In Washington, DC, it was a highly reenergized Anti-War Movement that rallied on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 25, 2003. Under a blue sky, with temperatures hovering in the mid-60s, they marched by the thousands. They demanded that all U.S. troops get out of Iraq and chanted slogans, like: “No more lies. Bush has got to go. Bring the troops home.”

The route took the protesters from the Washington Monument, to north on 17th St., crossing H. St., near fabled Lafayette Square, (which sits in front of the White House), then down 15th Street to Pennsylvania Ave, while passing the Justice Department on their right, and the FBI Building on their left, to finish off on Constitution Ave., in front of “The Ellipse”.

NYC’s Julie Finch was at the rally representing “Woman in Black.” She said that her organization maintains a silent vigil at such affairs “to protest war and all its victims.” She added, “We mourn for all the American soldiers that have died, and for the Iraqi civilians, too.” Joyce Paulson, of Palm Springs, CA, told me, “I would like to see the people here today raise their voices so loud that President George Bush would finally take the plugs out of his ears and realize that the public is not fully behind his war policies.”

Heading up the speakers for the program were: Ramsey Clark, a champion of civil rights and the former U.S. Attorney General; Andy Shallal, Iraqi Americans for Peaceful Alternatives; Al Sharpton, Democratic candidate for president; Elias Rashmawi of the Free Palestine Alliance; and Rev. Martin Luther King, III, of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. One of the most passionate remarks came from Fernando de Solar Suarez, the father of a U.S. Marine, who was killed in Iraq. Suarez moved the crowd to tears with his comments about losing his son.

It was the nation’s capital’s first major anti-Iraq War demonstration since April 12, 2003, barely three weeks after President George W. Bush had authorized the unjustified Neocon-inspired preemptive invasion of Iraq. It comes, too, as the Bush-Cheney Gang is attempting, with mixed results, at Madrid, Spain, to gain international grants to rebuild Iraq.

Carol Ingham came up for the rally from Savannah, GA. She said, “I missed the marches in the 60s because I had a family to raise. I didn’t want to miss this one. I feel very strongly we should not be at war.” Imam Salam, of Fairfax, VA, said, “I’m here today to get our country back on the right track and fight the “USA Patriot Act,” to stand for civil liberties for all Americans, and to say ‘no’ to this occupation. This is definitely Israel’s war.”

Since the pompous War Party unloosened the dogs of war on Iraq, (thanks to the bum advice of Richard Perle and his Chicken Hawk ilk), 347 brave Americans have died and nearly 2,000 have been seriously wounded (lunaville.org). Morale inside the military is very low. The cost is estimated at $6 billion a month to maintain the Iraq Occupation, with no end in sight. The Iraqi death toll is over 37,000, according to the Iraqi Freedom Party. Attacks on American forces, too, are averaging around 26 a day.

The rally, organized by International A.N.S.W.E.R and United for Peace and Justice, brought enthusiastic activists from 38 states and even Canada. Coordinated demonstrations were planned for 40 other countries. Entertainment was provided, too, for the marching protesters, via music with a Korean, Cuban and Hip Hop beat, along with the fabulous drummers from the “Rhythm Workers Union”. On top of all of that, the celebrated “Raging Grannies,” belted out of a few of their popular ballads.

There was a sea of colorful signs and banners on display. They blended in with the last of the Fall’s fading foliage. Some posters railed against the influence of “Big Oil,” the “Controlled Media,” the “Military Industrial Complex,” and V.P. Dick Cheney's incestuous and money-grabbing relationship with the Halliburton Co.; others, took the Bush-Cheney Gang to task for aiding and abetting militant Israel’s brutish 36-years occupation of Palestine; and many boosted “Kucinich for President.”

One sign in the crowd read: “Remember the USS Liberty.” It was held by an elderly man, who looked like he might have been a veteran of WWII. The “Liberty” is back in the news, after a U.S. Navy lawyer confessed that the treacherous attack on the vessel by the Israelis, on June 8, 1967, (which murdered 34 Americans and wounded 141 others), was deliberate and not an accident. The Israelis were looking to sink the Liberty and blame it on the Egyptians, according to Ret. Adm. Thomas Moorer. Then-President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a cover-up of the War Crime.

