Hey Everyone. Just as a quick update, this week MTV will start airing “Best of Street Team” packages. To see it online, click here. Or, if you’re around a TV, I included the times it will run below. I’m anxious to see what my colleagues are up to, so I’ll be tuning in too.

Also, a few of you have asked how to view our work, and I wanted to let you all know MTV links to us from their drop down menu of “Reporters” on the MTV News homepage. Just click on the vertical bar where it says “News” and you see Headlines, Video Updates, MTV Reporters and Street Team ‘08.

MTV
Sat 3/29- 7:50am
Mon 3.31- 6:50am, 7:50am

MTV2
Sat 3/29- 5:30am, 10:30pm
Sun 3/30- 10:30pm
Mon 3/31- 4:30am, 6:30am

MTVU
Fri 3/28- 7:45pm, 11:45pm
Sat 3/29- 3:45am, 7:45am, 11:45am, 3:45pm, 7:45pm, 11:45pm
Sun 3/30- 3:45am, 7:45am, 11:45am, 3:45pm, 7:45pm, 11:45pm
Mon 3/31- 3:45am, 7:45am, 11:45am, 3:45pm

“Under the gun! Can’t talk. Call next week.”

That’s the voice of Helen Thomas. No, it’s not 1973, and no, Helen’s not in a bustling newsroom. Still, there’s something so retro and iconic about the way she tells me she is under the gun. It reminds me of a time when newsrooms were filled with smoke, not women, and fingers typed as fast as possible to break the next big story. 

Something I’ve learned about Helen, and is evident in this quote, is every article she works on is breaking. She writes only about what she thinks you should know. And for a person who absorbs as much intelligence — and harnesses decades of unprecedented access to power– that’s an impossibly complicated task. Yet somehow she sifts through it all — the gaggles, the memos, the talking points and the distractions.

I’m going to start something new and post her weekly columns. Though Hearst distributes it, and they own over a dozen papers (San Francisco Chornicle, San Antonio Express, Albany Times Union) it’s rare that anything but the Falls Church News Press, a small paper south of DC, runs it. And now, because what Helen knows, I think we all should, Erica-America does.

Helen Thomas: War Is Not The People’s Business

WASHINGTON — Back in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s worst days when he was grappling with the Vietnam quagmire and raucous anti-war protests at home, he said that in the big decisions about war and peace: “The people should be in on the take offs as well as the landings.”

Tell that to President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, who apparently could care less what Americans think — except every four years at election time.

Cheney made that clear in an intriguing interview with ABC News on his recent Middle East trip. Despite the difficulties surrounding the unprovoked U.S. invasion of Iraq five years ago, Cheney insisted, “It was the right thing to do.”

When the interviewer told him that two-thirds of Americans say the war in Iraq is not worth fighting, Cheney scoffed.

The administration would not be “blown off course by the fluctuations in public opinion polls,” he vowed.

Cheney went on to claim that Abraham Lincoln would never have succeeded in the Civil War if he had paid attention to polls.

White House press secretary Dana Perino later indicated that Bush was on the same page.

Asked about Cheney’s remarks to ABC, Perino said the Bush administration realizes its popularity polls are very low (30 percent) “but largely that’s because of people being unhappy about the war, about the fact that it has gone on five years. . .and we’re aware of that.”

She added that both Bush and Cheney have long believed the reason they are leaders is because they do “not chase popularity polls but. . . hold themselves to a standard that requires people not to like them.”

She went on to explain that the administration would like people to support the president’s decisions but that such a hope is “unrealistic” in time of war.

“And while we’re not able to change public opinion, we have to follow a principle,” she said, “and stand on principle.”

Reminded that she was saying, in effect, that the people had no say about the war, Perino replied that they have “input” every four years, adding: “And that’s the way our system is set up.”

As long as Congress cowers sheep-like and does not retrieve its constitutional power to declare war, an imperial Bush-style presidency will prevail.

The war against Iraq was built on falsehoods — weapons of mass destruction that did not exist and ties to al-Qaida that were a fantasy. The administration used these phony rationales to scare the American people into fearing a threat from a third-world country.

Since the administration’s original propaganda has now been revealed to be bogus, Bush has resumed his claim that it was necessary to rid the world of a tyrant, Saddam Hussein — a friend of the U.S., incidentally, in earlier times.

His aides remain loyal to their chant that Iraq is “the central front in the war on terrorism.”

Any port in a storm seems to be the strategy of White House spin-masters.

Determined to ignore the reality that the war is a debacle and the killing will go on, Bush last year came up with the “surge” theory of dispatching 30,000 more troops to Iraq in hopes of bringing Iraqi submission.

There has been a lessening of violence in Iraq. Could it be that there are fewer attacks on American troops because we are paying huge sums of money to Sunni Iraqis to persuade them to stop attacking Americans and instead go after al-Qaida?

Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will leave Baghdad in May to report to Bush and Congress on the status of the war and talk about a timetable for a drawdown of more troops — or even propose a pause in withdrawals.

