First Lady (to be), Michelle Obama phoned me - at my home!!

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Wednesday November 12, 2008 · 10:51 AM PST

2008/11/12 · 10:51

She really did. She phoned on Veterans Day. I was sitting at my desk in my home in my lounge around the house clothes, working on my laptop. The dawning of the fullness of the recognition that I was on the phone listening to Michelle Obama, who will very soon be the First Lady hit me like a ton of bricks and blew me away. Wow, I'm on a phone call with the First Lady -- how cool is that!

dyingwarriors

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Sunday December 31, 2006 · 2:32 PM PST

2006/12/31 · 14:32

Who else has seen the actual Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC? I have, in DC, and the replica Vietnam Wall at the state capitol in Olympia, and the traveling Vietnam memorial replica wall - total of three times over the course of my 55 years. I know everyone who sees the wall is overcome by the sheer numbers of names engraved into the black walls. I know my experience of visiting the Vietnam Wall in DC was a visceral experience and personal experience for me....a vigil I dreaded to undertake, for it was the first time in my lifetime that I would see the actual real Wall.

dyingwarriors

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Thursday July 13, 2006 · 11:19 AM PDT

2006/07/13 · 11:19

In the most recent 'exclusive interview' with Lt. Ehren Watada, on July 12, 2006, in Seattle, WA, hear him respond to legitmate criticisms and oppositions to his decision to refuse orders to deploy to Iraq. As an Officer of U.S. Army, he has taken his responsibility seriously to discern legal from illegal orders. In his best judgment, he has refused to deploy to Iraq as in his consideration it is an illegal order to an illegal war. There has been plenty of time now between June 7, 2006 when he announced his intention and decision to refuse to deploy with his Stryker brigade unit for people to weigh in with opinions to his decision. Hear for yourself, first hand, Lt. Watada respond to those criticisms.

dyingwarriors

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Friday July 07, 2006 · 9:31 AM PDT

2006/07/07 · 09:31

Please see Kosser Daniel's diary 'they should put us all in jail' today regarding Lt. Ehren Watada. I don't want to rewrite what he has already written, but I know he has tried diligently to write solid diaries at DK reporting on Lt. Watada which quickly fall off the radar. I've also written a couple of diaries with first hand accounts of my experiences as a supporting endorsing organization of Lt. Watada and those have just as quickly fallen off the radar here at DK.

So please take a moment to visit Daniel's diary today and give it a recommend. Lt Watada story is as important and worthy a story as most being written here at DK. Thank you Kossacks, I know you do care and this story is more getting overlooked than deliberately ignored.

Resist and Advance vs Surrender and Retreat

dyingwarriors

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Wednesday June 21, 2006 · 9:28 AM PDT

2006/06/21 · 09:28

It's become beyond wearisome to observe the political soap opera drama play out day after day in an illusion of reality with consequences to politicians meaning only their own political careers. While a harsher reality extracts the lives of human beings each and every day in a misbegotten 'wartime' reality, politicians fancy themselves playing cleverly at a game of win/lose. What would be a win/win strategy, I wonder daily, that would 'turn the corner' to the ongoing aggression of win/lose?

A debate in Senate goes on today and I see an AP report this morning in which the blatant use of emotionally charged words are being tossed about to fuel the fires of perpetuating the win/lose political strategies. Words like surrendering and retreat and that fear-inspiring cut and run. If politicians are going to use the emotionally charged words of the military, then I have a few military-based words of my own to contribute. Read More

In a second Lt Watada press conference; supporter Col Ann Wright says illegal war and war crimes

dyingwarriors

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Tuesday June 20, 2006 · 12:09 PM PDT

2006/06/20 · 12:09

In a second press conference Lt Ehren Watada held in Seattle, June 19, 2006, (ret) Army Colonel and Diplomat, Ann Wright, speaks in support of Lt. Watada's decision to refuse orders to deploy to Iraq as his right to disobey illegal orders.

I posted two DK diaries herehere and here about the first press conference for Lt Watada on June 7, 2006 in Tacoma, WA. My two diaries were rescued in the daily DK rescues here. Now I'm reporting on his second press conference held in Seattle, WA. (I also posted this to Washblog part of Pacific Northwest netroots networking.)

NOTE: June 27 will be a national day of action in support of Lt. Watada and his refusal to deploy. Supporters have planned events across the country, including events at Ft Lewis, WA; Charlotte, NC; Cleveland, OH; Harrisburg, PA; San Francisco, CA; and Oklahoma City, OK.

more below the fold with text of Col. Ann Wright's speech and link to video Read More

Military attempts to stop Lt. Watada from speaking against illegal war

dyingwarriors

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Saturday June 10, 2006 · 8:42 AM PDT

2006/06/10 · 08:42

link Thank you Lt Ehren for resisting an illegal war website

An expected reaction by U.S. Army to Lt. Watada's public statement of his intent to refuse to deploy with his unit to Iraq.

