Winter Soldier II: The curtain opens; Plus: More on the anti-recruiter war Update: Pinkos disrupt Move America Forward press conference
Scroll down for updates…2:27pm Eastern…just received from Melanie Morgan…here’s a pic of one of the Code Pink disrupters–ew–who crashed the MAF press conference on anti-recruiter violence….more below…Bruce Kesler: WS II “off to a lying start”…
***
It begins. The Winter Soldier II hearings kick off today. The schedule:
9:00AM – 10:45AM Rules of Engagement: Part One
11:00AM – 12:30PM The Crisis in Veterans’ Heathcare
2:00PM – 3:30PM Corporate Pillaging and Military Contractors
4:00PM – 6:00PM Rules of Engagement: Part Two
7:00PM – 8:30PM Aims of the Global War on Terror: the Political, Legal, and Economic Context of Iraq and Afghanistan
Iraq Veterans Against The War is streaming the conference.
For fair and balanced coverage, first read Scott Swett’s analysis of an MSM whitewash of IVAW’s godfathers, Vietnam Veterans Against The War.
Check the Vets for Freedom blog. If you’re liveblogging the hearings let me know.
One of the pro-troops bloggers attending the hearings reports on the restrictions the organizers have imposed:
I was just informed that the independent (freelance) bloggers would be confined to a media room, was also told I could not take photos during the briefing, althought the room was full of cameras. The part that may me a bit disturbing is that they told me I can not can take photos or film tomorrow. I will admit I am very confused, it seems that the rules change by the minute concerning independent reporter/bloggers. Only IVAW bloggers will be allowed to take pictures and view the testimony first hand. It was announced by the blogger team leader that “ONLY” IVAW bloggers would be allow in the actual area where the veterans will be testifing. I came with a open mind prepared to blog the truth the way I saw it, now, I am wondering why they are not willing to open the testimony up to bloggers that are not IVAW members. WHY!
In all fairness, I also have to say that I have been treated with respect. The IVAW members appear to be very sincere and passionate. They truly believe in what they are doing.
Our intrepid Hot Air/YAF special correspondent Jason Mattera will be there.
Meantime, Move America Forward is in D.C. and has released its special report on the war on military recruiters, building on the report I did last week. It’s time to stand up to this seditious behavior. Where do your congressional representatives stand?
MAF’s new ad:
***
Update 12:07pm Eastern. I’m traveling and on a layover. Bloggers are sending their reports from the scene.
At The Sniper, TSO reports.
Much more from John Lilyea who is updating constantly.
Eye on Oregon.
Eye on Pittsburgh.
***
Update 2:29pm Eastern. Melanie Morgan e-mails…
You guys won’t believe the scene at the National Press Club today.
We at Move America Forward were releasing our investigative report on the nationwide plague of attacks against military recruiting centers. (The Sedition Report)
Congressman John Carter (co-sponsor of the Semper Fi Act) was there speaking. So too was Debbie Lee, mother of the 1st Navy Seal killed in Iraq.
Then, midway through the news conference, members of Code Pink, International ANSWER and Global Exchange start heckling, screaming, yelling.
They said our claims of improper actions by anti-war radicals were all lies, that the anti-military activists have been nothing but peaceful.
They tried to shout down our speakers, and when we asked for security to remove them they refused to go, resulting in the forced eviction by security – despite their efforts to physically resist being removed.
Congressman Carter was whisked out for his safety and then the anti-war radicals chased down Congressman Carter’s staff. Soon thereafter as I was walking to another appointment I found myself stalked by the radicals who pulled up in a car yelling obscenities at me for daring to report on their disgusting conduct.
These people proved our point today! They did exactly what we’ve accused them of doing at military recruiting centers when they storm in, occupy the office, halt the work of recruiters and refuse to leave.
What angers me most is that these people don’t stop there. They’ve planted bombs at recruiting centers (not just Times Square but St. Lous too!). They pumped eight rounds of gunfire into the Denver military recruiting center. They’ve set fire to recruiting centers in San Jose, CA and Asheville, NC.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The complete report – including citation where their supporters cheer on the acts of violence – and our new national ad campaign focusing on this issue are at the Move America Forward website: http://www.MoveAmericaForward.org
I’m attaching a photo of one of the anti-war radicals who stood up, stripped off his clothes to reveal a pink jacket, and began screaming down our speakers at the news conference.
Folks – we struck a nerve. These people DO NOT want their seditious behavior exposed. Well, that makes me even MORE determined to do just that, and I know it will have the same effect on you as well!
