Dying to Preserve the Lies: 'Marlboro Man' struggles with aftermath of war

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

'Marlboro Man' struggles with aftermath of war

see article The once unquestioning Marine is now also questioning whether US forces should be in Iraq.

'Marlboro Man' struggles with aftermath of war
see article in Spokane, WA newspaper Spokesman Review Marine in iconic image now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

an aside yet very related, Lietta highly recommending this video
see video 'No Bravery', a haunting view of Iraq war

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Considerably more young, married soldiers in this Iraq war

One of the features of military families in this war that differs from previous wars is that there are more young married soldiers.

Here are some statistics:

-- in Iraq war, soldiers often married, with children.

-- 55% of military personnel are married. 56% of those married are between 22 and 29.

-- One million military children are under 11 years old.

-- 40% are 5 years or younger.

-- 63% of spouses work, including 87% of junior-enlisted spouses.

Source: Department of Defense and National Military Family Association - 2004.

Lietta"s blog

Lietta began this blog in 2004, themed to chronicle the events as relates to deployed military troops in Iraq, fully believing her own activisism as a military family speaking out would bring the Iraq war to a close and bring the troops home quickly. Five years after the initial invasion, the U.S. occupation of Iraq (Iraq war) rages on ....

Lietta is also a contributing editor at Washblog, a political blog forum relevant to politics in Washington state, where she focuses on issues related to politics governing Iraq war.

Lietta and Arthur on Newshour with Jim Lehrer, "Homefront Battles", Oct 2004

Newshour with Jim Lehrer interview; Homefront Battles Our first media interview speaking out as military family, Lietta and Arthur Ruger, on Newshour with Jim Lehrer, Homefront Battles; aired Oct 04. Focus of this Newshour piece was the new phenomenom of military families speaking out publicly. MICHAEL BESCHLOSS - "We're seeing something that really is unusual because military families in history have been pretty much inclined not to do this sort of thing. It's in a way sort of part of that culture. And the fact that they are doing it now shows how deeply many of them feel about the fact that they were never convinced at the beginning of this war that it was the right thing to do." Below is a list of Lietta's other thirty plus military family speaking out media covered interviews that came after the Newshour piece.

Newshour with Jim Lehrer, Homefront Battles

Lietta Ruger reports on meeting with Senator Maria Cantwell

Lietta Ruger participates in meeting with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell to challenge the Senator's continued position of support for Iraq war - April 2006

Lietta's account of our meeting with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell challenging her continued position of support for Iraq war I had the opportunity to participate in this almost 2 hour meeting with Sen. Cantwell as a military family with 2 returning Iraq veterans in our family, both from Washington. Nine other participants - veterans, humanitarians, Iraqi-American citizen, teacher, political and peace activists - brought and shared their concerns in this scheduled meeting with our U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell from Washington (state) on April 10, 2006. The entire focus of the meeting was to ask Sen. Cantwell to discuss her position on war in Iraq, which she did. See my report and that of another participant on that meeting; click on link below. Sen. John Kerry and his wife were guests at fundraiser for Sen. Cantwell the next day. Several of our military family members in WA attended in hopes of sharing their concerns for their deployed loved ones with both Senators. Several did have opportunity to speak briefly with both Senators.

link to report; Sen. Cantwell explains her position Iraq war in Monday meeting with us April 10, 2006

Lt Ehren Watada

Ehren Watada with Daniel Ellsberg Citizens' Hearing on Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq
JANUARY 20-21, 2007 Tacoma, Washington, USA

In an unprecedented two-day Citizens' Hearing held over January 20-21, more than 600 citizens joined a distinguished tribunal panel in listening to testimony about the legality of the US invasion of Iraq.

The Citizens' Hearing was convened to present evidence that Lt. Ehren Watada would have presented in his February 5, 2007 court martial on the question that the military ruled barred from entry - the question of the Iraq War's legality.

Lt. Watada has repeatedly asserted that because the Iraq War is illegal, it is his duty to refuse orders to deploy.

He twice attempted to resign his commission and the Army refused his resignation citing 'stop loss'.

He stated he was willing to deploy to Afghanistan, but not Iraq as he discerned that would be illegal order on the premise that Iraq invasion/occupation is illegal.

He is the Army's first commissioned officer to take such a stand.

click on link below

Citizens' Hearing on Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq

Daniel Ellsberg giving testimony at Citizens' Hearing on Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq, Tacoma,WA, Jan 20-21, 2007.

Lietta introduces the Panelists who will hear two days of testimony at Citizens' Hearing on Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq, Tacoma, WA, Jan 20-21-2007

Lietta Ruger and Ann Wright at Citizens' Hearing on Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq, Tacoma, WA, Jan 20-21-2007.

Thank You Lt Ehren Watada support website

Lietta in support of Lt. Ehren Watada at his first press conference, June 2006, Tacoma, WA. Photograph: Ted S Warren/AP

Lietta with MFSO- WA chapter members Judy and Jenny in support at Lt Watada noon press conference, June 2006.

Dying to Preserve the Lies

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

'Marlboro Man' struggles with aftermath of war

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Suicide Hotline for Veterans

Link Finds

Considerably more young, married soldiers in this Iraq war

Lietta Ruger

email me

Lietta"s blog

Sacrifices

Lietta and Arthur on Newshour with Jim Lehrer, "Homefront Battles", Oct 2004

Lietta Ruger reports on meeting with Senator Maria Cantwell

History of Lietta"s military family speaking out media interviews

Lt Ehren Watada

Lietta Ruger and Bob Watada interview with Goldy KIRO 710.

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