Drew - I agree with your fundamental point - Iraq is an occupied nation and Iraqi voices matter more than those from the occupier nation.

However here's what you're missing re the "importance" of Iraq vets who protest the war they were just in.

- They have a "right to speak" like no others in the US, in the mindset of US citizens. The military "knows" this too. They learned this same lesson from Vietnam and the Viet vets, and that's why DOD is attempting to hit hard on any soldier who steps out of line in this war.

- The vets are coming out of a very real military loss, whether any one vet chooses to accept this fact.

- We don't have to accept the "patriotic" premises of any particular Iraq vet, as he/she speaks of "love of country" while protesting the war. At some point, each will have to figure out whether they still "love" the Imperialism part of their country, especially as the rest of world teaches us, by any means necessary...

and you could point this out as well. :)