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Posted April 1, 2003
Eric
Garris Replies
I am trying to publicize that horrific image of an Iraqi man holding a dead Iraqi girl from your March 28th website to educate Americans where our tax money has gone to. But, that image is not there anymore today, March 29. You should keep that image in your welcome screen for as long as Bush is attacking Iraq so that we all know what lies that Bush & Co. have done and where our hard-earned money has been spent by that Texas Turkey.
Webmaster Eric Garris replies:
The last 7 days of our pages can be accessed by the button in the left-hand column of the page. Here's last Tuesday's page: http://www.antiwar.com/tuesday.html. And here's a link to the image you requested: https://www.antiwar.com/photos/daughter.jpg.
Leon Van Gray: Why do you protest when all that accomplishes is the disruption of the lives of folks at home, death, injury or arrest of protesters and the death of coalition forces fighting in the war? I see no reason for the protests. I am also against the war but find it dumb, ludicrous and ridiculous to protest in the streets. I would love to find an easier way. Is it true that these protests are just a way to get names and or pictures on the news and in the papers? Read on and answer some of these interesting facts.
The silence was deafening from the Left when Bill Clinton bombed a pharmaceutical factory outside of Khartoum, or when he attacked the Bosnian Serbs in 1995 and 1999. He bombed Serbia itself to get Slobodan Milosevic out of Kosovo, and not a single peace rally was held. When our Rangers were ambushed in Somalia and 18 young American lives were lost, not a peep was heard from Hollywood. Yet now, after our nation has been attacked on its own soil, after 3,000 Americans were killed by freedom-hating terrorists while going about their routine lives, they want to hold rallies against the war. Why the change? Because an honest, God-fearing Republican sits in the White House.
Another irony is that in 1987, when Ronald Reagan was in office, the Hollywood group aligned themselves with disarmament groups like SANE, FREEZE and PEACE ACTION, urging our own government to disarm and freeze the manufacturing of any further nuclear weapons, in order to promote world peace. It is curious that now, even after we have heard all the evidence that Saddam Hussein has chemical, biological and is very close to obtaining nuclear weapons, their is no cry from this group for HIM to disarm. They believe we should leave him alone in his quest for these weapons of mass destruction, even though it is certain that these deadly weapons will eventually be used against us in our own cities.
Eric Garris: I am afraid you were not paying attention. I attended dozens of peace rallies during the Kosovo War. Here is an article from PBS Newshour about the major antiwar movement during 1999, including a photo of me and a demonstration, and a report about Antiwar.com. Antiwar.com also opposed Clinton's war in Bosnia. Of course, virtually every major war in the 20th Century was started by a Democrat.
I have been a Republican for 20 years.
When terrorists hit our sites in Lebanon, Ronald Reagan did the right thing. He pulled US troops out of Lebanon, preventing an escalation of terror against America. He recognized cause and effect.
Today we spend hundreds of billions a year on "defense." Yet we were so busy trying to liberate the world, we neglected the relatively simple task of defending Americans at home. Try to imagine a country that spends so much on defense but is unable to stop a slow plane from hitting the Pentagon one hour and 20 minutes after the first plane hit the WTC. If the Pentagon had been in the Balkans or the Gulf, our military would have kept it safe. Sounds like pervertedly warped priorities.
By the way, just for the record. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. This has been asserted by both the CIA and Israel's Mossad, as recently as last month.
LVG: OK, you answered the second part of the email but not the most important part and that was the first part. I have read all the writing and web sites of all the antiwar protests and have yet to find an honest answer to this question. Why do you protest when all that accomplishes is the disruption of the lives of folks at home, death, injury or arrest of protesters and the death of coalition forces fighting in the war? I see no reason for the protests.
EG: We are opposed to all illegal or disruptive protests. We have run dozens of articles condemning them. Here is one, but I can send you more if you'd like.
But, just as Congressman Abraham Lincoln led protests in 1848 during the Mexican War, peaceful protests are as American as the Bill of Rights. It would be a grave mistake to adopt any of the domestic policies or attitudes of the country we are fighting.