A law student, Fadi Kiblawi, from Washington, DC, said, “I’m here to make a statement, not only against the occupation, but against the U.S. engagement in the Middle East region, which is currently driven by neoconservatives on the Defense Policy Board. This policy is looking to colonize the entire region and to prevent at all cost democracy and true sovereignty from emerging.”

Despite the success of today’s demonstration, you can expect off-the-wall criticism from the usual suspects. Propagandists for the War Party, such as William Kristol, Mortimer B. Zuckerman, George F. Will and Mona Charen, will once again dip their pens in their poisoned wells and renew their vile attacks on those seeking a peace with justice resolution for Iraq.

In any event, the Secretary of Defense, the soon-to-be unemployed Donald Rumsfeld, recently admitted in a memo, to his deputy, Paul “Dr. Strangelove” Wolfowitz, that Iraq will be “a long hard slog.”

Bottom line: The protesters reflected the view of a fast growing segment of American society. They want the troops brought home- -now!

© William Hughes 2003

William Hughes is the author of “Saying ‘No’ to the War Party” (Iuniverse, Inc.), which is available online.

Meanwhile, across America, millions stayed home showing their support of US action in Iraq.

From http://petbunny.blogspot.com/

"nonanarchist " posted a photo showing a small group of people... and headlined it "doesn't look like thousands to me." Very funny nonanarchist .... you could work for the SOVIET STYLE U.S. MEDIA.

Anyone can take a huge crowd, photograph a small group of people on the edge, and then proclaim that the photographic "evidence" proves that only a small number of people were there.

C-SPAN gave a live broadcast of the D.C. rally and march. Anyone could plainly see that the crowd was AT LEAST 15,000.... and even C-SPAN's camera angle did not reveal the thousands of others who were in the general area. Washington D.C. Indymedia reports that up to 40,000 attended.

Practically no one gives credence to these protesters.

They have a bogus message, they distort the facts, they are not supported by most Americans, and they're entirely self deluded.

But they're harmless and working themselves up into a lather gives them something to do since most of them are unemployable.

nonanarchist wrote:

> Meanwhile, across America, millions stayed home

> showing their support of US action in Iraq.

Your reasoning is fallacious. You assume that someone who stayed home necessarily was in favor of the war. This is an example of a logical fallacy called false dilemma, where you are only presented two options, with the argument that if you don't belong to the first, you automatically belong to the second.

There are lots of reasons why someone might be against the war, but not be at the rally. Work, other previous commitments, or lack of awareness about the march are some examples. Thus your argument doesn't stand.

I guess your use of logical fallacies in your reasoning is just more evidence of what English moral philosopher John Stuart Mill once said: "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives."

...you people have absolutley NO sense of humor.

How boring it must be to be one of you.

"Washington D.C. Indymedia reports that up to 40,000 attended."

Sure. Trust people who don't regularly bathe to be able to count. I'll pass on their estimate, thank you very much.

"Your reasoning is fallacious. You assume that someone who stayed home necessarily was in favor of the war."

No, I was making a joke. Perhaps you've heard of them.

Then again, perhaps not.

To Enforcer.

It depends upon your definition of conservative.

As one who believes in the original documents which this country

was created, I believe that I am a real conservative.

It's the rampant corruption that this now corporate government selectively

encourages that is grinding the ideas and opportunities of the majority into the chum tank of sharks.

When the rule of law applies to only the powerless, leaving the

wealthy and powerful untoutched, the contract has been torn.

We could fix this mess by taking honest measures about the undue influence of

money towards our common contract and put the real criminals in cages.

But the enormous list of violations unattended, is still growing.

I stayed home this weekend and I strongly disagree with violent solutions. I would love to see the white house immediately taken back for the people, put an end to both this occupation and the one in Iraq. The Iraqi people deserve autonomy, not dehuminization. I sincerely hope that the world community persues the conviction of G.W. Bush, his cronies, and allies for crimes against humanity. I would feel good paying taxes to see these folks locked away in small rooms, eating perfectly nutritious, tasteless meals, and doing nothing, but watching old sitcoms. Yes, I would feel good about it and I would laugh.

Answer a question for me:

What happens in Iraq if we pull out right now?

Never mind; I'll tell you. Pay attention.

The nascent Iraqi governing council doesn't have enough power to hold onto the country. Extremists take over due to the power vacuum. Ba'ath Party remnants gain power once again. Iraq turns into the hellhole it was 8 months ago. Iraqis who cooperated with the coalition are systematically rounded up, tortured, and killed. Any chance for democratic rule the Iraqis had is gone.

Terrorist groups worldwide see the pullout as a sign of weakness by the members of the coalition...mostly the US. Terrorist activiites escalate worldwide. America is attacked again. More innocent lives are sacrificed to the so-called "peace movement".

Is that what you want? Do you think it's all gonna be sweetness and light in Iraq if we leave?

I'm not even going to go into your nonsense about Bush.

Dear Lord, I wish you people would think before you started typing.

If you love Iraq so much - go live there!!

Iraq a threat?

Are you stoned or just stupid?

Iraq:

Not connected to 9-11

not related to al-queda

No WMD

God, your stupid.

Imperialist pig!

Let's hear your scenario if the US pulls out of Iraq.

Take your time; I realize you haven't given it any thought beyond "Bring our troops home NOW!"

See how I put down the other posts like my opinion is more valid than theirs!!!!

Notice how I never answer anyone elses posts, yet expect mine to be answered quickly......

Point is "nonthinker"

Iraq is not a threat to anyone.

The pull out now would allow life to resume to normal.

have you ever read any books on history?

How the US pulled out of other situations like this?

Go on boy, run to your favorite search engine and scribble back to me "there's never been a situation where the US has had to pull out"

SImpleton

"The Iraqi people will gather together in the warmth and happiness of non-US-occupation and sing songs of brotherly love. And France will buy everyone a puppy."

Not gonna happen, Skippy.

Fortunately for Iraq, and unfortunately for those of you who backed the wrong horse, the US is NOT going to leave Iraq until there is a stable, functioning democracy in place.

And that gets your panties in a bunch, doesn't it?

Furthermore, the threat I was speaking of would come for Al Qaeda and other international terror groups...not Iraq. They would see a pullout as weakness, and they would exploit it...by blowing up innocent Americans...even the ones like you who support their cause.

Please post relevant links showing Iraq's involvement with al-queda for your fans here.....

Thanks for not ever addressing any of the historical points of US leaving occupying countries and their political effects.....

what a dummy....

ps

hows your wife and my kids?

>>>" have you ever read any books on history? How the US pulled out of other situations like this? "

You mean like how the US pulled out of Japan and germany?

If you are talking about somalia or vietnam you are clearly confused since only a retarded person would call it a defeat even if the US left right now, since the US has obviously defeated the bath reigeme (the declared enemy). Anything else is just icing on the cake. It is like if I play basket ball against you and I score 101 points and you score 1 and your jumping up and down about your victory.

If you are going to be cynical and say the US is trying to take over the world what are the odds that the US won't have a lot of influence in the new iraqi government even if they do leave right now? If they were truely cynical they would just stack the government with puppets and leave except for air support if needed.

Nice sentance structure......

(check this one out from the History major)

If you are talking about somalia or vietnam you are clearly confused since only a retarded person would call it a defeat even if the US left right now, since the US has obviously defeated the bath reigeme (the declared enemy).



Only a retarded person would not know how to spell, write, or develop a logical argument.

LOL.

You moron. I never said Iraq was involved with Al Qaeda. Stop trying to score points by changing the argument. It just makes you look dumb.

p.s.: My wife is great. Your kids are stupid and ugly.

weirdo:

You misspelled "sentence". Only a supremely retarded person laughs at another person's use of language and proceeds to screw up is own.

Oh, BTW: Scottie did a great job summarizing the effects of US pullouts. You saw this, and proceeded to change the subject and insult him. Typical for a coward such as yourself.

Hmmm....so all of us lefties were berated when we said Bush was lying about Iraq, and some of the things that happened on 9/11 right ? I know you right-wingers read the same headlines I do, right ? Washington Post: Bush is witholding KEY evidence concerning 9/11. The chairman of the federal commission investigating the 9/11 attacks says that the Bush administration continues to delay in providing documents and other evidence concerning 9/11. The chairman (a republican) goes on to say: "Anything that has to do with 9/11, we have to see it-ANYTHING. There are a lot of theories about 9/11, and as long as there is any document out there that bears on ANY of those theories, we're going to leave QUESTIONS unanswered-And we can NOT leave questions unanswered." The White House has already been warned that it will be subpoenaed if it does not produce the documents. http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=NW_1-T&oldflok=FF-RTO-rontz&idq=/ff/story/0002%2F20031025%2F220915448.htm&sc=rontz&photoid=20031023CNB212D Oh yeah, the weapons inspectors have laid it to rest once and for all: IRAQ WAS NOT MAKING ANY NUCLEAR WEAPONS. More from the Washington Post-quotes from weapons inspectors themselves... "Saddam had no active program to build a weapon, produce it's key materials, or obtain the technology he needed for either" "Iraq's nuclear scientists did NO significant arms-related work after 1991" "The aluminum tubes we found were innocuous-that finding is pivotal, because the Bush administration built its case on the proposition that Iraq aimed to use those tubes as centrifuge rotors to enrich uranium for the core of a nuclear warhead-they were only rockets." Bush Admirer, Nonanarchist, Fresca, whoever the right wing on IMC chooses to speak for them-comment on what I've said-tell me I'm wrong, that the Post is wrong, that the weapons inspectors are wrong, the committee investigating 9/11 is wrong, and that GW Bush is....right. Bottom Line: I don't have to make accusations. The weapons inspectors said so, the REPUBLICAN leader of the 9/11 investigative commitee says so....what do you have to say ?

Yo nigga, what be the haps?

Wheahs the white women at?

Good movie!

Wow, I don't know what I did to incur all of this "nigga" talk (besides being black), but it's cool.

It seems that everyone always waits for that one brave soul to make some kind of racially-driven comment before everyone decides "Hey, since he's doing it, I might as well too!"

Race shouldn't play a factor here, but I find it entertaining nonetheless.

P.S. The females are waiting in my den at home-I've screwed more white women than Mick Jagger ever wishes he had. What can I say ? It bet it's something about our monstrous penises.

--Yo nigga, what be the haps?--

I speak Jive, and I don't believe the above statement is in anyway racially-driven or bigoted.

In modern street lauguage, the above phrase means the following:

"Hello, friend. What's is going on with you?"

That will be all for today.

First off, not even Donald Rumsfeld, or the whitest white guy ever would call that "Jive".Even Rush Limbaugh would call it slang-when's the last time you ever heard someone say "stop talking Jive" ?

And as far as that being "modern street language"-go up to ANY African-American person and say "Hey Nigga, what be the haps?" and see if he kindly replies "Nothing much, my caucasian brotha."

Not that you have to be in touch with slang to live here in the States, but come on !

I seriously like my right-wing buddies(BA, Nonanarch, Fresca) better than your ignorant ass, whoever you may be-at least they wouldn't try to pawn that one off as "jive." Christ.

"Excuse me stewardess, I speak Jive."

Another great movie!

who fucking cares about a handful of protestors I say get a semi and run over all of them

That movie has to be AT LEAST 15 years old-surely it's more than that though.

"I don'ts know nothin' bout birthin' no baby"

More than 15 years old. Great Movie!