***
Update 3:39pm Eastern. Bruce Kesler reports that WS II is “off to a lying start:”
rom the get-go, the BS is flying at the Iraq Veterans Against the War’s Winter Soldier II.
IVAW had promised an open hearing, so all bloggers could be present in the room, take photos, or maybe ask questions. Instead, those bloggers not aligned with IVAW have been segregated in another room and forbidden from taking photos. This blogger “Had to go potty, which necessitates escort.”
The IVAW.org website has been miraculously cleansed of much of its former material, making the job for reporters more difficult to trace what they say now and what they said before.
One indication is the IVAW Chairman, Camilio Mejia. Denis Keohane points out his escalating, wobbly “war story.”
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Trackbacks
- Anti-War Bias In Media Helps U.S. Enemies « Nice Deb
- The American Pundit » As Winter Soldier II Kicks Off…
- Democracy Project
- Rosemary's Thoughts
- Pittsburgh Anarchists Plan Violent Take Over of Military Recruiting Station on March 19th!
- A Field Guide to American Politics on Blog Talk Radio - March 14, 2008
- Yankeemom
- Gathering of Eagles: Colorado » Blog Archive » Vietnam War Myths - Exposed over 10 years ago
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » Hot Air TV: Mattera stumps Winter Soldier II tale-tellers
- Dejavu Winter Soldier II - Trackpads Community
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: They don't support the troops
Pundit & Pundette
» Westboro haters have enough to go around for everyone
Pundit & Pundette
» Guess what? Hasan frequented strip clubLegal Insurrection
» Pelosi's Abortion Land Mine ExplodesStop The ACLU
» Hasan Tried To Contact al Qaeda. Sounds Like A Jihadi To MeEd Driscoll
» Go Flag Yourself, Mr. President!JustOneMinute
» Stay Classy, Ezra!protein wisdom
» Quote of the Day [Darleen Click]
The streaming audio from the IVAW site isn’t working. A 404 Error. How convenient.
Looks like the IVAW is having all sorts of problems with their web site today. Anybody have an alternate source of the audio streaming online? I know there was a radio station but I don’t have the call letters or link.
Thanks,
“If out troops are winning in Iraq, how could some Americans be trying to defeat them here at home?”
Great question?
lgm, what do you think?
Personally, I think it should have been:
…how could some asshats be trying to defeat them here at home?”
That is just me. These people who want defeat in Iraq are NOT Americans and should not be referred to as such.
GOD Bless out troops! GOD Bless the USA!
Oh how I wish the powers that be would allow our troops and recruiters to defend themselves (with force)!
In no time there would be a lot less of these seditious a$$*oles.
It worked for me. I watched exactly 30 seconds of it before my BS meter spiked and I had to shut it off to avoid any spontaneous head explosions.
Hi Michelle, read your excellent op-ed in the Washington Times today. Thank you for laying out so succinctly the dates and individuals involved in this war on the military recruiter. Others may deny this but this is a very serious problem that our elected officials refuse to do anything about. I called earlier this week regarding this and got nothing out of my two esteemed Senators here in the Commonwealth of VA but as usual, Thelma Drake’s office said she is looking into sponsoring some bill on this matter.
I believe I know why the IVAW doesn’t want anyone but their own in there, they are either ashamed or they’re not telling the truth imho.
im watching, what a disgusting bunch of idiots.
Just started watching and I’m already snorting – if stating ‘it was called a surgical attack but he [commanding officer] is not a surgeon’ is their idea of ‘evidence’, this entire thing is just a joke. Same guy claiming that the insurgents that were being attacked had ‘rifles and rocket launchers’ but ‘probably had no idea how to use them’, therefore the attack by US was overkill.. this is ridiculous.
Steven Casey was his name btw.. wonder how long he’s been a military expert and able to know at a glance from half a click away that an insurgent with a rocket launcher doesn’t know how to use it.. *eye roll*
YAY the first heckler! Yelling that they are betraying the US! good job!
i have yet to hear how anything these guys saw or were instructed to do were not necessary given the conditions they have described.
Looking at the itinerary, it looks like they have identified some valid issues IMHO. I think we can all agree that having lawyers in charge of ROE is a baaaddd idea, and has been proven over and over again, and the VA health care ystem has been inadequate/inefficient for decades.
But if they are only going to look at it from an anti-war, anti-bush perspective, without some rebuttal nothing will be accomplished. Sad, because these are things that need some public discussion.
