Protesters Feel "Obligation" To Stop War

Celebrities, Lawmakers, Military Families Demand Troop Withdrawal

(CBS/AP)  Convinced this is their moment, tens of thousands marched Saturday in an anti-war demonstration linking military families, ordinary people and an icon of the Vietnam protest movement in a spirited call to get out of Iraq.

Celebrities, a half-dozen lawmakers and protesters from distant states rallied in the capital under a sunny sky, seizing an opportunity to press their cause with a Congress restive on the war and a country that has turned against the conflict.

Marching with them was Jane Fonda, in what she said was her first anti-war demonstration in 34 years.

"Silence is no longer an option," Fonda said to cheers from the stage on the National Mall. The actress once derided as "Hanoi Jane" by conservatives for her stance on Vietnam said she had held back from activism so as not to be a distraction for the Iraq anti-war movement, but needed to speak out now.

But for all the tie-dye and familiar chants, the anti-war movement has moved on — and changed direction, reports CBS News correspondent Joie Chen.

Today's protest didn't go near the White House. Instead, tens of thousands walked Constitution Avenue to the Capitol, bearing a message for the new, democratically controlled, Congress.

“I think the Democrats are well aware that a lot of Democrats were elected this year over Republicans because of this issue,” said protester Connie Gordon.

The rally on the Mall unfolded peacefully, although about 300 protesters tried to rush the Capitol, running up the grassy lawn to the front of the building. Police on motorcycles tried to stop them, scuffling with some and barricading entrances.

Protesters chanted "Our Congress" as their numbers grew and police faced off against them. Demonstrators later joined the masses marching from the Mall, halfway around Capitol Hill and back.

United for Peace and Justice, a coalition group sponsoring the protest, had hoped 100,000 would come. Police, who no longer give official estimates, said privately the crowd was smaller than that.

At the rally, 12-year-old Moriah Arnold stood on her toes to reach the microphone and tell the crowd: "Now we know our leaders either lied to us or hid the truth. Because of our actions, the rest of the world sees us as a bully and a liar."

The sixth-grader from Harvard, Mass., organized a petition drive at her school against the war that has killed more than 3,000 U.S. service-members.

More Hollywood celebrities showed up at the demonstration than buttoned-down Washington typically sees in a month.

Actor Sean Penn said lawmakers will pay a price in the 2008 elections if they do not take firmer action than to pass a nonbinding resolution against the war, the course Congress is now taking.

"If they don't stand up and make a resolution as binding as the death toll, we're not going to be behind those politicians," he said. Actors Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins also spoke.

[bluestardad]

I am there in spirit! GOD help them. Bring our troops home. It is not going to force Bush to look out his window cause he may have gone to Nevada like he did when Katrina hit.

[bluestardad]

It is common knowledge that these Iraqi units are infiltrated by all types of Insurgents, Terrorist, and Execution Death Squads members of Both Religions. Those people who support this Surge of Troops in Iraq are forcing American Soldiers to sleep with the enemy in small units exposing them to undue kidnap threat. Americans soldiers who are captured by these enemies are without mercy, tortured and mutilated beyond recognition by their captors. Still our political leadership are planning to send these Brave Men and Women in to this environment. If American proceeds with this deployment and breaks down small American Units to live and work with these Iraqi Death Squad Units our troops will be kidnapped and handed over to such beheadings, torture and captivity as has never been seen before on Cable, Internet, and National Television. If you support this surge in troops and the tactics it brings you are responsible for every one of these deaths.

[sidkeith7]

That those who manage to take part in these events manage todo so without violence of any kind, caused by anyone!

[lindu813]

I am devastated that we are in this conflictin Iraq. I served my country for 20 years and I'm proud to have done so. To all who are in Washington today to protest this conflict, I ask only one thing of you. Is there not a place in your heart or mind that says "If I protest this conflict today, how will the troops that are already deployed, their hearts already aching because they can't reach over in bed and touch their loved ones at home, already experiencing poor morale and seeing death every day that they are there; how will your actions TODAY play out in THEIR minds and their hearts?" Neither you nor I have an answer for that. You and I have every right to protest anything but please think about how we can best support our children, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc. that make up the US presence in Iraq. These troops are not boarding the 747 home today because our government, wisely or not, has chosen to continue for now this conflict. GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS AS THEY ENDEAVOR TO CARRY OUT THEIR ORDERS.