You had a link at your site of some beautiful antiwar posters that were done in a World War II style. Could you send along either the link or where I can find them at your site.
Thanks and keep up the great work.
Eric Garris replies:
Here you go: http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/2003/03/26/1048354635614.html.
You didn't show any photos of the World Trade Center or The USS COLE. How about the over two hundred innocent African citizens who died when they blew up our embassies? "Black Hawk Down" – take a look at the story behind that incident. We were sent there to feed starving people. And lost nineteen GIs. You should educate yourself, take in some good books on recent world events. Rather that listening to any America-hating groups. And while your at it read some world history. Because at the rate your going you will repeat it!
Eric Garris replies:
We showed dozens of photos of the Cole and the WTC, and the Pentagon, and the Bali bombing, and suicide bombings in Israel. You obviously have never been to our site before and are just guessing. I suggest you read and then make some intelligent comments.
Also, the "they" you are talking about are not Iraqis. Are you suggesting we blindly lash out at people who look similar to those who attacked us?
It looks like the Z-mag website was hacked yesterday. This is the hacked "home page" I got on their main link: http://www.zmag.org/ – "CONNECTION REFUSED – Description: Connection refused." You would have expected something more original from the Chomsky-haters.
Eric Garris replies:
They may have been hacked, but their site is up now and they make no mention of it. More likely, their server was down for some reason, or their traffic was so high that they were unable to take some download requests. Or it could have been a hub refusal somewhere between you and them.
Tell Your Leaders
Unfortunately, the war against Iraq goes on very dramatically. Yesterday, I saw the civilian victims including children and women. There were several scenes reflecting savagery and brutality exceeding the words and expression ability in describing what happened.
It is only if you have seen the live coverage of the Al Jazeera channel you can understand my feelings. However, the political and military American and British leaders confirm their intentions to proceed in what they call "Operation Iraq Freedom" until the full achievement of its objectives.
The majority of people including myself have begun to feel that it is too late to believe in no-war efforts. If all these demonstrations worldwide can't make the Pentagon's leader reconsider their steps, could words make a change?
In Arabic there is an old saying goes like this: If you have no alternative but to die, it is shame to die coward. This mean that if you can't make peace and you have no alternative but to fight it is good to face your enemy than waiting for him to come and kill you. In other words: The more the American and British suffer the more the political leaders face a pressure to stop the war. So tell your leaders to do whatever they want but no one to be blamed but themselves!
Regarding "A Perle of High Price" by Justin Raimondo:
I have only this morning learned of Antiwar.com by finding on the web a recent article by Mr. Justin Raimondo . There is a great need to critically examine the relationship between militant Jabotinskyite Zionism and United States foreign and military policy formation. It is of paramount importance to clearly identify this as a discussion of political ideology and not any characterization attached to any religious belief or ethnicity. In an effort of suppress such discussions, there is an ongoing attempt to equate objections to Jabotinskyite Zionist agendas, and their promoters, with racist anti-Semitism. Nevertheless, the public discussion and critical evaluation of legitimate political issues that have direct bearing on the national security of the United States must continue and remain unobstructed by threats of defamatory stigma.
Having read his work I wanted to personally thank Mr. Raimondo for his important and courageous contributions to this important national discussion, and to offer my most enthusiastic encouragement of his efforts. I am sure he has and will continue to inspire many with his brilliant and eloquent analysis, especially among the younger generation who have for too long lacked meaningful ideological leadership. ...
Regarding "San Francisco Rabble Brings Discredit on Antiwar Movement" by Justin Raimondo:
While I'm not sure I agree with the tone of Justin's scathing and vitriolic diatribe against the antiwar protesters in San Francisco, I understand his anger. I personally believe the real goal of the antiwar movement should be to remove Dick Cheney from the halls of power and when I see people doing things (like waving signs that say Bush=Hitler, harassing pedestrians, etc.) that will make this harder to do I also get upset.