Unfortunately, I don’t think much constructive can come of this so long as you have items like “Corporate Pillaging and Military Contractors” on the agenda.
LOL the current guy is putting me to sleep.. he told fellow soldiers in a Bradley where he thought the insurgent shooting was coming from – a residential house and adjoining lot of palms – so they shot it up.. now ‘thinking back’ he says it probably wasn’t coming from the house but the trees next to it.. therefore it is the army’s fault for shooting up a house.. This is such a waste of time. Now he’s on about how no piece of paper can make a difference.. what the hell is he talking about.. I don’t think he even knows what his point is.
HAHA! “at the time I was completely against the war, so I volunteered” ..yup, that makes sense, nice one. I’m switching off, this is a farce.
Title 18, U.S. (Criminal) Code, Section 2388, states:
Whoever, when the United States is at war, willfully makes or conveys false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies; or
Whoever, when the United States is at war, willfully causes or attempts to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or willfully obstructs the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, to the injury of the service or the United States, or attempts to do so –
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
not sure what these gusy purpose is but if its to put the US in a bad light they are failing miserably.
*PIMF* guys*
nyc,the FARCE is who is making money off of this group.Donations,membership fees,etc,etc.Nice gig if you can get it.I wonder what the leadership is paying themselves.That is why this conference is going on,to jack up the membership.
So, the IVAW “testimony” violates the first paragraph, if any of the so-called testimony is false.
The “counter-recruitment” lefties attacking the recruiting offices violate the second paragraph.
Why isn’t the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuting these people? Call or write your Congressman and ask them to ask the Attorney General why these people are being permitted to openly engage in felony offenses.
I just watched another couple minutes and I must say if they are attempting to grasp that good ole timey 60’s hippie feeling with this spectacle they are failing miserably. The guy that was on was just rambling about helicopters landing on Iraqi heads or something. He seemed to be drifting in and out of coherency.
What a crock-o-….
If all goes as planned, I’ll be conterprotesting at the Tacoma Mall recruiting station.
This type of violence needs to be met with violence and condemnation by our society. Unfortunately, the MSM is looking forward to these “demonstrations”; makes great sensational news. We let people get away with it in the 60s, and now they are back again, fueled by kids and fools seeking to party, just like the 60s and 70s. Peaceful and ruly demonstrations are a part of our heritage and freedom, but violent demonstration and deliberate law-breaking need to be met with strong measures; strong enough to make it unhealthy and unprofitable.
We can end much of the violence and vandalism against recruiting stations. Make it a felony to committ acts of violence or destruction on a recruiting station and those that work there. A federal law that declares it treason for any American citizen to committ a violent or destructive act on a U.S. military/government property would end a lot of this. Peaceful protests are fine. Violence and destruction of property should not be allowed.
you know I might take you half way serious if you didn’t look like some 60’s hippie wannabee
nyc123me thanks for attempting to stomach the lies coming from this pack of losers I know I can’t watch it without launching my laptop.
509th Bob I also wonder why the DOJ refuses to enforce the laws of this nation it drives me nuts too.
USN RET stay vigilant and safe when you confront the seditious traitors at the Tacoma Mall. The tolerant liberals and anarchist always like to verbally or physically attack those that have the audacity to not march in lockstep with them.
I will check back to see how this farce is going I’m just trying to keep the old blood pressure from going critical listening to these lies.
I couldn’t get to the video, but at the IVAW site, they proudly announce that they have 800 members.
Let’s see, 800 people out of around 1.2 million serving on active duty. That works out to 0.067%. Less than one tenth of one percent. Who cares what these whiners think?
I was not going to click on the streaming link because I am trying to cut down on swearing. Like an idiot, I did anyhow and that is what you see before the video even starts and now, I want to swear like I am watching a Rosie O’ clip from the Veiw.
I must be into pain……..
Won’t be watching, life’s too short. There’s enough ugliness in life as it is, why look under rocks for more?
A question for the Dem candidates — Hillbilly and Glowbama: Howcome you haven’t denounced these morons?
Oh yeah, they are their supporters, that’s why.
I think you can get a better feed if you go over to the http://www.clowns4life//failuresinthemilitary//losersatlife.com website.
MM, THANK YOU for getting the important work of MAF out there for everyone to see. Melanie Morgan (the *other* “MM”) deserves our encouragement and support, and is making a huge difference. If we are but one, Move America Forward and Michelle Malkin are the tanks on which we’ll ride in.