[coffeehead-2009]

The "best way" to support the troops is to REALLY tell them the "plan". Then they - along with their wives, children and relatives can decide if the plan is exactly what they want to CHANGE America.....


http://www.rense.com/general74/planners.htm
http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2002/09-23-2002/vo18no19_religion.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6297573.stm


"To Ms. Ehrenfeld: This morning I observed that during the morning news program, you and your students were engaged in activities other than
watching television."

So began the official letter of reprimand placed in my personnel folder by the principal at the elementary school in Maryland where I was teaching 3rd grade at the time.

http://www.underreported.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=767&mode=mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

[agnim]

"Active-Duty Troops To Join War Protest"

Finally some 'troops' WORTHY OF THE TITLE "HERO"? LOL

Wheew!
Thought I'd never live to see the day.
How freshing and hope-generating.

[agnim]

"I served my country for 20 years and I'm proud to have done so. To all who are in Washington today to protest this conflict,......
Neither you nor I have an answer for that.

Posted by lindu813 at 07:02 AM : Jan 27, 2007"
How ignorant/misguided/rude to imply that because YOU don't have the 'answers' that others of the 300 million Americans don't have the answer?

Don't sell your countrymen short!

We are not all automatons who just 'follow orders' without recognizing that in the final analysis WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS, AND NOT THE GIVER OFF DESTRUCTIVE ORDERS!

Notice that the people who form the majority of our military are of the lesser educated type?
Notice that the college students aren't filling the ranks of military?
This is because some people are have no stomach for foolish wars and are INTENT ON FINDING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HUMAN PROBLEMS!

With many of these more mentally developed Americans lie the answer to your questions.
Take time out to listen; it may not be too late to learn that MANY Americans have non-lethal "answers" and solutions.

[krg12171936]

The troops should be brought home as soon as possible. We should not send more troops into an
undeclared war {By Comgress}. This conflict has now lasted longer than World War II and no end is in sight. If Mr Bush cannot and will not admit
that this a lost cause then maybe he should resign
and if he refuses then he should be impeached.
The US cannot police the world and continually
tell all other countries how they should run their lives. The US has Nuclear Power yet we tell other countries that they cannot have it.
I believe the US has to change it's attitude on
matters abroad and maybe we would have some friends in all of these other countries

[educates]

To the Marchers:
I am there in Spirit.
Bush was asked in a Press Conference 3 weeks before the initial invasion what he would do if we got bogged down in a quagmire like Vietnam. He said, "I pray for wisdom. I ask God for guidance." This, of course, satisfied the evangelicals, but it did not satisfy those of us who wanted an answer. Now we are there and unfortunately his prayers have not been answered. Wisdon is something this Nation needs. We need diplomacy. We need our troops home.
We must Impeach.
ed u cates

[lieberman18]

Round them up, ship them out. AND don't forget to include our "distinguished war heroes" who post their spew here as well. Ex and Dally and company need to head on out - along with Kerry, Webb, Murtha, Hagel, McDermott, Rand Beers, Wes Clark, Baker and few other surrender monkeys.

Since we're America, they can have choices. Liberate Vietnam - doing mine clearing ops on the Israel-Lebanon border, or if they think all of that is ILLEGAL, they can look for Osama.

Not too sure about the last one though. Knowing these characters, they'd probably want to negotiate with him. Or maybe switch sides ala Benedict...

[lieberman18]

Lindau,

Good post.

We need to think about those who are willingly serving over there, and whether or not they agree with the war or not.

Something these fascists and the Stalinist crew who run the protests - those from ANSWER - could care less about.

But don't tell that to the spewers and vomit makings.

ANSWER supports the baby murderer Kim Il Jong in North Korea - that should be enough for anyone who is a good American and even if he or she opposes the war NOT to participate in these America-hate filled demonstrations.

[omnibus66]

The protests taking place today will have no effect on GWB, but maybe some members of Congress wii take notice. I recently wrote to the Republican Senator from my state, asking him to resist the troop escalation, and promptly received a form letter written by Karl Rove in response. Evidently a lot of the GOP Senators are still rubber stamps, and until that changes, there is little hope that our troops will come home before 2009.

[bluestardad]

OK here is your chance, don%u2019t just set in front of your computer and complain spouting meaningless rants of sludge, do something about it! This is the contact address for your Senator! Send them a message of your opinion. All Class Two Senators are up for Reelection in 2008. Be respectful even if they do not deserve it because their office does! http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[lieberman18]

Bluestar,

time to don your fatigues, get your kit, and go on over there.

You lost the last one. Time you and the other "distinguished" spewers won one for this country.

