[Originally published on the Inland Anti-Empire web site.]

I think Rae Noel is pretty brave.

The 73-year-old resident of Twentynine Palms organized an anti-war protest in the heart of her very military-centered hometown. And for doing so, she lost her volunter position with the local chamber of commerce. Twentynine Palms is home to thousands of U.S. Marines and their family.

It takes courage to oppose Bush's unnecessary war, if you live in Riverside or Lake Elsinore. It takes even more courage to do so in Twentynine Palms.

While most in the city oppose her pro-peace views, Rae is supported by people like Joseph Matoush, a Gulf War veteran and retired chaplain who is a local minister in Twentynine Palms.

The peace protest on Saturday was opposed by pro-war counter-demonstrators on the other corner, the SB Sun reports. Despite the fact that protesters repeatedly have affirmed their respect and affirmation for the soldiers while opposing the policy, so many American hawks just don't get it:

But Brian Biggs, 31, who stood across the street with his wife, Dena, 30, holding signs reading "Support U.S.A. Not Terrorism' and "Disarm Saddam for Peace,' said, "I don't want to see these people spitting in the face of these men like they did my father in Vietnam.'

It fits in with the doctrine of pre-emptive war, I suppose -- pre-emptively taken offense for something which hasn't been done yet. But the anti-war protesters aren't out there spitting on people. They're not protesting the soldiers, only the unjust and unnecessary war to which they'll be deployed. What's wrong with these people? Is it just that the arguments against war can't be addressed on their own merits, so they have to invent fictional insults?

Were soldiers spit on when returning from Gulf War I? If so, I haven't heard of it -- let me know if you've more information. Wait, hold on, I do remember one case of spitting on Gulf War veterans -- the U.S. government has covered up facts about Gulf War Syndrome for years, including the negative health effects of depleted uranium and other dangers to which they exposed our loyal troops. Oh well.

Meanwhile, the chamber of commerce seems to be inventing fictional misdeeds. Rae Noel had been a volunteer with the chamber since 1991 -- back around the time of the last war, in fact -- but this week she was canned. Why? Apparently she was abusing the photocopier, to create anti-war leaflets. Thing is, though: She's got the receipts from Kinko's to prove those charges wrong. No matter, though -- she's not welcome in the very gung-ho chamber which, no doubt, views any criticism of policies as an attack on the troops.

Update: The Los Angeles Times reports that Joseph Matoush found a flyer on the front door of his church telling him to "leave America".