Veteran of war in Iraq wants U.S. troops to pull out

By Rob Novit, Senior writer

from Aiken Standard, FRIDAY March 3^rd

Jimmy Massey spent 12 years as a marine, including service in Iraq as a platoon first sergeant.

Now he works with Carolina Peace, is a co-founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War and is committed to bringing the troops back home immediately.

[WEBSITE EDITOR'S NOTE: Speaking engagements in SC were hosted by the Carolina Peace Resource Center in Columbia and Aiken Peace in Aiken]

Massey said he voted for President Bush in 2000.

“I was wrong to have faith in Bush,” he said in Aiken Thursday. “I felt betrayed. This was over oil, money and guns, wasting taxpayer dollars. We should leave immediately and pay the cost of the damage we’ve done.”

In two appearances sponsored by Aiken Peace, Massey spoke at USC Aiken and again at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

At USCA, the question and answer period brought out passionate emotions. Bob Gilbert cited a column by The New York Times columnist Bob Herbert, who interviewed the father of a man who died at the World Trade Center. The father wanted revenge after 9-11 and was willing initially to accept the administration’s move into Afghanistan and Iraq. But now he believes that the government exploited his desire for revenge.

But Jet Beckum said the liberals supported the war and are now “Monday-morning quarterbacking. “If we leave Iraq, will they kill off each other? You’ve got no other solutions.”

Another man, who chose not to identify himself, got so angry that he left the room and didn’t return.

“It’s awfully hard to fight and shoot and be killed,” the man said before he left,” when your own citizens are not supporting you.”

“Your type of mentality is what I’m trying to get rid of,” said Massey. “It’s a system of

Please see MARINE, page 12A

FRONT PAGE PHOTO CAPTION: Former Marine Jimmy Massey, who spoke in Aiken at two events Thursday, says that America must withdraw from Iraq immediately.

Marine: Depleted uranium in Iraq another reason to remove forces

Continued from 1A

violence. If I abuse my wife in front of my son, he will do so later. The military-industrial complex is abuse by people of power. Just because you speak out against it doesn’t mean you’re undermining the troops.”

After the earliest bombardments by the U.S. in Iraq in 2003, said Massey, he was concerned that the military plan didn’t include trying to help injured Iraqis. His unit’s mission was to secure oil fields and was told the purpose was to save millions of dollars.

The national media is paying no attention to the issue of depleted uranium in Iraq as a result of the use of tanks, aircraft and heavy machine guns.

“It’s our generation’s Agent Orange,” said Massey. “It causes birth defects and leukemia. We must leave Iraq immediately and pay the cost of the damage we’ve done. We should turn over those responsible for starting this war to the World Court. Many corporations are profiting mightily, and we should take away the ability to profit from the war.”

The man who didn’t give his name said that America is one of the few countries that tries to live up to the Geneva Convention.

“I resent the implication that this country is criminal,” he said. “There’s a general feeling to do what is right. My concern is that war doesn’t become another Vietnam, but Saddam would have been a threat to world security. At least by removing him, we did the right thing.”

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com