Or just go and live with the roaches.

Of course we could level the whole place, but the Stalinists in ANSWER and UFPJ might just get a little bit upset.

Just remember bluestarclown - this is an enemy entirely different than the Cong. They don't mind bringing their war and murder home to you.

[dallison7]

GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WATCH OVER OUR TROOPS AS THEY ENDEAVOR TO CARRY OUT THEIR ORDERS.
Posted by lindu813 at 07:02 AM : Jan 27, 2007


Orders to come home I hope.

[lieberman18]

Suppose this troop surge, so opposed by you, does work, and violence is suppressed in Iraq.
Granted it might not end all of bombings but will allow Iraqs to live relatively normal and free lives - and allow our personnel to come home.

Will you still hate Bush then? Probably, because once a bozo, always one.

We owe those fighting over there and the Iraqi people who truly want their freedom and security this chance.

If we can't do that much - then when do we decide to? After Iran or Osama nukes NYC? Probably not even then in the minds of Hate America Fascist vomiters.

You're actually making me start to laugh at you bozos. You won't move to France, but you want to tear this country down. Wonderful.

The smell of donkey manure and the roar of the crowd...

[heetseeker]

This is tricky!

Are those active servicemen & women protesting in favour of an immediate troop withdrawal? Or are they protesting against an escalation of the war?

I do not know what the statistics say, but I am sure that there are a great many active servicemen & women in Iraq, who fully support the US troop presence there as well as the escalation of the war.

The key point here is that this is a democratic society and all those who express a view should be listened to and respected. Sadly, the Iraq debate has become so divisive and poisonous that those who protest, may inevitably be judged as unpatriotic at best and traitors at worst.

Perhaps in no other nation are those who wear uniform so revered and respected by their public. If indeed active duty personnel are protesting against the war, it does indeed represent a high-water mark. It will rank alongside the toppling, capture and execution of Saddam and the various democratic elections. It will also rank alongside the 3,000th US casualty, the 500 billionth US dollar spent, the toppling of the Republican dominated congress and senate and the decision to escalate the war.

To use an old cliche, this is perhaps the end of the beginning.

[nyckate]

lieberman18 - are you such a pissant that you are DARING to denigrate the troops and their families who are protesting because they no longer believe in Bush??

You know who ddoes all they can to prevent free discussion?? Facists -- and that makes you a facist.

[bluestardad]

OK here is your chance, don%u2019t just set in front of your computer and complain spouting meaningless rants of sludge, do something about it! This is the contact address for your Senator! Send them a message of your opinion. All Class Two Senators are up for Reelection in 2008. Be respectful even if they do not deserve it because their office does! http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_in
formation/senators_cfm.cfm

[nyckate]

lieberman18 - Bush lost in Iraq - not the troops, not the nation, not the american people -- Bush as he all along has said has been the 'decider' so therefore all the failures in iraq are his and his alone - he messed up iraq from the getgo when he lied to get in there - and then he messed up the planning for occupation and then he had no exit strategy. Iraq is the largest failure in American history - and its all Bush's.

[lieberman18]

Kate,

the only fascists on board are those who support Stalinist orgs like ANSWER and UFPJ.

The troops have choices. They don't want to serve in Iraq after signing up. Fine, deploy to Afghanistan. Do mine clearance on the Lebanese border. Search out terrorist in Somalia or the Philippines.

Or face the consequences. Others have chosen duty and honor, whether you like that or not.

Guess you can call them fascists too. I also suppose you subscribe to your fellow anti-war hero Ward Churchill who called those killed in your town "Little Eichmanns".

Does that make you a fascist too, Kate. Maybe, maybe not.

[bluestardad]

liberman18: HiHO whatitbelikemybitch?

[nyckate]

lieberman18 - you don't get it - Bush is still playing politics and hasn't a clue - he's completely incompetent. He couldn't plan a tea party nevermind a military action.

[lieberman18]

The troops serving and the people in Iraq - the vast majority who want freedom and peace deserve this last troop surge. You don't know if it won't work - but if our men and women don't have our support, it will be much harder for them.

Remember - a defeat there emboldens Bin Laden - and Ahmedinejedad. You want to pull out, then I guess its ok for him to build his nukes too. After all, Princess Botox won't try to stop him...