I imagine it feels good to vent and rage but if one can honestly say that it does more good than harm I want to hear their reasoning. There are diehards who have already been brainwashed by the cult of personality developing around the president (they will go to their graves believing he is one of the best presidents of all time no matter what happens), but there are a large number of people who are not so sure. These are the people that need to be convinced that the Bush administration is misguided and the country would be better off without them. That's not going to happen by calling him evil, equating him with Hitler (no matter how apt the comparison), vandalizing property, or disrupting and pissing off people going to work. It takes subtle arguments with a sense of compassion and reason. Knowledge of the history of American foreign policy in the region (thanks Antiwar.com), knowledge of the lies (about forged documents, etc.) used by the administration to get us into war, and reasoned arguments against using violence to promote democracy or end terrorism; these can be used to convince people of the misguided and dangerous policies of the Bush administration. I want to rage at the people around me who only believe FoxNews and Rush Limbaugh tell the truth, but I know that if I truly want to contribute to a more peaceful world I need to harness my emotions and use them to achieve a more constructive dialogue.
Confront Hate-Mongers!
I was in a bookstore working on a sermon. Though it is not a religious bookstore the manager always plays contemporary Christian music. After having been at study a couple hours I got up to walk around and stretch my legs. There is a TV at the rear of the store with news on. The manager and a young man were near it loudly talking: "When they tried to kill Saddam on the first day of the war they should have just dropped a nuclear weapon. They could have just wiped out everything in a twenty mile radius." The other guy laughed,"You bet! Turn all the sand the place sits on into glass." "Yes, we just need to wipe them all out."
I couldn't stand the big mouth hate-mongers going unchallenged. "What a great idea," I said. "That way in one act we can murder hundreds of times more innocent people than Saddam ever did. That makes a lot of sense. That will prove we are the good guys." The bookstore manager shot back,"They're not innocent! They support a tyrant!" "I thought we were suppose to be going into Iraq as liberators,"I replied. "We are liberators!" he answered. I couldn't keep quiet,"So who do you think is going to get liberated if we wipe out the population of their largest city, killing millions of people who didn't choose to be in the situation that they are in?"
The hate-mongers spout off their obscene views so aggressively that others tend to be intimidated. Racists did the same thing in times past. So did Nazis. These people need to be challenged every time they open their foul mouths in public. If they aren't, their hatred and extremism will become more and more acceptable with each passing month and mass destruction will start to sound increasingly reasonable. We can't let that happen.
~ Rev. Craig Watts, Royal Palm Church, Florida
Our Country Has Been Sold Out!
If you go to the web site, PublicIntegrity.org and read the report called "Advisors of Influence: Nine Members of the Defense Policy Board Have Ties to Defense Contractors," you will see that these members have a conflict of interest.
USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios says, USAID waived competitive bidding as federal law allows in cases of national security. It sought bids from companies that could move quickly and that already had security clearances.
What does this mean? Well, Halliburton and Bechtel are likely to be prominent in U.S.-financed rebuilding efforts based on their strong political ties. Bechtel and Halliburton's construction and engineering subsidiary, Kellogg Brown & Root, are among USAID's invited bidders for the emergency reconstruction contract. Others include Fluor, and Washington Group International of Boise. Bechtel is well connected, too. Last month, Bush appointed CEO Riley Bechtel to the President's Export Council, an advisory panel of high-powered U.S. business executives.
USAID this week awarded a $4.8 million contract to Stevedoring Service of America. The Seattle firm will handle humanitarian cargo delivered at the port of Umm Qasr. In a $7 million deal, USAID last month awarded a contract to International Resources Group, a firm that will help coordinate relief and reconstruction efforts. Among its recent US military contracts: a $16 million dollar deal was given to Halliburton who built a permanent prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for detainees from the war in Afghanistan. This information is taken from a report by Thomas A. Fogarty, USA TODAY. (3/30/03).
To see why they started this war and what this administration plans for you and our country, go to the official WhiteHouse.gov web site and read the 2002 document called "The National Security Strategy of the United States of America." (Note pages 6 and 14).
