U.S. war veterans speak at Winter Soldier hearing
The term "Winter Soldier" comes from Thomas Paine, during the American Revolution, when he spoke of and gave thanks to those "Winter Soldiers" who stayed past their enlistment, fought during the winter at Valley Forge and helped turn the tide and win the Revolution. In 1971, during the American war against the people of Vietnam, American veterans, sponsored by Vietnam Veterans Against the War, held the first "Winter Soldier Investigation," (WSI) "An Inquiry into American War Crimes." . . . MORE

Winter Soldiers' Testimony
Former U.S. Marine Corps machine gunner John Michael Turner leaned over the microphone, his voice choking with emotion, the words barely forcing themselves out, the tears barely held back. "There's a term 'Once a Marine, always a Marine,'" he said, ripping off his medals and throwing them to the ground. "But there's also the expression 'Eat the apple, f*@ the Corps, I don't work for you no more." . . . MORE

Iraq vet: Rules of Engagement 'Thrown out the window'
Garret Reppenhagen received integral training about the Geneva Conventions and the rules of engagement during his deployment in Kosovo. But in Iraq, "much of this was thrown out the window," he says. "The men I served with are professionals," Reppenhagen told the audience at a panel of U.S. veterans speaking of their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. "They went to Iraq to defend the U.S. But we found rapidly we were killing Iraqis in horrible ways. But we had to in order to remain safe ourselves. The war is the atrocity." . . . MORE

'It's not so much about the mission anymore'
The order came over the radio: "Charlie Mike," US army jargon for "continue mission." Cliff Hicks' team of soldiers patrolling a typically friendly neighbourhood had mistaken celebratory gunfire at a wedding for a hostile attack and had shot up a house, wounding two people and killing a little girl. . . . MORE

Civic Media Center: April Events
Friday April 11th, 6pm SPRINGBOARD DINNER at Matheson Museum with Ottón Solís.. . . MORE

April 3 rally against homelessness recalls King's last speech
"We stand here today in support of people in our city who are also under siege," said Rev. Griner at a rally on the steps of Gainesville City Hall this past April 3. The city commission was to vote that evening on a zoning change for property designated for the city's GRACE Marketplace One-Stop Center. . . . MORE

Coalition wants UF to engage in socially responsible investing
Recently student activists with the UF Responsible Endowment Coalition (REC) have taken on an ambitious campaign to change the way UF handles its money. As a member of this diverse coalition, I was asked by The Iguana to contribute a short piece about our work. The REC campaign always appealed to me because of its potential to bring together people from all sides of the political spectrum with its almost universal message. . . . MORE

Iguana benefit April 18 features Dave Lippman
Political satirist Dave Lippman, shadowed by his darker side, "George Shrub," the anti-folksinger from the CIA (Committee to Intervene Anywhere), will perform in a "Counter-Intelligence Cabaret" in Gainesville, Friday, April 18th at 8 p.m. at the Civic Media Center. . . . MORE