[nyckate]

ieberman18 = American Facist

[skyk-2009]

lieberman you are the WORST type of Fascist... one who has for so long spewed hatred at those who opposed this pathetic excuse YOU call a President and NOW you spew hate at them by saying they HATE Bush. Now maybe your memory is truly THAT short but I doubt it. When this MORON LIED to all of us he enjoyed the support of over 80 of us. I suggest that you are going to defend this pathetic LOSER and his Incompetence no matter how many die. IF, as you suggest, he can somehow bring about a little peace in that war torn nation, where the HELL is the SMOKING Gun the LIAR told us about when he REFUSED to allow those inspectors to continue. He stood right in front of us, me a Vietnam Vet and told EVERYONE of us he could NOT wait, he HAD to send our best and brightest off to die in that Desert because he had the "Smoking Gun" that PROVED that Saddam had the Weapons to distroy this nation. THAT Sparky was a LIE!! There was NO smoking gun for him to have and HE knew he didn't have it when he told us so... he LIED to us. Now any "Improvement" in the conditions in Iraq matters NOT AT ALL!! When our Leader LIES like that and his LIES results in so many American Families suffering, there is NO result that is sufficient! The question for you and all the other Religious Reich Members is a simple one. How do you justify that LIE to the families of so many and still support the LIAR? Combat Vet, USMC, Chu Lai, RVN, 1968-69

[lieberman18]

revealing your pervert true colors, bluestar.

sorry, not into pervs. or bozos.

but bill clinton is - go and find him.

[lieberman18]

NYCKate = EVA BRAUN JUNIOR OR ILSE KOCH.

LOL

[dallison7]

deja vu all over again

Thank god for war protests. Without them we would still be fighting in Vietnam.

[lieberman18]

SKYK,

Sign up. go back. Liberate Nam if you don't want to fight in Iraq.

Fascist loser. LOL

[lieberman18]

Gosh I love it. A real circus this morning.

Unfortunately all of the clowns either behave like Freddy Krueger or ol' rogued 'hos.

oh well, a circus I wouldn't take the kids to. Well, except maybe Osama's or Ahmedinejedad's - they love it. Especially all of those Charlie Chaplin, oops, Hitler posters on the tents.

[nyckate]

lieberman18 - Sen John Warner has said that all along the troops always have had the support of ALL the american people - unfortuantely they hav a clueless president who has not ever been there for them - and no a fake plastic thanksgiving turkey jsut doesn't count as support for the troops - especially when they were forced to buy their own body armour.

BUSH FAILED THE TROOPS

[lieberman18]

No, Kate, you and the Democratic doubters and pissants failed them. Including the nativist nazis like KKK Byrd.

Again, do you prefer Sharia - or victory?

[lieberman18]

And I suppose ANSWER, an organization that endorses Kim Il Jong's torture and murder of North Korean children and Hamas' ops against Israeli kids - and their ally UFPJ - both Staliniod-Hitlerite groups are pro-troops, Kate.

Yeah, about as pro-America as Adolf Hitler or Josef Stalin were.

Go and goosestep with them. Take Bluestar and Dally with you. Don't forget to hang out at the Mosque afterwards.

[jimkun]

Hmmmm, seems like we have a lot of "Americans" here who forget that this country is founded on Freedom of Speech.

Newsflash! This means they are allowed to express their opinion even if it opposes your own... or opposes the views of Bush.

And unfortunately, it looks like there is still the minority who believe that the war in Iraq is tied to our safety in the US and who, like Bush, believe that "failure is not an option". But they are allowed to believe and express whatever they want to believe, even though there is no facts to back them up. Of course, having facts never interfered with Bush from making decisions which have cost the lives of over 3000 American troops, tens or even hundreds of thousands of other lives, and $400 billion...

[kopana]

History does repeat itself, instead of dumb President Bush, it really should be MAD KING GEORGE 111, American style. Also, Cheney was recently called "delusional" from Senator Durbin based upon his statement on TV this week that the Iraq war has been nothing but a success. I guess it is, if you are making it "HELL" on earth. All we need is for them to bring their horses in from Texas or wherever and and call them the "new senators from Texas." Again my point, History repeats itself remember ROME??? America keep waking-up!

[fairandbal]

jimkun,
you forget that these conservatives you call out have their philosopy that there should be a ruling class in this country. the will of the people truly means nothing to them. the condition/state of the averager person means nothing to them.
Look at all the laws passed by Republicans in power. Tax cuts for the super rich, nothing for schools, nothing for the poor, nothing for improving the conditions for the average americans.
It's no surpise to anyone that Bush rules as if he were king. It's what they truly all believe, so he's finally taken the mask off of the real Republican party.

[grumpas]

Does poor delusional Leibermann18 really think he is hurting anyone with his remarks????? About all he is doing is making himself look like a fascist!!! It's obvious he doesn't believe in a thing this country has ever stood for!

[gladys_over]

Military troops joining up with Jane Fonda... I sure hope that doesn't "embolden the enemy," Mr. Goebbels -- I mean, Gates.

"Scheduled speakers include members of Congress sponsoring anti-war measures; civil rights activist Jesse Jackson; and actors including Danny Glover, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and a voice from the anti-Vietnam past, Jane Fonda.

A small group of active-duty military troops also will attend the protest, said Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto. The sailor, stationed about the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, said he planned to speak." - CNN

[gladys_over]

RE: "And I suppose ANSWER, an organization that endorses Kim Il Jong's torture and murder of North Korean children..." - lieberman18

Kim Jong Il does that to discourage dissent.

He believes everybody should support the nations leaders in time of war. (N. Korea is still technically at war with us.)

Isn't that your philosophy too, libel man ?

[gladys_over]

The sad fact is that Susan Sarandon knows more about the situation in Iraq than Bush does.

[crater7]

lieberman18: YOU BROUGHT UP THE QUESTON, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THIS PLAN WILL NOT WORK? I ASK YOU, WHY DO YOU THINK THIS PLAN WILL WORK? HOW LONG DO YOU GIVE THIS PLAN A CHANCE TO WORK? IT SEEMS LIKE THAT THERE ABOUT 60 PLUS AMERICAN KIDS, KILLED EVERY MONTH. DO YOU THINK MAYBE 6 MONTHS, IS LONG ENOUGH? THATS ANOTHER 360 AMERICAN TROOPS KILLED. ITS NOT A CHOICE, THE DECISION MAKER HAS MADE HIS CHOICE. NOW WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. YOU AND THE OTHER 22% OF BUSH SUPPORTERS, HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUPPORT THIS PLAN. THE OTHER 78%, AND MYSELF WHO DISAGREE WITH THIS PLAN, HOPE THAT IT DOES WORK. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS.

[kingreb09]

Impeach George Bush, Charge him with the crimes he's committed, throw him in jail, recall the troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, stop the war, arrest Cheney with Bush, get aleader who'll discard all of Bush and Cheney's doings and save the nation.

[mippers1]

Oh, to travel to Washington DC and goose step with Jane Fonda.Peloski should have invited Fonda to join the party in Iraq. Fonda is well known for negotiating with the enemy. Who is funding this "get together"....al Qaeda or Hezbollah? Shame on the active duty troops, you wanted the perps but not the war, you volunteered...remember?

[markmn29]

If George W Bush would be sent to the gallows and his head popped off it would be easier to stick it up his a$$ because thats where it has been most days anyway.

[heetseeker]

"The majority of them know why they signed up and know they have a duty to protect our country. This small minority has been spreading hate against our president because of the left wing liberal media."

singinrick

The above quote is outrageous! Do you know these active service troops personally? Are they breaking the law? As far as I can see they are exercising their democratic right. Would you take that right from them and have them silenced? Are you content for these individuals to be sent to Iraq to fight and die so that others may have those same rights and freedoms?

I personally do not know the active service persons, neither as far as I am aware, are they breaking the law. Therefore I will reserve judgement on them. Can I suggest that you do the same?

[scouser691]

Rantingrick is typical of the rubbish spouting professional Bush muppets here. Iraq is a disaster. Their hero is now regarded as a failure and a loooooser, their last and only refuge is to blame liberals and the media. Keep up the good work, there is ample entertainment value for the rest of us in your delusional rants.

[scouser691]

The pleasure is all mine rick, how are you this fine morning

[heetseeker]

singinrick

You obviously did not read my post, because if you had you would have see that I stated that I did not know these service people. Clearly neither do you. Yet you have assumed, purely because they exercise their right to dissent that they are part of a left wing conspiracy.

Furthermore, because you are you wife are part of or have friends in the military does not give you the right to condemn others for expressing their democratic right to dissent. This may come as a shock to you, but we are not living in a dictatorship.

Again, I ask you are these active service personnel breaking the law? You may disagree with what they have to say, but at the very least have decency to respect their right to express their view.

[inventagod]

Comparing Iraq to Viet Nam is easier, with the majority of US citizens firmly against the occupation.
Mr. Bu$h may finally take notice when the protests hit the streets.
If not, the Congress certainly will, as future votes are at stake.

Viet Nam - Nixon -Standard Oil
Iraq - Bu$h - KBR Inc.