This White House document is taken from an earlier report in 2000 (before 9/11) called "Rebuilding America's Defenses." All of the people who drafted this earlier report, are now in the White House under the Bush Administration. You can read this report on the NewAmericanCentury.org website.
Just look at what he has done to this country since he was appointed. We are in a recession, we have high unemployment, we have a severe deficit, most of the world hates us, and now our servicemen are fighting on two fronts!
After reading these, you will see why we should ³Impeach Bush,² before he and his group destroy our country and our democracy!
Regarding
"Antiwar Movement Goes Mainstream," originally titled "Antiwar
Effort Emphasizes Civility Over Confrontation" (New York Times):
As a Libertarian, I started reading the NY Times article "Antiwar Effort Emphasizes Civility Over Confrontation" with some interest since a significant amount of the antiwar movement is too much a part of left-wing fringe for my liking.
As I read this article I was a bit startled to find that the new "moderate" movement that is emerging that is also attempting to distance itself from both criticism of Israel and support for the Palestinians.
Could the Israeli Lobby be attempting to take over the peace movement? Would the Israeli Lobby engage in such a Machiavellian undertaking if it though it could get away with it? Well, let me ask you this. Does a dog have fleas? Of course it would.
Since the plight of the Palestinians and the corrupting influence of the Israeli Lobby on US politics are both very important issues that will continue to exist far beyond the present situation in Iraq, I feel that we have to be especially careful not to abandon out present antiwar allies in the name of this "suspicious" moderation. I might not like a lot of what ANSWER stands for but I will hold my nose and continue to support them anyway because at least its members are is open about what they stand for.
The support of the National Council of Churches (NCC) for this new "moderate" movement is especially troubling because of its history of total timidity and acquiescence to the Israeli Lobby in all manner of things relating to Palestine and the taboo subject of the very generous US financial support of Israel in the past.
The NCC has never quite had the courage to mention even meekly that US foreign aid might be better spent on supplying food for the starving people in the third world rather then on building deluxe condos for Russian émigrés on the West Bank in the occupied territories.
~ John Fraser, Sausalito, California
Consumers for Peace
If everyone in this nation who wants an end to this unjust war and to bring our troops home would participate in a national boycott of consumer spending starting April 12th, this would send a very loud message to Washington. We are consumers for peace and we will not spend one dime until this unjust war ends and our troops are brought home.
This worked very effectively in the South African freedom movement.
A South African Perspective
From a South African perspective and being a NCO in the South West African Infantry (Namibia), the US and the UK have made a fatal mistake. These two countries have started something that will haunt them for the rest of their days. Firstly, the anger from South Africans and the other African countries is on the rise. There is widespread talk of banning any US and UK products on shelves in shops, closer cooperation with EU agencies for aid, etc.
One just has to go into bars and restaurants, watch the TV, and all you see is the war. Every time a US or British soldier is killed, the delight and jubilation from the crowd is unreal. This not from your uneducated person, but from doctors, lawyers, businessmen and South Africans of British extraction. They cheer even more when they shoot each other. Some people even roll around laughing. What people in SA cannot understand is here are two so-called Super Powers with all the fire power at their disposal (2 world wars combined) killing each other and civilians. Now they need more troops, what a joke. What the poor average US and UK citizen does not know, is what is really happening, because they do not want you to know. All you see is CNN, CBS, SKY and BBC and they are not going to give you the true picture, because it will influence public opinion.
As an ex-soldier who has fought terrorism for 20 years, conventional and unconventional – and I rose to the rank of only a Sergeant: When I saw those US and UK armored vehicles rush off at great speed I started to laugh as even stupid me realised you will stretch the supply lines. That is why your troops have stopped fighting, so that supplies can reach the fighting forces. You will look stupid walking into Baghdad with 5 rounds of ammo and two litres of petrol. What amazes me even more and should be a concern to the average US citizen is that the TOP US GENERAL in charge did not realise and has endangered US troop lives. Can I apply for the job?
