LaVena Johnson, a private in the Army was brutally raped, beaten and killed in 2005. Her teeth were knocked in, her nose broken, she had teeth marks on her body and there was corrosive liquid poured into her vagina, most likely to destroy evidence. Then she was shot and her body set on fire. After all this, the military called it ... a suicide.
Who are they kidding? What is the real reason they are covering up this murder? A trail of blood from the private's body led into the tent of a military contractor from Kellogg, Brown & Root (a subsidiary of Halliburton at the time). I don't want to make any conclusions now about who might have done this and why it was covered up, but one thing that is exceedingly clear from the evidence is that she was murdered and there needs to be an investigation into who did it.
There is a website set up to follow this case and demand justice: http://www.lavenajohnson.com/
I got pretty worked up about this on last night's show. That's because I actually care about justice and I care about our troops (instead of just putting a bumper sticker on my car):
In my opinion, this was part of the atmosphere of lawlessness that was fostered in Iraq by the Bush administration. But I don't want my opinion to get in the way here because this should be something that we can all agree on. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has already improved a lot of the conditions on the ground in Iraq and this doesn't have to be political at this point. If Republicans care about the troops as they say they do, they have to care about what happened to PFC LaVena Johnson.
This is something we should be able to unite on. If we can't get justice for Private Johnson, who can we get justice for?
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If You Care About the Troops, Then You Have to Care About Private LaVena Johnson
Posted Jul 31st 2008 2:43AM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Iraq, Young Turks, Military, Video
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Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 4)
16. cenk
Cenk said-"I really care about our troops"
No you don't Cenk. You only care about our troops where there is some political play involved.
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Cenk said-. "I don't want to make any conclusions now about who might have done this and why it was covered up" AND
"In my opinion, this was part of the atmosphere of lawlessness that was fostered in Iraq by the Bush administration. But I don't want my opinion to get in the way"
Sure sounds like you are letting your opinion and conclusions get involved in this story Cenk. Try showing real concern for the Lady soldier.
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Cenk said- " But I don't want my opinion to get in the way here because this should be something that we can all agree on. "
OK Cenk But why keep on giving your slanted opinion? Is it justice you want or your political gain?
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Cenk "from Kellogg, Brown & Root (a subsidiary of Halliburton at the time). I don't want to make any conclusions now about who might have done this and why it was covered up"
Cenk-seems like you have already made the conclusion that it was a civilian employed by Cheney's Halliburton. You injected your opinion into this and say you do not want to do that. You say Halliburton when "Civilian Contractor" or "tent where civilian workers stayed" would have been impartial and not injucting your opinion.
Let us hope Gates starts to correct this problem that seems to be common in Civilian/Military relations at or around military bases for the past 16 years. Problems with sexual abuse and sexual discrimination has been shoved into the headlines since the war in the Balkans. Numerous complaints were filed with Congress and the Dept of Defense over Halliburton and other civilian contractors during and since the war in the Balkans.
It certainly would be safe to say that not much has been done over the past 14 years to look into and correct this lack of legal action being taken against offenders.
robert OKane at 10:01PM on Jul 30th 2008
17. Explain to me please as to my comments why this entire issue is or should be solely a concern of Republicans caring about the troops?
xxxxx
Captain cannot explain it. All he can do is call names and whine about Bush. He is not capable of debating an issue which is apparent by his name calling. Captain boy you need to go on and play on the DailyKos or something and talk about ways to torture Bush,or see how fire melted steel. I come here to read some valid points from the likes of Ded,Bobby,Clif and Okane. Your sophmoric rants are annoying and frankly get in the way of someone trying to read and participate in an intelligent debate.
Darren at 10:12PM on Jul 30th 2008
18. LFunches,
This quote was taken from the original article posted on the 'Mirror on America' website.
"Right after her death, In attempting to get more light shined on the issue. I wrote newspapers, and TV stations, without success. I guess they felt that it was more important to spend all of their time talking about Strippers like Anna Nicole Smith. I even attempted to get "Black Reporters" Tavis Smiley and Ed Gordon to cover this story, but neither of their programs ever responded to my e-mails via their websites."
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Dating back to '05 when the event or alleged crime took place Lavena's parents originally pursued their daughter's circumstances but gave up shortly thereafter.
It's apparent they were misled by some possible "coverup" or corruption lodged into the system. The case is taking on new life as evidence has been uncovered in slow fashion along the way.
You would gain far more sympathy if you didn't interject racial overtones as to why these events haven't been uncovered in a more expeditious manner. Allow people the opportunity to express their opinions without having to sort through unknown racial indiscretions.
If this indeed is a coverup for military contractors it's doubtful it would have mattered the "race" of the victim. The implication would be more to protect higher up's in authority & their wrongdoing which knows no color boundaries.
When the powerful protect their asses they see power & nothing else....
