Veterans reveal the truth about Iraq and Afghanistan in a six-part web series by

David Zeiger, Director of Sir! No Sir!, and Bestor Cram & Mike Majoros, Directors of Unfinished Symphony.

 

“There are no more authoritative voices to speak out about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan than the people who have been there under fire,” declares singer Tom Morello (The Nightwatchman, Rage Against the Machine), as he leads an intense celebration of three days of intense, painful, and liberating testimony. , Jon Turner declares for all, “I am sorry for the things that I did, I am no longer the monster that I once was.”

 

No Longer a Monster revised 10/14 from Displaced Films on Vimeo

This is Where We Take Our Stand - The Series

Where’s the debate?

Are we watching passively while Barack Obama carries out the same policies as George W. Bush?

When an American bombing raid this May killed over two hundred civilians in a village in Afghanistan, it was met with a deafening silence. When Obama’s promised “withdrawal” from Iraq leaves 130,000 troops there for at least two more years and 50,000 permanently, it’s hailed as an end to the occupation. And who is demanding to know just what the mission really is when 30,000 more troops are sent to Afghanistan?

Where’s the debate?

In March of 2008, two hundred and fifty veterans and active duty soldiers marked the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by gathering in Washington, DC, to testify from their own experience about the nature of the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. It was chilling, horrifying, and challenging for all who witnessed it. Against tremendous odds, they brought the voices of the veterans themselves into the debate. That was then.

This is now.  Today, we present to you This is Where We Take Our Stand, the inside story of those three days and the courageous men and women who testified. And we present this story today, told in six episodes, because we believe it is as relevant now as it was one year ago. Maybe more.

Here is our challenge to you: Watch the series; spread it far and wide; and ask yourself is this about the past, or the present and future. Then add your voice.

If you are a veteran or active duty, present your own testimony. If you are not, but you are still a living, breathing member of the human race, then do whatever you can to join and fan the flames of debate.

 

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America's 30 Year War On Afghanistan

By: James A. Lucas

March 02, 2010 "Information Clearing House" -- Interference by the U.S. in the internal affairs of Afghanistan has been a tragic chapter in our nation’s history.

Over three decades ago, there were social movements in Afghanistan to improve the standard of living of its people, to provide greater equality for women, and there was a functioning, if imperfect, democracy. However the U.S., using subversion, weapons and money was able, as the leader of coalition of nations, to stop progress in these areas of human welfare. FULL ARTICLE

 We Don't Want Peace

A few of the many

Sgt. Terry J. Lynch 22 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Shepherd, Montana. Died of wounds suffered when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle in Wardak province, Afghanistan, on June 29, 2009

Pvt. Steven T. Drees 19 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Peshtigo, Wisconsin. Died June 28, 2009, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher in Konar province, Afghanistan, on June 24, 2009

Pfc. Peter K. Cross 20 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Saginaw, Texas. Died of injuries sustained during a vehicle rolloverat Combat Outpost Carwile, Afghanistan, on June 26, 2009

1st Lt. Brian N. Bradshaw 24 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Steilacoom, Washington. Died of wounds suffered when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle in Kheyl, Afghanistan, on June 25, 2009

Sgt. Ricky D. Jones 26 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Plantersville, Alabama One of two soldiers. Killed when their unit was attacked by indirect fire in Bagram, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2009

Spc. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas 27 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Germantown, Maryland. One of two soldiers. Killed when their unit was attacked by indirect fire in Bagram, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2009

1st Sgt. John D. Blair 38 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard Calhoun, Georgia. Died of wounds suffered when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle in Mado Zayi, Afghanistan, on June 20, 2009

Command Master Chief Jeffrey J. Garber 43 Deployed aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Hemingford, Nebraska. Died of non-hostile causes aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 20, 2009

Maj. Sean Birchall 33 IX Company, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards Guildford, Surrey, England. Killed by an explosion during a patrol in Basharan, near Lashkar Gah, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 19, 2009

Sgt. Paul G. Smith 43 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard Peoria, Illinois. One of two soldiers . Killed when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on June 19, 2009

Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Melton 26 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard Carlyle, Illinois. One of two soldiers . Killed when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on June 19, 2009

