CAPTAIN KOPEIKIN

My name is Captain Kopekein, I will not go away,
I´ve served in many armies but it is Iraq today--
Civilians have me in their sights and have me in their pay,
But when it comes to benefits,
Then it´s--
"What´s that you say?"

"Cannon" destroyed my ears and scrambled all the brains inside,
But politicians label me a nation´s foremost pride;
Alas the springs of sympathy have all gone up and dried,
For when it comes to benefits
Then it´s
"Good lad, abide."

"Soldier abide" they tell me but I´ve been abiding long,
Can´t get no work; but I am broke that once was manly strong,
Yet though parades call up my name when there´s a motley throng,
When it comes to my benefits
Then it´s
"Is something wrong?"

It´s hard to hobble half a man but I am growing old,
Perhaps I have sweet children to be sheltered from the cold,
And though they might be gratified their father "was so bold"
When it comes down to benefits
Then it´s
Patience to hold.

You sent me to Fallujah when I couldn´t find no job
At home--it´s robbing Peter whereby Paul so as to rob,
But even in Iraq a-firing shots into the mob
Has brought me meager benefits,
When it´s--
Corn on the cob.

God bless you--all so civilized--as I tried to uphold
Your words of truth and beauty; thought your words were good as gold,
In which I was mistaken--that am no more thought-controlled,
For now I know the benefits
Of it´s
Less than extolled.

As Captain Kopeikin I cannot die or go away,
But rest upon your conscience, even while the children play,
For my wounds grieve me less than must your own auto-da-fe,
For when it comes to benefits
Then it´s
Your hell to pay.

--I.M. Small

Thanks to the anonymous poster who left this as a comment on the previous post.

The trailer for Veterans Against the War

The trailer/demo reel for Veterans Against the War (working title): a documentary produced and directed by Katherine Niemczyk about soldiers speaking out about past and present war experiences. Look for the completed documentary at the end of 2008!

Another Great Video From September 15th

The David Horowitz Machine Strikes Back!

Someone at Horowitz's FrontPageMag has decided to fight satire with satire. I guess it's better than the lies the rest of the "right wing blogosphere" has been spreading about me lately. The only problem is, this isn't based on a real event. But hey, good on you for having a sense of humor.

Who Hates Americans?
By Ishmael Vera
FrontPageMagazine.com Monday, October 15, 2007

The campaign mounted by campus leftists against Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, which is scheduled to take place on more than 100 campuses during the week of October 22-26 has taken a new turn with the announcement of a counter-protest at the Washington Monument. The protest, which will be called “American Fascism Awareness Day” is being organized by Adam Kokesh of Iraq Veterans Against the War, the Revolutionary Communist Party, Students for Justice In Palestine, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee among others and will feature speakers such as congressman Dennis Kucinich and presidential candidate Ron Paul, anti-war activists Cindy Sheehan and Harry Karry and actor Sean Penn. According to a spokesperson for the Revolutionary Communist Party, one of the sponsors of the event, “This is an answer to the Jew Horowitz and the neo-conservative Zionists who dragged us into an imperialist war in Iraq and are spreading hatred against Muslims to support their war plans against the Republic of Iran.”
Flyers for the American Fascism Awareness Protest were distributed on at least ten campuses which are scheduled to hold Islamo-Fascism Awareness Weeks in 9 days. (The text of the flyer is reprinted below.) Many Americans contacted by Frontpagemag.com were outraged over the announced protest. Latisha Freeman, an African American student at one of the campuses that was flyered commented that all Americans were not racists and that the flyer was generally “unpatriotic and unfair.” American Legion commander K. “Ike” Landsman, was blunter. “These are communist ingrates who don't appreciate this great country and they ought to be deported to Iran or Afghanistan where they would be welcome." Fox News Channel anchor Alan Colmes, had a different take. “Lighten up,” Colmes said when he was shown the flyer; “this is a parody of views that liberals actually have. No one should get upset. This is just free speech in action.”
Who Hates Americans? We Do.
Your typical American is:
Ø A racist. A sexist. A homophobe.
Ø An Islamo-phobe.
Ø Is willing to invade other countries for oil and pleasure.
Ø Is easily manipulated by Rush Limbaugh and Jews.
Ø Is the cause of global warming.
Join Us For American Fascism Awareness Day
Place: Washington (Slaveholder) Monument
Date: November 31, 2007
Time: 12PM-2:00 PM
Speakers:
Dennis Kucinich, Ron Paul, congressmen

Adam Kokesh, Iraq War veteran

Chris Hedges, journalist

Cindy Sheehan, Harry Karry, peace activists

Michael Moore, Sean Penn, film-makers
Sponsors:
Peace and Social Justice Crusade, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Code Pink, Muslim Students Association, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Students for Justice in Palestine, Revolutionary Communist Party, International A.N.S.W.E.R., Moveon.org, DailyKos.com, Indy-Media.org, HuffingtonPost.com, Ivorypower.com

Frankly, I would be honored to share a stage with Kucinich and Paul. For Kucinich, I'm not so much a supporter as I am an enthusiast. He is one of the few members of Congress who still have principles and stick to them. I'm much more a supporter of Paul because I think his principles about the Constitution and limited government are closer to my own, but I have the same respect for both of them. It's funny to note that Paul is now lumped in with this communist slur when his (our) views of limited government are really the opposite of communism. It also says "congressman Dennis Kucinich and presidential candidate Ron Paul" when they are actually both congressmen and both presidential candidates.