Yee Haw!
Here’s a quote from the Pittsburgh site linked above.
This is clearly an overt act of sedition, being advertised in advance. If these weenies have the sack to show up, they should be beaten senseless, locked in their own portable cage, and dumped into the Allegheny.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
ArmoredCAV,
It seems the link is not working for me.
Naturally, I meant the shallow part of the Allegheny, just like the end of the gene pool where they are swimming.
What a bunch of twits. As pointed out above there are a few valid issues the VA among them that really need to be addressed, however these idiots just want their 15 minutes and book deals. I love how the cowards are just making vauge accusations to avoid the possibility of being charged ( if the events are real ) or being found out as liars.
To be quite honest I have little doubt that a few isolated sick idiots have done things in Iraq, but if you were to much of a coward to call them out when they were doing evil you are an even bigger coward to now blanket all the brave folks there with accusations.
If you happen to be out and about today drop by and give your local recruiters a hug, a heartfelt thanks, some food gift cards or all three.
God Bless our Patriots !
J S Ragman, you’re NOT wrong.
Ha! CODE STUPID strikes again!
Melanie and Michelle, mega-dittoes, kudos and keep it up!
These idiots will not survive much scrutiny with their PR spin intact. They are morons, plain and simple. Expose them for what they actually are, and they freak out!
I love it. Implode you idiots, hoist yourselves on your own PINK PETARD!
Vets for Freedom just contacted my chapter of the Student Veteran Organization at San Diego State University with a request…there will be anti-war demonstrators showing up tonight with the intent of disrupting the Vets for Freedom concert/rally on the USS Midway in San Diego tonight and they need us to help keep them out. If anyone lives in SoCal, please come out and show your support for our veterans and soldiers currently serving. The event starts at 6p, but Vets for Freedom and Hugh Hewitt and others will be there starting at about 3p. Please come out or at least help spread the word!
Ooohhhh. Now I get it! Just like 9-11, these bombs at recruiting stations are an inside job, because everyone knows that only the military can make crude pipebomb explosives. And because they are dumb enough to get stuck in Iraq, they are also dumb enough to be picked up on video surveillance cameras.
It all becomes clear now.
sarc/
I have been keeping an eye on the IVAW live feed. In between the LIVE panels the group ‘Democracy Now!’ has been playing old interviews from their reporters (like Naomi Klein) back in 2004 as though they just occurred recently. They forgot to take out the Paul Bremer references. LOL!
Some of the personal testimony by soldiers with first hand accounts of what they’ve experienced personally has been compelling, but when put in perspective of this “circus” as a whole it diminishes the significance of what they have to say.
That guy doesn’t look “peaceful” to me. Everything about his body language, captured forever in this photo, looks menacing and icky.
And I’m sorry, but that uber-pink shirt is downright scary.
Definitely not peaceful.
No. 39: Davenp35. Good luck to you out there in your efforts to conduct your Vets for Freedom concert. As a vet, you have my support and prayers for safekeeping against these seditious peaceniks/traitors. We had ‘em back in the day as well. Please post here any photos, links, etc. to keep us all up to date about the event in San Diego. Thanks, all you guys!
Wow these Code Pinkos are morons! Disrupting a meeting to protest that they don’t do any such thing such as disrupt meetings.. seriously, retards. These people need a few decades in a padded cell.
And the removal of any non-supporters from ‘The Wanker Soldier’ self-aggrandizing rally is typical of their ‘do as I say, not as I do’ actions – which fits right in line with many politicians – explains why these morons have not been stopped.
Watching the video and reading the live blogging, those IVAW members at WSII remind me of all the clinically diagnosed anti-social types I saw discharged over the course of my Army career. They need to go back to shaking the trees harder, in Basic Training and Boot Camp for loose nuts, and drop them from our military right there.
davenp35,
As a fellow veteran I join FirstSkirt in wishing you well in your efforts to keep the filthy hordes of liberals from dishonoring the deck of the USS Midway with their seditious and treasonous acts they consider performance art. A neighbor kid is in the Navy working Shore Patrol duty and stationed in San Diego and would love to see him and some friends along with a few Marines for diversities sake provide security for the concert. Good luck in the People’s Republic of Kalifornia and stay safe.
I agree that some of them are just as you describe, especially the ex-Marine on the current panel from Vermont (light blue shirt, reddish hair/beard) who tore off his medals and threw them on the floor about 30 minutes ago at the beginning of his “testimony”.
