The voice of broken soldiers
Published: 12 November, 2009, 11:05
Edited: 06 February, 2010, 01:43
TAGS: Military, UK, Protest, Human rights, Mass media
We are telling the other angle of war, not the romanticized aspect that the government prefers, says Martin Webster, a war veteran, activist and artist.
In 2006, British soldier Martin Webster hit the headlines after being involved in a media scandal when he filmed British troops in Iraq beating up Iraqi youths during a siege at Al Amara in 2004, when British soldiers got in the middle of a crossfire. Webster says local youths were actively participating in the melee, throwing at the soldiers not only stones, but hand grenades as well.
Webster explains that “Once the children started using grenades and firing RPGs, they certainly became a threat to our lives. Our underlying issue as infantry soldiers is to preserve life – our lives and civilians around. So once you pick up a weapon and you are going to use it – you become a target for us to either be captured, arrested or killed.”
“When video cameras became widely available I do not think that the [British] government accounted for the fact that the public is going to see how horrific the war is,” remembers Webster. “You’re fighting kids [in Iraq]. People find it very hard that their Western boys are fighting children. That is the horrible fact of war. Those bombers were in their teens.” He added that the notorious clip with British soldiers beating up Iraqi youth destroyed his life.
To overcome post traumatic stress disorder that “isolates you from society”, Webster made a documentary “Diary of a Disgraced Soldier” – a video diary mixed with his own thoughts about war. The documentary was also made with the intention of proving his innocence after the scandal in the media.
“The whole film became like a form of catharsis and I learnt a lot about myself and I would not change anything for the word. I am really glad of what happened to me and I am very fortunate to be in a position to speak out for the soldiers that have gone through similar situations,” he says.
12.11.2009, 10:59
1 comment
Polonium not detected? Russian suspect cleared of chargesGerman prosecutors have dropped all charges of illegally trafficking nuclear materials against Dmitry Kovtun, who was linked to the murder of former Russian security officer Aleksander Litvinenko in London in 2006. |
12.11.2009, 14:36
8 comments
Down-to-earth problems at the core of Medvedev’s second addressOn Thursday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev delivered his second address to the nation’s parliament, The Federal Assembly. He touched on urgent problems society currently faces, and spoke of pragmatic solutions. |
Young men like Mr. Webster should never be expected to expose themselves to the possibility of injury and death without the right to question the purpose and legality of the war they are sent to fight. Politicians have no right to expect unquestioned obedience unless they personally lead the army into battle, as of old. Prime Ministers and Presidents have no right to expect obedience when they themselves break all the rules of international warfare, international law, and for their own private advancement hang together in expectation of secret rewards when they are out of office. Mr. Webster has an assignment from the Almighty and a majority of the English people to continue his anti war crusade. He is well spoken, well intentioned and motivated. We are lucky that he has turned a bad experience into an important purpose.
There's another unique chance to see this film and hear the filmmakers talking about the film at a special screening in Manchester on Wed 10th Feb at the greenroom, Whitworth Street. Well worth the trip to Manchester if you can make. I'll be going if anyone wants to join and see what it's all about.