I have never accused anyone of being a Zionist, but I would agree that there are people who "are spreading hatred against Muslims to support their war plans against the Republic of Iran.” As we have seen Alan Greenspan's pronouncement, “I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil," vindicate those who used to shout, "No blood for oil," (which even I thought was silly) I think I will be vindicated on this one in time. But I hope not, as that would mean some kind of military strike on Iran, which I pray isn't necessary.

We at Students for Neo-Conservativo Fascism Awareness (SNCFA) were actually tossing aroung the idea about putting up fliers for a "Christiano-Fascism Awareness Week" to call attention to the parallel hijacking of the Christian faith in America by Bush, the Neocons, and the religious right. Of course, there wouldn't be a real event, but we could direct people to a website expounding on the flier.

We have a venue now for my speech for next week. I will be going on the day after Horowitz in the room (a larger room) next door in the Marvin Center at GWU. The flier reads:

RECOVERING
FROM RACISM

On the effects of war on racism and the dehumanization of the Iraqi people

Adam Kokesh served as a Sergeant on a Marine Corps Civil Affairs Team in the Fallujah area from February to September of 2004. “Racism is inevitable when we go to war with people ethnically different from us. This racism has led to the horrific treatment of Native Americans, the death of one million Filipinos, internment of Japanese-Americans, the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan after they were ready to surrender, the killing of over a million noncombatants in Vietnam, the mass round up of Arab-Americans, and the torture at Abu Ghraib. I had to go out to a checkpoint at a Civil Affairs facility after the Abu Ghraib scandal broke and convince the Iraqi people that we were there to help them. This racism is bad for the troops and bad for the world. It should be studied and opposed, not celebrated as it is now in its latest form: Islamophobia. Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, being brought to campuses nationwide by the David Horowitz Freedom Center, is the epitome of this racism.”

Friday, October 26th, 7-9pm
Marvin Center, Room 405, 21st and H St NW

Brought to you by GWU Campus Anti-War Network

Letter to the Chairman of the IVAW Board of Directors and His Reply

SPC GARETT REPPENHAGEN,

SPC REPPENHAGEN, I am SFC FRANK TOSTANOSKI, assigned as an Army Reserve Career Counselor with RRTO, Region 7.

SPC REPPENHAGEN, I am certain that you are aware of the fact that you are a member of the Individual Ready Reserve and that we are seeking individuals that are interested becoming part of our organization. Currently the Army Reserve is offering a couple of Incentives to those who elect to join that may interest you. One Incentive for joining is a $10,000 Affiliation Bonus. Current members of the IRR who elect to take advantage of this incentive will be required to service in the Army Reserve for a period of only three years. The Army Reserve is offering 24 Month Stabilization from deployment for those interested in the Army Reserve but feel that possible deployment would hinder their civilian pursuits. In addition, you may qualify to have your Military Service Obligation reduced in half; shorting your obligation by up to 24 months.

SPC REPPENHAGEN, there are a variety of career fields that can be found in the Army Reserve near your home that include; Medical, Computer Tech, Civil Affairs, Drill Sergeant, ROTC, Formal Trainers/Instructors, Chemical, Military Intelligence, Engineer, Law Enforcement, Accounting, Legal, Personnel Management, Public Affairs, CID, Watercraft Marine Operations, Communications, Military Police, Fire Fighter, Transportation, Fire Fighter, Mechanic, Aviation, Petroleum, Logistics, and Linguistics to name a few.

Members of the Army Reserve also are able to participate in two week Active Duty exercises each year in places such as; Alaska, Asia, Europe, Hawaii, and throughout the U.S.

Below is a rollup of some Incentives, Entitlements and Benefits of being a member of the Army Reserve. Please consider your options:

· PART-TIME work with FULL-TIME Benefits
· MSO Reduction
· 24 Month Stabilization
· $10,000 Affiliation Bonus for IRR’s joining a Reserve Unit
· Command Assignments Available
· 100% Tuition Assistance (Allowed to be combined w/ Select Reserve GI Bill)
· Selective Reserve GI BILL
· MOS Re-class options available
· FULL-TIME Soldier Program, AGR
· Post and Base Exchange access
· Commissary access
· $400,000 SGLI
· Dental Coverage
· Medical Coverage
· Free Military Airlift for Space Available Travel
· Earn Retirement Pay for part time work

When you are considering your benefits with the Army Reserve; remember to consider some of the intangibles as well: continued service, pride, patriotism, character, leadership and friendships.

SPC REPPENHAGEN, if you are interested or have questions please feel free to contact me at (206) 941-8453. Thank you for your service and consideration.


