Congress will hear from the average boots-on-the-ground soldiers - IVAW testimony - May 15th - Call your congressperson...

Congress has heard from politicians, pundits, and generals, but not, up to this point, from the average boots-on-the-ground soldier.

On May 15th, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) begin the process of righting this imbalance with Winter Soldier on the Hill. Nine members of IVAW will testify under oath before the CPC about rules of engagement, the killing and abuse of civilians, the use of drop weapons, and the true consequences of the "surge."

Winter Soldier on the Hill will allow the US Congress to be more fully informed about the situation in iraq through soldiers' eyewitness accounts of the on-going military occupation, while they debate (more than likely for the last time during the Bush-Cheney administration) the funding for U.S. military operations in Iraq.

Who: Iraq Veterans Against the War & The Congressional Progressive Caucus
What: Winter Soldier on the Hill  -  An Open Forum
When: 15 May 2008 9:30 am  - 12:30 pm
Where: 2261 Rayburn House Office Building


CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AFTER YOU READ THIS!!
Capitol Switchboard in Washington, DC - for all Members of Congress: 1-202-224-3121

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Winter Soldier on the Hill testifier bios

Jason Lemieux: Originally from Tupper Lake, New York, Jason Lemieux served as an Infantryman with the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines. He served three tours in Iraq, serving in Karbala, Husaybah and Ramadi. He was honorably discharged from Active Duty with a Good Conduct Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon on July 9, 2006.

Lemieux will testify on loose rules of engagement, the killing of innocent civilians, and the hiding of these killings through falsified reports and cover-ups.

Scott Ewing: Originally from Providence, Road Island, Scott Ewing took a leave of absence from Brown University in 2004 to enlist in the army as a cavalry scout. He deployed to Iraq with the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment in March of 2005. He has been awarded a Karen T. Romer Undergraduate Research and Teaching Assistantship to do research on the culture of recruiting in the army with Professor of Anthropology and International Relations, Catherine Lutz. His article, "Ambiguous Regulations Lead to Abuse" was recently accepted for publication in Military Review.

Ewing will testify on the failed troop surge in Tall Afar, the killing of innocent civilians, random detainments and house raids, destruction of civilian property, and misrepresentations of the war in the media.

Geoffrey Millard: Originally from Buffalo, New York, Geoff Millard joined the NY Army National guard in1998 at the age of 17. He served for 9 years including tours of duty at ground zero after 9-11 and for 13 months in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Millard will testify on endemic racism during his tour of Iraq, including among high-ranking Army officers.

Kristofer Goldsmith: Originally from Long Island, New York, Kristofer Goldsmith deployed to Iraq in 2005 as a Forward Observer with the Third Infantry Division. He served in Sadr City and Baghdad, and was stop-lossed after returning from Iraq.

Goldsmith will testify on low morale and the psychological consequences of the "troop surge," as well as the breakdown of Iraqi infrastructure.

Vincent Emanuele: Originally from Chesterton, Indiana, Vincent Emanuele served as a Rifleman with the U.S. Marine Corp. He deployed to Iraq in 2004, and served in Al Qaim and Al Asad.

Emanuele will be testifying on the killing of civilians and livestock, the use of drop weapons, racism, and the destruction of property.

James Gilligan: Originally from Sayreville, New Jersey, James Gilligan served six years with the Marine Corp as an Infantryman and Combat Engineer. He was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, and was awarded two Combat Action Ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Gilligan will testify on the abuse of civilians, looting, destruction of property, racism, equipment shortages, media misrepresentation, and "search and avoid" missions.

Adam Kokesh: Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Adam Kokesh volunteered in 2003 to go to Iraq with the 3rd Civil Affairs Group out of Camp Pendleton. He was attached to the First Marine Regiment, which was responsible for the Fallujah area.

Kokesh will be testifying about the creation of internally displaced refugees during the siege of Fallujah, changing rules of engagement, taking war trophy photographs, and abuse of detainees.

Sergio Kochergin: Originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Sergio Kochergin served two tours in Iraq in a scout/sniuper platoon with U.S. Marine Corp.

Kochergin will testify on loose rules of engagement, killing of civilians, dehumanization, and the use of drop weapons.

Luis Montalvan: Originally from Washington D.C., Luis Montalvan was an Army officer who served two tours in Iraq with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Montalvan worked extensively with General Petraeus in Southern Baghdad and the Western Nineveh Provinces. He was awarded over 30 decorations, including two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. In January-April of 2007 he worked with the American Enterprise Institute as a member of the Iraq Planning Group.

Luis Montalvan will testify on fraud, waste, and abuse perpetrated by U.S. contractors, negligence and dereliction of duty on the part of commanding officers, and misreporting on the "troop surge."

Pro-War protesters often yell at us "don't take your views to the streets, take them to Washington DC!" Well, now we are finally being invited to tell Congress the whole truth about the Occupation of Iraq.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP! Look in your phone book NOW and get your Senator and Representatives numbers and tell them about the IVAW on the Hill! Copy and e-mail this to everyone you know! YOU HOLD YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS! Make sure they're at this hearing!

 Capitol Switchboard in Washington, DC - for all Members of Congress: 1-202-224-3121

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Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Inc.

(773) 276-4189

e-mail: vvaw@vvaw.org

http://www.vvaw.org

Fighting for veterans, peace and justice since 1967 

Sent to WNPJ by David L. Williams of Peregrine Forum = 608-442-8399 (home) 608-886-6166 (cell) dvdwilliams51@yahoo.com