Dublin anti-war meeting: Three Abu-Ghraib interrogators to speak

by Anti-War Ireland (Dublin branch) Wed Oct 11, 2006 13:08 info at antiwarireland dot org

Stephen Lewis served five years in the US army as an arabic speaking interrogator. He spent a year in Iraq, much of the time at Abu Ghraib.

Joshua Casteel, Tony Lagouranis and Stephen Lewis served together as interrogators at Abu Ghraib. Their unit was the 202 military intelligence battalion. Near the end of the tour in Iraq, Joshua and Stephen confided in each other that they would both apply for conscientious objection as soon as they returned to the US. They did and both are now members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, as is Tony Lagouranis.

This should be a fascinating meeting. The fact that THREE members of the same intelligence unit have come out strongly against the war sends a powerful message that support in the US army for the Bush war effort should not be taken for granted.

A recent interview with Tony Lagouranis, who will speak at AWI events in Dublin, Shannon, Limerick, Cork and Belfast, can be seen by clicking the following link:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/torture/intervi....html

by browser Wed Oct 11, 2006 16:03

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Tony Lagourinas, former Abu Ghraib interrogator, who will speak in Dublin

by AWI Mon Oct 23, 2006 13:40

The two final speakers have been confirmed for this meeting.

Goretti Horgan of the Derry Anti-War Coalition will speak on behalf of the Raytheon Nine. She was present and participated in the Raytheon action.

Colm Breathnach will speak on behalf of Anti-War Ireland.

by anon Tue Oct 24, 2006 13:00

Is there any similar organisation in Britain for ex-squaddies who've turned against the war? I know there's a group representing the families of soldiers but is there any representing Brit soldiers who've turned against the war?

It'll be interesting on Thursday as well if these guys talk for a bit about where the US anti-war movement is at.

by updater Thu Oct 26, 2006 16:58

Two of the former Abu-Ghraib interrogators will be interviewed on Radio 1 Drivetime tonight. Between 5 and 6, I think.

by anon Thu Oct 26, 2006 20:28

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 200 active duty U.S. armed service members, fed up with the war in Iraq, have joined an unusual protest calling for withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country, organizers said on Wednesday.

The campaign, called the Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq, is the first of its kind in the Iraq war and takes advantage of Defense Department rules allowing active duty troops to express personal opinions to members of Congress without fear of retaliation, organizers said.

"As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq," states the appeal posted on the campaign's Web site at www.appealforredress.org .

"Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home," it adds.

The Web site allows service members to sign the appeal that will be presented to members of Congress. Organizers said the number of signatories has climbed from 65 to 219 since the appeal was posted a few days ago and Wednesday when it was publicly launched.

Active Duty GIs Being Recruited To Lobby Congress Against War
http://www.nysun.com/article/42334
"I think it is shameful because the timing is so close to the election. They ought to be ashamed of themselves," a retired Air Force lieutenant general, Thomas McInerney, told The New York Sun yesterday by phone from Israel. "The soldiers should be ashamed of themselves for being duped into this. It is to be expected from a MoveOn.org-type group. They have no standards."

Backers of the website also cite a "whistle-blower protection" law under which service members can file complaints to Congress without reprisal.

Hutto told the media that he had come up with the idea for the appeals drive in January 2006. While deployed in a ship off the coast of Iraq he read a copy of David Cortright’s Soldiers in Revolt: GI Resistance During the Vietnam War.

The GI movement, explained Hutto, was comprised of “active-duty, sailors, marines and soldiers in the military during the Vietnam War who advocated and fought to end that war and bring the troops home.... By 1971, over 250,000 of these active-duty service people” had petitioned their political leaders
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/oct2006/mili-o26.shtml

by antiwar Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:57

Meeting went very well. About 100 present. It was chaired by Deirdre Clancy. A lot of speakers (maybe too many): Ed Horgan (former Irish army commandant); Tony Lagouranis, Joshua Casteel, Stephen Lewis (all ex-Abu Ghraib US interrogators); Goretti Horgan (Raytheon 9); and Colm Breathnach (Anti-War Ireland).

I thought the best speakers were Tony Lagouranis, Goretti Horgan and Colm Breathnach, but the testimony of each of the US vets was very interesting.

Shannon tomorrow. Bus leaves Liberty Hall at 9.30pm.

by opps! Fri Oct 27, 2006 13:04

Bus from dublin to Shannon leaves tomorrow morning at 9.30AM.