Exclusive: Dying Iraq War Veteran Tomas Young Explains Decision to End His Life

In the week marking the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, we spend the hour looking at the remarkable life and imminent death of Iraq War veteran Tomas Young. Citing his overwhelming physical pain from wounds that left him paralyzed in Iraq, Young recently announced he has decided to end his life by discontinuing his medicine and nourishment, which comes in the form of liquid through a feeding tube. Young joins to explain his decision from his home in Kansas City, along with his wife Claudia Cuellar. We’re also joined by Phil Donahue, the legendary TV talk show host, whose 2007 documentary, “Body of War,“ follows Tomas’ rehabilitation and his political awakening to become one of the most prominent antiwar U.S. veterans speaking out against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. “On one hand, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired,“ Young says. “And on the other, I don’t want to watch my body waste away.“ Donahue calls Tomas’ announcement “a very unusual act of moral courage. He wants people to see this because he came home from the most sanitized war of my lifetime. We don’t see this. Less than 5 percent of us have made a personal sacrifice for this war. And Tomas is one of them.“ Take a moment to view our interactive Iraq War timeline at Visit the Democracy Now! news archive to see 10 years of reports on the Iraq War at To watch the entire weekday independent news hour, read the transcript, download the podcast, search our vast archive, or to find more information about Democracy Now! and Amy Goodman, visit . Democracy Now!, an independent global news hour that airs weekdays on 1,100 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: Twitter: @democracynow Subscribe on YouTube: Listen on SoundCloud: Daily Email News Digest: Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit