[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Veteran of "Collateral Murder" video speaks out

[Karen Medina]

[A member of Iraq Veterans Against the War speaks about incidents like those
depicted in the recently released brief video "Collateral Murder" in which
over a dozen people, including two Reuters journalists were killed by US
military helicopter shooters.-karen medina]

*Dear IVAW Supporter,*

*"If these videos shock and revolt you, they show the reality of what war is
like.  If you don't like what you see in them, it means we should be working
harder towards alternatives to war."*

These are the words of 

Josh Stieber who served with Bravo Company 2-16,
whose members were involved in the incident captured in Wikileaks'
"Collateral Murder" video.  The video depicting a July 2007 shooting
incident outside of Baghdad in which over a dozen people, including two
Reuters journalists were killed, has made national headlines.

*"A lot of my friends are in that video." *
Josh is a conscientious objector and member of IVAW who says that the acts
of brutality caught on film are not isolated instances, but were commonplace
during his tour of duty.  

Although he was not present at the scene of the
video, he knows those who were involved and is familiar with the
environment.

*"After watching the video, I would definitely say that that is, nine times
out of ten, the way things ended up. Killing was following military
protocol. It was going along with the rules as they are."

*

Contrary to how military officials are describing the incident as 'isolated'
and being carried out by 'a few bad apples,' Josh has been speaking out to
paint the larger picture of how soldiers are trained, how rules of
engagement in combat change from moment to moment, and other intstitutional
realities of our military occupations.

Since Josh has been speaking out, other members of his Company involved in
the incident have begun speaking publlicly as well.

*Listen to an audio clip of Josh talking about the incident
**here*<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=zNFLIhRZ9Tkzcr5hXf3O6cEt2T7kRE6e>
*.*

*Read Josh's own full analysis of the video
**here*<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=9CDd%2FpNlGJ7BQIM8IbVl6sEt2T7kRE6e>
*.*

In Solidarity,

Iraq Veterans Against the War

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