Next November, the American voters will decide on a new president. Before then, reporters will be remiss if they fail to nail the candidates on whether the views of the people on questions of war and peace will count with them.

On January 23, 1973, President Nixon made a public statement to the American people. After five years of peace talks, the United States had reached a peace accord with Vietnam. United States Prisoners of War (POW) would be released and, as Nixon announced over a live television broadcast, an internationally supervised ceasefire would soon commence.

By March, U.S. troops had pulled out completely, and men aged 18-26 had one less thing to worry about: the draft.  Not long after, the draft officially ended and the U.S. converted to an All-Volunteer Force (AVF).

vol•un•teer n. (v l  n-tîr ): A person who performs or offers to perform a service voluntarily.

The scenario for enlistment is now much different than when we were at war with Vietnam. Today, millions of men and women voluntarily enlist in the Navy, Marine Corp, Army and Air Force. Many hope to make the military into a career, and thousands see the world with assignments to Air Force bases in Japan and Korea, Naval fleets in the Pacific and Army barracks in Saudi Arabia. But when I mentioned the phrase ‘voluntary military’ to an Army Intelligence Officer and Army Infantryman, my sincerity was met with laughter.
 
“When I was deployed to Iraq, I had about three months left in my eight year military service,” Army Infantryman Camilo Mejia told me.

“Three months. And before being deployed to Iraq, my company commander got everyone together and he said, ‘If you’re about to get out of the military, you’ve been extended until the year 2031.’ 2031…After eight years of service. So I’m not sure you can call that voluntary.”

I paused to consider what he had said. And I wondered, what exactly does it mean when your military contract is extended without your consent?

It means you’ve been stop-lossed.

According to the Department of Defense’s (DOD) online dictionary, stop-loss is described as this:

“to suspend laws relating to promotion, retirement, or separation of any member of the Armed Forces determined essential to the national security of the United States… This authority may be exercised by the President only if Reservists are serving on active duty under Title 10 authorities for Presidential Reserve Call-up, partial mobilization, or full mobilization.”

So in a basic sense, if the President determines that the loss of a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine would compromise the security of the U.S., the contract is extended. Simple as that. According to the Army Times, the Army has been hardest hit, with more than 10,000 members being stop-lossed in recent years.

As the war in Iraq enters its sixth year of occupation, 4,000 American deaths and multiple deployments – experts suggest that stop-loss is a major factor in producing the the highest rate of desertion in the military since 2001, leaving the military strained. But just who is deserting, and how can a volunteer decide to do something so drastic?

Stay tuned for more on GI Resistance and a first hand account of a Marine who joined at age seventeen with incentives of college tuition. Barely two years later, he found himself on a journey of self-discovery and resistance — and, as he told me from a Federal prison, there was no choice but to desert after learning of a second deploment to Iraq.

This is Erica Anderson. Washington, DC. Street Team ’08.

Tonight was Ivan Scott’s memorial service. I only got four hours of sleep the night before but there wasn’t any question I was going, so I bucked up and walked down to the Catholic Church on 24th and Pennsylvania. Ivan, who went to Princeton, served in Korea and then went on to cover wars as a CBS radio correspondent. I was fascinated by his nine lives and asked him what it was like reporting from a war zone.

“There is nothing more thrilling than having bullets buzz by your head and shells flying in the air. It’s the only place a reporter should be if they want to cover the news.”

For many reasons I believed and admired him.

But let me back up for just a second.  I met Ivan, Helen (Thomas), (Rahubir) Goyal and Connie (Lawn) at a dinner last May 17th. I’ll always remember the date, the moment, the evening. In many ways it changed the course of my life. It also confirmed my direction towards journalism in a profound way.

The dinner, which I won’t get into now, had me sitting right across Helen. Thankfully, my Aunt Debi was there, who served as the perfect generational liaison. I asked Helen if we could have lunch sometime and she said “Sure. Give me a call and we’ll have a Coke.” And that’s how it all started.

My First Memorable Conversation with Ivan

At one point, Helen and Debi danced off to the bathroom together and I was left at the table with Ivan. In his seersucker suite, brown rimmed circle glasses and warm smile, he turned to me and got serious.

“You know, young lady, she’s a legend. She’s a legend in this town.”

I looked at him a bit shocked. He was looking out for Helen like a sister, a member of his family and for a second my enchantment faded. I understood. And although I barely knew the extend of her history, I agreed.

“Yes, I know.”

Ivan went on to take me under his wing, taking me to drinks and dinners, allowing me a rich conversation where I could ask anything about his life, history, war, and relationships. He was, by all means, a mentor who went beyond the call of duty.  Last week, after a brief illness, he passed away. 

Ivan’s Memorial Service

When I walked into the church, I noticed Helen was in the back sitting alone. I decided I’d sit next to her, but first went over and lit a candle. Somehow through my tenuous spirituality, I asked my Mom to sit with me for strength. Funerals, as I know, bring unpredictable, and sometimes, unwelcome emotion.

I went over and slide down the pew with my street team backpack. Helen smiled and welcomed me. After a minute, she broke the silence.

