Quotes From Veterans About The War

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/07/30/the-war-you-dont-see-can-the-us-military-be-seen-as-terrorists/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Collective-evolution+%28Collective+Evolution%29

“You roll into Baghdad, and every single big apartment building is blown up by artillery and airplanes bombing.  You cannot meet someone in Iraq who has not lost a family member.  Can you imagine what we would have done in America if after 9/11, everybody in America lost a family member?  We’d be in the streets with weapons.”
- Darrel Anderson, Iraq Veteran

“I was ordered multiple times by commissioned officers, and non-commissioned officers to shoot civilians if their presence made me feel uncomfortable.  The primary loyalty is not to democracy, or to the flag, or to America, or to the Iraqi people or to the rule of law.  It is to each other’s safety at the expense of everything else.
- Jason Lemieux, Former Marine Sgt. & Infantryman

“I tried hard to be proud of my service but all I could feel was shame.  The racism could no longer mask the reality of the occupation.  These were people, these were human beings.  I’ve since been plagued by guilt anytime I see an elderly man, like the one who couldn’t walk, who we rolled onto a stretcher and told the Iraqi police to take him away.  I feel guilt anytime I see a mother with her children, like the one who cried hysterically, and screamed we were worse than Saddam as we forced her from her home.  I feel guilt anytime I see a young girl, like the one I grabbed by the arm and dragged into the street.  We were told we were fighting terrorists.  The real terrorist was me, and the real terrorism is this occupation.”
-Mike Prysner, Iraq Veteran

“When I was in Iraq I saw the devastation that the invasion had made out upon the Iraqi people.  I saw and at times participated in the dehumanization and degradation of the Iraqi people.  By robbing others of their inherent dignity, by denying them respect, and by treating them as a less-than-human other, we ultimately robbed ourselves of our own humanity and compassion.”
- Kelly Dougherty, Iraq Veteran

“Funding the war is killing the troops.  If you think about it, it’s really really blatantly obvious – and it’s really stupid that we have to say this.”
- Adam Kokesh, Iraq Veteran

“When I joined the military I raised my hand and said that I’d protect the constitution of the United States and its people, and against foreign and domestic enemies.  But guess what?  I did not raise my hand to protect private companies like KBR, and put my life on the line so we can make a buck.  When are we going to realize, the people fighting in Iraq that are fighting against us – they’re not terrorists – they’re soldiers.  What would we do if somebody invaded us?  I know I would pick up my weapon and fight against them.  What the hell do we call them?  Terrorists!?  These people want their country back.  Let’s give them their country back!”
- Iraq Veteran Against the War