Pvt. Martin Abildgaard 23 Gardehusarregimentet (Guard Hussar Regiment) Denmark. One of three Danish soldiers. Killed when their Piranha armored vehicle struck a roadside bomb north of Gereskh in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 17, 2009

Pfc. Andreas S. Brohus 26 Gardehusarregimentet (Guard Hussar Regiment) Denmark. One of three Danish soldiers. Killed when their Piranha armored vehicle struck a roadside bomb north of Gereskh in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 17, 2009

Sgt. 1st Class Kevin A. Dupont 52 79th Troop Command Templeton, Massachusetts. Died on June 17, 2009, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Kandau, Afghanistan on March 8, 2009

Pvt. Mads Lerche Rasmussen 21 Gardehusarregimentet (Guard Hussar Regiment) Denmark. One of three Danish soldiers. Killed when their Piranha armored vehicle struck a roadside bomb north of Gereskh in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 17, 2009

Spc. Jonathan C. O’Neill 22 Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade Zephyrhills, Florida. Died on June 15, 2009, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Paktya, Afghanistan, on June 2

Warrant Officer Allain Tikko 30 Estcoy-8 infantry company, Scoutspataljon Kõpu, Viljandimaa, Estonia. Killed when his patrol was attacked outside Patrol Base Pimon in southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 15, 2009

Cpl. Martin Dubé 35 5 Combat Engineer Regiment Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Killed when a roadside bomb he was attempting to neutralize exploded in Panjwayi district 12.4 miles (20 km) southwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on June 14, 2009

Lt. Paul Mervis 27 2nd Battalion, The Rifles London, England. Killed as a result of an explosion during a deliberate operation near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 12, 2009

Pvt. Robert McLaren 20 Kintra, Isle of Mull, Scotland The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Killed in an explosion that occurred as he attempted to move forward during a firefight in southern Afghanistan, on June 11, 2009

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ricky L. Richardson Jr. 33 Franklin, Missouri 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force. Died while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on June 10, 2009

Spc. Eduardo S. Silva 25 563rd Aviation Support Battalion, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division Greenfield, California. Died of a non-combat related incident at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on June 9, 2009

Pvt. Alexandre Péloquin 20 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment Brownsburg-Chatham, Quebec, Canada. Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a foot patrol in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on June 8, 2009

Lance Cpl. Joshua R. Whittle 20 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Downey, California. Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 6, 2009

Maj. Rocco M. Barnes 50 Tactical Command Post, 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard Los Angeles, California . Died on injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over in Afghanistan on June 4, 2009

Staff Sgt. John C. Beale 39 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard Riverdale, Georgia. One of three soldiers killed by a homemade bomb and small-arms fire near Kapisa, Afghanistan, on June 4, 2009

Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette 37 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard Lula, Georgia. One of three soldiers killed by a homemade bomb and small-arms fire near Kapisa, Afghanistan, on June 4, 2009

Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan 21 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard Rome, Georgia One of three soldiers killed by a homemade bomb and small-arms fire near Kapisa, Afghanistan, on June 4, 2009

Spc. Jarrett P. Griemel 20 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division La Porte, Texas . Died of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident at Forward Operating Base Gardez, Afghanistan, on June 3, 2009

Spc. Roberto A. Hernandez II 21 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade Far Rockaway, New York. Died of wounds sustained when his mounted patrol was attacked by a homemade bomb and small-arms fire in Paktya, Afghanistan on June 2, 2009

Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher 19 Company C, 2nd Battalion, The Rifles Caversham, Reading, England. Killed by an explosion during a patrol near Gereshk in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 2, 2009

Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Hall 28 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Huntsville, Alabama One of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle in Nerkh, Afghanistan, on June 1, 2009

Sgt. Jasper K. Obakrairur 26 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Hilo, Hawaii . Died of wounds suffered when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Nerkh, Afghanistan, on June 1, 2009

Pfc. Matthew D. Ogden 33 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Corpus Christi, Texas. One of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle in Nerkh, Afghanistan, on June 1, 2009

Pfc. Matthew W. Wilson 19 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Miller, Missouri. One of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle in Nerkh, Afghanistan, on June 1, 2009