Unit.

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of demand for help and the lack of funds, MSC has to temporarily stop its case management component. Its 501c3 application has been submitted to the IRS recently but it may take up to 3 more months to get approved and MSC cannot begin applying for grants until it is.

If you are outraged by what you see in this video, I encourage you to tell others about MSC and make a donation today. Please support their mission of empowering a movement of advocates within the active duty community. Someday they would like to have an advocate on every installation who could help soldiers and their families.

Please Remember in Prayer

Tomas Young, the courageous disabled Iraq vet featured in the documentary Body of War recently slipped into a coma from a blood clot in his lungs. You may send prayers and support to:
Tomas Young - patient
Saint Luke's Hospital
4401 Wornall
Kansas City, MO 64111

Update: "Tomas is doing a lot better today. He's out of ICU and was able to breath on his own. He's up and smiling again. Every morning I read to him from some of the thousands of cards and letters that have come in. People from across the country and as far away as Switzerland have sent in well wishes. We are very thankful for all the support--so much in fact that we won't be able to respond to them all for quite some time. Tomas will thank you all himself just as soon as he can."

Warriors Against War

Is the military wrongfully discharging soldiers in order to deny them benefits?

Tune in to PBS NOW on Friday evening to see the President of Military Spouses for Change, Carissa Picard, discuss personality disorder discharges and PTSD/misconduct discharges and the cases MSC has been involved in.

http://www.pbs.org/now/

Sigh

This can't be good....

Wal-Mart Defender To Direct Obama’s Economic Policy

“It’s surprising because this guy seems to feel that Wal-Mart’s low-wage, low-benefit business model is good for America. That’s just flat-out wrong,” the executive director of Wal-Mart Watch, David Nassar, said. “This guy helped to lend credibility to the Wal-Mart business model.

Medal Of Honor Recipient’s Father: Bush Must Sign The GI Bill If He Wants To Show Appreciation For Troops

Last week, President Bush presented Tom and Romayne McGinnis with a posthumous Medal of Honor for their son, Private First Class Ross Andrew McGinnis. Ross was killed in Iraq in December 2004 when he threw his body in front of a grenade to protect four of his fellow soldiers, saving their lives. Bush praised Ross’s heroism, and pledged to “never forget” the soldiers “who came forward to bear the battle” for “freedom and security” in Iraq.

Ross’s father, Tom McGinnis, is holding Bush to his word. The next day, McGinnis called on Bush to sign the 21st Century GI bill, while speaking at the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes induction:

Our troops when they get home also need our support. … They need to be able to continue their education where they left off. And so I say thank you to the Senate and House who have helped to pass the new GI bill. Now this GI bill only needs the signature of the President of the United States to become law. And I think it’s time that George Bush can sign this bill and make it law to show his appreciation for the support these loyal youth have given him.

Watch Video here

Taking a Break from War

Wise Old River performs Blind Willie Johnson's song, "Soul Of A Man" at the Little Chicago Blues Festival in Johnson City,TN. This is one of several songs off of their upcoming LIVE DVD! With beautiful, hypnotic arrangements, and amazing musicianship...this talented trio is all about "Traditional Americana Music" in it's rawest form!

Hillary Clinton's Concession Speech

Hijacked

Hillary Clinton hijacked Barack Obama's nomination last night. Plain and simple. I was so in hopes that she would find the grace within herself to congratulate him and pledge her support to his candidacy. Instead she tooted her own horn, of well she should, but it should not have ended there and it did. Tragic. Truly.

She had the opportunity to begin healing wounds and bringing the Democratic party together. But instead she was a sore loser and it did not become her.

Hilary Rosen, a Clinton supporter, had this to say in her post I Am Not a Bargaining Chip, I am a Democrat:

I know she is exhausted and she had pledged to finish the primaries and let every state vote before any final action. But by the time she got on that podium last night, she knew it was over and that she had lost. I am sure I was not alone in privately urging the campaign over the last two weeks to use the moment to take her due, pass the torch and cement her grace. She had an opportunity to soar and unite. She had a chance to surprise her party and the nation after the day-long denials about expecting any concession and send Obama off on the campaign trail of the general election with the best possible platform. I wrote before how she had a chance for her "Al Gore moment." And if she had done so, the whole country ALL would be talking today about how great she is and give her her due.

Instead she left her supporters empty, Obama's angry, and party leaders trashing her. She said she was stepping back to think about her options. She is waiting to figure out how she would "use" her 18 million voters.

But not my vote. I will enthusiastically support Barack Obama's campaign. Because I am not a bargaining chip. I am a Democrat.

Hillary Clinton has always struck me as a manipulator. Last night she proved to me I was right.

Some McCain Straight Talk

Peace With Justice

The United Methodist Board of Church & Society’s Peace with Justice Program aims to make shalom visible and active in people's lives and communities. The Board of Church & Society has been assigned by the denomination to implement the program and call the church to "strengthen its capacity to act as a public policy advocate" in communities and nations throughout the world.

Miller's Story

The story of U.S. Soldier Josh Miller and how he almost lost his life in a mortar attack in Iraq.



(The stop-loss and deployment of Casey J. Porter)
http://www.youtube.com/user/CaseyJPorter

U.S. CONFIRMED DEATHS IN IRAQ: 4084

I don't know what to title this post

Words fail me with this one:
MEMORIAL

Soldiers of Conscience

Memorial Day Observation 2008 (May 25-27)

The Houston chapters of Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and CodePINK, are sponsoring a Memorial Day weekend observance to honor both military and civilian casualties from the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The memorial, which includes a section devoted to veterans who have committed suicide since returning from the ongoing wars, will be on display through 27 May at Hermann Park along Fannin St. just west of the Sam Houston statue and Hermann Circle Drive. On May 25th and 26th the memorial will include the Texas chapter of the American Friends Service Committee’s Eyes Wide Open display of boots for each of the nearly 400 Texans killed in Iraq.

Watch KHOU TV video here.