Tanya Austin: Iraq Vet Against the War Speaking @ UIowa

Tanya Austin was an Arab linguist in military intelligence serving with the U.S. Army. Describing the situation in Iraq, she said "It's not a war anymore, its an occupation." She is a student at Illinois State University pursuing a degree in Middle Eastern studies.

She served from 2002-2004 and testified at the recent Winter Soldier hearings in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The Iowa City chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War hosted a local version of the Winter Soldier hearings Wednesday. Four Iraq veterans discussed their opposition to the war at a panel at the University of Iowa before a crowd of over fifty people, including some Vietnam veterans.

http://ivaw.org

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News & Politics

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• Iowa
• Independent
• iraq
• soldier
• iraqwar
• VA
• army
• austin
• occupation
• middle
• east
• student
• arab
• linguist
• knee
• military
• usa
• ia

[JesusCamper]

I'm sorry--that wasn't very nice. But as a military spouse and wife, your comments about the war seem wrong. My daughter served over there and is looking for the opportunity to go back. The overwhelming majority of our militarty support the war.

Your comments about VA care, however, are right on the money. If we are going to send them, we have to care for them when they return.

[Meeks861]

@JesusCamper General Smedly Butler, recipient of two congressional medals of honor, who was the author of a book titled "War is a Racket" I suggest you read it, its only 14 pages long but says a whole heap in those pages, and secondly General and eventually President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Both men have served this nation in far greater ways than any of your, or my relatives, and both were well versed in the art of war. Both of which however, spoke up against war and its practice.

[Meeks861]

@JesusCamper on the intellectual and moral low ground. Let us not forget the actual historical record of the U.S. occupation of not only the middle east but various others banana republics that stretch across the globe. Our occupation in the middle east and other nations are a direct result of nothing more than economic interests. Lastly Ill end with this, I speak from knowledge that stem from two great U.S. generals that served in two of the most gruesome wars in our history...

[Meeks861]

@JesusCamper But that says nothing in regards to the justness of our occupation within that region. So your a christian eh? How does war stack up against the belief that all of mankind is gods creation? Or the notion that you should love others as you love yourself? How does Jesus view retribution? How do you view retribution? I suppose you get all of your values from the corporate media as well as all of the movies that are put forth in favor of vengeance, however to be vengeful is to be....

[Meeks861]

@JesusCamper Comments about the war may seem wrong to you because they go against the lies that are put forth by the people who put you into the war. You can cling to your emotional beliefs about the occupation of U.S. forces in the middle east all that you wish, you are free to hold your own opinions however wrong they actually are. Its no question that the majority of the US soldiers support war, they are taught to kill other human beings and join of their own accord to do so.... comment 1

[glow322]

What the fuck did you join the army for...

[duggerman78]

I knew her. She didn't even make it out of linguist training. She was med-boarded before she even completed AIT. I am not sure why she's representing herself as an Iraqi war vet when she has not even set foot in Iraq.

[reglcon1234]

no offense but this dumb bitch doesnt know what she is talking about i guaretee shes never been out of the wire

[JesusCamper]

Well, there are some cowards in every army.