On a more serious note, put pressure on your President to withdraw. He is a loose cannon and Blair is seen as a puppy dog
The Equation
You just knew, eh, when word came out that they were to rush 100,000 troops to Iraq, to 're-enforce' the front, they were is deep sh*t. Now the Brits are on record, that if the war drags on, they will down-size their commitment. Bad omen there.
It's been years since I wore a uniform, but being a 'grunt' I still remember the equation: It takes a Section (7-9 men) to take out one enemy soldier; it takes a Company (35-40 men) to take out an enemy section; it takes a Battalion (300-500 men) to take out an enemy Company; and a Brigade (1500+) to take out a Battalion 100,000 reinforcements would be about the right number of men to provide cover for the 150,000 in country, to get out. But severely understaffed to lay siege to Baghdad. Let alone provide offence to take out 400,000 Iraqi soldiers, a half dozen paramilitaries, and four and one half million, severely pissed off, Iraqis. Who's securing the rest of the country? The boy scouts?
The heading on your story today would read better as 'Coalition of the inept'. Anyone who leaves a civilian, with no military experience, to draw up a battle plan, is, well, he's a, moron. Nuff said.
Someone should make the SOBs go over there in person and see the f'n carnage they are creating, they make Hussein look like a lamb, and in the process, just turned him into the greatest Arab hero they have had since the days of the Crusades.
Rumour has it, deep laughter can be heard emitting from caves all over Afghanistan.
Pulling a Schultz
Perhaps
the most famous last words in military history were those of John Sedgwick,
an officer during the Civil War who announced, “They couldn’t
hit an elephant at this distance” and was immediately shot dead by
enemy fire at the battle of Spotsylvania in May 1864. The unfortunate
Sedgwick’s fate illustrates the psychology of warfare—a strong
tendency to underestimate the enemy’s strength.
See "Iran and Syria hit back over Rumsfeld threat," a good article that clearly points out that the complexities of what Bush has started will prove to be very difficult to bring to an orderly conclusion. His wishful plan was to have a lightning war (Blitzkrieg) and have our forces entrenched in Iraq before everyone could figure out what had happened. Their problem is that they totally underestimated the amount of resistance that the Iraqis would mount against the invasion.
Bush and his advisors are far too proud to have a ceasefire and withdrawal so it will be all the way to Baghdad. We may eventually take Iraq but how long can we hold it when our presence there is so hated and reviled? And not only by the Iraqis but by millions of other Arabs, Muslims and assorted peoples of the world. Sure, we can blow them all to hell but where does that leave the argument that we are there to "liberate" the people and bring democracy to the region? There are already articles, see: "Bush Reportedly Shielded From Dire War Forecast," circulating that information was withheld from Bush about the negative aspects of launching his war. This is a clever way for him to CHA or "pull a Schultz" ("I know nothing!") and eventually hang the blame for the fiasco on someone else in his administration.
Innocent Children of Iraq
Can somebody help stop this tragedy? These photos are just a few of so many innocent children and others who have nothing to do with war. I am sure someone has a mercy that can stop this from getting worse. Can you please do something?
Mister Blundersfeld Blunders On
It has become woefully obvious that our Secretary of Defense is no student of history. His strategy in Iraq was based on the assumption that there would be a popular uprising of the Iraqi people the moment their "liberators" set foot on Iraqi soil. History tells us that there have been few – if any – local uprisings against local government when confronted by foreign invaders. Hitler made a similar error of judgment in his attack on Russia.
Mister Blundersfeld's latest fiasco should not obscure the fact that his costly blunder last year in Afghanistan did not create a democracy. Thousands of deaths and billions of dollars later, we have resurrected a state dominated by war lords and drug runners, with American forces still poking around in the hills looking for Bin Laden. We need only look at this situation to ascertain Mister Blundersfeld's intentions for postwar Iraq.
Mister Blundersfeld's sidekick, "Disappearin' Dick" Cheney, has apparently had an equal share in the decision making process. I think it's time to return this pair to the private sector where they could go back to rigging stock deals and tax shelters and leave the rest of the world alone.
Sure would save a lot of American and Iraqi bloodshed.
~ Don Santina