“I didn’t even know. I was away,” she said.

Her make-up was done and her hair curled. There was a sadness about her so I didn’t really say much.

After the ceremony I watched Tony Snowe walk up to her, who had just consoled Ivan’s wife, to give her a friendly stroke. It was a moment of grief for all those around us, but in particular, I thought, to Helen, who had lost a friend who took with him so much heart and knowledge about her life.

She kept an eye on me as we walked out the Church and said in a low voice, “Let’s go get a coffee or a drink.” She extended her hand for me to hold, and told me, “I’m still wobbly from the long flight (from Dubai).”

So I escorted her, through fans of people (I know this because of the nervous compliments people came to give her) and to the curb where, a man who had sat behind us, offered us a ride. During the ceremony she had turned to him, a Navy officer at the Pentagon, and said, “You have a wonderful voice.”

We went to the Tabbard Inn, the last place I had met Ivan, and had our usual gin and vodka. I told her all about the Winter Soldier event.  She was on my every word, especially when I told her about Conscientious Objector, Camilo Mejia.

“He said,” I told her, “that it is difficult being a CO in the military. But that ‘war, is the best argument against war.”

She smiled and looked very pleased. “That’s an incredible quote.”

On our way out, she had barely made it to the steps when she went into a rant about White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino.

“Torture…torture…’we don’t torture’ she says….’we don’t torture?!’ Please!”

Helen didn’t know it but a couple was standing behind us. They couldn’t get through as Helen had paused to finish her rant. I made eye contact to let the woman know to go the other way around.

I figured she had no idea who Helen – or I – for that matter was, and would be on her way. Instead, she walked down the steps and positioned herself in front of Helen.

“Ms. Thomas, I have never been in your presence before. My husband and I were so pleased when you walked in… and…I…I just wanted to say Thank you, for everything you’ve done.”

Helen, as if almost granted these moments by sheer reparation of her age and societal contributions, lit up, like every other time a person thanked her.

“Thank you so much. Thank you so much,” she gently and sincerely said.

Before the woman could walk two steps away, Helen got back to what she was saying to me.

“ ‘Torture…’ We don’t torture! What do you mean, ‘we don’t torture?!’ ”

“Helen,” I said with a big smile, “you sure don’t miss a beat!”

She paused and let out a big laugh.

“I guess I don’t!”

And in that moment, Ivan, a person who knew how to laugh despite the realization that everything in the world is not always right, was in some way there.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

Last Friday night, I charged my batteries, packed my gear and went to bed early. I knew it would be a draining next day. I was right.

Since January, I have been learning about individual stories of men and women in the military who are resisting the war. First, I met a cousin I had only know through distance, in the most unlikely of places: the Quantico Brig where he was serving time for deserting the Marines. “Jesus,” I remember thinking when a family member told me his story, ”I have to hear his story first hand.”

So the journey of discovering an underground movement, which started with Paul (you can expect to hear his story soon) — and now, with the weekend Summit “Winter Soldier” — a public movement of GI Resistance has begun. The story of Paul, which has inspired me to tell stories like his, led me to the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and a four-day program bringing hundreds of young Vets together to testify about the criminal nature, and what they call immoral disposition of this war.

The video  you are about to see sets up what I hope will be a full eight months of reporting the untold, under-reported story of GI Resisters. These men and women are hardened by war but driven by a duty. Although this duty is not one condoned by the hand of the largest, most powerful military in the world, it is a duty nonethless that same hand nurtured.

Who said we can’t have fun this Primary season?

Last night I went to the 17th Street Cafe to watch the Primary returns and met some hip (re: word of the night) politico bloggers from spots like DC Drinking Liberally, The DC Concierge and The Seminal.

I also picked up some new tips, like using the web site Utterz, which allows for real-time phone interviews to be streamed across the web. Jill Foster, avid Utterz enthusiast, showed me how it worked. Here is an interview with me and The DC Concierge creator, Shana Glickfield.

Here is my latest video for MTV. After I went to Sen. Clinton’s foreign policy speech last Monday, a colleague at Spectrum asked me, “So did you talk to the other press? A lot of the time, that’s how they get all their stories.”

The answer is, I hadn’t. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I was executing under an impossibly quick lunch break. Still, I was glad I didn’t have the chance. Here’s why.
 
In the days to follow, I watched headline after headline talk about the foreign policy speech I had been to as a “blistering attack on Obama,” and the “start of Clinton’s 5 Point Attack.”

Really?

Sure, she might have alluded to Obama’s willingness to meet with dictators at one point, but she only mentioned his name once.  The way I saw it, in the least mean-spirited manner (and most self-serving) possible, it was all about her credentials. It was a candidate, who is desperately trying to get back to what had worked.

But what had worked? As I watched the speech a half dozen times over the week, I noticed a familiar common thread to her rhetoric and campaign. Bush-Bashing. That Monday in DC, she did enough of it to re-piss off every Democratic ear in the nation.  That is, if they’re still listening.