Garett's Reply:

Dear SFC Tostanoski,

I would like to inform you of an amazing opportunity to help bring the soldiers in Iraq home immediately, take care of the veterans who sacrificed for this war, and assist the Iraqi people rebuild their destroyed and exploited country and culture. The veterans and active duty service members are organizing in a powerful organization that is working effectively to have an impact on these critical issues. many of our nation's service members would like to see an America that lives up to it's potential to be the democratic and just leader of the world. The most important steps is admitting our failures and being courageous enough to do what is in our power to set them right. I would like to invite you to help this new GI movement directly by joining Iraq Veterans Against the War at http://www.ivaw.org/

Thanks for the letter explaining my IRR options.

Sincerly,

Garett Reppenhagen
Board of Directors
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Colorado Springs

Garett, that's why I love you, buddy. I'm sure this letter has nothing to do with them needing people to go to Iraq. You should do it. IVAW could really use the money. And they practically promise to not "hinder your civilian pursuits."

Why I Oppose "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week"

This is going on a flier for a speech I will be giving at GWU next week:

“Racism is inevitable when we go to war with people ethnically different from us. This racism has led to the horrific treatment of Native Americans, the death of one million Filipinos, internment of Japanese-Americans, the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan after they were ready to surrender, the killing of over a million noncombatants in Vietnam, the mass round up of Arab-Americans, and the torture at Abu Ghraib. I had to go out to a checkpoint at a Civil Affairs facility after the Abu Ghraib scandal broke and convince the Iraqi people that we were there to help them. This racism is bad for the troops and bad for the world. It should be studied and opposed, not celebrated as it is now in its latest form: Islamophobia. Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, being brought to campuses nationwide by the David Horowitz Freedom Center, is the epitome of this racism.”

I've Been Doing Some Anti-Racism Activism On The Side

Our statement that was released to the Hatchet:

Dear President Knapp, Students, and GW Community,

We hereby take responsibility for the flyering incident that occurred on Monday morning. This creative political action was part of a rich American tradition of raising awareness, in this case, about Islamophobia. We exposed the upcoming Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week sponsored by the GWU Young America’s Foundation for the celebration of racism that it is. This is a real event that is being hosted at our campus. Most people who saw the fliers were offended, but with a second glance, saw that the absurdity of the message was clearly a horrific exaggeration of the racism that is behind this event.
We regret that some people were unable to discern the intent of these posters and took offense. We wanted to counter the true hate speech that is embodied by the upcoming Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week. We hoped students would feel outraged and come together (much like they did Monday night) and work to counter systemic Islamophobia and the equation of Islam with terrorism. It was inspiring to see that students directed their attention to the real threat. We want to reach out to our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Holy Month of Ramadan in hopes that they will embrace our misrepresented, but honorable stand against racism.
Campuses allied in their commitment to a hate-free environment and critical thinking should not allow Islamo-Fascism Awareness week to take place. The institutionalized and glorified type of Islamo-phobia of this event being imposed upon us from outside forces (The David Horowitz Foundation) is a dangerously divisive force. Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week is the real threat to our community. We hope that the students who take offense to this and hear the call to action will do something to protest Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.
It is to our great dismay that the student body and the media missed the clear, if subtle, message of our flier: the hyperbolic nature of the flier was aimed at exposing Islamophobic racism. As such, it is imperative that we unequivocally condemn racism (especially in its most egregious organized forms) on our campus. We hope that as a community we can come together to oppose the true racist propaganda that we initially set out to expose: Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.

Signed,

Students for Conservativo-Fascism Awareness
Adam Kokesh
Yong Kwon
Brian Tierney
Ned Goodwin
Maxine Nwigwe
Lara Masri
Amal Rammah

It seems we were so effective with this action that now we are discussing the racism of Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week on national TV! Of course, Students For Conservativo-Fascism Awareness is working with a number of groups to organize an alternative week of activities at GWU including speakers, movie screenings, and a candle-light vigil and prayer ceremony. I will be giving a speach called "Recovering From Racism" about the effects of war and occupation on racism and my experience with the dehumanization of the Iraqi people. I wish I could give you all more details about this action but since the university is "still investigating," there are certain things I shouldn't discuss.

Taking Advantage of a Great Opportunity to Make Fun of Democrats:

In light of the "leadership" exhibited recently by Pelosi and her cronies, this cartoon is particularly appropriate. Pelosi has said that she would begin the impeachment process if it were a bipartisan effort. Surely she knows what it means to actually lead. But by her logic, she can only do the right thing if the Republicans say it's the right thing to do. This is ludicrous.

What this is really a reflection of is the absolute corruption of the Democratic party that has come to value preserving its own power over any principles or morals. At least Republicans, corrupt as they may be, were actually effective at changing things when they were in power. This corruption of Democrats is epitomized by their handling of the vote on the floor that they tried to overturn a couple months ago regarding and Agricultural Department spending bill. This video captures the moment nicely:

Funny:
Scary:

Best Recruiting Video Ever

I must say, I especially love the line, "from corrupt politicians who have never seen combat themselves." However, the entire thing is just genius. I suppose that when I joined the Marines, it was possible to believe that things were like they are portrayed in the commercials, but I always thought the shit with the monsters and diamonds and lakes of fire and whatnot were just silly as all hell.