The time to act in support of Lt Watada is now, as Stryker brigade our of Fort Lewis is scheduled to deploy to Iraq before the end of June 2006. This is not a time to languish, rather a time to give direct support to Lt Watada's act of courage as an Officer of the U.S. Army.

Lt Watada has said he expects and accepts there will be consequences to his public statement of illegal war / illegal orders and the Army is correct to act. What you can do right now will unlikely influence what Lt Watada will have to face, and he expects fully to face charges and resulting punishments.

Military Families support Lt Watada at Tacoma press conference

dyingwarriors

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Friday June 09, 2006 · 6:37 PM PDT

2006/06/09 · 18:37

Reporting on press conference of Lt Ehren Watada, Tacoma, WA, June 7, 2006. Yes, that is me in the photo, to the right of Lt Watada when he was first introduced at the 6 PM media conference. I'm in the white Military Families Speak Out - (WA state chapter) t-shirt. Supporters give him welcome applause.

I was there at the noon press conference, Lt Watada was prohibited by his Fort Lewis chain of command from attending the scheduled noon press conference. In his absence his statement was given in the prepared video taped DVD. Announcement made that Lt Watada would be available at 6 PM to answer questions if media/press wanted to return at that time. Media/press did return, and I was there for both the noon and the 6PM press conferences.

My report and perceptions with links to actual video of Lt Watada answering questions from the media which you can hear for yourself and form your own perceptual opinions. He is very poised and even in expressing his thoughts and I was very impressed with this young 28 yr old Officer.

3 Private Meetings w/ Sen. Cantwell - is her position on Iraq evolving?

dyingwarriors

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Thursday May 11, 2006 · 12:36 PM PDT

2006/05/11 · 12:36

I don't know if her position is evolving, but I do know she is now at least talking about her position on Iraq war. From what I am given to understand that is not something she has done these past months. I've been a participant in 2 of the 3 meetings with the Senator scheduled specifically to discuss her position on Iraq. I've now heard her first hand on two separate occasions in April and May 2006 in these meetings. Read More

Seattle PI editorial board calls out Cantwell on her war position.

dyingwarriors

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Friday March 24, 2006 · 9:12 AM PST

2006/03/24 · 09:12

posted at Washblog, one of the feature blogs at Pacific Northwest Portal

By Lietta Ruger
Fri Mar 24, 2006

Disclaimer: my political allegiance lies more in supporting our troops by bringing them home (and taking care of them when they get home). The efforts of our organization, Military Families Speak Out (and see also Military Families Speak Out - WA state chapter are to challenge our elected officials on their position on Iraq war. Begging off taking a position in favor of 'staying the course' in alignment with the Commander-in-Chief's position does not translate to a plan of action for our troops, their families, our country.

Apparantly the editorial board of Seattle PI has a definite opinion about Cantwell's war position...see article below the fold. Read More

Reflections from the bus; Bring Them Home Now Tour

dyingwarriors

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Saturday October 01, 2005 · 1:14 PM PDT

2005/10/01 · 13:14

I was among the participants and panel speakers on the central route of the Bring Them Home Now Tour, Crawford, TX to Washington DC Sept 05. We were asked to write our thoughts about our time on the tours. Writing up my own reflections, I chose to share here at Kos as well. see below the fold. Read More

Re-enlistment Pressures; Repeat deployments; Norms for military families

dyingwarriors

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Wednesday September 28, 2005 · 9:37 AM PDT

2005/09/28 · 09:37

I was at Crawford that first week of Camp Casey. I was on the Bring Them Home Now Bus tour, central tour, the past 4 weeks. I walked the halls of Congress in my shorts and tank top speaking with Senators, Representatives, aides as we did also at every stop in every city on our tour. I was at the rally in DC on Sept 24 among the Military Families Speak Out contingent which was one of the four coalitions of the military community voice with single message; Bring The Troops Home Now, and take care of them when they get home.

Upon my return home Monday, an urgent email request awaited my attention. A request to share our family's experience of Stop Loss. I responded and my letter has been circulated in a number of places I didn't expect. I can presume then, the content of that letter resonates with many and so am posting it here as well.

Letter below the fold; Read More

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First Lady (to be), Michelle Obama phoned me - at my home!!

Reflecting 3,000 - Who else has seen Vietnam Wall in DC?

Exlusive Interview w/ Lt. Ehren Watada; Answers oppositions questions

Hey! What's it going to take to get Lt Watada noticed at DK?

Resist and Advance vs Surrender and Retreat

In a second Lt Watada press conference; supporter Col Ann Wright says illegal war and war crimes

Military attempts to stop Lt. Watada from speaking against illegal war

Military Families support Lt Watada at Tacoma press conference

3 Private Meetings w/ Sen. Cantwell - is her position on Iraq evolving?

Seattle PI editorial board calls out Cantwell on her war position.

Reflections from the bus; Bring Them Home Now Tour

Re-enlistment Pressures; Repeat deployments; Norms for military families