The others like Jason Lemeiux on this current panel seem like vets who were sincerely disgusted by what they saw and experienced. I’d put the 82nd Airborne Army vet in the same category.
Even the men wear pink shirts? this really is weird what would pink signify for a man?
The bottom line is that Congress can raise an army and maintain a navy. If the military cannot recruit, it cannot raise nor maintain. It is treason, pure and simple.
Meanwhile anarchists are having a good cry in Berkeley:
“In tears, one man said that as he carried a World Can’t Wait sign at the February 12 rally in Civic Center Park, “the police … shoved me into the mud. One of the cops took my sign and stomped it into several pieces, inches from my head. … They stomped me hard in the chest,” he claimed amid gasps from the audience, which applauded after he described an emergency-room visit and a chest-wall-contusion diagnosis.”
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/blogs/protesters_vs__berkeley_cops/Content?oid=663213
Looks like Bowdlerizing their website won’t really help: http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://IVAW.org
The wayback machine doesn’t show the snapshots until they’ve aged for six to twelve months. So their purged version won’t show up until after the election or so.
Snappy dresser?
FNC’s Special Report covered the Pittsburgh link. I think FNC’s newsroom uses Michelle as show prep.
Havent you heard?
Pink is the new Yellow.
These blogs are great.
So far, WSII has had no real atrocity stories. Just a lot of whining.
There are some legitimate complaints about underfunded VA care, but I noted one liar was caught complaining that he could not get care at Walter Reed.
IVAW has made a great effort to rewrite its history and protect itself against obvious frauds like Jessie McBeth. But Adam Kokesh is still part of the group.
It makes me very sad to think that when my son comes home from Iraq he may be bombarded with hate from those who are supposed to be on his side. Those who have been using the freedoms he is fighting to preserve and protect — and using them to slander the one who is defending them. It’s maddening!I seriously become depressed when I hear of these things. Deployment of my son, into a combat zone, has been by far the hardest thing I have ever faced in my life… and facing it with this stuff going on takes away the joy and hope of anticipating a peaceful reentry time for our soldiers.
I’ve gotten to where I don’t like the color pink anymore.
I cannot believe these traitors want to disrupt the Vets For Freedom event. Many honored vets are in attendance tonight. I won’t say anything more than that I have extremely ill will toward these people.
You are right.
Since it has always BEEN Treason, and s till is Treasonous, it SHOULD be a Federal Law, as such.
Please please please please spit on me when I get home. I really want to stomp one or more of these seditious turds into fertilizer. I’ll even retain hold of my duffle bag in one hand, just to make it easier for me….
It’ll be good for them, and great for me
Urinating and defecating on corpses is very, very bad behavior. The soldiers who have done so should be ashamed.
Note that it is part of Staff Sgt. Wuterich of Haditha fame’s sworn testimony of his own behavior. After killing the five suspected insurgents from the taxi that was fleeing the scene, Wuterich pissed on their corpses.
Not behavior for folks on the home front to be proud of.
I have to ask out of morbid curiosity, but did you have your feet propped up, a cold drink in your hand and sitting in the relative safety of your own home when you wrote that? Tsk, tsk. Soldiers and Marines should always mind their manners when they are engaging in combat and have just witnessed a friend ripped in two by an IED.
Thank you for your moral assessment. Yes, those Marines should be ashamed. Maybe we should make them write 100 times on the chalk board “I will not pee on dead bodies when I am engaging in combat. I am sorry.”
I don’t think it’s good behavior either, but dang it I am just not there dodging bullets and IEDs left and right and kneeling in front of empty boots that were once filled by someone that I call my “brother.” It’s a little hard for me to feel so righteous about what’s such good conduct in the raw sewage of horrific combat. I am sure Hollywood will design something to help us all understand it. (rolling my eyes at that one)
Now what?
On the other hand… do you think that Code Pink should apologize to all of the Marines and soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan for interfering with the freedom of speech of other American citizens, as well as the Citizes working in the Military — the Marine recruiters too. The troops are on the front lines defending that right and Code Pink should be ashamed of themselves for acting like childish brats.
That’s not behavior from the home front that our troops on the front lines can be proud of at all.
Counter protested at the Tacoma Mall today. Sent Michelle an email with account and pics (I think, still pretty computer illiterate). Had them outnumbered about 2 to 1. Had a pretty good time, lots of people driving by and giving us honks and waves.