Bobby at 10:38PM on Jul 30th 2008
19. 10. i am embarrassed for my country when i hear americans voice their opinion that a moral war is possible.
dust4ngel at 9:18PM on Jul 30th 2008
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
i hear U
BOB JOHNSON at 12:28AM on Jul 31st 2008
20. What is this stupid fucking 'support the troops' garbage? Are you a liberal or not, you stinking piss hole? You're fucking phony and you're pandering? Fuck you. Fuck the troops. And fuck all of you.
God damn.
Wuzza at 2:13AM on Jul 31st 2008
21. Imagine a world where this does not exist...A world where people cannot even imagine kicking any one's teeth in. I do not understand why this is not possible. How about we all stop living in fear of the govenment and instead make them live in fear of us.. of us all stop whatever it is that we are doing and fuck up the system. I say a global government, run buy unbias, extremely intelligent individuals with a deep knowledge and understanding of those issues in which the world faces. I doubt this will ever happen.. but if a global enemy was to exist (eg Hostile Aliens), then we would have no choice but to co-operate in order to stand a chance. Therefore if we could co-operate under these most extreme of hypothetical circumstances, then co-operating now would no be as difficult by comparison. Went off on a bit of a tangent then i know. but still. fuck war. fuck dickheads that kick teeth in an pour acid into vaginas. Thats suckful. Alot worse has happened in the world... but how messed up do you have to be to do that... do these kind of people even deserve to breath our air, eat our food? when im sure a non teeth kicking, acid pouring underprivlaged person would love some of that air and food. I suggest the Global Comittee of Judgement, where we interview everyone in the world one by one, and decide whether or not they are worth the space they occupy on this planet.
brendenxl1 at 11:46AM on Aug 9th 2008
22. Darren, you are obviously an idiot. Thanks for checking in. Didn't mention Governor bush once.
I don't care which wingnuts assses you stick your nose up.
Captain Negative. at 3:16AM on Jul 31st 2008
23. How far and how low will neocons go in order to defend their precious bush and cheney? Pretty low I'd say. It borders on pathological.
Dennis at 8:18AM on Jul 31st 2008
24. I'd say there was still room for lengthy investigation. When that investigation is finished in a competent fashion hopefully if wrong doing is a part the responsible party or parties will be brought to full justice in a military court of law.
Even when the system is flawed people cry out for justice long after the fact. That's what I see occurring here....
Bobby at 9:39PM on Jul 30th 2008
---------------------------------
Uh, the military called it a suicide. So if nobody cried out, it would have faded away. There'd have been no further investigation. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Anything to not make the administration look bad, even a few lives here and there, huh? What do you immoral assholes call it again? Oh yeah. Collatteral damage.
Godless Heathen Brian at 8:28AM on Jul 31st 2008
25. >>>Uh, the military called it a suicide. So if nobody cried out, it would have faded away. There'd have been no further investigation. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Anything to not make the administration look bad, even a few lives here and there, huh? What do you immoral assholes call it again? Oh yeah. Collatteral damage.
Godless Heathen Brian at 8:28AM on Jul 31st 2>>>
GHB,
Perhaps your comprehension skills aren't hitting on all cylinders this early.
If we speak the same language I'll leave it to you to show where I was defending anyone from wrongdoing.
It's not my responsibility to cover for the misgivings of anyone. My comments are based on what's brought forth in these misrepresented articles by your hero Cenk.
This issue is 3 yrs old, did your champion of justice fall asleep all that time or did he look through his archives & decide this would be a good one to stir up the readers? His intent is to constantly bury a dagger into conservatism in unwarranted fashion.
I'll ask you like I've asked others. Why is this article pertinent only to Republicans?
Bobby at 9:27AM on Jul 31st 2008
26. I can't take your stupidity anymore you ignorant turd.
ChenkSuckkkks at 9:35AM on Jul 31st 2008
27. Darren, you are obviously an idiot. Thanks for checking in. Didn't mention Governor bush once.
I don't care which wingnuts assses you stick your nose up.
Captain Negative. at 3:16AM on Jul 31st 2008
xxxxxx
Well true to form you so easily prove my point. I will join everyone else here and no longer address you nor pay any attention to your childish rants.
Darren at 9:40AM on Jul 31st 2008
28. Gassett = Chenksuckkkks ??
can it be? he does talk of turds....
if it is you, Gassett, try dropping one of those k's, so there are only three in a row; got it?
McCain is a Fraud!!! at 10:20AM on Jul 31st 2008
29. hey, botts cenk knows what happened. are you ready... it was...h a l i b u r t o n.
ndanielson at 11:22AM on Jul 31st 2008
30. you dems should run all wars. it would just go smashingly well if you did. i am all for ghb to run them. there would never be any collateral damage. and little bombs would rain daisies. all the bad evil soldiers would be removed so only the good ones would be there to kill evil bad guys, if neccessary of course. damnit dems, step up to the plate!
ndanielson at 11:27AM on Jul 31st 2008